White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1933-01-12

@"a.*sS - - -
led-this, she would
Sacagawea have said, was her
future.
Suddenly, war-party of Hidatsa
bore down upon the camp. There was
little time for defense or flight. Sacaga-
wea found herself on a horse-one of
the Shoshoni Understanding back to
the Hidatsa camp between guards.
She was trophy of the raid, just as
were the horses and the Shoshoni
scalps.
Charbonneau, French-Canadian
voyageur living among the Hidatsa,
saw the quiet captive maiden. She
seemed strong, she was modest, and
pretty as Indian girls go; he bought
her to add to his household, wife
and slave combined. What Sacagawea
thought, we will never know. Perhaps
she was pleased to be chosen by a
white man; perhaps she remembered
longingly some youth at the Shoshoni
camp. She did not say she quietly as
sumed her new duties.
Then Lewis and Clark came to the
village on their famous expedition and
engaged Charbonneau as guide and
interpreter. Sacagawea went along to
attend her husband, but by and by the
white men noticed that it was the
woman who knew the way, and the
woman who could speak the many In
dian tongues. The cowardly Charbon-
neau was just another greedy mouth
a worthless braggart, who talked much
but did little.
AS they assembled the Missouri river,
amid adventures with bears and other
unpleasant happenings, an accident
occurred which periled the very life
at the helm of a canoe containing pa
pers, instruments, medicines, and cal
most every article indispensable for
the success of our enterprise" A
squall came up, and the boat turned
partly around. The guide, losing his
head managed to almost overtErn the
craft, and many of the precious con-
tents were spilled into the river. The
leaders were on shcSe; the men in the
boat were busy trying to right her.
What could save the valuable cargo?
Let the explorer himself answer:
"The Indian woman to whom I as
cribe equal fortitude and resolution
with any person on board +. caught
and preserved most of the articles
which were washed overheard"
This was only one of the dangers
encountered on the long trail. There
were turbulent rivers, floods danger
Gus rocks, wild and fierce animals.
Through them all Sacagawea, her tiny
baby on her back or in her arms pa
tiently made her way. The little fell
low seemed to take his adventurous
entry into life as matter of course
and somehow we are glad that he was
along. He was care, Of course, and
added another to the burdens which
Sacagawea must bear. And yet. there
were moments when she could hold
him close and love him-beautiful lit
tie interludes in the long. perilous
journey, when her baby's bright eyes
gave her new courage.
The first band of the Shoshoni had
been reached. The chief came to well
come his white visitors, and Sacaga-
wea was sent out to meet him as in
terpreter. No doubt she had wondered
If she would know any of his hand,
and it must have surprised her to see
her brother at it's head. Lewis wrote
afterward. however, that she showed
no emotion at the meeting. Why should
she? Life was crammed with adven-
lures, dangers, and surprises for her.
This was Just one more experience to
be endured.
Their meeting came about at an
hour of great need for the expedition.
Horses and supplies were indispens-
able. Without the good words spoken
for them by Sacagawea. they might
not have obtained either. hut she
counseled her brother to help the ex-
plorers. and they were enable to go
on across the divide.
On the return journey. the resource
full woman again saved them. Clark's
party was lost in the mountain passes
of Montana, but she guided them to
safety.
When they reached the Shoshoni in
Wyoming, she stopped. Here was tine
end of the trail for her. These were
her people, and although she had been
fountain of strength. she felt the
need of rest. The Wind River reserva-
ton was created at about THIS tlme,
and she and her son took up their
abode within it's borders
Charbonneau went back to the
Hidatsa. He was seen. an old man,
in 1898. in the Hidatsa country, but
his history ceases there.
Tn 1889. an old. old woman sat
among her people. recalling memories.
She was nearly hundred years old,
hut she had been young and strong
once. when the great white explorers
had trusted themselves to her. She
sighed. remembering. Her eyes shut.
Ended now we're her days on earth.