Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1931-12-03

WHICH, tANC IA AZ Wuo llQAAl6 clbOWCd
signs Of fatigue he would change to n
of the others. HE could ride anything
that wore hair" was an expert with
the rope. too. He always contrived to
exchange his tired mounts for fresh
animals when he reached a post or
trading agency. Sometimes he traded
with Indians. But he was sure, In some
way. to have fresh horses most Of the
time. He rode relentlessly, insensible
to fatigue, cold or hunger, speeding
alone across plains and mountains.
What a figure for heroic verse!
Resting from his trip. Pearson made
another ride to Olympia. On the night
OF October 20, when the Stevens party
had made camp on the bank Of the Te-
ton river. returning from the great
council at the mouth Of the Judith,
Pearson returned. Supper was just
over and the men were gathering
around the campflres. when a lone
horseman was discerned in the west.
making his way slowly toward the
camp. The approach was so different
from the usual dash Of Pearson that
nobody supposed it was he and there
was speculation as to the identity OF
the horSeman. All were on the alert
and there was genuine surprise when
Pearson rode in, his horse so weary
that it staggered and himself 50 ex-
hausted that he had to be lifted from
the saddle. 1t was the first time any,
body had ever seen Pearson feazed. He
was unable to stand and hardly able to
speak, but his emaciated appearance,
his wild and haggard face, told Of fear
full hardship and his friends waited
eagerly for the news.
Pearson handed his dispatches to the
governor and then the men devoted
themselves to reviving him with food
and warmth. Then he told them his
news-shocking news it was for the
little party, alone on the plains and
a thousand miles from home. The great
tribes on the Columbia were On the
warpath, disregarding their treaties.
and the disaffection was spreading to
the Nez. Perces!
But it was the story Of Pearson's
ride which interested the men most,
thrilling though the news was which
he brought. He had III the gauntlet
of the hostile tribes with the dis
patches upon which depended the lives
OF the governor and his party. He had
left The Dalles on his return trip,
we'll mounted, and had ridden the first
day to McKay's ranch on the Umatilla,
where he had rested and had got break
fast for himself. the place being de-
serted. He had then roped a big horse
in a band nearby and, after a hard
struggle had saddled and mounted the
animal when he was surprised by a
band of Indians racing toward him in
war-paint and crying xiii the white
mani" Pearson's horse was pitching,
but took fright at the Indians and in
an all-day race outstripped the reds.
When night fell, Pearson pushed the
horse for all it would stand, doubled
on his trail and rode all night. crossing
the Walla Walla above the usual ford.
He rested his horse a coupe OF hours
and then rode to Red VOLTS camp,
where he procured a fresh morse. The
second day he rode to the Laywai,
where he rested a day and then started
for the crossing of the Bitter Root
with fresh horses and a young Nez
ClCC do n ~ o6FS
time he took the direct Nez Perez trail
to the Bitter Root valley. That night
a heavy snowstorm set in. A tree fell
and struck the Indian senseless. Pear
son was Mortified; he feared the Nez
Perces would think he had killed the
Indian and would themselves go on the
warpath. But the Indian was only
stunned and soon revived. Three days
the storm ragged. When it ceased Pear
son sent the Indian back with the
horses and, packing his food and dis
patches on his back, set out on some
snowshoes that he had fashioned dur
ing the storm. Four days he struggled
through the snow, which completely
hid the trail, and he reached Fort Owen
almost dead from WEAKNESS and ex-
pOsure.
At Fort Owen Pearson rested but
for a few hours. The friendly F1atheads
furnished him with a new horse and
equipment and he took the saddle once
more, worn and weary though he was.
Down the Bitter Root, up the He'll Gate
and the Blackfoot he rode, and over
the pass to the Dearborn; then to Sun
river and over the rolling benches Of
the Teton, where he found the COVER
nor, three days after leaving Fort
Owen. 1t was a terrible trip.
tail, Of the Indian uprising and urged
tail, of the indian uprising and urged
him to go down the Missouri and to
return to Olympia by way of the 18TH
mus. Stevens reached his decision with
characteristic promptness. He said he
would go back the direct way and would
move quickly. A messenger va sent
| back to Benton for additional arms and
ammunition and plans were made for
forced marches. At Fort Owen he pur-
chased more mules and r~eplenished his
supplies. Then he moved back down the
Bitter Root to Hell Gate. He knew that
the hostiles were waiting to waylay
him on the Pend d'Oreille trail; he kept
his plans to himself, but when he
reached the fork Of the trail he turned
J toward the Occur d'Alene pass, though
it was deep in o The men entered
!, into the spirit Of the dash and the
/, crossing through the snow was made
!, with incredible promptness. Stevens
!, surprised his friend and foe alike by
t appearing at the Occur d'Alene mission.
!, From there, the snow was gone, it was
/, possible to move rapidly and the Occur
I d'Alenes and Nez Perces were held In
line by the very dash Of the governors
/ movements. He succeeded eventually In