The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1905-10-25

the territory west of the Rockies and
north of the 42nd parallel of north lat
itude."
First White Women to Cross Rockies.
1t was in 1886 that Dr. Marcus Whit
man and the Rev. Mr.. Spaulding, with
their wiyes-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 Hudsons Bay Com
pany a British monopoly with nearly
n thousand employees. It's 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 men in Lon
don desired to exclude American set
Elements and to foster British immi-
grafton. The Washington government
50 far from having any conception of
the value of the northwestern country
stubbOrnly maintained that it was
worthless and inaccessible by land
The great Webster said that it was
n land fit only. for savage beasts and
Sill more savage men.
DR.. Whitman established his mission
among the Cayuse in the state of
Washington near what is now Walla-
Walla, then Fort Walla Walla, trad
ing post. In 1912 while attending a
dinner given at the fort in honor
of some British officers news came
that a company Of British immigrants
were on their way and had already
crossed the Rocky Mountains. There
WAS great excitement at the table
and a young officer unconscious of
the presence of the American mission
,nI 10 lai 1iT1r
"Hurrah for Columbia: (the Oregon
countrH) America is too htea We
Lave got the country"
DR.. Whitman perceived that it 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 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 OF
this country is lost"
An Awful Journey.
Winter had set in and the old chron
icles tell it was a severe one marked
by terrific storms and deep SHOWS.
DR.. Whitman reached Washington
crippleG by frozen hands and f e,e1
The' NEWS a.. i i,re,:s Ut caused excite
ment among the populace and concern
among many of the government off
GERS. He saw Daniel Webster Secre
tary of State represented to hin
the grandeur and value Of the Oregon
country, told him of the need of i'm
migrants and explained the reason
that had induced him to brave TIN
rigor of the season by making thi
trip. Mr.. Webster was about to con
clude the Observation-Disclosures treat.
renouncing any claim we might hav
TO the great northwest for a Newfound
land cod-fishery. Webster was no
Impressed with Whitman's patriot
enthusiasm. He considered the cou1
fry of no value. He thought it woul
be as well to let Great Britain hav
it, Not satisfied with his interview
with the Secretary of State DR.. Whit
man sought President Tyler VIII
heard him with attention, and prom
ised that the diplomatic deal for tn
trading of Oregon should be held U
and that a military escort should b
given to the missionary's train.
In the spring of 1843 DIR. Whitma
led a party Of one thousand Amer