Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-06
Covered Wagon Centennial
Continues from First Page.)

2 years and 4 months and had beer
made mostly by waterways. Under the
guidance Of the Shoshone Indian
woman, Sacajawea, the explorers nae
reached their goal. but their Journals
held out no encouragement TO any one
who thought Of breaking a wagon trail
through the wilderness. The long
haired men of the mountains, who
brought their peltries down to st. Louis
in bateaux and went back to the beaver
country the same way. were generally
Of the opinion that wagons could not
make the trip. Pack horses. yes-but
the mention of them farm contrap-
tions" was good for a laugh. One
solicitous writer addressed the "fanat-
les" who were about to undertake the
trip "in the hope that they will read
and pause"
But Smith, Jackson and Sublette had
trapped for years along the ROCKY
Mountain Chain. They were confident
that a wagon route could be estaD-
ltShed along the Great Platte ana over
the Wind River Mountains to the Ore
gon country, so they set out with their
caravan of IL wagons and 81 men.
Several months later, in letter to
John H. Eaton, Secretary of War, they
told how they had made their way
northwest to the head OF the Wind
River where it issues from the Rocky
Mountains. Here the letter says,
"the wagons could easily have crossed
the Rocky Mountains, it being what is
called Southern Pass had 1t been de-
sirable for them to do so.'
Smith, jackson and Sublette had
proved that wagons could be taken
across the mountain barrier and that
It was going to be possible for settlers,
with their household implements, to
reach the Oregon country.
Colonization Society Formed.
An Oregon Colonization Society was
organized in 1881 and issued "a gen.
eral circular to all persons of good
character who wish to emigrate to the
Oregon country" The object of the
society was patriotic and philan-
thropic," its circular stating: 1.-THE So
ciety views with alarm the progress
which the subjects of England have
made In the subjugation of the Oregon
Territory. Already they have flourish
ing towns, strong Notifications and Gull
tivated farms" and concluding with
grant will receive gratuitously landed
estate of great value"
Even such temptingly worded ad-
VertiSement did not bring about rush
of emigration. It was not until the
missionary, Marcus Whitman, came back
from the oregon country in 1912 with
wagon party that the rush began
And such a rush! Wagons by thou
sands numbered and creaked along the
trail to oregon. Some were drawn by
horses and mules, others by oxen. st
Louis was no longer the only starting
point. From all parts of the East anc
Middle West and South the emigrants
made for the great roadway up the
Platte. Farmers and city men were
mingled-artiSans and professional mer
in one democracy. Most of these peo-
pie left good homes. Many of then
had been accustomed to all the luxurieS
no denying the Oregon fever once its
symptoms had become manifest.
The people who did not emigrate
made money selling to the homeSeek-
erS. Every Middle Western village hac
something to offer the emigrant-
wagons, harness, Jokes, farm tools
camp utensils, rifles, ammunition anc
clothing. Vacant lots were used fol
exhibits Of wagons or were stacked high
with corn and oats.
Emigrant in Irresistible Tide.
Once on the trail, the emigrant soor
found himself caught In an irresistible
tide. A few new graves and an aban.
doned wagon meant that an entire fam.
1y had laid down." but there was NJ
pausing at the scene Estimates of the
mortality on the trail vary from 10, OO(
TO 10000 persons. The cholera epidemic
OF 1852, which almost swept the trai
bare, accounted for many thousands Of
graves Indians and hardships-mostlJ
hardships for the rest.
AS travel grew, the trail widened Nc
longer in single file, but In double line
the wagons rolled on. Sometimes there
would be no break in the line for miles
Dust rose In great clouds until it was
almost intolerable. Not only the wagons
but an army of loose stock-at least five
or six animals to a wagon-contribute
70 this dust-cloud On either side Of
the trail the grass was eaten off for
hundreds of yards. This meant that
the stock had to be grazed far from the
camp at night-a temptation to the In
dams. Abandoned property strewed the
trallside-cook stoves, cupboards, beds
tables, blankets and even excess provi-
e1ons. Many Of the emigrants arrived
In Oregon with little more than the
clothes they wore.
AS soon as a pa ~ of enigrantS
crossed the Missouri River and reached
"Intun country" it became a law unto
self. Actual travel was under wagon
bhsS. Sometimes his word was supreme
tk all things, but usually culprit, in
TIE case of any serious offense, was
81 zen the benefit of trial by judge and
jkry. One of the most common breaches
OF discipline, for which punishment was
rbovided in the form of public lash
ing, was failure to stand guard. A con-
Viction of murder carried the death
penalty. Ezra Meeker tells of one case
where jury deliberated for three days
before deciding to hang a murderer.
Then the sentence was carried out only
after It was made certain that driver
had been provided and that the muir
6erer's family was assured of getting
through to Oregon.
Forms Of Government Vary.
In some instances the government of
outfits varied in accordance with chang
ing ideas of the emigrants. One outfit
started from Peoria, ILL.,, on a commu-
n1stic basis. It reached independence
in a disorderly condition, and thereupon
went to the other extreme-organizing
along strictly military lines, assembling
at bugle call and marching in platoon
formation. This, too, proved unaccept-
able, and the company was completely
disorganfzed before reaching the noun
tains.
When scare" was on, any emigrant
who was found guilty of provoking trou-
BILE with Indians was subjected to the
severest punishment. Killing an Indian
except In defense of ones life or prop
erty was punishable by death.
The captain of an enigrant outfit
which had struggled through to Idaho
constantly menaced by Indians, came
into camp one day to find excitement
rife. Some one had killed an Indian
and a reprisal seemed certain.
whoever killed that Indian must
die" was the stern command of the cap
tain. Nor did he recede from his posi-
ton when he learned that the one who
had imperiled the train was his son
The youth, knowing his fathers stern
ness as q disciplinarian, had taken his
.iaA A~S ,1yJ,ot eJipYoliac he c01lld carry