Sun River sun. [volume] (Sun River, Mont.) 1884-1885, 1884-11-13


the dead of winter.' One look would
have forever impressed upon memory.
Buffalo overcoat and head, bt,ckskin
brooches, fur undergarmcnts and vest,
fur lcggings, boot mocca.ins, face
scared with the bitter frosts. "sfeet
us in Junev'- and he is of for wash
ington, where he arrives March 3, the
last day Of the session, and just five
months from the day when he spumed
down tho valley from Fort Walla
Walla.
But what of the treaty. It had been
signed and proclaimed as the law of
the land Two wpnths before he had
set out, and ratified while he was lost
in the mountains. Four thousand
miles and Oregon left out Will this
weather-beaten, frost. bitten man have
galloped to Washington for nothing?
Not he. Ho rides through Washing
ton about as he had done over the
mountains and the southern trail.
"Early in June you will meet mew
From department to department to
department, to the White House--cv.
erywhere-rumors are flying fast of u
great Oregon emigration. President
and secl aries become infected
with his enthusiasm. The British
premier proposed to hold Oregon for
English cmigrants. II Marcus Whit
man could got his emigrants there,
Daniel Webster proposed likewise to
stand by them.
No "mcct' for u chase was ever
called which had in it such magnetic
charm as that June meet on the
banks Of the Missouri. Whitman was
there, overseeing, organizing, electri-
flying. People were gathering from
the north, cast 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 proud moment it must have
been for the doctor TO have seen 200
wagons wheel into line, with S75 cmi-
grants and 1900 cattle headed for the
distant "half mythical Oregon!
No train ever had more elements Of
strength; mono better commander.
Tho government deputizcd Captain
John G. Fremont, with several com
panics, as TN escort. The vigorous
doctor preceded his escort by forty
nine days. After his gallant ride of
1000 miles he felt safe enough with
his company, though more than half
OF them were women and children.
II II # n
Again the sound Of horse hoors are
breaking upon the ear of an affection
ate and soiicitous wife, aud Marcus
Whitman is riding from the shadows
of the Cascade Mountains and is soon
in her arils.-threo months from the
Missouri and eleven from the day
when he took stirrnp for "Washing-
ton and Wcbster'--and Oregon.
"Thcre followed him into thai splcn-
did valley, in little companies and in
long, weary file. jaded and battered,
and ncndcd after mountain style, 200
emigrant wagons. They emptied their
families here and there, women and
children; and scattered all about were
cattle and dogs, while lank back
woodsmcn, with the inevitable rifle,
lounged and s!ro|lcd. And they CON
tinucd To arrive even aftor the light
SHOWS Of the country had come. 1t
was the army OF the occupation for
Oregon"
The question was settled. Oregon
was saved, and in three years made
the subject of satisfactory treaty.
But, alas, for her savior and his noble
wife. November 70, 1S57--the sad
dcst page Of Orcgon's history-about
two years after the treaty, they were
cruclly murdered by the Indians. -
The Northwest.