The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1866-12-29

q mile and half on the sand-bars, where
the water was not much above the axless
while the wagons kept moving, but tho
moment they were stopped the wheels
and horses would sink rapidly in the
slippery sands and become fast. Z God
brought us all over in safety before night.
but with horses much exhausted: How
ever, after supper and achange Of animals
to the wagons, we pushed forward and
oyerhau1ed the caravan at eleven o'clock
that night. 1.-THE counsel of the Lord
that shall stand" God had determined
that these two chosen women should cross
the Rocky Mountains that year-an sn-
tering wedge to these vast gold fields
and he had determined that this Com.
pany should afford them protection and
'buffaTo ribs !" and He took his own way
to get this work out Of them. He de.
tanned them TO build boats and blidgas.
and by firing their wagons aud wettiue
their goods: and aided us forward 30 that
we, although with jaded animals and sick,
ness, passed over the ground in Eve days
which required them eleven to accom-
pIish-they having the important adyan-
tages of fresh animals and experienced
men. And the next morning, when We
were assigned our position fi the camp,
behold il was "a" two lengths', ahead
(wes) CT Captain Fitz Patric's tent42
The caravan was commanded by Fits
Patric, piloted by John Gray, an Iroquois;
under strict military rule, with guard OF
eight men day and night, changed every
six hours. Whoever was found asleep
on guard, or with an injury on his horses
back, was put on foot for two days. At
noon and night the camp was formed in d
hollow-sq -square-sufhciently large to con-.
tain all the animals, picketed-with the
wagons arranged On two sides and the
packs on the other two, as breastworks:
with mess-fres within.
The Fur Company numbered160 armed
men. Our mission company consisted Of
nine besides our ladies-who, by this time,
had seen some rough weather. There were
also three gentlemen from Europe, with
their servants, horses and guns, travelling
for pleasure; several free trappers; con-
cubines and halfbreed children-in all
about 200 men and 500 animals besides
our cattle. At break of day the guard
would cry out "turn out, when every
man would spring from his blanket to his
pickets, loosen his animals, and the whole
band move off to the best grass, surround
ed on all sidos by the guard, who remain
constantly upon or holding their riding
horse. Breakfast over, breakages repair
ed, tents struck, prayers offered to God by
those who would, the two hours (the time
allotted morning, noon and night for the
animals to feed) ended-the guard would
cry out, "Drive II" answered immediate:
| ly b loud laundering of the incoming
band of 500 animals, before the guard -
Everything in readiness, the pilot leads
off in a slow trot, the packers follow IN
close column, each man riding one and
leading two packed animals. The wagons,
in close column, bring up the rear. This
good order and strict discipline was main.
taincd through the whole route and to
this, under God, it is due, without doubt,
that We passed through all the dangerous
tribes without being mOlested By an
Indian. =