When General Sherman Told Spokane Falls It Would Be a Great City

For some time it has been known that that mighty chieftain Gen. W. T. Sherman, whose achievements with the sword and pen have lifted him to a proud eminence among the great of history, was to pay a visit to this upper country in his official capacity as the head and front of the American armies. Surrounded with a galaxy of blue-coated warriors and sable-robed civilians, the hero of the march to the sea and many gory fields arrived at Fort Coeur d'Alene last week, where ample preparations had been made to receive the visitors with an honor becoming their dignity and high standing.

Bright and early Thursday morning Gen. Sherman and his friends, with an escort of cavalry, started from Coeur d'Alene on their long pilgrimage. About noon the long line of dust-begrimed regulars filed through town, the rattle of their trappings, the clanging of hoofs and the cheery notes of the bugle awakening a sensation among the population. A few minutes behind the escort came a four-horse vehicle, or rather two of them, containing Gen. Sherman, Gen. Miles, Gen. Tidball and other gentlemen of the party. They took up their quarters at the Sprague House, where they met a number of visitors during the afternoon, among whom were Mayor Glover, A. M. Cannon and other old residents, who welcomed them to the city.

In the evening there was an outpouring of the people to catch a sight of the famous old soldier, and if possible to grasp the hand of the man who took such a prominent part in suppressing the wicked war. The band took up a position on the corner of Mill street and Riverside avenue and in harmonious strains let all within hearing know that the General was in waiting. The reception took place in Canaan's Hall, the room being completely crowded, while a dense mass blockaded the street, all anxious to get a glimpse of the chief. About half-past 8 Col. D. P. Jenkins in a few words introduced Gen. W. T. Sherman, and the ruddy and smiling face of the renowned officer was greeted with tumultuous applause.

The General did not proceed to make a formal, grand-eloquent speech, but assumed a conversational tone and merely talked to the audience. He remarked that many whom he saw present seemed to be young men and desired to know if there were any present who had been in his command during the rebellion. Quite a number responded, which apparently pleased the Quaker, who said he was glad to greet so many veterans in this new country, and believed them to be the right kind of material. He spoke of his former visit to the Falls some years ago, when there were but two or three houses; mentioned having dined with Capt. H. T. Cowley, and the pleasure of again meeting him here. He spoke of the Falls, the beautiful scenery and the incomparable water-power, its solid formation compared to that of Minneapolis. He said San Francisco before it had as many inhabitants as Spokane was on the site of Minneapolis before there was a soul there, and thought there was a great probability of Spokane Falls being a large city. He mentioned the large lumber, grain and other resources of the surrounding country. He excused himself from making a lengthy speech, for although advanced in years and yet vigorous and well preserved, he hoped the audience would make some allowance for an old man, especially as he had about 120 miles of travel before him in the next two days. He expressed a willingness to shake hands with the people present and stepped down from the platform. He was surrounded with people who extended him a hearty greeting, and spent an hour shaking hands.

Early Friday morning the entire party took the road for Fort Spokane. The General will go from Fort Spokane to Colville, from there to Coeur d'Alene lake, thence to Port Hope and on to Victoria. Preparations have been made along the route for the party, and a military road will be laid out and a post probably established on the lake. It is possible that this is the last visit Gen. Sherman will ever pay the northwest, he being well advanced in years and, besides, retiring from the service after a long, honorable and brilliant career next winter.

Apropos to this visit it might be interesting to state that Gen. Sherman stopped at the Falls in the fall of 1877. At that time there were but a very few families in this section. The Indians were restless and disposed to be unruly, and the few people here were in constant fear of being murdered. He was a guest of H. T. Cowley and J. S. Glover, and through the solicitation of the latter gentleman Gen. Sherman ordered a body of troops just about to go into winter quarters at Palouse City to come up here and remain, which they did.