The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1898-06-04

of the ice. The guide was directed to
push him off. There was a splash,
plunge and horse and rider disappeared,
but soon to rise above the foamlng water
and boldly swimming they reached the
opposite bank. All were landed and
they proceeded on Their journey.
The incidents of this journey surpass
| the widest romance, but we cannot de-
| lay to relate them.
In time Washington was reached and
an interview with President Tyler. and
his secretary of state, Daniel Webster,
was arranged Picture to yourselves this
child of the plains. He was clad in the
coarsest garments, his manners, that of
a mountaineer. His picture was that of
| a brave American battling for the rights
of his country. He explained his mission
as no other could, and met with but
| little encouragement from the president
and with only stubborn opposition from
the secretary of state.
1t was memorable meeting. Here
was new character-rough in appear
ance, but withal intelligent, educated
and refined-for these polished diplomats
| to deal with. He asked nothing for
himself, wanted nothing, save the coun-
| try's good, and the honor of the flag.
Rising in the majesty of his convic-
tions. DR.. Whitman said "Mr Secre-
tary, the grand mistake is in listening to
| the enemies of American interests iu Ore
gon. Six years ago / was told that it
was impossible to take wagon there,
and yet in spite of pleading, and almost
threatening, took wagon over there
and have it now" Then warming up in his
description of Oregon, he said: "Mr. sec.
retary you had better give all New Eng
| land for the cod and mackerel fisheries
of Newfoundland than to barter away
| Oregon
The words of this hardy pioneer with
scars of the mountain frosts upon him,
| not thread of self ,h ambition in his
soul, made a deep impression on the
president, but were lost upon the learned
secretary.
| He waited their answer, his heart still
| ed with emotion, as the fate of Oregon
lay trembling in the scales. His eyes
frightened and his cheeks glowed as the
president granted his one request, that
nothing shall be done towards parting
with Oregon Territory until Whitman
should demonstrate it's accessibility to
immigration from the states.
| Our hero was content. The matchless
ride was not in vain. Ere week passed
| by he was on his return trip gathering
Immigrants along the way. telling the
story of the wonderful land, and offering
personally to conduct a party to the
valley of the mighty Columbia The
days flew fast, the journey was long and
tiresome with but one word to cheer,
| "onward, onward, onward, until one
| bright September day, eleven months
| from the morning when he bade goodbye
to his wife, that same wife, lifting her
loving and waiting eyes, beheld the vast
caravan of nearly 1,000 settlers descend
the Blue mountains into the fruitful
| valley of the Walla Walla. DR.. Whit
man was home again, Oregon was saw
ed to the Union.
| For the next four years we find him
working in his noble profession, minis
tering to the sick and upbuilding the
little settlement he had established.
| But shadow falls. While in the act
of prescribing for sick Indian, another
Indian, who before this had been a
faithful friend, crept stealthily behind
him, drew hatchet and struck DR..
| Whitman fatal blow. He fell wounded
| unto death. Then followed dreadful
massacre amid horrid din, the blood,
smoke and screams, of oaths, of which
the like had never been heard, thirteen
| others of that little colony, including
Mrs. Whitman, were slain.
So ended the life Of a patriot, noble
man, and one of America s greatest
| heroes.
No height of color, no depth of shadow,
no varied wonderment of the wilderness,
no note of domestic or religious devotion,
no sentiment of love, no isolation, no
unofficial Importance, no sin of treach.
cry, no utterly mistaken thrust of
| tomahawk, no glory of midday leader
| ship or crimson of sunset slaughter seems
missing in that tale which eliminated
November 90, iS47.
AS we look over the matchess heroism
and daring we can answer the question
"Why our flag floats over Oregon,
Washington, and Idaho?" Because of
DIR. Whitman's terrible winters ride to
| Washington, d. c.
If Paul Revere, at Lexington, and
Phil. Sheridan. at Winchester, are
imortalized by poet ahd painter. so also
let the ride of Marcus Whitman of
| half year over stony mountains and
wild plains, amid the snow and ice and
storms and floods, find place like these
and he be no longer an unknown hero.
Principle only is deathess. Was not
Dr. Marcus Whitman in giving up his
life for humanity as great hero as he
who died for Switzerland at Sempach?
Fifty years ago the lone lantern in the
Walla Walla meadows was violently
extinguished; today it shines as star
| ropidIy orouipu to tho fret maonitu1a