The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1906-04-03
MARKED THE TRAIL
EZRA MEEKER, OREGON PIoN.
EER WAS At PENDLET0N.
Monument Erected Over Spot Where
Meeker Drove an Ok Team
Fifty Years Ago.

A ceremony of much interest to Ore
gon pioneers took place in Pendleton
Saturday morning, when Ezra Meek
er, pioneer, and 1900 people marked
a spot on the old Oregon trail where
Meeker passed with an OK team so
years ago, by the erection of monu-
ment bearing the inscription, "Old
Oregon Trail-1843-1857."
Col. James II. Raley was the orator
Of the occasion, and spoke as fol-
lows:
zone by one the sturdy men and
women who, half a century ago,
marked the way from the far east to
the unknown Pacific west--1840 to
1850 and 1850 to 186O--are passing
away; soon, very soon, no memory
will survive to recall the once fami-
liar scenes and no voice will remain to
relate the incidents of western pioneer
days.
History alone will record the
events of the past. And one by one
as these old pioneers pass away, and
the places that knew them once know
them no more, we of later genera
ton erect monuments in commemora-
tion of their virtues, and as mark of
appreciation for good deeds and serv-
ices of life time.
$50, also, my friends, one by one
the old land marks that directed the
eye, and the old highways and byways
that guided the course Of these west
ern wanderers, are passing away.
Soon, very soon, the last vestige of
the broad roads, worn deep by the
travel Of thousands of weary feet, will
be obliterated and gone. Fields of
waving grain hide the track. Cities
upbuilded in the once desert land,
blot out the old camp ground, aud
time and elements leave no mark
save that of their own.
"And it is fitting, also that we today
plant monument to mark the path
way Of the pioneer people who gave
this land its birth. 1t is fitting and
proper that we commemorate the road
and highway over which so many of
those to whom we of today are iudebt-
ed for our prosperous Oregon, travel
ed, in their search for new land.
Impulse and action;ip this move
ment of commemoratioh springs from
the patriotic breast of this robust old
poineer of 1859, who Still with the
fire of youth urging him on, seeks
to revive the scenes and retrace the
trarvel of boyhood life. Over a
half century ago Ezra Meeker, weary,
worn and distressed, but neither dis
oouraged nor disheartened, trod west
ward along the very track we now
seek to perpetuate, and | wonder if he
can see in the Pendleton Of today any
mark save the dim outline of worn
roadway-any reminder Of that long
ago. Ten years later | myself passed
over this same ground and two things
only are revived in my mind--the old,
old road and the line of weary teams.
"And as we, glad party, wonder,
and in merriment jest at this unique
caravan, this event to him must con-
trast sharply with that other event
long ago when this old pioneer was
departing from the old homestead for
the far aud unknown west. No mer-
ry party then gathered around the de-
parting pilgrims. Fraught then with
the perils, vioissitudes and dangers,
such journey called forth not
smiles, but tears instead--no merri-
ment and jest, but sorrow, grlet aud
sadness.
"Aud equally sharp aud great,
Mr.. Meeker, will be the contrast be-
tween your eastward journey of today
and your westward journey of 80
years ago. know not how often, or
whether at all you have retraversed
the old line of march since the pio-
neer days, but l have misgiving
that in the present trip your disap-
pointment may be bitter and great in
this, that while the journey may be
revived, the old scenes of pioneer days
have passed away never to return.
'"The huge buffalo whose picture is
still in your mind, and on your can
vass, no longer challenges the passer-
by, but in his stead the mammoth To-
oomotive of modern ingenuity holds
the right of way, The charging herd
of buffalo is vividly depicted ON your
mind, and by your artist have given
place to trains of laundering cars
The droves of timid antelope have
vanished and lazy sheep will huddle
in your way. The noble red man,
pictured as a warrior brave, will beg
aud pilfer as of old, but the signal
fire of warfare has long since smould-
cred ont and its smoke will only be
seen in clouds of dust. And since
tor half century you have slept in
the shadow of Rainier, st. Helens and
Hood, wonder not if the historic In
dependence rock shall appear only as
boulder by the wayside.
"But your work is great and
grand one. Above all disappoint-
ments arises the thought that yours is
a work of love--love for the old pio-
neers who trod these weary ways with
you, and with you made the Pacific
northwest of today-love for the COM
rades who shared in your pleasures,
perils aud dangers in exploring wild
aud unknown territory--love, If you
please, for the generations who today,
as we'll as in the future years, rise up