A FESTAL BOARD
Flowers in profusion in the banquet hall told of the interest and devoted preparation of the pioneer ladies for this great annual event. The long tables in the room were laden with an abundance of every delicacy of the season. Before beginning the feast all stood with bowed heads while Rev. J. W. McGhee returned thanks, after which the edibles were enjoyed by the happy throng, reminiscences adding much pleasure to the occasion.
Dr. N. G. Blalock, as toastmaster, at the close of the banquet, made a short address of welcome to the pioneers and spoke with much feeling in commemoration of people who had blazed the way to the present civilization and offered a tribute to their noble heroism and the deeds of courage and self-sacrifice.
HARDSHIPS OF INDIAN WARS
The toastmaster introduced as the "Pioneer Indian War Veteran" of the association, Hon. A. G. Lloyd of Waitsburg. Mr. Lloyd gave a brief account of campaigning in 1855 in the Yakima Indian war. In one instance the volunteers were caught in a snowstorm and were cut off from supplies at The Dalles and were reduced to a small amount of flour and some tobacco. They furnished their own clothes and horses and could not draw on the Government supplies as there were none to draw on. Mr. Lloyd closed with the patriotic remark, "But we only did our duty and no more."
FIRST NEWSPAPER
Capt. P. B. Johnson responded to "The Pioneer Newspaper Business." He related the anecdote of the adopted child which replied to the boasts of other children that it had no papa and mamma, that "Your papa and mamma are yours because they have to be, mine are mine because they want to be." He referred to the younger pioneers being pioneers because they had to be.
Captain Johnson said that when he had an opportunity to come here from Arizona he looked up the location on the map and expected to find fruits and fields similar to those in the same latitude east, but when in 1864 he arrived at Wallula, by steamer, he saw a vast extent of sagebrush and nothing more. He then read from Bancroft's history some interesting items showing the contrast of forty years. A weekly mail had been established between Walla Walla and Portland. The town contained 800 inhabitants. The only reference to the agricultural possibilities of this valley was the fact that some man had succeeded in raising a fine quality of sorghum which produced an excellent quality of syrup.
Of the county officers that year the following are still alive and citizens of this city: Councilman, Daniel Stewart; sheriff, W. S. Gilliam; treasurer, James McAuliffe.