The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1898-06-04
AN UNKNOWN HERO.
BY EDMUND PATRICK BENNETT.

(Oration delivered at the commence
mcnt exercises of the Nehart High
School, May 27, 1S9S)
The student of history, as he casts his
eyes over the history of nations, discovers
with horrorthe SUGGESTIONS of murderous
slaughters by which the progress of the
world has been marked, by which so
many of the so called heroes of the world
have won their way to fame and public
recognition. The heroes of Marathon,
Carthage, Bannockburn, Bunker Hill,
Waterloo, Gettysburg, won their way to
glory through trail of blood. AS by
the drop of blood on the earth, the hunt
er traces the wild beast to his lair, SO we
follow these heroes through the forest of
the past, which they have Redeemed
with human gore. History seems to
to dwell with fondness on the massacre
of human lives. The true hero, is not
the man who climbs to honor and fame
over the dead bodies of his fellow men.
He should be discerned by the blessings
which he has secured to his fellow men;
by the good he has accomplished, the
triumphs of benevolence and Justice.
To cool and uncharitable history there
are many heroes unknown, unheard of,
and, save by "a faithful few, unloved.
OF such hero wish to speak this eve
ning-Dr. Marcus Whitman.
Fir - -
of incalculable value, and yet are not rec
ognized. Present historians, ,dazzled with
the pageantry, the glare and blare of
war, have failed do him justice.
In 1886, we find DR.. Whitman and his
wife, starting out as missionaries for the
then far distant, unknown, unexplored
Oregon Territory, that they might spread
the message of "peace on earth, good
will to men over an unknown country
with no path guide them. This was be-
fore the pathfinder, Fremont, had cross
ed the Rockies.
In due time they arrived at the Walla
Walla, Washington valley, and in six
long difficult years settlement was fin
ally established, houses were erected
and mill put in operation to grind the
annual crop Of wheat that supported
the mission and the natives.
This part of the United States was
then claimed by both the United States
and Great Britain.
A time arrived which marked men,
orable epoch in the history of the little
settlement in the territory of Oregon,
and in the United States as we'll.
In 1842, the Hudson Bay company es-
tablished themselves on the Columbia
river They engaged in fur trading,
were ever jealous of American encroach-
ments, and eager to encourage the com
ing of English settlers.
About this time we find DR.. Whitman,
as a guest at a banquet of officers and
friends at one Of the trading posts of the
company. Joy and good feeling prevail
ed. Willie at the banquet messenger
arrived and interrupted the assemblage
by delivering message, 1t announced
that 140 English and Canadian settlers
were en- route for the Columbia One
young enthusiastic member at this news
threw up his hat and shouted: 'Hurrah
for Oregon, America is too late, we've
got the country"
Our hero was silent. The news grated
upon his patriotic heart, but his mind
was active. Thought he: Il must be in
Wochinptp,, o1i -
He returned home and made known to
his faithful wife and friends what had
happened. A hurried preparation was
made for his trip eastward and on Oc-
tober 3, 1912, he bade long goodbye to
his loving wife and with his two faithful
Indian attendants and guides started
with the SHOWS and ice, and storms of
that bitter western winter before him,
to cross the Rockies, and the uninhabit-
ed plains--a long, long journey of nearly
1000 miles. To this trip old mountain
eers point as without parallel. And it
was, they believed TO be "a ride down
into the valley of the shadow of DEATH"
The SHOWS were already deep upon the
mountains and narrow passes. Indians
were on the war path on the desolate
plains and the wild storms of these re-
giCns prevailed.
Day by day the possibility of
overcoming these dangers became more
dismal-now lost in the storm, he dis
mounts and prostrates himself in prayer
for his deliverance-h wife-his country
and tine little faithful band far away on
the banks of the broad and noble Col
umbia. Suddenly the mule which he
rode plunged through the snow drifts,
he and his guide followed. The guide
remarked, "That mule will find a camp
if he lives long enough to reach it."
The storm abated and camp was
made. Again they pressed on. The
Grand river, dreaded to be crossed, even
in summer, when its waters were at
their lowest, was finally reached 1T
cannot be crossed, said the guide. "We
must cross it, and at once,' came
promptly from Whitman. Cutting a