The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1899-09-14
A HISTORICAL RIDE.
IT WAS WORTH THREE STARS TO
THE AMERICAN FLAG.


Gus Journey Of 1000 Miles From
Oregon to Warrington and the Re
suits Which Followed In Its Wake
The ride Of Marcus Whitman was
ever snow capped mountains and along
dark r~avines, travelled only by savage
men. 1t was a plunge through icy riv-
crs and across trackless prairies, a
ride Of 1000 miles across a continent
in the dead Of winter to saw a mighty
territory to the Union.
Compared with this. what was the
feat Of Paul Revere. who rode IS miles
IN a calm night in April to arouse a
handful Of sleeping patriots and there
by save the powder at Concord?
Whitman's ride saved three stars to
the American flag. 1t was made in
1912.
In 1892, during the first administra-
ton Of Washington, Captain Robert
Gray, who had already carried the
American flag around the globe. dis
covered the mouth Of the Columbia
river. He sailed several miles up the
great stream and landed and took pos
session in the name of the United
States.
In 1905, under .Jefferson's administra-
ton, this vast territory was explored
by Captains Lewis and Clark, whose
reports were popular reading for our
grandfathers, but the extent and value
Of this distant possession were very
slightly understood, and no attempt 1T
colonization was made, save the estab-
lishment Of the fur trading station Of
Astoria in 1911.
Strangely enough, England, too.
claimed this same territory by virtue
OF rights coded to it by Russia and
also by the Vancouver surveys Of 1892.
The Hudson's Bay company establish
ed a number Of trading posts and filled
the country with adventurous fur trad
ers. So here was a vast territory, as
large as New England and the state Of
Indiana combined, which seemed to be
without any positive ownership. But
for Marcus Whitman it would have
been lost to the Union.
1t was in 1886 that DIR. Whitman and
a man by the name Of Spaulding. with
NAC4A NOuAS wives, lllt uISl white NO-
men that ever crossed the Rocky
mountains, entered the valley Of the
Columbia and founded a mission Of the
American board. They had beer sent
out to ChristianiZe the Indians, but
Whitman was also to build a state.
He was at this time 35 years old. In
his journeys to and fro for the mission
he Snnn Snw tho y-0cf ppccib;1;<;oc -
the country, and he saw, too, that the
English were already apprised Of this
n were rapidly pouring into the ter
ritory. Under the terms Of the treaties
Of 1918 and 1923 it was the tacit be-
lief that whichever nationality settled
and organized the territory. that nation
would hold it. If England and the
English fur traders had been success
full in their plans, the three great states
OF Washington, Oregon and Idaho
would now constitute a part Of Brit
ish Columbia. But it was no destined
to be.
In the fall Of 1912 it looked as IL
there would be a great importing of
English into the territory. and DR..
Whitman took the alarm. There was
no time to lose. The authorities at
Washington must be warned. Hastily
bidding his wife adieu, DR.. Whitman
started on his hazardous Journey. The
perils. hardships and delays he. en-
countered on the way we can but faint
ly conceive. His feet were frozen. he
nearly starved. and once he came very
near to losing his life. He kept
pushing right on. and at the end Of five
terrible months he reached Washing
ton.
lie arrived there n worn, bearded.
strangely picturesque figure. ciad en-
tirely in buckskin and fur. a typical
man OF the prairies. He asked audience
OF President Tyler AMI Secretary Of
State Webster. anh it was accorded
him. all clad as he was, with his