Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 26.djvu/516

446 ground it shook with the tramping of thousands of horses. But for more than an hour no signs of the Indians appeared. Suddenly on the horizon appeared the feathered warriors in countless numbers. Fortunately for the wagon train they were friendly and after visiting the train and curiously examining everything they departed. They were friendly Snake Indians on their way to war with an enemy tribe in the north.

Births, deaths and occasional merry-making occurred. On the Fourth of July, 1845, the wagons stopped to celebrate Independence Day, and the birthdays of Sarah Helmick and three other pioneers. How little did those men and women battling their way across the plains realize that the generations to come would honor them, and would raise Sarah Helmick to be among the greatest of the pioneer women to cross the plains.

The only mishap of the trip occurred when they arrived at Cascade Rapids, Oregon, six months and three days after leaving Burlington. The raft containing all the earthly goods of Sarah and Henry, Helmick broke loose from its moorings and everything they possessed was swept away. They were left stranded, alone without food or shelter for many hours. Two friendly Indian squaws found them, and carried word of their plight to the nearest settlement. A Mr. Ebberts of Tualatin Plains came to their rescue, and took them with him to his home. They were given a part of his house with facilities for housekeeping and Mr. Helmick was given work as a carpenter. Early the following year he built the first grist mill in Salem, Oregon.

In the fall of 1846 they took up their claim on the Luckiamute. The first year was the hardest. Their diet that year consisted of boiled beans and wheat, with less than three pounds of meat all winter. Henry Helmick was stricken with gold fever in 1849 and went to California for a year. The gold venture was unsuccessful