The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1866-12-29
For tho State Rights Democrat.
LECTURES BY REV. \. H. SPAULDING
pOrtance in Securing the COun.
try to Americans, - 40"
NUMBER SIX.

-
The fourth morning out from Leayen-
worth, as the sweet songsters Of the prair-
ie were reminding us Of the rising sun,
the guard discovered, on the back track,
being, red or white, approaching. All
things stirring about camp, he came up
and sat down by the newly.made fire,
without saying word white man--or
had been-witbout horse or blanket,
shoes, coat or food with an old hat, an
old gun without lock or powder. Break
fast was soon ready, and "Wfill you take
breakfast with us?" was asked. 81
reckon" Where are you bound 7" ITO
tho Pacific. heard you was goin' over
thar" "But where 10 your horse, your
clothing, your food 7" Cant you fur
nish food p "We will see" 1t turned
out a god-send. His name was Miles
Goodyear he had been many years
among tho Indians, and proved trusty
and most faithful friend. He continued
with US to Fort Walla Walla, returned
that winter to Fort Hall, and finally To
the East
The stranger told us that the steamer
had passed Leaveuworth two days before.
This intelligence caused US to redouble
our efforts to reach Council Bluffs in
time, although there was but little hope,
as We were "green-horns," in strange
country, without trail or guide, and man J
rivers to be orossed-among them the
Platte-as best we could. The steamer
would reach tie Bluffs many days before
We possibly could Doctor Whitman and
the ladies would De compelled to wait
there till We could come NJ with oaT
wagons and animals, while the proprietors
of the Fur Company would transfer their
goods from The steamer TO their caravan
of wagons and animals in waiting at that
place, and wolld be able to move forward
without delay, and be many days in ad-
vance of Us. Our prospects, at best,
were dark.
But what vas our grief and mortifca-
Ilon, on the seventh morning out from
| Fort Leavcnworth, TO receive an express
from DR. Whitman, stating that the steam.
er had dashed by, refusing to take on
board, according to agreement, our ladies
and efects-thus breaking their own
fourfold pledge, and violating every prin-
ciple of honor. That our wagons must
turn back to meet him. lie would do the
best he could TO obtain wagons and push
forward by land. Probably no other man
than Dr. Whitman would have entertain
ed the thought for moment Of proceed.
ing under those circumstances. The idea
of entering Grand Regatta" Of 300
miles, with ox-wagons, propelled through
the mud By oxen aud mules, pitted agains;
steamboat under full Roadway up the
Missouri river, with TIVE days the start
But that was exactly DR.. Whitman, and
just such energy saved Oregon. But how
did the strange contest (for contest indeed
it was-one the one part for dear life, gs
they Of the boat thought; on the other
for the eternal life of immortal souls call.
ing out of darkness for help progress
Strange as IL may seem, the Doctor, with
his iron will, came out, on the the 9th oi
May, two lengths ahead, as will appear
1t seems that the strong remonstrances
of mountain men, that the savage tribes
would be sure to attack the caravan to get
possession of our white women, had thor.
oughly aroused the fears Of the Fur Com.
pany; and they chose rather to violate
their promises than risk their caravan
Probably they never thought Of that Hand
which had arrested the cholera among
them the year before.
Messrs. Gray and Goodyear went back
with the wagons to meet the Doctor, the
free trapper went on to join the Fur Com
pany, aud myself and the boys remained
with the stock. After many break-downs
disappointments and changes of teams
the Doctor met Mr.. Gray, game up, and
we pushed on with all speed. But my
sickness from the kick of the mule was
becoming worse, aud / had to be carried
in wagon. The Doctor found it neces.
sary to administer calomel to me, and was
called away Immediately to set soldiers
broken leg-when unexpectedly there fel
upon us a"Platte thunder storm" None
but those who have fallen in with one Of
these storms can have an idea what they
are. The earth shook with the continued
peals; the black night trembled and
blazed with the forked lightning; the cat.
tie beloved; the picket-lines snapped
and the horses snorted ard plunged away
the wagons upset, the tent was twisted
into dish-cloth; the pouring torrents oi
rain were driven against man and beast
as if by steam engines. Mrs. Spanldina
and Mrs. Whitman strove hard to keep
me dry with blankets, but in vain. The
consequence to me was q grievous saliva
tion, accompanied with intense pains il
the breast, back and head. Each bone
seemed ready to separate from its fellow
The jolting of the wagon was most dis
tressing. But we must not stop mo
/ ment if we would expect to overtake thu
Company, and of this only the Docto
had any hope.
/ We reached Platte river opposite th,
Otto Mission, % miles from Council
Bluffs. The Mission Immediately sen
over keel-boat, and was soon laid in
quiet bed, and received rest and the kind
est attention from those dear Missionaries
Il Rev. Mr. Merrill and lady, of the Bap
: tist Board, living among the Ottoes, 30'
miles from the frontier settlements, an,
Ilaboring faithfully to erect the standar,
! of the cross and to counteract the incom
j ing floods Of intoxicating drinks and tn
j fearful diseases of the whiteman's beastl
amalgamation. But they were laborinI
against odds fearfuily overwhelmingly
fully one thousand to one. What coul
they do? What every ambassador in Xix
: feayfnl circumstances would do; Wha