Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 7.pdf/217



As a natural consequence of the occupation of the Willamette Valley, the white settlers gradually pushed their way over the Calapooia Mountains into southern Oregon. Those who were attracted to California, by reason of the discovery of gold, found their only safety in traveling in large parties, well armed and constantly on the alert. Many who recklessly defied danger by attempting to make the journey alone, found speedy and certain death at the hands of an implacable foe.

Later on, small parties who undertook to explore the country in different directions were overwhelmed by numbers and savagely slaughtered; a few only escaping to tell of the fate of their companions, and recount their own thrilling adventures. Settlement in the region referred to was resented with murderous energy by the Indian tribes whose habitat it was. Nevertheless, the inevitable occurred, and in several of the fertile valleys of southern Oregon, the whites established permanent and thriving settlements.

Rich deposits of gold had also been discovered along the streams in several localities, and a large number of adventurous and sturdy miners formed camps at points convenient to their diggings. The sullen hostility of the Indians manifested itself from time to time by murder and pillage. The vengeance of the white was always swift and sure.