Rules of the Road

In June 1840 Joseph Walker was carving his name into Independence Rock, the first of 1000s of settlers who

would do the same, making the natural tower the "Gateway to the Rockies".  Later that month he met up with some of his brother, Joe's men who led them further into Oregon, being the first to go beyond Boise and entering the Columbia Plateau.

Somewhere in that region they ran into Indian trouble because the Walker children remembered their mothers leading them to the river to hide.  Joel then composed a formal set of safety rules for settlers traveling to the Northwest:

1.  Be careful never to camp in timber.
2.  Be careful never to let Indians come among you.
3.  Never let Indians have any ammunition on any account.
4.  Keep careful watch day and night.
5.  Never neglect camp - guard at any account.
6.  Never fire a gun after crossing the Umqua Mountains until you cross the Siskiew Mountain perhaps a 5 day travel..
7.  Keep  yourselves as close as possible  in traveling through the brush.
8.  Never scatter after game or make any division.
9.  Keep your guns in the best firing conditions.

Next time...19th Century Pharisees