, 1904-06-30
SILENT HEROES.
Grafton Prepared fer Commencement
1904, by Iris Stryker, 9. Ped.

How often are We inclined to honor
and remember only the greatest n
most conspicuous OF the worlds he
roes, and to forget those who have per
haps as just a claim TO a place on the
roll OF fame. There are many of these
silent heroes whose names are now al
most forgotten and whose deeds are
but dim memories Of the past. Around
the names of such heroes as Washing
ton and Lincoln We place bright gar
lands and keep them evcr fresh and
green; but heroes in the more modest
ways of life pass unnoticed or are soon
forgotten.
In the great expedition of Lewis anu
Clarke to explore tie country west OF
the Mississippi, the results of which
were of such consequence to America:
we find one of these neglected hero
ines, whose lame should be remember.
ed with honor and gratitude and whose
memory should be cherished by all
American people.
1t was the Indian maid, Sacajawea,
who made the settlement of this great
a. PooSApiS- ~ was AN II h'iPNu
open up the great New West, which
today is occupied by many millions of
English-speaking people, and is still
taking rapid strides in it's growth. AS
a result of her sacrifice and unselfish
perseverance, out of the great wilder.
ness, as it then was, has sprung a coun-
try rich in its and power.
strong in it's government. and stronger
in the character of the strenuous men
it produces.
1t is no more than right that we
should pause for a moment in the con-
temptation of this great expedition and
its results, to breathe the name of the
one who pilotcd that first party safely
through their vast wilderness and
made this success possible. The In
dian maid, Sacajawea. the one woman
in the Lewis and Clarke expedition.
deserves an honored place in our mem
cries.
In the greatest CRISIS, help usually
springs from a feminine hand, and so
it was in this case. More than once
when some dire calamity threatened
the party, Sacajawea stepped forth
with a helping hand. and proved their
salvation. When astray from the new
paths never before trodden by white
man, when seemingly lost mi hopes
of success We're about to be abandoned
by these brave explorers. Sacajawea.
with the keen insight OF a mountain
maid, was their gu lie and deliverer.
At another time it looked as though the
expedition must be given up. Horses
and provisions were absolutely essen
tial to their progress, as the rivers
were no longer navigable. But how to
secure these necessities was the all i'm
portant question, for they had met no
human being since leaving the Mis-
souri,. Sacajawea answered this ques-
ton, for them, as she had many before.
She recognized that she was near the
land of her native trlte. and upon
search found her relatives. Friends
were at once made through her and
requisites for the journey were soon
provided.
This brave little woman bore her
share of the trials and hardships of this
perilous undertaking uncunplainipgiy,
and won the hearts of all around her
by her kind and cheerful nature. 1t
was through this Indian maid that the
savages first heard of Uncle sam, and
OF the many things he was going to do
Tor their welfare. Ii was she who
brought to these remote tribes the mes,
sage of Peace on Earth, Good Will
to Men,
She served not only as Interpreter
and guide to their party. but was their
protector as well. The timorous and
superstitious savages. thinking upon
first sight (of them that the pale faces
meant harm, were prepared to fight;
but when Sacajawea. the Indian maid,
came into view. they were at once re
assured. Through her help the good.
will of these mountain tribes was won,
a fact of no small Importance when
one considers the dangers involved in
meeting these savages. She bore the
fatigues necessarily resulting from
such a journey with truly admirable
patience, and when h%ardships gather
o.
ed. she showed eve new to
Tighten them. We should give to her
her just deserts for the part she con
tributeu toward the success Of the un-
dertaking.
What was her reward for all this un-
selfish, self-sacrifcing faithfulness ?
She received nc compensation in mon
ey, and 1t should be with shame that
We acknowledge the fact. We read
how Chabonneau. a de@enerate French.
man. whose slave and wife Sacajawea
was. received Ave hundred dollars for
his part; but this noble, heroic In
dian maid did not receive a penny.
And should We not. as true Ameri-
cans today, acknowledge her as the
central figure In this memorable ex-
petition and give to her our honored
remembrance? In the words Of James
X. Hosmer, Let us brush the dust
from this neglected figure, the one wo-
man who went with Lewis and Clarke.
who contributed so memorably to their
success, who perhaps was their saliva
ton. Is she not . heroine, sweet and
brave, among the sweetest and the
h--c-AA&, I "