The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1866-12-22

VINO thus openly ueucu tHe OFacrs OF the
Government, and attempted to furnish
powder and balls TO the savages to butch
CIR American citizens on their way over
tho plains, are allowed to remain at their
missions unn olested, as indeed they should
be, while the writer, the Oldest resident
missionary or American on the coast, who
obeyed their orders, is now expelled from
his mission home, and by THO Govern
ment.
But to return to st. Louis, which we
left on the 3lst Of March, in.tho steamer
"Chariton," for Liberty, claS' county,
Missouri-then the frontier settlement
(Which is the frontier settlement now p
We observed the monthly concert Of
prayer on board, and were joined by tho
clerk of the boat, who was an Elder In
DR.. Wisner's church in st. Louis. We
arrived at Liberty, April 7th. Mr.. VIM.
II. Gray, of Utica, n. Y, appointed by
the A. i. G. 4. NJ, overlook us at this
place, as also the Pawnee missionaries
whom We left below st. Louis.
We remained at Liberty twenty days,
and purchased fourteen young COWS and
two bulls, with the earnest prayer to God
that He would bring them safely through.
And I would here record, as O public
thanksgiving to God, that, BY the caution
and patience Of the Indian boys, He
brought through eleven of these COWS and
one bull. / do this because they were
the first to cross the continent, and be-
came TO US the greatest blessing in tho
way Of milk and butter, beef teams, etc,
and afforded beginning of stock for the
Indians. No cattle could be had on this
side of the mountains at that date, short
of California. The Hudsoa Bay Com
pany had large stock of Spanish cattle
at Fort Vancouver, and some at all their
posts, shipped from California, but they
would sell none. They would loan, with
the agreement TO return all tho original
stock or pay for losses, at a given time,
together with all the increase.
The Indian boys took tho driving Of
our cattle into their own hands, and dur
ing our hot days and long marches they
would fall behind, drive careful and come
in lato at night. This saved cur cattle.
They never could have been forced 10
keep up with the caravan. and no white
man would have been willing to fall be-
behind. Why they we're not picked up
by some of the rear parties is due only to
tho protecting hand of God.
We furnished ourselves with riding
and pack saddles, pickcts and picket
ropes, another wagon Il had brought a
I; ,.ht oro c-ax, NJ, Vs-lN a-..,, - -.
munition, and Is head of horses and
mules and on tho 9th of April Mr
Gray, myself, the two Indian boys (whc
were soon joined by two other young Nez
Perccs) and "free trappcr"--that is, a
young man trapping "on his ogn hook
took up our march for Council Bluffs
leaving DR.. Whitman and our ladies' and
effects to come up on the Fur Cor1pany's
steamer, according to promise. Oar be.
ginning was anything but promising
New work in new hands. Neither Mr.
Grey nor myself had ever seen n psck
fastened on the back of horse or mule
knew nothing Of prairie life, preparing
Of meals with our own hands, the driving
in the animals, the picket, the night-watch
and foundering and choking Of horses
till they learn the ropes. Add to this the
almost impasssable state of the country al
that season Of the year-one continual
swamp, with here and there a patch o
land above water. And, to make sure
work Of a rough beginning, one-third o.
the mules were wild-never had beer
roped till a few days before, when it re-
quired several negroes as many days, and
high fences to get their necks into the
"noose." Mr.. Grey aud one boy took ths
cattle and some loose horaes, the trappel
and myself took each a wagon, and th.
other Indian boy led the gang of mules
tied one to the others saddle, With the
loose saddles packed; and the marcl
commenced: the wagon wheels to tht
hubs, and the animals to their bellies II
mud. We could tell where the trail would
be in dry weather by the water courses
Wo had not proceeded far when my wagor
went down, followed By the mules-ex
cept their ears. turned my eye first t.
the trapper for help, but he needed helT
worse than [ did. Just then Mr.. GREY
came Smashing back for help to save hi
cattle from the brush and as was wad
ing, or half swimming, to look for yokt
of oxen, we heard a terrible clatter anC
clash, and, looking toward the gang o
mules, beheld complete "wind up
some on their backs, and mules heels anc
broken pieces Of pack-saddles flying il
the air like snow-birds. One mile and
nalf that day and a guard at night, viii
corn for feed.
Fourth night--a stampede and snap
ping of picket lines. At daylight Mr.
Grey takes the track through the timbe
and returns in two hours with those word
50 6 cheering to the mountain gin traveller
1 Fifth day---crossed Little platte at
Government ferry in the Indian country
where Platte City nov stands; camped a
usual in swamp. On leaving this CAM
for the ferry at Fort LeaVenworth, one o
the wild mules, observing all the animal
loosened and on their way, ran backward
and planted her lively feet in my breast
knocking me breathless. This sever,
blow was made painful and dangerous b,
plunge into the Missouri river Gin. com
pany with cow in attempting to say,
the cattle from jumping overheard. Boil
went down in the same direction, but
coming again to the surface, the COW strucl
for the shore and I for the boat. AL
over the river, and we had five miles t
make camp, wood and water, before sun
| set. On rising the bluff at the Fort, N,
eye rested for the first time on the "Grea