Sun River sun. [volume] (Sun River, Mont.) 1884-1885, 1884-11-13
MARCUS WHITMAN'S RIDE.
How the Great Northwest was Snatch.
ed From the Clutches Of the Hud-
son Bay Company.

In 1886, Dr. Marcus Whitman and
his partner, Spaulding, with their
wives, went to Oregon under the aus
pices of the American Board. 1t was
bridal tour, begun in May and end
ed at the gates of Fort Walla Walla
in September. A curious feature OF
the trip was an old wagon, known in
history US "Whitman's wagon" He
was determined to get it through to
demonstrate the feasibility Of cmigra-
ton. The Hudson Bay Company dis
co,lraged every roll OF its old wheels
and threw every obstacle in tho way.
1t was dismembered, dragged by
pieces. ingloriously dwindled to the
dimensions Of u cart, but, through the
indomitable will Of its owner, it kept
rolling toward the Pacific.
Prior to 1S42 the United States and
England We're in joint occupation of
the Oregon region.
1t was generally understood that
the country would be English or
American, according to the tide of
emigration. One day in October, 1S42.
DR.. Whitman was called on profess
sional errand to Fort Walla Walla,
twenty-five miles from his home. 1t
was u trading-post of the Hudson Bay
Company, and was quite jubilant just
ut this time over the annual line OF
goods. Tables were spread for the
feast, at which the doctor found him.
self solitary American. The festiv-
tiles were Mt Aood-tide, when an ex-
press courier rushed into the fort and
shouted that an English colony Of 140
persons was on its way up the Colum-
bia. In the excitement of the moment
Il young Englishman jumped to his
feet and exclaimed:
'Hurrah for Oregon! America is too
late; we have got tho countryr'
Tho doctor excused himself ut the
alliest possible moment, an,, in two
hours pulled uphis foam-Aeckcd pony
at his cabin door, made known tho
English plot before dismounting and
his determination to set out for Wash
ington and return the next summer
with caravan Of cnigrants. None
could dissuade him; he must go; the
Webster-Ashborton treaty was pend
ing; the Oregon question must be set
tied before Congress adjourned on
the 4th Of March; Oregon must be
saved!
In less than twenty-four hours he
was in the saddle, galloping for
"Washington and Webster. Home
and wife behind him, winter and 1000
miles before him. With Amos l..
Loyejoy for Il guide, he bounded over
the trail, through Fort Hall, whose
jealous commandant would have been
glad to have detained him had he not
shown "pass' from Lewis Cass, Sec
retary Of War. The mountains are
passed, but winter is setting in, and
has already frozen the rivers too rap
id current. impossible? Not to the
doctor and his crrand of life or death
to Oregon! He rides his horse to the
edge, and then horse and rider are
pushed into the angry current out
of sight. There they are, floating far
down to tho other side. A jump to
the ice; good fire and dry clothes
again. Lost in the snow; wandering;
freezing; dying; almost buried; hope
entirely gone; every avenue OF escape
cut off,-saved by mules ear! His
Mexican rider noticed some peculiar
twitehings and movements of the au-
ricular appcndages, as if their owner
was ccgitating scheme. In II little
while the animal, left to himself, led
them to the slumbcring embers OF
their morning fire.
Precious time lost! Seven days to
Fort Winteo for another guido; an
extra ride for Whitman! To avoid
hostile Indians he makes Il sharp dc
hcction to the south at Fort Hall, to
so by Salt LAX" and thence to Bcnt's
Fort, on tho Arkansas, and follow up
the Santa Fe trail. Here he is at a
branch Of the Arkansas; material for
fire only on the other side; thin ice;
rapid current. Whitman lays fiat on
his back, "wiggles" himself across,
secures wood and pushes ii back over
the thin ice.
Bent's Fort! half way! three months
in the saddle his companion broken
down and left; new outfit. After rest
ing four days the wiry doctor takes
the spur again and scatters ramors of
an immense emigration to Oregon!
Meet us at Wespolt, on tho Missouri,
ncxt June!--good wagon roadw AS
he came flying up the trail he distrib-
n I