, 1884-08-07
DR., WHIFMAN'S RIDE.
How Oregon Was snatehed from the
Hudson Bay Company.
GAlloPtng for "washfngton and Web
ster"-A Terrible Trip Across the
PLAINS In sEiars1ater-Ths
Return Caravan.


Oregon under the auspices of the American
board II was a bridal tour, begun in May
and ended at the gates OF Fort Wnila Walla
In September. A curious feature Of the trip
was an old wagon, known in history az
-Whitman's wagon" He was determined 20
get 1t through to demonstrate the feasibility
OF emigration. The Hudson Bay company
discouraged every roll Of it, Old wheel, and
threw every obstacle in the way. II was dis
~membered. dragged by pieces, ingioriously
dwindled TO the dimensions Of "a cart, but,
through the lndomitable will Of its owner, II
kept rolling toward the Pacific.
Prior to 1912, the United State and Eng
land we're In joint occupation OF the OrVgon
region 1t was generally understood that the
country would be English or American, ae-
cording 10 the tide Of emigration. One day
In October, 1872, DIR. Whitman was called on
a professional errand to Fort Walla Walla,
twenty-five miles from his home, 1t was a
trading post OF the Hudson Bay company,
and was quite jubilant just at this time over
the annual line Of goods. Tables were spread
for the feast, at which the doctor found him
self II solitary American. The festivities
were at flood tide, when an express courier
rushed into the fort and shouted
that an English colony Of l40 persons was on
its way up the Columbia. In the excitement
OF the moment a young Englishman jumped
TO his feet and exclaimed. -Hurrah for
Oregonl America is too latei we have got
the country The doctor excused himself
at the earliest possible moment, and in two
hours pulled up his foam-fecked pony ut his
cabin door, made known the English plot
before d~ismouniing, and his determination
to set out for Washington and return the
next summer with Il caravan Of emigrants.
None could dissuade him; be must go; the
Webster Ashburton treaty was pending, the
Oregon question must be settled before con-
grtss I'd burned on the 4th Of March; Oregon
must be saved!
CROSSING II CONTINENT.
In less than twenty -four hours he was in
the saddle, galloping for Washington and
Webster Home aud wife behind him, win
ter and 1000 miles before HIM With Amos
l. Lovsjoy and a guide, he bounded over the
trail, through Fort Hall, whose Jealous COM
mandan would have been glad 10 have de
tanned him had he not shown a pass from
Lewis Cass, secretary Of war. The noun
tains are passed, but winter Is setting in, and
has already frozen the rivers TO rapid cur
rent. Impassablef Not to the doctor and
his errand Of life or death to Oregon He
rides his horse to the edge, and then horse and
rider ART pushed into the angry current;
out Of sight; there they are floating far
down to the other side; II jump to
the ice; good fire and dry clothes again. Lost
In the snow; wandering; freezing; dying; al
most buried; hope entirely gone; every ave-
nue OF escape cut off-saved by u mules earl
His Mexican rider noticed some peculiar
twttchings and movements OF the auricular
Appendages, as II their owner was cogitating
a scheme. In a little while the animal, left
to himself, led them to the slumbering EN-
bers OF their morning fire.
Precious time lostl Seven days TO Fort
Wintee for another guide; an extra ride for
Whitman To avoid hostile Indians he
makes a sharp detection to the south at Fort
Hall, to 20 by Salt Lake, and thence to
Bent's fort on the Arkansas, and follow up
the Santa Fe trail. Here he Is at Il branch
Of the Arkansas; no material for fire only on
the other side; thin ice; rapid current;
Whitman lays fiat OF his back-@wriggles"
himself -across-secures wood and pushes 1t
pack over the thin ice. m f
Bents fortl half wayl three months in the
saddle! his companion broken down and left;
new outfit. After resting four days the
wiry doctor takes the spur again, and scat
tsrs rumors OF an immense emigration to
Oregon Meet us at Westport on the
Missouri next Junei" Good wagon roadm
As he came flying up the trail he distributed
circulars, setting out the advantages and re-
sources Of this wonderful Ell Dorado.
Next June we will meet youl"
In such enthusiasm he arrived
at st. Louis; though nipped in his nose, toes,
hands and face, he could talk Of but one bust
ness-the fate OF Oregon; @Westport next
June,' us the country passablef' "Passa-
BILE" we can imagine him replying alook at
me; l have com through In the dead Of
winterr' One look would have forever i'm
pressed upon memory; buffalo overcoat and
head; buckskin hreeches; fur undergarments
and vest; fur leggings; boot moccasins; face
SCARED with the bitter frosts; inject US in
he arrives March 3, the last day OF the session,
and just five months from the day when he
spurred down the valley from Fort Walla
Walla.
BACH TO OREGON.
But what OF the treaty. 1t had been
signed and proclaimed as the law OF the land
two months before he had set out, and rnti-
fed while he WINS lost in the mountains.
-Four thousand miles and Oregon left out
WIN this weather beatsn, frost-bitten man
have galloped to Washington for nothingl
Not he. He rides through Washington about
as he had done over the mountains and up
the southern trail; early Ia June
you will meet me- From depart
ment to department, to the White
House everywhere rumors are flying
fast OF a great Oregon emigration. President
and secretaries become infected with his en-
thusiasm. The British premier proposed TO
hold Oregon for English emigrants. II
Marcus Whitman could get his emigrants
there, Daniel Webster proposed likewise to
stand by them.
No meet for a chase WAS rver called
which had in it such magnetic charm AS that
June meet ON the banks OF the Missouri.
Whitman was there, overseeing, organizing
electrifying. People were gathering from
the north, east, and south One man
came from Texas, having received one Of
WhitmAn's flying circulars at home,
The last wagon was packed and the canvas
stretched over the great hoops. What a proud
monument IL must have been for the doctor
To have seen 200 wagons wheel into line, with
s75 emigrants and / 800 cattle headed for the
distant half mythical" Oregon.
No train ever had more elements OF
strength, none a better commander. Tn
government depdtized Capt, John [. Ere
mont, with several companies, as an escort
The vigorous doctor preceded his escort by
forty-nine days. After his gallant ride Of
1000 miles he felt safe enough With his com
pany, though more than bali Of them wer,
women and children asa1
Again, the sounds OF horse-hoofs are break
Ing upon the car OF an Aifeetionate and solic
itoua wife and Marcus Whitman is ridinl
Little Joker IS the best smoking 10