The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-01-30
TRIP OVER OREGON TRAIL
Ezra MeekCr Starts on Journey
Across The Plains.
WAGON WILL Be DRAWN BY TWO OXEN
Pioneer Expects to Go Over the Old
Trail in Prairie Schooner
Talks of Prospect.
WAGON WILL Be DRAWN BY TWO OXEN

Yesterday Ezra Meeker began his
contemplated journey over the old
Oregon trail" in a prairie schooner,
from Tacoma. The great canvas-cov-
cred wagon will be drawn by two strong
oxen-"Tom" and "Dave'-the latter
a Gift of. and named in honor of, Hon.
H. c. Davis. of Cloquato. When Mr..
! Meeker's proposed trip was first
preached to Mr.. Davis, he laughingly
said: Let me know when you are
ready to start and I'll buy you an OK"
| True to his word, when informed that
preparations for the expedition were
afoot. he sent a check of a sufficient
amount to not only purchase the need
ed OK, but also to add $50 to the mon
ument fund.
| The first instalment will be but a
short one From the Meeker mansion
he moved to a spot near the Methodist
church in his home town-Puyallup
Here ne pitched his tent and will re-
main until Wednesday when he viii
take up the line of march to Sumner
While in camp at Puyallup he will be
visited by his old friends, neighbors
and the public generally. He will ex-
| tend to all the hospitality of early
days and will show people what pio-
neer life in the early sos was like On
| Tuesday evening he will give a snort
address in the Methodist church. His
address will be illustrated with stere-
optican views of pioneer characters,
| objects seen on the plains and local
scenes. The music for the occasion
George B. Hedges. The instrument
used will be the old style melodeon
| which, fifty years ago, furnished the
music in the old Meeker homestead,
the walls of which are still standing
ivy crowned, in Pioneer park.
On Wednesday Mr. Meeker will pro-
| coed to Auburn and from thence to
Kent on Thursday. Friday will find
him in Seattle He will address a
meeting at the Unitarian church, Seat
tie Monday evening. The object of
the meetings held by MIN here and
elsewhere is to raise funds for the
erection of suitable monuments by
which the old Oregon trail' traversed
by him and other pioneers of so and
SO may be identified and perpetuated.
=. Mr.. Meeker will be accompanied on
his travels by Mr.. and Mrs. Herman
Goebel and Edward Songer An in
dividual not to be overlooked in emu
merating the personnel of the company
Is the six-mOnths-ol old baby of Mr. and
Mrs Goebel, born in camp at the Lewis
and Clark expedition When Mr..
Meeker made his first trip across the
plains a en-months- old baby of his
own was member of the party To
make this second trip as much like the
first as possible he has borrowed a ba-
by for the occasion
} While journeying through this
state Mr.. Meeker will have as a COM
: panion w. H. Gilstrap, curator of the
Ferry museum. This gentleman will
manage the stereopticon at the meet
ings and will also solicit contributions
of relics for the museum" and for
the State Historical society. He mas
been appointed assistant to the secre-
tary of this latter organization for this
purpose
Follow Old Trail.
From Seattle the travellers will make
their way to Toledo, on the Cowlitz
river, from which point they will ship
to The Dalles, Oregon. From here the
old trail will be retraced step by ster
to Indianapolis-Mr Meeker's old home
He will be joined by Mrs. Meeker al
1ndianapoli who will make the jour