Evening star., 1909-05-20


tears of hundreds WHO knew her cour-
age and kindness or heart
The life OF Jennie Wade was unevent-
full and. there is very little that can he
said about her. except the tragic glory
of her death, aud its influence as an in
spirat.on of patriotism. Her name was
In the newspapers of the country for
only few days. \ volume of poems
was published as tribute to her bravery
and patriotism. and a monument, said
woman killed in battle. preserves her
name and her fame to posterity.
Statue Is Artistic.
One of the most artistic Of all the
statues in the United States Is a bronze
figure in the city park at Portland. Ore.
Of Sacajawea. the young sauaw who act
ed as a guide for Lewis and Clark on
their memorable expedition TO the Pa
cific northwest in lso4-N5. She was call
cd the bird woman and belonged TO
the Shoshones. a mountain tribe with
whom Lewis and Clark spent their first
winter in the west. 4 Young girl Of six
teen, she had become the slave and wife
OF Chabonneau. a French voyageur. and
Lewis and Clark engaged them both as
guides and interpreters. although SAGA
jawea had baby only a few months
old. DIR. j. k. Hosmer of Minneapolis.
who edited the journals of Lewis and
Clark, says:
From the arst. the bird woman won
upon the captains and their men by her
mild and engaging qualities, and as they
worked their canoes up the Upper Mis-
souri,, she showed extraordinary ef-
ficiency. Though burdened with her babe.
she labored with the men. with paddle
and towrope, and soon rendered an i'm
portant service. \ canoe loaded with
the most valuable belongings OF the ex
pedition. the journals of the captains
their scientific instruments and their
medicines was caught in a rapid by a
snuall. and was on the point OF being
overturned. Chabonneau, who with Sac
9 ia wea. was on board, had the steering
oar. and struck with fear. went howl
ing tn his Gods The boat filled to the
gunwales and was saved from an OVER
turn only at the last moment. her pre-
cious cargo floating ont upon the stream,
But the bird woman. with her wits all
at hand. saved not only herself and baby.
but. grasping right and left at the es-
Gaping packages, rescued what was In
IT was the first consptcu-
Gus exhibition of her presence ef mind
stantly shown.
Heard Of Uncle Sam.
AT the councils Sacajawea was always
the most important one i'm the line Of in
terpreters. The captains speculated.
amused as to what kind of representa-
ton it was that at last reached the noun
tain men. when their speech. done in
French for Chabonneau. rendered by him
into Minnetaree for Sacajavea, Uttered
on from her Shoshone into Chopunnish.
Ootlashoot or whatever barbarc dialect
might be at hand. But some message
was conveyed. and through the Indian
girl those remotest wilds first heard of
the greatness of Uncle Sam and the
good things he meditated for his newly
gained children of the forest.
that she was useful As the party passed
from tribe to tribe, who were always
timorous at the first encounter. disposed
to ny. like frightened deer. the sight OF
SAGA jawea with her papoose, riding with
the captains. was reassuring. 1t could he
no war party II a SquaW and hC baoy
were among them.
I'VE read how Clark, to obtain fine
horse, gave in exchange his sword: while
Lewis. determined to obtain magnih-
cent skin of the sea-otter. persuaded
Sacajawea to let him buy II with her
girdl. of blue beads. 1t u.s. however. with
Clark that the Indian girl seems TO have
been more especially associated. At
Christmas time her present to him is
two dozen tails Of the white weasel. and
at a time OF distress. when starvation
is near, it is pathetic to read how, with
almost too great loyalty to her captain.
she give, him the piece of bread which
somehow she had reserved for Ions
time intending it in case OF extremity
for her baby.
Woman Points Out Path.
"As the expedition worked its way bacl
again i'm 1905 the friends made through
Sacajawea remained faithful. Though II
part the road had once been Travelled. Il
some extent the party struck into new
paths. and I'm the mountains sometimes fell
themselves to be utterly lost. When al
were in doubt and the wilderness seemed
likely to swallow them. then the strange
capability of Sacajawea proved their sal
vation. As little child she had come with
her people through this desert. and now.
with the keen sight OF the migrating
bird which directs its course by land
marks not noticeable by ordinary sight,
again and again she pointed out the path
So it was that in the summer the eX-
pedition came again to the Minnetaree
Villages. having accomplished an i'm
mortal achievement Nothing remained
fo- them bat short, easy course down
stream to st. Louis and civilization. Hero
Chabonneau decided TO take up again
his abode, al the spot where ne had en-
listed: and here stayed, too. Sacajawea
under the tllrall of her lord and master.
1.-The student of Lewis and Clark reads
with a pang that. while Chabonneau re-
ceived $500 for his services. Sacajawea
received nothing-not even her freedom
and ii is perhaps the most serious blem-
ish upon the fame of the captains that.
for all the record shows. the gentle faith
fulness. the affection. the extraordinary
skill of this daughter of the wilderness
unrequited.
"Saca jawea understood the Importance
of the expedition. and was In earnest
for its success. as were its leaders. Her
services were great. If she WAS not the
salvation of Lewis and Clark. Yet
when and where she died is not known,
and no stone marks her resting place.
Later Mention of Sacajawea.
.sThere Is one later mention of SAGA
iawe In 1911 the traveller Breckin-
ridge sailing up the Missouri, records
n meeting with an old Frenchman and
his wife. vino he learns. had crossed
he continent with Lewis and Clark The
woman seemed fond of white people. tried
10 initiate civilized ways in her dress
and manners. and in general appeared
like one in whom an aspiration had been
aroused for something higher than slaN-
ery. She was says the traveller, in fee
ble health. Probably she died soon after.
The river 10 which the captains gave
her name bears now another designation.
but a noble mountain holds In her honor
the name Sacaja jawea peak. when she
laid down her life is not known, but the
baby which. with its mother. had so
strange an experience lived TO become a
bold scout and hunter.
The statue of Sacajawea was designed
by Miss Alice &C per of Denver. Col. 1t
Is composed of copper from the mines
OF Oregon and cost s. 900. raised by an
association of Oregon women of which
Mrs. Eva Emery Dye was president.
The figure Is of life size and represents
a young Indian woman with "A papoose
strapped to her back and her right arm