The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1905-10-20
the territory west of the Rockies and
north of the 42nd parallel of north lat
itIldpo
First white Women to Cross Rockies

north of the 42nd parallel of north lat
itude."
First White Women to Cross Rockies.
1t was Ia 1886 that DR.. Marcus Whit
man and the Rev. Mr.. Spaulding, with
their wlves=the first white women
to cross the Rock Mountains went
among the tribes of the Far North
west. The country was then in the
control of the Hudsotl's Bay Com
pany d British monopoly with nearly
thousand employees. Its power over
the Indian tribes was nearly absolute
1t had a string of fortified Canadian
posts from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
The company OWNED by tneii in Lon
don desired to exclude American set
Elements ana to foster British immi-
grafton. The Washington government
so far from having any conception of
the Valhe of the northwestern country
sttibb0ffily maintained that 1t was
worthless ana inaccessible by land
Tie great Webster said that 1t was
a land at only for savage beasts and
still more savage men.
DR. Whitman established his mission
among the Caytse in the state of
washington near what is now Walla-
Walla, then Fort Walla Walla, trad
ing post. In 1912 while attending a
difiher given at the fort iii Honor
of some British officers news came
that d company Of British immigrants
were on their way and had already
crossed the Rocky Mountains. There
twas great excitement at the table
and d voting officer Unconscious of
the presence Of the American mission
airy Jumped to his feet exelalming
"Hurfah for Columbia. (the oregon
cBHntry1. America lis top lhtei We
have got the country"
Or. whitman perceived that 1t was
the purpose Of the British to claim
the country by right of settlement.
He left the table rode rapidly to his
wilderness home and after a brief
pause there set out for Washington.
His parting words to his wife were
Il am going to cross the Rocky
Mountains, reach Washington this
winter, God carrying me through
and bring out an immigration
through the mountains next spring or
this country is lost"
An Awful journey.
Winter had set in and the old chron.
icles tell 1t was a severe one marked
by terrific storms and deep SHOWS.
DR.. Whitman reached Washington
crippled by frozen hands and feet.
The news he brought caused excite
ment among the populace and concern
among many Of the government Off
GERS. He saw Daniel Webster Seere-
tary of State represented to him
the grandeur and value or the Oregon
country, told him of the need of inn
migrants and explained the reason
that had induced him to brave the
rlgor of the season by making the
trip. MFR. Webster was about to con-
clude the Observation-Disclosures treaty
renouncing any claim we might have
TO the great northwest for a NewfOund-
land eod-fishery. Webster was not
impressed with Whltman's patriotic
enthusiasm He considered the coun.
try of no value. He thought 1t would
he as well to let Great Britain have
IL. Not satisfied with his interview
with the Secretary of State Or. whit
man sought President Tyler who
heard him with attention, and PROM
ised that the diplomatic deal for the
trading of Oregon should be held up
and that a military escort should be
given 90 the missionary's train.
In the spring Of 1913 DIR. Whitman
led q party Of one thousand Anerl-