The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1881-05-13
DEATH OF JOS. LANE.
An Oregon Pioneer Gone.
From the Portland Oregoniu.

From the Portland Oregonian.r
How sleep the brave who sink to rest
Bv all their conutry's wishes blest?
General Lane Is dead The brave old /
soldier and genial gentleman rs no more.
The hero of many hard fought battle and
daring adventure has laid down to rest.
He breathed his last at Roseburg ut nine
o'clock on the evening OF the 10Th ult. In
the midst of his friends and descendants to
IN. third generation. His illness had been
of short duration and his death may be-
characterized as simply the natural terniina-
tion of his mortallife. For some weeks he
had been satisfied that. his end was drawing |
nigh and had cheerfdfly and resignedly pre- I
pared himself for the evehtand approached
his grave #a
Like onethat draws the drapery of his couch |
About him aud lies down to pleasant dreams. |
-Fo his friends and comrades throughout' /
the country he has written his kind farewells |
and for some weeks his closing life and CON- |
ing death have colored the thoughts and con- |
yersation of many household in Oregon.
Joseph Lane was born In Buncombe coun- |
ty. North Carolina, ON December IA, 1901,
and his life was almost coeval with that VI
| the government Of the United States.
In his early life his father moved TO Ken
tucky, and thence to Indiana, where he lived
| until lS4S, engaged much Of the time In
boating aud trading to New Orleans. lie
was several times elected to the Legislature
of that State-the first time when he was
barely of age. .-
A. The commencement of the Mexican var
he volunteered his services and was appoint
ed Bripadier-G General and was afterwurd
hreyetted Major General. He distinguish
ed himself at Buena Vista, where he was
wounded.
| From thence to the close of the war he
held comparatively independent command,
| operatino In Central Mexico, during which
time Lent's brigade became famous for its
daring and activity, and he himself acquired
the sobriquet Of "the Marion of the Mexican
war;" ,s s-. $50, - Il.
Trpon the passage of the bill-August IA,
IS4S-organizing Oregon Territory, General
Lane was selected by President Polk as
suitable person to entrust with. the Govern
orship Of the then far-off and unknown
country.
Az lie urgent solicitation of the President
he accepted the position and In the following
winter crossed the continent to California
by the lower route, In company with Major
Joe Meek and small military escort, and
reached Oregon City March 2, lS49, pulling
AN oar i'm his boat much of tie way from As
toria.
Al Oregon City he was heartily welcomed
nv the people far and near, who saw In him
and his presence the realization Of their
long cherished but oft deferred hope OF con-
yressional aid and protection.
On March 3 he wrote and published his
I proclamation announcing his arrival and set
the machinery of the new government IN
motion on the last day OF his friend Folks
} administration. The proclamation was
, nrinted by the late Governor Curry, then ed
ilor and publisher of the Free Press. His
career since then has been In Oregon and Is
we'll known to the early settlers.
! Amer Is months I'm the gubernatorial office
and as superintendent of Indian affairs, he
resigned Ills office to his successor and went
10 the mines of northern California, where
he worked as 4 miner during the winter OF
1s5O-51. In 1851 he was triumphantly elect
ed delegate TO Congress, where he was con-
tinued by successive reelection until the
. formation of the State government, when he
} | was eieexed 10 the Senate. taking his scat In
i that body onthe admission or the State Into
the Union, on February IA, 1859, where he
! remained until the expiration OF his term,
| March 8, 1861. =@. z@ 1@
From Washington he returned 10 Oregon,
where he has lived ever since, most of the
time In comparative retirement on his farm
among the picturesque hills of the Umpqua'
In 1850 he was on the Democratic Presi.
DENTAL ticket with Breckenridge for the office
! of vice-President. .. f-.r
D During the heated controversy which I'm
a mediately preceded the war of the rebellion,
General Lane was by nature, education and
4 birth an ardent friend of the South and what
3 he conceived to be its constitutional rights
q and took his share In the Iancor and Ill will
which usually grow out of such contentious
II | Dat hay
o been forgotten by him, and II Is not offer
that one who has played so long and promi
&. nent part In public affairs, In troublou'
U times, goes down to his grave with more
y good will and regard than Joseph Lane d
It Oregon. s.. ,.. !,
I'm August, 1923, there was a sudden aud
severe Indian outbreak In Rogue rive
. which struck terror intor into the scatteret
n mining mining camps and sparsely settles
d valley. As soon as the news reached Ump
qua, General Lane left his unfinished hom
and hurried to the scene of action. Their
he organized volunteer force and pursue'
7. the Indians into their mountain fastness
D. and compelled an engagement on BATH
creek on August "a. which resulted IN per
maneut peace. In leading the charge b
r was shot through the same shoulder that wa
a, wounded at Buena Vista.
On the eleventh day thereafter-Sunday
10 September 4-the writer was present whe
h the white and Indian chiefs, Joseph, with hi
e arm In sling and the latter in toga tina
- would have done honor to u Roman senator
met ON the side of the mountain over agaiiis
r Table Rock Mountain In the presence vi
~ half dozen white men and hundreds
8, Indians and agreed upon the terms of Tn
10 treaty.
: Lane was emphatically man of the pee
~ ple and gave his lifo to to their service VIII
rs a devotion that but few can feel or appree
ate. .. i. .a.. .s,..s 2
With him politics was an honorable strug
Gle for position and power for public END
and purposes, and not for private gain. a.
cordingiy he has lived honestly and die
~ poor.
In his intercourse with others self was .
ways a secondary consideration, and ne Sc
dom failed to inspire q lasting regard 4
4, himself.
sh A distinguished cavalry officer who serve
n under HIM as O volunteer In Mexico has s'nt
no said OF him, .The men Of his brigade love
- him, and q tender chord could always !
- touched by speaking 10 them of him.
u Wien the history of this country is VII
IT. ten, Oregon's first Senator must occupy
n prominent place II. He was itn oI mo
:. than ordinary ability-generous and afiable
y Ebraye and pallant-a lover Of women and
~ friend of the helpless--and, take him all
lat all, we shall not soon look upon his ID
or again. q r. ad
i. i. In his grave are buried the memories
the frailties incident to human nature q
'p- the asperities OF lfe's hot conflicts. ana Y
10 / passing Of time will brighten his name q
m enhance his renown. u
lid
" Henry clay's Heel Mark.