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river watching a heavy dust that was raising up like a mighty cloud. the dust settled and it begain to raise heavey then ever right close to the Natural Bridge near where now stands the beautiful Town Merrell Oregon the cause of the dust was a strong body of hardy white men from Yreka Cal some of the escaped emagrants had reached Yreka and given the news of the afful massacre the citizens took to arms and was ready to start for the scene in less time then it would take a man to walk two miles. the writers father Frank Riddle was one of the men in this company if my memory serves me right it was in the year of 1851 the captain of the men was from ohio his name was al woodruff woodruff halted his men on the north side of the lost river and dismounted them and they had a few crackers and some dried meat to eat. some of them filled their pipes and were smoking woodruff and Riddle was standing on some rocks about the middle of the river and was in earnest conversation for some time finally they both came ashore by stepping from rock to rock. Woodruff instructed his men if they seen any Indians not to fire on them until he orderd them to. he said there is some Injuns around here bouts that is