The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-08-30
to get back down the Stone in order 10

to get back down the slope in order to
take refuge in the canyon again
Inc guide, however, after repeated eff
forts to locate the trail back to the camp
Ing place, acknowledged himself com
pletely lost Here death indeed was close
at hand. Dr.. Whitman saw that they
were beyond the help of man, and, true,
to his teachings, he lknelt in the snow on
the bleak top of the mountain peak and
asked God for guidance. Then he turned
one OF the pack mules loose, and with
its usual unerring instinct the animal
lead the party back over the trail to their
former camping place.
When the storm had finally abated the
guide deserted the party and DR.. Whit
man was forced to return alone to I'm
cOmpahgra to procure new one, leaving
General Loyejoy in camp in the canyon.
Obtaining a pew aver, was no
easy task. and the missionary was de-
tanned several days in Uncompahgra, but
nnally returned with d Mexican who had
promised TO accompany him to Santa F'e.
After still further hardShipS and depriV2-
tons, the little band reached Taos, where
they found provisions so scarce that they
could add none TO their already much de-
pleted stores. But with brave hearts they
pushed on, crossing streams filled with
broken ice. and suffering pangs of hun
ger. until they had trayersed about half
the distance between Taos and Santa Re
Here the last OF the stores was con-
sumed and death by starvation was close
at hand. In that country there was no
game for the hunters gun. and before
DIR. Whitman and his associates reached
Santa Fe they were compelled to eat the
doctors dog and one OF the mules.
From the old Spanish town they struck
off to the northeast, bound for Bent 5
fort. at the head Of the Arkansas river.
They were now on the plains and grass
and food were plentiful. few days
out from the fort they met a caravan go
ing to Taos and DR.. Whitman was in
formed that body of plainsmen were
about to leave the fort for st. Louis
Desiring to catch this party and hurry
on to Washington, Whitman dropped all
impediments. and leaving his compan-
ions pushed on alone. few days later
General Lovejoy and the guide reached
the fort, and the doctor had not yet ar
rived.
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 gen
eral and brought into the fort completely
exhausted A rest of a few hours, now
ever. and he was again on has way alone
attempting to catch up withNhe caravan,
which he eventually succeeded IN dong,
about one hundred miles away.
wHITMAN's RETURN.
The trip thence to St. Louis was un-
eventful. In this city. however, he learned
that the Oregon question was still open,
and with renewed hope he fastened on to
Washington.
once IN the calHtal city, ne IouHu II d
comparatively easy task 20 convince Pres
ident Tyler and Secretary of State Web
ster of the desirability of the Oregon
country. 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.
A year later saw him at the head of a
caravan of 1000 people, bound for Walla
Walla. The journey of this caravan-the9
first one of consequence that ever crossed
tbe continent-iS a story by itself. Suffice
it to saw here that they reached the prom
ised land in safety and organized gov
eminent in accordance with their coun-
try's laws. Shortly after q treaty was
entered into with England recognizing
the ownership of the United States to all
that vast area.
And that is how Marcus Whitman
saved Oregon.