The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-04-26
CONTINUED }
Copyright, 1915, by Frank A. Munsey Co.

(Continued.)
Into that world there now pressed
lowing, seething, restless mass, new
population seeking new avenues Of
hope and life, of adventure and oppor-
tunity. Rifemen, axmen, fighting men,
riding men, boatmen, plowmen-they
made ever out and on, laughing the
Cossack laugh at the mere thought Of
any man or thing Yithstanding them.
There were three flags afoat hsDe or
there in the western country then, and
none knew what land rightly belonged
under any of the three. Indeed, over
the heart Of that region now foated all
the three banners at the same time
that Of Spain, passing, but still proud,
for generation actual governor If not
actual owner of all the country beyond
the Mississippi SO far as it had any
government at all; that Of France,
owner Of the one great seaport, New
Orleans, settler Of the valley for a gen.
Grafton, and that Of the now republic
only just arriving into the respect Of
men either Of the east or the west,
respect chiefly through the stark dead
liness Of its fighting and marching men.
1t was a splendid game in which
these two boys, Meriwether Lewis and
William Clark-they scarcely were more
than boys-now were entering. And
with the superb Inconsistencies and
self trust Of youth they played it with
dash and confidence, never doubling
their success. =
The prediction Of William Clark none
the less came true. In this matter Of
flags autocratic Spain was not disposed
to yield. De Lassus, Spanish comman-
dant for so many years, would not let
the young travellers go beyond st. Lou
Is, even so far as Charette. He must
be sure that his country, which by
right or not he had ruled so long, had
not only been sold by Spain to France,
but that the cession had been duly con-
firmed, and furthermore he must be
sure that the cession by France to the
United States had also been concluded
formally.
Traders and trappers had been pass
"
yes; but this was a different master.
Here Yves a f1otilla under third flag.
n must not pass. Spanish official dig
nifty was not thus to be shaken, not to
be hurried. All must wait until the
formalities had been concluded.
This delay meant the loss of the en-
tire winter. The two young leaders Of
the expedition were obliged to make
the best Of it they could.
Clark formed an encampment in the
timbered country across the Mississippi
from st. Louis and soon had his men
comfortably ensconced in cabins Of
their own building. Meanwhile he
picked up more men around the ada
cent military posts-Ordway and How
ard and Frazer of the New England
regiment, CruZatte, Labiche, Lajeu-
nesse, Drouillard and other voyagers
for watermen. They. made a hardy
and efficient band.
Upon Captain Lewis devolved most
of the scientific work Of the expedition.
1t was necessary for him to spend
much time in st. Louis to complete his
store Of instruments, to extend his
own studies in scientific matters. Per-
haps, after all, the success OF the ex-
petition was furthered by this delay
upon the border.
Twenty-Five men they had on the
expedition rolls by spring-forty-fv
in all, counting assistants who were
not officially enrolled. Their equip.
ment for the entire journey out and
back, Of more than two years in dura-
ton, was to cost them not more than
$1,000. A tiny army, meager equip
ment, for the taking Of the richest
empire of the world.
But now this army of q score and
half of men was to witness the lower
ing before it of two Of the greatest
flags then known to the world. It al
ready had seen the retirement Of that
Of Great Britain. The wedge which
Burr and Merry and Yrujo had so
dreaded was now about to be driven
home. The country must split apart
Great Britain must fall back to the
north-these other powers, France and
Spain, must make way to the south
and west.
The army of the new republic, under
two loyal boys for leaders, pressed for
ward, not with drums or banners, not
with the roll Of kettle drums, not with
the pride and circumstance Of glorious
war. The soldiers of IFS ranks had not
even a uniform-they were clad in
buckskin and linsey. leather and fur.
The strange, colorful life of the little
capital OF the west went on eagerly.
st. Louis was happy; Detroit was
glum. The fur trade had been split in
half. Great Britain had lost. The
furs now went out down the Missis-
sippi instead Of down the st. Law
>ence. A world was In the making
and remaking, and over that disturbed
and divided world there still foated
the three rival flags.
Five days before Christmas Of 1903
the flag of France futtered down in
the old city of New Orleans. They
had dreaded the feet Of Great Britain
at New Orleans-had hoped for the
feet of France. They got fleet OF
Americans In fatboats-rude men with