The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-05-08
WHITMAN's WILD RIDE.
1t Was Worth Three Stars to the
American Flag.

"'0"S ""1h iaVllles, travelled only by
Z savage men. 1t was plunge through
ICY rivers and across trackless prai-
rles, a ride Of 1000 Tiles across O. con-
tlnent in the dead of winter to save q
mighty territory to the union.
compared with this what was tho
Ieat OF Paul Revere, who rode eigh-
teen miles on calm night in April to
arouse handful of sleeping patriots
ana thereby save the powder at Con-
cordq
Whitman's ride saved three stars to
inc American flag. It was made in
1S42.
In 1892, during the first adminis.ra-
ton Of Washington, Captain Robert
Gary, who had already carried the
-, American flag around the globe, dis
covered the mouth Of the Columbia
river lie sailed several miles up the
great stream and landed and took
possession in The name Of the Unitcd
States.
IN 1905, under Jeffcrson's admin
1stratIon, this vast territory was ex-
plored by Captains Lewis and Clark,
whose reports were popular reading
FOR our %randfathers, but the extent
B and value Of this distant possession
y were very slightly understood, and no
4 attempt at colonization was made
4 save the establishment of the fur
y trading station Of Astoria in 1911.
4 Strangely enough, England, too,
claimed this same territory by virtue
I OF rights coded to it by Russia and
D. also by the Vancouver surveys of
Z 1892. The Hudson's Bay company
d established a number Of trading posts
II and filled the country with adventure
X Gus fur traders. SO here was a vast
& territory. aS large as New England
a and the State Of Indiana combined,
4 which seemed to be without any posi-
a tive ownership. But for Marcus
\ Whitman it would have been lost 20
D the Union.
n It was in 1896 that Dr.. Whitman
Eand man of the name Of Spaulding,
Ewith their young wives, the first white
bwomen that ever crossed the Rocky
Fmonntains, entered the valley of the
NColumbia and founded a mission Of
i the American board. They had been
Y sent out to Christianize the Indians,
I but Whitman was also to build a
hstate.
II He was at this time tnirtv-iivc
.syears old. In his journeys to and
fro for the mission he soon saw the
vast possibilities of the country, and
he saw, too, that the English were al
ready apprised Of this and were rap
4 idly pouring into the territory. Un-
\ der the terms of the treaties Of 1918
and 1928 it was The tacit belief that
| which ever nationality settled and
J organized the splendid territory would
/ hold it. IF England and the English
! fur traders had been successful in
their plans. the three great states Of
Washington, Oregon and Idaho would
now constitute a part Of British CO.
lumbia. But it was not destined to
be.
In the fall of 1912 it looked as if
there would be great inpouring of
English into the territory, and DR..
Whitman took the alarm. There was
no time to lose. The authorities at
Washington must be warned. Hasti-
ly bidding his wife adicu, Dr. Whit
man started on his hazardous journey.
The pcrils, hardships and delays he
encountered on the way we can but
family conceive. His feet were fro
zen, he nearly starved, and once he
kept pushing right on, and at the
end of five terrible months he reach
, ed Washington.
y He arrived there worn, bearded,
tr9ngely picturesque figure, clad en-
in buckskin and fur, a typical
of the prairics. lie asked audi
of President Tyler and Secretary
State Webster, and it was accord
him. All clad as he was, with his
'ozen limbs. just in from his 1000
5Sanlc ride, Whitman appeared before
s. the two great men TO plead for Ore
@gon.
4 His statement was a revelation to
z the administration, P,&vious to
Whitman 5 visit it was the general
1 IDEA in congress that Oregon was Il
barren, worthless country, fit only for
wild beasts and wild men. lie opened
J the eyes Of inc government to the