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

and announced the successful completion oil
their great journey nor the hon0rs which the
future held for him. He returned to Washing
ton to find himself the hero OF the hour and to
be warmly welcomed by Jefferson who said. HE
Is now become close to me as an own SON."
The first honor which came to him was the
governorship OF the vast territory which he had
explored. In 1907 he left Washington for St
Louis to take over his new Job. 1t was not an
easy. one. There were conflicting land grants
to be passed upon. there was jealousy and
pickering among the oticeholders and all sorts
of quarrels and differences among the varied
population of the new country to be settled
Within year Meriwether Lewis was sick and
weary man. He became lonely and silent.
even towards his good friend William Clark
The old brooding fits of black despair settled
down upon him once more
Then came another blow to his troubled spirit
Petty officials In Washington questioned some Of
his accounts and refused to pay them Cut to
the quick by this insinuation against his lnteg-
rlty, ne prepared to go to the Capital to defend
himself against his detractors BY this time he
was very sick man indeed. Clark and his
other friends tried to dissuade him from at
tempting the journey but without success
Accompanied by two servants, pernea, a Gre
ole and Jim, negro. and by Nal John Nicely.
Indian agent for the Cherokees. he set out on
horseback. In Tennessee his illness became
worse but he Insisted upon pushing on Then
one afternoon he and his companions became
separated In severe rainstorm. Lewis sought
shelter In wayside tavern, kent by Mrs
Griner. What happened then Is told In the words
OF Jefferson. writing In 1872 as follows: Mrs
Griner, alarmed at the symptoms of arrangement
she discovered, gave him up the house and re-
Urea 10 rest herself In n fha
ernor'B and Neeys servants lodging In another
About three o'clock In the night he did the deed
Which plunged his friends into afTliction and de.
prlVen MS country OF one of her most valued
cl1zens, whose valor and intelligence would
now nave been employed In avenging the wrongs
OF his country, and In emulating by land the
splendid deeds which have honored her arms on
lne ocean 10 this melancholy close OF the
life OF one whom posterity will declare not 10
have lived In vain, | have only to add that All
the facts | have stated are known either IN
myself or communicated by his family to others
Tor whose truth ! have no hesitation to make
myself responsible"
There has been some dispute among histo
rians over the facts of Lewis death. one YER
sion of the tale has 1t that he was murdered
either by Griner. Pernea the Creole. or lin the
negro But his biographer declares 1.-THE weight
OF testimony. both recorded and traditional. is
Overwhelming In support of the but slightly
varying accounts forwarded by John Nicely
Alexander Wilson and Thomas Jefferson" which
means MeriWether Lewis died by his own hand
lie was buried near the place where he died
~ miles west OF Nashville on the old Natchez
Trace In 1S4o the legislature of Tennessee
voted the sum of $500 to build a monument over
MS grave and In 1925 the federal government
sci aside tract of 30 acres surrounding thIs |
memorial as national monument A splendid
memorial 10 him and his friend. William CLARK |
stands on the campus of the University OF viz |
glnia at Charlottesville and recent years hayp
also seen statues Of boti rrrrtr.
MISSOURI state capitol at Jefferson City. Numer |
Gus tablets and other memorials dot their tran
from the Mississippi to the Pacific and tan
obeisk which stands near the town that bears
MS name, Meriwether. Mont, Is known as the
Lewis monument" commemorating the most
northery point reached BY the expedition. But
even without all these memorials the fame Of
Meriwether Lewis and his friend, William Clark.
Wouio De secure. Lewis and Clark" Is famIl-
lar phrase on the American tongue and In the
mind 1t Is perpetual symbol OF those
VINO 60 forth to adventure, clad In the shining
arnlor OF youth and high enterprise
. by Western InIon