The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1893-04-27
HOW WE GOT OREGON.
a PIONEERS HEROIC JoURNE

I to the throne of HAWAII. on the one
side, and the commission representing
the Hawaiian revolutionists desrous-
Of annexation to the United States on
the other, for a prize, the stake Of
which was the political and CONNER
cial control of the Pacific-the lost
kingdom Of Queen Liliuckalani-call
to mind story that my grand father
once told me; how, through the heroic
efforts Of one brave man. we acquired
the now great states of Oregon, Wash
ington and Idaho The circumstances
were analogous. This was also race
for kingdom-a race against time,
an incessant battle against wild beasts
and wilder savages, terrific snow
storms, billiards. etc, which the in
trepid frontiersman who made the
journey had to fight against contln
ously. 1t took five long and weary
months through a trackless wilder
ness, but he won.
The United States government had
just gotten things straightened up
after the walk-over with Mexico when
the difficulty with Great Britain over
our northeastern boundary, which for
time threatened to plunge us into
another war arose. Indeed, several
times il looked as though the belliger
ent province Of New Brunswick and
the patriotic State of Maine would be
flying at each others throats: but this
was happily averted by treaty which
adjusted the difficulty to everybody's
satisfaction. The negotiations were
conducted with great frankness and
fairness on the part Of the two diplo
matists Lord Ashburton and Daniel
Webster and offered a singular con
trast to the artitice and trickery that
have generally marked national di
plomacy. This matter had hardly
been amicably settled and Ill prospects
Of war dissipated, when the trouble
arose over the northwestern boundary.
In the early summer of 1886 four
missionaries, Rev. Mr.. Spalding, DR.
Marcus Whitman and wives. who, by
the way. were the first white women
to cross the Rocky mountains, made
their way through the Wilds of the
Northwest, and, Just five years from
the time Capt. Wyeth and his brother
made their exploration Of Oregon, eS-
tablished q mission on the Pacific
slope at place the designated Wau-
latpu. The Hudson Bay company,
under whose convoy part Of this jour
ney was made, did their utmost to
convince DR.. Whitman that the noun
tain trails were impossible for wagon.
an argument which they brought to
bear on every immigrant who passed
that way in the succeeding years
Their reasons were obvious. The
more the difficulties in the way could
be magnified. the fewer immigrants;
the fewer settlements, the better hunt
ing and the more furs, and fur was
all the Hudson Bay company cared
for. But in spite Of the wildly circu
lated reports OF the terrors Of noun
tain climbing and river swimming, a
few settlers gathered around the mis-
sion station at Naulatpu, and civil
lizing influence slowly spread through
the wilderness. There were mountain
trappers there who had not seen a
white woman for twenty five years.
Long after one Of these said: From
the day when took again the hand
of civilized woman [ was better
man."
The wide territory lover 100000
square miles, under the name of Ore
gon was then held by the Americans
and English in joint occupation. The
indetiniteness of early treaties left
some doubt as to which government
it really belonged. By the right Of
previous discovery and exploration 1t
was American soil while the English
claimed it because of its occupation
by their fur traders. Whichever ma
ton held it must do so by permanent
settlements, a fact which soon be-
came evident to the Hudson Bay peo-
pie Accordingly party of English
settlers were brought over the Rockies
in the autum Of lS42. On the day on
which the news came that the new i'm
migrants had safely crossed the noun
tains, a happy party Of fur traders
| gathered at the English trading place
of Fort Walla Walla. DR.. Whitman
| had been called there to see a patient
and was also at the dinner table. The
| traders were hilarious over the good
news lust received, and did not hest
! tate because Of the presence of the
one American to throw Qp their hats
! and cry. "Hurrah for Oregon Ameri
/ ca Is too late. we have got the country"
! The Ashburt0n treaty, which was to
settle the boundary between the Unit
ed States and British possessions. was
under consideration at Washington,
and would probably be signed before
| the winter was over. Oregon might
be included il the treaty; congress
did not know the value Of that rich
territory; they must know it before
! the treaty was made; the only way
for them TO know was for some one to
go to " ashington; the only person to
| 20 was himself. SO reasoned Dr.
Whitman as he listened to the enthu-
siastic Englishmsn, His resolution
was taken. He hurried home and an
announced his intention to go to
Washington. No persuasion would
turn him from h.s purpose.
In twenty-four hours he with one
! companion, Amos Loveioy, had start
ed on his journey of 1000 miles 1t
was Oct 3. On the sth ofMarch con
gress would adjourn and the fate Of
Oregon would probably be determin-
ed. Could he reach Washington in
hve months of winter snogs and
! stOFms2 This was the question daily
in DIR. Nhitman's mind as he rode on
taking the southern route through Utah
and New Mexico. to avoid hostile In
dians and some part hottie SHOWS.
But SNOW was an enemy they were
destined to fight through many long
day. though it often farinea ;Iair
friendly blanket at night.
With the one firm purpose aud with
grand energy DR. Whitman pressed
on, nerving the courage of his com
rade and of his mountain guide. Once