Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 19.djvu/268

256 REVEREND EZRA FISHER time of our wheat harvest, so as to be in the valley again at the yearly meetings of the churches next fall. The people at the Sound raise but little wheat as yet and during the summer months a new country can be much better explored than in the winter and the people will more readily come and hear the preached Word. I fear I shall not be able to raise much more than $100 for Br. Post's passage from San Fran- cisco to Oregon City. Money is very scarce in Oregon, or rather much more so than it has been since '48, and numbers of the brethren promised to do something for him, but will be unable to do it in time to meet his wants. Many of our fore- handed farmers tell me that they have not a dollar to their name. But they have barns full of wheat and oats and plenty of cattle and horses and hogs on the prairies. We have a little money in the Institution treasury, so that I hope to be able to forward Br. Post about $150 to San Francisco in time. You have doubtless read accounts of the Indian war in Rogue River Valley 336 and are waiting with anxiety to learn of its influence on our little band of disciples at Jacksonville. I have feared much and prayed oft for those lovely brothers and sisters, and especially for young Brother Read. The Lord has kept them all in the hollow of His hand and I believe not one of them has fallen by the hand of savage barbarity. It was reported that our beloved brother Judge Rice was mas- sacred. But we learned in a few weeks, to our great joy, that it was all a mistaken rumor. No doubt the business relations of those brethren have been much deranged and I fear they will be unable to build a suitable house for worship this fall; but the war is ended, except with a few scattering clans who may annoy the people some. The government will keep a garrison sufficiently strong to keep the Indians quiet hereafter. I forwarded the letter you sent to Br. Read addressed to this place to my care, immediately on its arrival. Our school is doing very well this quarter. Mr. Shat- 336 This war broke out early in June, 1853, and ended in September of that year. Bancroft, Hist, of Ore., 11:311-321.