The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1934-08-23

victory over the Indians at the Battle OF Fallen
Ifmbers, IL victory which smashed the power OF
Little Turtle, the Miami leader, and his allies
which led to the Treaty of Greenville and
brought peace. for time at least, to the har-
red Ohio border After that the two friends
separated agan-Lewis now d lieutenant. re-
turning to Charlottesville on furough and Clark
damning army life and Its hardships, reslgning
his commission and going back to the Kentucky
blue grass to be a country gentleman
AT Charlottesville Lewis found that his mother
had married again. to a certain John Marks so
he abandoned his plan to resign from the army
and take over the management of her planta-
ton again. In May, 1897 he was promoted to
captain and ordered to Fort Adams ON the east
bank OF the Mississippi the present site
OF Natchez there to exercise Joint command
with Captain Pierce. After short stay there
ne was ordered back TO Fort Washington made
regimental paymaster and for the next two
years was busy riding through lawless from
tier country with his saddle-bags filled with
gold to pay off the troops at various posts In
the Middle West
Then Thomas Jefferson became President and
there came the turning point In MerIwether
Lewis career. Jefferson offered him the position
of secretary and Lewis lost no time In resignng
from the army and accepting the offer Among
those With whom he was thrown into contact In
the National Capital both In an official and In
social Way.was the vice president Aaron Burr
And Aaron Burr had beautiful daughter, Theo-
dosia, who had married South Carolnian
named Aston
Soon the Presidents secretary and the vice
presidents daughter were seen much together.
They danced together they rode horseback TO-
gether almost every day and before long Lewis
was deeply In love with the beautiful Theo-
dnr{a n a
ton. True there had been the beginnings of
youthful romance between him and cousin
Maria Wood Ga river In Montana bears her
name, given to 1t by Lewis during the famous
exploring expedtion), but nothing had ever
come or that And nothing came of his love for
Iheodosla. THE petty Fates must have taken
rather satanic delight In making Theodosia Burr
Aston, twenty-three and well married the prn-
clpal OF the first and only great passion of MerI-
Wether Lewis life When Merne Lewis
sought to give words to his sentiments, Theo-
dosia was pleasantly frank. she had q
reputation and husband to keep Therefore
the captain could remain friend of the fam
ily's. That ended It."
But Ii he couldn't have the woman he loved
there was another great experience awaiting
him. Thomas Jefferson had been cycling the vast
country beyond the Mississippi for number of
years and. even before considering the posi-
billy of bringing 1t under the flag of the United
States, ne was planning an exploring expedition
into this wilderness OF plains and mountains
Inc leader would have TO be a daring man
resourceful man, one who knew life In the Will
derness. Such man was his young secretary
which Is one OF the reasons why Meriwether
Lewis became his secretary
Then came the opportunity to buy this vast
territory from Napoleon, and Jefferson, stretch
ing his powers under the Constitution until thew
cracked bought 1t for S1500000O The next
thing to do was to find out what he had bought
So the long-dreamedof exploring expedition was
planned. Meriwether Lewis was placed In com
mand and OF course, the first man he turned TO
to accompany him was William Clark
The story Of the Lewis and Clark expedition
Is TOO well known to need more than passing
mention here, even though 1t was the hlgh-water
mark In the career of Meriwether Lewis That
being the case, 1t seems strange to read one
entry In his Journal that for August IA 1e05
when the two explorers were nearing their poal
1t said: "Ths day I completed NV thrtv-frst
year and conceived TINT mad IN all human nroh.
ability now existed about half the period which
am to remain had as yet done little
to further the happiness of the human race or
to advance the information OF the succeeding
resolved, In future to redoubla
nay exertions and at least endeavor to nromote
those two primary objects OF human existence
by giving them the aid OF that portion OF talents
which nature and fortune have bestowed unon
me; or In future to live for mankind. as
have heretofore lived for myself"
He could not foresee, of course how fhe ma
ton was TO acclaim him and his friend Clark
when they returned to St Louis the next year