The morning times., 1896-08-23

Grant and the soldiers at the fort urged
him to turn back as any attempt to cut
new road across the continent must in
evitably end in disaster.
But to all such warnings the young mis-
sionary gave no heed. The next morning
he set out towards the southeast to discover
new route to the Mississippi settlements
In due time, the party Tached Fort Mintah.
where the guide left them, saying he re-
fused to go any farther into an unexplored
land to meet certain death in such severe
weather Nothing daunted, Dr. Whitman
hired another man who had some familiar
ity with the region and pressed on through
blizzards and many hardships to Fort Mu-
compahgra, in the Spanish country, on
Grand river. Stopping a day in Aucom-
pahgra to recuperate their stores and en-
ergies, the little band passed onward into
the heart Of the big mountains, bent on dis,
covering way to the ancient Spanish set.
tlement of Taos, northwest OF Santa Fe.
When about one-third of the distance
was accomplished. the party entered o
deep canon OF the Rockies. IN the hope
of finding a pass that would take them
through to the eastern side of the i'm
meDse barrier of rock and ice. When
they had come near the middle of the
canon, the light fails of snow which
they had encountered all the wsy FROM
Waiilatpui here broke into blizzard
of awful severity, and they found them
selves hemmed IN on all sides by snow
drifts impossible to overcome. For ten
days they endured this, during which
time the provisions became scaIce, and
the animals unmanageable.
From the old Spanish town they struck
off to the northeast, bound for Bent,s
Fort, at the head OF the ArkaDsas River.
They were now on the plains and grass
and food were plentiful. A few days out
from the fort they met a caravan go
ing to Taos, and DR.. Whitman was in
formed that a body OF plainsmen Were
about to leave the fort for st. LSuis
Desiring to catch this party and hurry
on to Washington. Whitman dropped all
imped in ents, and leaving his compan-
ions, pushed on alone, A few days later
General Lovejoy and the guide reached
the fort, and the doctor had not yet ar
rived. -5-=-- -
They knew, OF course, that he had lost
his way, and, fearing the worst from the
savage men and beasts of that region. they
at once began search for him. Four days
later he was discovered by the general
and brought into the fort completely ex-
hausted. A rest of a few hours, no wever.
andhe was again on his way al one, attempt
ing to catch up with the caravan, which
he eventually succeeded in doing, about l 90
miles away.
The trip thence to St Louis was unevent-
full. In this city, however. he learned that
the oregon question was illopen, and with
renewed hope he hastened on To Washington. =
Once in the Capital City he found it "A
comparatively easy task to convince Presi-
dent Tyler and Secretary of State Web
ster of the desirability of the oregon coun-
try. His frozen hands and feet bore witness
to the truth of his long journey. and the
President promised him all the aid in his
power.
year later saw him at the head OF
caravan of 900 people, bound for Walia
Walla. The journey OF this caravan-the
first one of consequence that ever crossed
the continent-is story by itself, Suffice it
to say here that they reached the proruissd
land in safety and organized government
in accordance with their country's laws.
Shortly after u treaty was entered into
with England recognizing the ownership of
the United States to all that vast area.