Washington Standard
June 9, 1911
Fourth- Nathan Eaton came to Orgon in 1843, and to Chambers’ prairie in the fall of 1848, after serving several months in the Cayuse Indian War, which grew out of the massacre of Dr. Marcus. Whiteman, his wife and twelve others at the mission station at Wai-il-at-pu, six miles west of the present city of Walla, Walla, Wash, on Nov. 20-30 1847. He selected a place for settlement about twelve miles southeast of Olympia, on the extreme southern edge of Chambers’ prairie and built a cabin. In the winter of 1855-56 he built about twelve log cabins in the form of three sides of a square of eighty feet, the fourth side being closed up by a row of pickets- logs a foot in diameter and fifteen feet long placed endwise in a trench two feet deep. This was called “Fort Eaton.” A number of families found shelter in this fort, among others, William White and family consisting of himself, wife and six children, viz. William, George, Ellen, Anson, Clara, (now the wife of Judge R.O. Dunbar, residing in Olympia) and John. An older daughter, Elizabeth, had been married to Daniel R. Bigelow more than a year before and was living in Olympia. Mr. White was killed in sight of Fort Eaton on March 3rd, 1856, and I was within hearing distance of the fatal shot.
Washington Standard
June 9, 1911
A marker of cobble stones a few feet high held together by the proper admixture of cement, ought to mark the site of each of these places of defense. The marker need not necessarily be placed upon the exact site of each blockhouse, but upon the public highway nearest to where they were located, by consent of the Superior Court- if that is the body having jurisdiction in such matters- first having obtained. Each marker should bear a tablet, suitably inscribed stating its object. Such a plan, if carried out, would be of great interest to future generations.
George H. Himes
Washington Standard
June 9, 1911
Horrible Double Murder at Rainier
Archie Coble and wife, aged respectively 25 and 16 years, were murdered in cold blood at Rainier some time Monday night or on early Tuesday morning. The bodies at least were not found till the evening of that day, when some neighbors not seeing either Mr. or Mrs. Coble during the day called to discover the cause, and were horrified by the terrible tragedy. The murderous deed had been done with an ax, both skulls having been cloven in twain as they slept in bed, probably without either awakening to realize the horrible act. As no valuables were taken the object could not have been robbery, and as the young couple were universally loved and highly respected, the motive suspected can only be of jealousy, as all other incentives to the horrible deed are wholly lacking, and it is expected that a clue will be discovered in that direction.
They had been married only a year.
The people of Rainier are horror-stricken over the terrible crime committed within the town limits where dozens of people were sleeping and within easy call.
Suspicion now rests on a man who is wanted in Portland for a like crime, murder of the Cowing family, similar in detail, and to add to the horror it is now discovered that both the dead women had been assaulted after death. The Oregon police are engaged in an effort to run down “the missing section hand.” The bodies of the Rainier victims lie at Sticklin’s undertaking parlors, awaiting the arrival of a brother from Missouri.
Washington Standard
July 14, 1911
An apparently irreconcilable warfare has arisen in the Yelm School district regarding distribution of property involved in consolidation. It is another instance in which District 28, representing the dog, to use a homely simile, refuses to be shaken by the tail.
Washington Standard
July 27, 1911
The Rainier Monster
After many days of diligent search for clues and preliminary trials of suspects, for the murderer of the Coble family at Rainier, there seems to be good reason to believe that the confession of G.H. Wilson, now held for the crime is, in the main, true. Although an effort is being made to show that mental worry has led him to fabricate the story he tells. He says that he is a sexual pervert, and that while “admitting” that he did the deed while totally oblivious of his acts, it is in evidence that he inquired whether an insane person could be held responsible and was told that he could not, and this, it is thought may constitute the groundwork of his defense, there seems to be too much “method” in his madness to be the emanation of a mind wholly distrait.
Even were it possible to verify the main statement that he committed the crime, and that he is subject to such aberrations, it is the plain duty of executors of the law to place him under such restraint as that he may never be able to repeat the crime, whether opportunity is afforded by liberty now or leniency hereafter. No pardon nor discharge as cured is safe, nor should be tolerated, unless present conditions are changed. It is said that when his wife discovered traces of blood in the tent where he slept and called attention to it, he replied, “Shut up and say nothing,” which would seem to indicate that his memory was not wholly blank. Even were the crime committed with full consciousness it may be that the enormity of the act has completely upset his mental equilibrium, and implanted the one idea of a “confession” as the dernier resort for escape from consequences.
It is hoped that neither vindictiveness nor a maudlin sympathy be allowed to have any part in decision of this important matter, but that some course will be adopted that will restore the public mind to its ordinary tranquility and confidence
Washington Standard
July 28, 1911
Rufus Neat, of Yelm, had four fingers amputated this week, that had been jammed and mashed in a fall block.
Washington Standard
July 28, 1911
An apparently irreconcilable warfare has arisen in the Yelm School district regarding distribution of property involved in consolidation. It is another instance in which District 28, representing the dog, to use a homely simile, refuses to be shaken by the tail.
Washington Standard
July 27, 1911
Miss Belle Melvin, formerly a popular teacher of Lacey, this county, has returned to Everett, after three months spent in Berkeley (Cal.) College, and on next Tuesday will assume the principalship of the Jefferson school in that city. Miss Melvin was tendered this by Superintendent Fraser without solicitation on the part of the young lady, while others had filed applications for the place. She is a sister of Mrs. A.W. Roberson, of Chambers’ prairie. Miss Melvin has many warm friends in Olympia and vicinity who will be pleased to hear of her promotion.
Washington Standard
September 15, 1911
J. A. Piper has begun suit against this county for $25,000 alleged damages to a son from explosion of dynamite cap found by the boy on the road between this city and Yelm. The loss sustained by Bennie Piper, the son, is a thumb and two fingers. It is alleged that the dynamite was left on the road by the county’s employees, so that the boy had easy access to it.
Washington Standard
December 8, 1911
Mary Manfredi, a 14-year-old Italian girl, was kidnapped, Wednesday, while leaving school at Yelm, by Frank Bello and taken to a point near Rochester where she was rescued by a posse of mill hands, and brought to this city by Deputy Sheriff Betts, Bello escaping to the woods. She stated that her parents were willing for her to marry Bello, but she objects, and there the matter rests, and he has been attempting to enforce compliance. What will be done in the matter has not yet been determined.
Washington Standard
December 8, 1911
Work is in progress on the ditch from Lawrence Lake to the Light and Power reservoir to ensure a depth of 40 feet for summer supply. As the ditch will necessarily have to be run over a county road, and realizing the possibility that potions of the thoroughfare may be flooded, the company offers in that emergency to build another road on higher ground to indemnify the county.
Washington Standard
December 15, 1911
Out of a total number of 7,200 teachers in the State at the last annual meeting of the Washington Educational Association held in May, 1911, Mr. Naider was appointed a committee of one on necrology, to gather mortality statistics of the association. There have been reported 12 deaths in the association in the past year, as follows: Stanley C. Boom, King County; Albert Davis, Rainier; Mrs. May B. Greene, Sedro-Woolley; Louise Irvine, North Yakima; Anna Holmes, Clarke County; Amelia Lee, Yelm; L.E. Mahaffy, Sunnyside; Bertha Maynadier, Spokane; George Taylor, Lewis County; Everett Thompson, Clarke County; Jesse Hart Walters, Anacortes, and Miss Joanna Wyatt, Everett.
Washington Standard
December 22, 1911
Closing exercises of the Yelm school were held last Friday evening, and an excellent programme rendered to a large audience.