The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1903-12-26
SACAJAVEA, WHITE MANS SAVIOR.
Renders Valuable Assistance in Times of Great Crises

we read bow Clark. TO obtain a
fine horse. gave in exchange his
sword; while Lewis. determined to
obtain magnificent skin of the sea-
otter. persuaded Sacatawea to let him
buy it with her girdle of blue beads.
1t is. however. with Clark that the
indian girl seems to have been more
especially associated. At Christmas
time her present to him is two dozen
tails Of the white weasel; and at
time Of distress, when starvation
seems near. 1t is pathetic to read how,
with almost too great loyalty to her
captain. she gives him the piece of
bread which somehow she had re-
served for long time. intending it in
case Of extremity for her baby.
On the Return Journey.
"As the expedition worked its way
back again in 1906. the friends made
through Sacajawea remained faithful.
Though in part the road had been
once Travelled, to some extent the
party struck into new paths. and in
the mountains sometimes felt them
selves to be utterly lost. When all
were in doubt and the wilderness
seemed likely to swallow them, then
proved their salvation. As q little
child she had come with her people
through this desert, and now. with
the keen sight Of the migrating bird
which directs It's course by landmarks
not noticeable by ordinary sight,
again and again she pointed out the
path. So It was that in the summer
the expedition came again to the
Minnetaree villages. having accom-
plfshed an immortal achievement.
Nothing remained for them but a.
short and easy course down stream to
st. Louis and civilization. Here
Chabonneau decided to take up again
his abode, at the spot where he had
enlisted, and here stayed, too, saca-
t1wea, under the thrall Of her lord
Sshd master. The student of Lewis
and Clark reads with a pang that
while Chabonneau received $500 for,
his services. sacajawea received moth
ing. not even her freedom; and It is
perhaps the most serious blemish up
on the rame Of the Captains that, for
all the record shows, the gentle faith
fulness, the affection, the extraordi-
nary skill of this daughter of the
wilderness remained unrequited..
Fond Of White People.
"There is one later mention of
Sacajawea. In 1911, the traveller
Breckenridge. sailing up the Missouri,
records a meeting with an old French
man and his wife. who he learns had
crossed the continent with Lewis and
Clark. The woman seemed fond of
white people, tried to initiate civilized
ways in her dress and manners. and
in general appeared like one in whom
an aspiration had been aroused for
something higher than slavery. She
was. says the traveller. in feeble
health. Probably she died soon after
and there is no memorial Of her. The
river to which the Captains gave her
name bears now another designation.
When she laid down her life, and
what became Of the baby which with
its mother had so strange an expert
ence. no man can say.
"After a century. Is 1t not right that
the dust should be brushed Oft this
neglected fgure-the one woman who
went with Lewis and Clark, who con-
tributed so nemorably to their sue
cess-who. perhaps. was their saliva.
ton? Is she not q heroine sweet and
brave among the sweetest and