Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1845-12-13
From the Independent Express, Nov. IL, Extra
OVERLAND MAIL FROM OREGON,

rroin the independent Express, NOV. Ia, Extra
OVERLAND MAIL FROM OREGON,
Arrival OF Dr.. White. direct from Oregon.-
Unprecedented Despatch. Through In
Ninety DaysIi M
We had the pleasure on Saturday evening
last, Of taking by the hand our old friend DR..
ELIJAH WHITE, SubAgent of Indian Affairs
for the territory Of Oregon, who hae just srri.
we'd, with party of only three men: Messrs
Chapman, Brown and Saxton. all claiming to be
citizens Of Wiamette--,wo of whom, Oras
Brown and Charles Saxton, had accompanied
him TOR some time previously, on an interesting
and important exploring expedition, the results
of which will soon come before the public, off.
cially.
They left the beach on the Pacific on the 3Oth
of July some forty miles from the Umqua river,
and arrived in the Colony about the 10Th Of Au-
gust They found the Legislature in session at
Oregon City, and DR. White being officially re-
quested TO bear memorial and petition ema-
mating from that body and signed unanimously
by them-also by the Judge Of the Territory
and Executive Comm ittee--to the Congress of
the United States, left on the 16ih. They ar.
rived at Fort Vancouver on the 17h, the Da.
les of the Columbia on the Doth, and on the ODD
proceeded on their journey.
At the FIRST camp Major Moses Harris, alias
"Black Harris" his pilot and his dependence, as
! interpreter for the Sous and Pswnee Indians in
passing through their country, without any df-
ference or explanation, withdrew from the par
ty and returned to the valley. Surprised, but
nothing intimidated, they moved forward. They
met the Wallawals lndians-so much excited
the Spring before, by reason Of the violent and
treacherous death Of Elijah Heading. an educa.
ted young Chief OF distinction, killed by a white
man in California-and we're handsomely salu-
| ted and cordially receved-the excitement ha.
wing entirely subsided. Corn. potatoes, peas,
cumas and cherries, were brought forward for
the consumption Of the party, and their planta.
,ions, with those ofthe Keyuse, speak well tor
their advancement in agriculture and civilza.
ton. Not many Of the Walawallss cultivate ;
they generally subsist on fish. But the Key.
use and Nez?erces, or Sebeptans, under the au.
spices of DR.. Whitman and lady, and Rev. H
Fl. Spaulding and lady, are represented as ha.
wing made most commendable advancement in
agriculture, science, arts, morals and religion
many of the latter reading their own language
fuently and writing we'll, and in the regular
ty of their family devotions, and observance o.
the Sabbath, it is believed few equal them.
On the first Of September, they met at Burn
: River, Capts. Barlow, Knighton, and Melon
AIDS companies Of emigrants-the three com
!, panies comprising come eight hundred persons
with eighty.seven wagons, within some 35(
miles of their destination, all in good healti
and fine spirits. representing the difficultie
. of the route as nothing in comparison will
] what they had expected. While the Docto
$ was giving them an intellectual treat, TO whcl
/. the ladies' prepared rich repas for him and hi
# little party coffee, sugar, bread, biscuit, but
:. ,ermilk and honey, with bacon, rice and sewers
kinds Of fdried fruits, were nicely spread out
T. they ate and drank, talked and mutually cheel
! ed each other. and parted in the happiest moo'
At different points, for distance Of hundre
s and thirty miles they met others-each part
soliciting, they all received lecture on Orr
" gon. The last party, called the St. Josep
l. Company, were met some two and q half mile
IS from wood or water on the sandy desert bl
- they found them in the best spirits and afts
,e advising them at some length on Oregon, th
re party was invited to dinner, and sat down 10
q table in the tent of Rev. NJ. Fisher, Bspti
$, clergyman, spread with a white cloth, and pa
ne took of tea, light bread, crackers, maple mola
y ses. dried beef and butter, all prepared in II
ne neatest manner This company were mns,
e. New England people. had enigrated to low
and thence TO Oregon, and carried their virtu
and intelligence over the mountains with theT
All much happier and better for the in,ervie,
, the party took their leave of this interestir
group Of venerable sires, aged matrons aud su
ling youth. and passed on to Fort Hall, whe
70. they arrived on the 18th Of September and m
'er cordial reception from Capt. Grant On Il
ne 23d they passed the romantic and interestil
10, Soda Springs, where all drank freely.
~ On the 9th, met DR.. Joseph Bark, Botan
DC. and Mineralogst, sent out by the English G
~o vernment to make collections, and return in .
no ~. ven years from the time Of his departure
I'VE ned with him--found him an intelligent, uni
,u. suming gentleman. The party passed the
md vide on the 4th Of October, oil walking over
not ~
the ana on stfiking tho o"ees "stef Ill ufai