The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1897-01-23

heroic execution, and romantic Incident
American history has nothing more beau
tful or impressive. On the 9Th day Of
july 1896, these missionaries Of the Amer
lean board and their young brides halted
upon the summit of the Rocky noun
tadns, and there among the snowy watch
towers Of the world, with the waters
flowing upon one hand to the Mexic gulf,
and upon the other to the Pacific, they
Raised the stars and stripes, and gave
thanks to God for their preservation in
the Wilderness, among savage TRIBES and
half-savage white men.
Six years later, Fremont passed over
this same south pass of the Rocky noun
tatns, and men cheered his name and called
Finding the paths which womens feet
had trodl
These were the first white women TO
cross the Rocky mountains and follow the
western waters to the sea.
Waadlaltpu the red men called their mis-
sion home, and Walla Walla the waters
by which they pitched their tents in the
fair, wild vale into which their Indian
guides had brought them. WalIa Walla--
where the WATERS meet-tile Indians
called it then, and Waila Walla 1t will
remain forever, because the pioneers loved
the nanne and handed 1t down TO uhedr
children.
1T was a verdtable no mans land,
claimed by England and America, and
held by both under a truce of joint oc-
cupation. England asserbed title south TO
the 46th parallel, a claim which, II sus-
tanned, would have given that country all
of the present state of Washington and
the greater part OF the state Of Oregon.
In a feeble way the UNITED States claimed
title north to the line of H-40, but our
statesmen were apathetic, and some Of
them were clamoring for abandonment
of everything west OF the Rocky noun
tains.
Thus drifted affairs until the summer
of 1912. Lord Ashburton for England, end
Daniel Webster for the United States,
then negotiated a treaty defining the
boundary line between the United States
and Canada. They agreed ON the 10th
PARALLEL as far west as the Lake OF the
Woods; beyond that the treaty of jJint
| occupation was continued. England was
] biding her Time She had her greedy
fur hunters In the Oregon country" and
| they were coaxing I'm settlers from the
Red river valley of Canada The United
States had a little mission band, but what
were these. Thought England.
| Upon a memorial October day in 1912,
Doctor Whitman was called away from
the mission to one of the Hudson Bay
posts, to set a broken limb. There was a
goodly company at dinner, and while they
were at their toasts, a cOuTter came in
from the north with the news that a
large company of British settlers were ar
rived in the Colville valley. "Hurrah!'
exclaimed young officer; 1.-THE country
is ours, the Yankees are too late
| Not word said Marcus whitman. He
called for his horse and rode impetuously
to his mission home. When he drew rein
at VVaa4lattpu, his steed was foam
fiecSed, and he was hNtless. His wife
and associates had seen him coming
from the south, and had gone out to meet
him and learn the occasion Of his eX-
element In hurried words he informed
them of the danger of British occupa-
tion, and declared Ibis purpose of riding
to the nations capital and warming the
administration of the danger. Pleadlngs
and protests were of no avail. A con-
ference of the mission band was held.
Il want your consent" said Marcus
Whitman, ''but am going whether you
give it OF not"
With Amos Lovejoy for companion, the
hero Of the west galloped away on a ride
that was destined to become memorable
IN the ANNALS of the heroic. Washington
City 1000 miles away, and winter coming
on! At the crossing of the Grande, his
guide refused to plunge into the half
frozen torrent. Whitman led the way,
broke The Ice, SWAN the icy current in
midstream, and breaking the ice upon
the other shore, reached solid land again.
Awed by this feat of daring, the guide
followed the preacher.
FloundeTdng through deep snow drifts,
fording half-frozen MYERS, facing the Iliz-
card of the great plains and the intense
cold Of the mountain passes, subsisting on
dog and mule meat, always undeterred
by dangers, always turning "a deaf ear
to appeals to pause at the few lonely
forts en- route, Whitman rode on to save
Oregon and bequeath am empire to the
flag he loved.
Five months from the day he galloped
out of the mission station in the far
distant Oregon country, whitman walked
down the streets of Washington, clad in
furs, a figure commanding the respectful
attention of diplomats and senator's lie
argued with Webster; he pleaded with
President Tyler He grew eloquent In
picturing the beauty and richness of the
land that was trembling in the scales.
THE country can never be saved" said
Daniel Webster, because 1t can not be
occupied by American settlers. Our pio-
neers will not go I'm numbers where they
can not take their wagons"
They can take their wagons TO Ore
gon," replied the heroic rider from the
west. II know It, because 1 have taken
wheels IN % uhe country myself
Mr.. Whitman" said the president, 1--WE
will give you this promise: The govern
ment will not surrender Oregon until you
have had an opportunity TO prove whether
SETTLERS can so there with their wagons"
Whitman had horesoen the needfl I'm
der annoying protests from the guides,
he had In 1895, taken wheels across the
continent and into the great valley of the
Columbia He knew: they did not. AS
he rode through the borderland on his
way to Washington, he had passed the