diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 78040-0.txt | 8671 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 78040-h/78040-h.htm | 13592 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 78040-h/images/img-008.jpg | bin | 0 -> 401984 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 78040-h/images/img-027.jpg | bin | 0 -> 399788 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 78040-h/images/img-052.jpg | bin | 0 -> 273021 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 78040-h/images/img-053.jpg | bin | 0 -> 303081 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 78040-h/images/img-057.jpg | bin | 0 -> 291576 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 78040-h/images/img-066.jpg | bin | 0 -> 162243 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 78040-h/images/img-074.jpg | bin | 0 -> 331163 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 78040-h/images/img-075.jpg | bin | 0 -> 300021 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 78040-h/images/img-088.jpg | bin | 0 -> 350391 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 78040-h/images/img-102.jpg | bin | 0 -> 140699 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 78040-h/images/img-125.jpg | bin | 0 -> 326884 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 78040-h/images/img-136.jpg | bin | 0 -> 146594 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 78040-h/images/img-159.jpg | bin | 0 -> 129186 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 78040-h/images/img-175.jpg | bin | 0 -> 333734 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 78040-h/images/img-217.jpg | bin | 0 -> 339419 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 78040-h/images/img-223.jpg | bin | 0 -> 344173 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 78040-h/images/img-251.jpg | bin | 0 -> 315507 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 78040-h/images/img-270.jpg | bin | 0 -> 316815 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 78040-h/images/img-282.jpg | bin | 0 -> 311239 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 78040-h/images/img-cover.jpg | bin | 0 -> 415328 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 78040-h/images/img-front1.jpg | bin | 0 -> 376954 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 78040-h/images/img-front2.jpg | bin | 0 -> 215614 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 78040-h/images/img-title.jpg | bin | 0 -> 97802 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
28 files changed, 22279 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/78040-0.txt b/78040-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5902c9b --- /dev/null +++ b/78040-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8671 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78040 *** + + + + + + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + +[Frontispiece: PRESIDENT AND OLD PIONEER] + + Signature of President Coolidge + from the White House, + March 25, 1926. + +PRESIDENT AND OLD PIONEER + +Calvin Coolidge and Ezra Meeker, two stalwart Americans--the +President a New Englander, and Mr. Meeker a native of Ohio, though +for nearly all his adult life a resident of the Pacific Northwest. +Mr. Meeker was a youth past fourteen when the late John C. Coolidge, +father of the President, was born. Photograph taken on the White +House grounds, near the Executive Offices, in October 1924, just +after Mr. Meeker had flown in an aeroplane from Washington State to +the City of Washington: and the old gentleman took advantage of the +opportunity to say to the President--as he had to President Theodore +Roosevelt near the same spot on November 29, 1907--that the memory of +the Pioneers should be preserved, and the route of the Oregon Trail +suitably and permanently marked. + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + + + + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + +[Frontispiece: EZRA MEEKER] + +EZRA MEEKER + +Born December 29, 1830. Only survivor (1926) among the adults who +passed over the Oregon Trail in their own outfits at the height of +the migration of 1852. Founder and President of the Oregon Trail +Memorial Association, Inc. + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + + + + + KATE MULHALL + + + A Romance of the + OREGON TRAIL + + By + EZRA MEEKER + + Author of: Ox-Team Days, Pioneer Reminiscences, + The Busy Life of 85 Years, Pioneer Stories for + Children, Story of the Lost Trail to Oregon + + + Drawings by Margaret Landers Sanford, Rudolf A. Kauach + and Oscar W. Lyons + Map of the Oregon Trail, and photographs + + +[Illustration: (oxen and wagon)] + + + Published by + EZRA MEEKER + 18 OLD SLIP, NEW YORK CITY + + + + + THIS VOLUME IS INSCRIBED AS A TRIBUTE OF DEVOTION TO + THE MEMORIES OF + + PHOEBE BAKER MEEKER + + MY MOTHER + + ELIZA SUMNER MEEKER + + MY WIFE + + WHO CROSSED THE OREGON TRAIL AS A YOUNG MOTHER IN 1852, + AND WAS AFTERWARD THE COMPANION OF MANY YEARS OF MY LIFE + + THE HEROINES OF THE PLAINS + AND 20,000 PIONEERS + + MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN--BURIED IN UNMARKED GRAVES, + ALONG THAT GREAT HIGHWAY OF HISTORY TO THE FAR NORTHWEST + + Copyrighted 1926 + By EZRA MEEKER + + All rights reserved + + + + +CONTENTS + + +FOREWORD: Ezra Meeker, the Author + By Robert Bruce. + + +CHAPTER I + +Early Life in Missouri; A Farewell Party; Kate's Suitors + + +CHAPTER II + +Off for Oregon; Crossing the Missouri; Encountering the Buffalo; +Troubles with the Indians + + +CHAPTER III + +Trials of the Long Trail; Dangerous River Crossings; the Death of +Catherine; West of the Rockies; Separation of the Party; New Homes in +the Oregon Country + + +CHAPTER IV + +A Massacre and a War; Kate Mulhall, Deputy Sheriff; A Race for a +Wife; The Wedding and Charvaree; A Delayed and Adventurous Honeymoon +on Puget Sound + + +CHAPTER V + +An Encounter with Pirates, and a Fortunate Deliverance; Ben Found; +His prompt start for Missouri and unexpected arrival; a Son born to +the Peltons + + +CHAPTER VI + +The Wedding of Ben and Linda; A second Overland Trip; Massacre of +nearly all the Company; Binding up the Wounds; The Trip resumed; +Survivors reach the Oregon Country + + +CHAPTER VII + +Linda's hope never realized; Death of David Mulhall; Craig's promise +remembered; Lessons from a Trail-marking Outfit; Decision to make the +trip + + +CHAPTER VIII + +The Start for the Rockies; Re-discovery of the Old Trail; +Recollections of Burnt River; All signs of Ben's grave obliterated; A +granite Monument erected near the Lone Pine and wagon tire at the +grave of Catherine Mulhall: Closing Scenes + + +APPENDIX + +The Missionary's Story--The Lewis and Clark Expedition; Outline +History of the Oregon Missions; Jason Lee's great sermon; Massacre of +Marcus and Narcissa Whitman; Destruction of the Mission, &c + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + +President and Old Pioneer ...... Frontispiece + +Ezra Meeker, the author ...... Frontispiece + +Condensed map of the Oregon Trail and National Road + +Farewell Party at the Mulhall Homestead in Missouri + +A near catastrophe in crossing the Missouri + +Typical emigrant outfit on the Oregon Trail + +Using a wagon-box as a "boat" + +Under the Yoke for the first time + +A Corral at an overnight stop on the Trail through the Indian Country + +Almost "Down and Out" + +Monument along the Clover Creek Highway, near Tacoma, Washington + +Reduced to a Hand Cart + +The honeymoon party on Puget Sound + +"Help Yourself + +"Babe in the Woods" + +Scene after the Massacre + +Tracks on the Oregon Trail made nearly a century ago + +The lone pine + +Jason Lee's great sermon + +Dr. John McLoughlin welcoming Mrs. Whitman and Mrs. Spalding to Fort +Vancouver + +Arrival of the Sager orphans at the Whitman Mission + +------------ + +The front cover design combines a distant view of the majestic +mountain of the Pacific Northwest with a pictorial representation of +one of the great falls on the western slope of the Rocky +Mountains--both landmarks enshrined in the memories of the few +surviving Pioneers over the Oregon Trail. + + + + +{5} + +FOREWORD + +EZRA MEEKER, THE AUTHOR + + A LIFE SPAN OF MORE THAN NINETY-FIVE YEARS FROM THE + ADMINISTRATION OF ANDREW JACKSON TO THE + PRESIDENCY OF CALVIN COOLIDGE + +By ROBERT BRUCE + +Ezra Meeker was born December 29, 1830, about ten miles east of +Hamilton, Butler County, Ohio, while Andrew Jackson was President of +the United States, John C. Calhoun, Vice President, and Martin Van +Buren, Secretary of State. There had been only six +Presidents--Washington, John Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe and +John Quincy Adams; and the last three were still living. +Considerable numbers could remember listening to the Declaration of +Independence at Philadelphia or elsewhere; a trifle less than half a +century had elapsed since the decisive victory at Yorktown, and +survivors among men who served in the armies of the Revolution were +younger than the average of Civil War veterans in 1926. + +Although we are accustomed to think, read and speak of the Oregon +Trail as "old," the route to which that name has since been given did +not come into existence until several years after Mr. Meeker was +born. So the shadow thrown upon the screen of time by the living +figure of this remarkable man is longer than we may say figuratively +is cast by the highway itself; and while the latter has been +gradually passing into the background of history and romance, he is +still carrying forward with singleness of purpose and unabated energy +what will probably be left to posterity as the most important work of +his whole busy life. + +Prior to 1830, neither the people east of the Mississippi nor the +Government at Washington had adequate conceptions of the +geographical, political or future commercial importance of the +Pacific Northwest; and the wonderful developments there in the last +seven decades have grown out of the overland migration of the 40s and +50s, or at least owe much to it, historically and practically. + +{6} + +A most appropriate symbol of the "Course of Empire" from the valleys +of the Mississippi and Missouri to the Columbia River and Puget Sound +country would be a miniature wagon--sometimes idealized as a "prairie +schooner"--carrying many thousands of home seekers into what now +comprises all of Oregon, Washington and Idaho, with contiguous parts +of Wyoming and Montana. Except for that great human movement, of +which the author of this Romance is the only survivor among the men +who went over the Trail with their own outfits in 1852, that region +would have continued primarily a fur-hunting territory for many years +later than was actually the case, and then in all probability have +become a part of the British Dominions in America. + +As a youth, Ezra Meeker saw recruits somewhat older than himself +leave for the Mexican War; he was intensely interested in reports +about the far-away and then almost legendary Oregon Country before +there was any established travel to it, and heard echoes of the +discovery of gold in California--though he was not, as frequently +stated, a "Forty-Niner." Accounts of opening the Panama Railroad in +1855, with its considerable effect upon the subsequent emigration to +the Pacific Coast, and of the Crimean War, reached the family cabin +built with his own hands in "Old" Oregon. Mr. Meeker is now the only +one left from the adults residing in Washington Territory when it was +created in 1853. + +For more than fifty years he was a farmer and hop grower in the Puget +Sound region, meanwhile spending four winters introducing hops from +Washington and Oregon in the European market; and was also at one +time a prospector and miner in the Yukon. Within the span of his +life the population of the United States has increased from less than +Thirteen Millions, then living mostly along the Atlantic seaboard, to +about a Hundred and Fifteen Millions occupying the whole country to +the western ocean. So far as we have been able to ascertain, Mr. +Meeker is the only person who ever undertook an important work of +fiction in his 95th year; and this has been done to revive and +preserve the experiences and memories of his youth, in connection +with the efforts of two decades to mark the Trail and honor the +Pioneers. + +{7} + +PREFACE + +Having thrice crossed the Oregon Trail by ox-team, first during the +year 1852 accompanied by a courageous young wife, the second and +third times during the years 1906-10, erecting monuments to mark the +Trail and perpetuate the memory of the pioneers who traversed it, +again in an automobile in 1915, and finally over 1,300 miles of it in +an aeroplane in October, 1924, presumably none will question that the +author can write from his own experiences. + +One hundred and seventy-one granite monuments have already been +erected on or near-by the general route of the Oregon Trail, along +which twenty thousand died. An effort is now being made to portray +the scenes and experiences of these pioneers in moving pictures with +fidelity to historical accuracy, that present and future generations +may know what happened in the winning of the great Farther West. + +The names of the actors in this romance are fictitious; but the +characters are as the writer knew them. The incidents are based on +occurrences in real pioneer life, many of which the author saw, some +of which he experienced, and all he knows to be in accordance with +the truth. + +[Signature of Ezra Meeker] + +New York City, January 1926. + + + + +{8} + +[Illustration: Condensed map of the National Road and Oregon Trail, +the first transcontinental route, which did more than any other to +"bind the nation together in a common brotherhood, and thus +perpetuate and preserve the Union." The journeys described in this +volume were made over these two great lines of travel.] + + + + +{9} + +CHAPTER I + + EARLY LIFE IN MISSOURI; A FAREWELL PARTY; + KATE'S SUITORS + + +Kate Mulhall was just twenty when her father crossed the Missouri +River and the Great Plains on their way to the "Oregon Country." +Prior to the day of their departure for that far-away region of +mystery and romance, she had never been outside the restricted +neighborhood where she was born--in La Fayette County, Missouri, +whose every third inhabitant was a slave; had never seen a railroad, +and until a short time before, not even a cook-stove. All of her +life had been in a real pioneer environment; but she grew up strong, +hearty and self-reliant upon the plain and wholesome food, the pure +air and active outdoor life of what was then the frontier. + +She was of the brunette type, with dark hair and lustrous eyes that +fairly sparkled with the delight of being interested in the fields +and flowers, grand old woods full of wild life, birds, animals and +everything about the home or farm. Of more than the average height, +her movement was lithe and free; her form an excellent subject for an +artist's brush. Outdoor life appealed to her nature, and she took a +joyful satisfaction in all of its activities. + +Kate was an expert horsewoman and a crack shot {10} with the rifle, +often picking a wild turkey off the lower limb of a forest tree at +one or two hundred yards. In addition to that splendid game bird, +timorous water-fowl were abundant on the rivers and in ponds; deer, +grouse and pheasants in the wood and brakes; rabbits and squirrels +almost everywhere; and the "razor-back" hog, wild and ferocious, +roamed the forests and dense thickets of Missouri in those pioneer +days. Many a litter of pigs, sprung from domesticated ancestors, +lived by digging out edible roots under the surface, or hunted +beneath the heavy fall of autumnal leaves for the more nutritious +acorns, beechnuts and walnuts. + +The constant search for food developed an independent life which soon +relapsed into the state of nature; so wild hogs became, like the deer +and turkey, common property for the hunter's rifle. From these +various kinds of game Kate kept the Mulhall family table well +supplied with substantial and seasonable food. Missouri also +harbored among its inhabitants not a few wild men, contact with whom +sometimes involved taking desperate chances. + +David Mulhall, Kate's father, was a typical non-slaveholding farmer +of that period in Missouri--honest but not "progressive" in the +present general understanding of that word. He was intensely +prejudiced against the negroes, but bitterly opposed to the +institution of slavery. Because of these well-known views, he was +regarded with suspicion by a majority of his slaveholding neighbors; +and, in fact, {11} looked down upon as belonging to the "poor white +trash" of the South who worked with their hands. + +Many others like him migrated from Missouri because of their hatred +of slavery, though usually carrying with them a prejudice against the +black man. Others left that region for "free territory" because of +the bitter class prejudice existing between those who owned negroes +and those who did not; and the latter particularly to save their +children from the necessity of competing with slave labor. + +Mulhall was by nature and training an easy-going person, who believed +in "letting well enough alone"; and was, therefore, averse to going +out upon a world of uncertainties, or taking unnecessary chances for +bettering his condition. He was born before the advent of railroads +in the United States, when oxen supplied the principal means of +transportation, and "hog and hominy" comprised the basic food supply +for a majority of the people. + +The sickle cut his grain, which was thrashed by the flail; and the +wind separated it from the chaff. Boiled wheat frequently took the +place of white bread, as it was a long distance to a mill and usually +a tiresome wait for the "turn" to have the grist ground; hominy was +often substituted for johnny-cake or corn pone when the meal was all +gone. It is difficult for a generation accustomed to an abundance of +every kind of food, including luxuries, to realize how the American +farmer lived in the early part of the nineteenth century. + +{12} + +A rather large one-room cabin was the home of the Mulhalls--with a +loft overhead, the fireplace in one end and the bedroom, curtained +off for the parents, in the other. Kate's room was in the loft with +the younger children--all girls--reached only by a ladder fastened to +the wall; the patter of rain on the roof often lulled the youngsters +to sleep, whether they willed it or not. + +Kate was not one of those who constantly chafe for things they cannot +have and lament over their fate. She was too healthy in mind and +body to give way to discontent--was satisfied with her lot, and proud +of the class to which she belonged. Nor would she willingly exchange +places with anyone who lived in idleness and comparative affluence +upon the involuntary labor of fellow mortals of a different color. + +Fine qualities of head and heart combined with an exceptionally +attractive personality to make her very popular with the young men of +marriageable age and inclinations in all the country around. Nor +were all of her admirers of her own circle; at least one belonged to +those prone to consider themselves superior to white families who +owned no servants. But at the time this story begins, Kate had no +serious intention of taking any step that would abridge her personal +freedom; there was plenty of time for that. + +But whenever there were any "doings" in the neighborhood--dances, +spelling bees, sociables or camp-meetings--she was sure to be on +hand, and {13} never lacked for an escort home. Sometimes it would +be Ben Hardy, at other times James Price or one of the Shaeffer boys. +She had never gone anywhere with Isaac Pelton, although she always +treated him in a friendly way at such places, and actually admired +him more than any of the other young men of her acquaintance. + +He was a fine looking young man, sensible and well-behaved; but when +the thought that he belonged to the slave-holding class--most of whom +either sneered at her kind of people, or acted patronizingly towards +them--came vividly into her mind she said to herself, in effect, +"Banish the thought! Never will I come to terms of intimacy with one +of those would-be aristocrats, however nice he may be personally." + +Isaac was really a victim of circumstances. Born of a slaveholding +family, he had a good education and bore himself like a gentleman, +never assuming any airs of superiority over his neighbors, whatever +their station in life. As a matter of fact, he deplored the +conditions that separated him from those with whom he felt he had +more in common than with his own people. There were many like him in +those days. + +Standing six feet in his stockings, he was erect in bearing and +rather slender in frame, though no weakling when it came to physical +prowess; "of stature tall and slender frame, but firmly knit" would +apply to Isaac Pelton. His hair was brown and his {14} eyes grey, +indicating mental alertness; a slightly prominent chin and firm-set +lips stamped him as one not easily swayed from his course. + +At a neighborhood gathering just prior to the beginning of this +story, Isaac noticed that Kate had no escort; so, availing himself of +a favorable opportunity, he approached her and in a very gentlemanly +way offered to see her home. It was the first time Pelton had ever +done anything of the kind; Kate seemed embarrassed for a moment, and +blushed perceptibly. + +If only her feelings were to guide her actions, she would have +cheerfully accepted the offer, for she really liked Isaac and admired +his many good qualities; but again that class barrier arose in her +mind, and she courteously declined. He knew it would be useless to +try to press his suit further just then; so retired, defeated for the +moment but not discouraged. + +Pelton had been studying Kate for quite a while, and as time went on, +the more interested he became; her sterling qualities appeared to +greater advantage every time he had an opportunity to observe her. +He felt that she was the one woman he could love and cherish +throughout his life; and no matter how great the obstacles in his +path, he would win her. + +Notwithstanding the rebuff, he felt sure that she had no personal +objection to him, but was actuated by what she deemed a principle. +Were he not the owner of human chattels, he believed his advances +would have been more favorably received; that {15} barrier must +somehow or other be removed before he could hope to be successful. +He was right, but that was a wakeful night for Kate. The more she +thought about it the worse she felt; she regretted wounding Pelton's +feelings, but it would have strained her principles to have accepted +his offer. + +As she lay awake pondering over recent events, Kate began to realize +that Pelton was more to her than she had imagined; and remembered the +many small courtesies extended by him when they met at the frequent +neighborhood gatherings. Both were fond of flowers, and she now +recalled the many new bouquets slipped into her hand with a list of +their names and classifications. She remembered, too, that unlike so +many of the neighborhood boys Isaac always had something sensible to +say, and was an attentive listener; that at times he seemed reserved, +almost timid, in her presence. + +An almost forgotten incident of two or three years before now came +vividly to her mind; how when the matter came to his attention, +Pelton hunted up and soundly thrashed a ruffian who had used +insulting language to her. These and other incidents helped to +banish sleep. As her mind was absorbed with thoughts relating to +Isaac, in a dreamy sort of way Kate began to realize for the first +time in her life that a strange feeling of more than friendship, +admiration or simply respect possessed her. She loved Pelton in +spite of herself. + +Then the hateful words "slave" and "slaveholder" {16} stole into her +mind to break the reverie, causing her to again exclaim half aloud to +herself, "Banish the thought!" The present generation can scarcely +realize the virulence and intensity of the feeling generally held by +the slaveholding class against anyone who condemned that system. +Kate was well aware of this, and naturally inferred that Pelton was +imbued with the same sentiments. + +Her attitude was due to some definite facts within her personal +observation or knowledge, of which a single instance will suffice +here. One James Smith, of Pike County, had recently published in a +local paper the following advertisement: "For Sale: six yoke of oxen; +two nigger wenches; four buck niggers; three nigger boys, one barrel +pickled cabbage and various other articles of merchandise," stating +as his reason for selling, "I'm g'wine to Californy." This gave +assurance that the sale was genuine and conveyed the intimation that +bargains in slaves might be picked up there. + +After Kate had recovered somewhat from the excitement incident to +refusing Pelton's offer to accompany her home, the mother reminded +her that Isaac did work with his own hands and was shunned by many of +his class because of it. "But, mother," she replied, "you know I +have no thought of marrying anyway!" Nevertheless she could not help +being vexed for allowing herself to be influenced by such a prejudice. + +Kate had known Pelton, or rather of him, almost {17} her whole life, +having often seen him at the meeting-house and upon other public +occasions. She was conscious of some admiration for him; but had no +thought of betraying her secret by act or manner, although she may +unconsciously have done so. One thing Kate was sure of--she never +would place herself in a position for others to look patronizingly +upon her; nor would she ever become the wife of a man who held +slaves. Perhaps Kate had never thought about this as a rule of life; +it was an expression of her nature. + +According to common gossip in the neighborhood, she had two or three +suitors, but there was nothing to warrant such an assumption. James +Price had been known to spend a Sunday evening or two at the Mulhall +cabin, and Ben Hardy had twice gone home with Kate from singing +school. Coming to Kate's ears, this gossip annoyed her. "Couldn't a +body be civil without being talked about?" she asked herself. Then +her mother would say, "Well, what's the difference? Some people do +get married, you know, and there's no harm in talking about it. +Father and I were married once upon a time, and it didn't hurt us +even if people did talk." + +Kate couldn't fathom what was running in her mother's mind, for she +had said time and again that she was not going to marry and leave +home. But when alone, she was troubled by the thought that she did +feel just a little jealous when she heard that Isaac Pelton had gone +home with Linda Shaeffer two {18} Sundays ago, and that James Price +had also paid attentions to her. + +"Fudge," she said to herself, "what's the matter with me?" and +pinched her arm until it hurt for having such a thought. She should +really be glad of it, for Linda was her friend. But, in spite of her +effort to banish it, the idea would come back when thinking of Pelton +as Linda's beau. + +James Price was of a good family, but several years older than either +of the girls; in fact, as thought in those days, bordering on +bachelordom. He was of good address, but not ambitious to make his +mark in the world, aside from mingling with the petty politicians of +the county; and might have passed for one of them. Price called +twice at the Mulhall cabin and stayed unusually late; there was +nothing to indicate that he had come to "see" Kate, but the sharp +eyes of the mother easily detected the object of his visit, and later +she told Kate so. + +The Hardys lived on a rented farm not far from the Mulhalls and they +had been neighbors for several years. Kate and Ben attended school +together, had pulled on the long grapevine in the tug-of-war on the +same team or on opposite sides; had been to candy pullings in the +sugar making season, and twice were the last "spelled down" as +captains of the two opposing camps of spellers. But that they were +old enough to marry seemingly never occurred to either of them. + +Ben was the opposite of Kate in complexion, figure {19} and general +appearance. While Kate was very dark, Ben was fair--almost +pale--with deep blue eyes; Kate's eyes were almost coal black and her +face was full, while Ben's was spare. Ben stuttered just a little, +but enough to be noticed and occasionally to amuse those with whom he +was not well acquainted. Ira Hardy, Ben's father, was not thrifty in +worldly matters. Some would say he was shiftless or indolent; +whatever the cause, the elder Hardy suffered by the imputation, and +his son Ben with him. + +One day Kate came home from a visit to her Uncle Tim's with the news +that he was going to Oregon. Her cousin Jacob had written of +mountains miles high where you could see snow all summer, and yet it +would be warm in the valley; and the grass remained green all winter. +Potatoes were selling there for three dollars a bushel, eggs sixty +cents a dozen and butter for seventy-five cents a pound; daisies +bloomed in December and apple trees would bear in three years from +the graft. Jacob also wrote that there were no wild turkeys or bees +in all that region; if his father could bring a swarm of honey bees +he would be able to sell them for a thousand dollars spot cash. He +added a statement about there being no slavery in Oregon. + +What most impressed father Mulhall was the report of no slavery +there, and that the grass remained green all winter. They all knew +that what Jake wrote would be found true; but he had neglected to +describe the difficulties of a trip to Oregon--the {20} danger, +fatigue, intolerable dust, alkali water and a thousand other things +which would not fit into such a fine picture. + +"I tell you, Catherine, if you will agree to it and Kate will go +along, I've a notion to go to Oregon this very next year." "But what +will you do with the farm?" the good wife inquired by way of +response. "What's the use of a farm if we can't make any money on +it? Sam Kemper sold nearly a full steam-boat load of hogs for a +hundred dollars, and just went off leaving his farm to be sold for +taxes." "I'm in favor of going, and that's all I have to say," was +Kate's comment as she climbed the ladder to the loft. + +That night again Kate was wakeful; try as best she could to sleep, +her eyes would remain open. Gradually the vision of Oregon faded +from her mind, but that jealous thought of Linda would not down. +Nevertheless, what was Isaac Pelton to her? Didn't she scorn the +very thought; and hadn't she erected a lasting barrier between them? + +It soon became known that Squire Mulhall was going to Oregon the next +spring, and an unexpected buyer came for the farm; it went at a low +price, but that was better than leaving it to be eaten up with taxes. +Preparations now began in earnest for the great journey. + +Kate wanted the mare Nell to ride, and when she thought about the +side-saddle, remarked to her mother, "I'm going to have a saddle I +can ride with {21} comfort and safety, and they may say what they +please. You and the children must have Dick and Ned and a carriage +like Sam McCoy's," Kate continued; "they'll take you through all +right." + +Squire Mulhall was a quiet man, of few words and meant whatever he +said. He did not hesitate to condemn slavery, though not from the +housetop; but would not conceal his real sentiments, thereby +incurring the displeasure of his neighboring slaveholders without +forfeiting their respect. Some other subjects, one of which was the +use of whisky--upon which he held positive opinions--developed real +enemies; he said as little as possible about them, and went the even +tenor of his way. + +That was before the time of temperance societies or of saloons as +known in later days, when the school-master, or even the parson, +would take a "wee drop"--sometimes more. Whisky, obtainable in +almost all retail stores at twenty-five cents or less a gallon, was +usually in evidence at social gatherings and often in the harvest +fields. + +"Catherine"---the Squire speaking to his wife--"I've a notion to +invite in the neighbors before we go, and include all. Maybe some +won't come, but I want them to know I bear no ill will to any of +them; what do you say?" + +"Such a crowd--you wouldn't know what to do with them," was +Catherine's cautious response. + +Kate suggested, "Send them to the barn and let them dance on the +thrashing floor." + +{22} + +"That's the thing," continued Mulhall, "the women folks put off their +extra duds in the cabin, and the men go to the barn--plenty of room +there." + +"Anything to please you and Kate; I'll do the best I can, but you're +undertaking a big job," Catherine said. + +And so plans were laid for a farewell party during the months before +the start was to be made for Oregon. + +"Let me see," asked the Squire, "how will we go about inviting 'em; +post up notices, would you say?" + +"You wouldn't want that man Tracer, who treated you so last year and +said so many mean things, would you?" inquired Kate. + +"Why not? It didn't hurt me a bit; it did him. Let 'em all come and +wipe the slate clean," Mulhall responded. + +"It would be better to write the invitations and send them around," +Kate said. + +"Well, well, have your way," answered the Squire, "but I'd like to +invite everybody." + +"How'd you expect to light the barn? Candles would blow out or run +down so fast they wouldn't last long," Catherine asked without +receiving an answer. + +Next morning Kate went over to see Ben Hardy--called "Bennie" by +everybody--to ask his help in making ready for the party. Although +just past nineteen, Ben hardly looked like a grown-up. As a boy he +had been a regular "towhead," and his hair hadn't darkened much yet +which, with a light {23} complexion, made him look very young for his +age. Kate and Ben had always been good schoolmate friends, and she +thought no more of asking a favor of him than she would of a younger +brother old enough to help her. + +"I golly, you bet I'll help you," Ben said; and at once the two began +the planning. + +Squire Mulhall's barn was large, with a capacious thrashing floor +between the two mows, one for grain and the other for hay. A wide +door on either side opened the way for a team to drive in one way and +out the other. + +"I've got it," Ben exclaimed after talking about how to light the +barn; "we'll take two or three barrels, knock out the ends, fill them +with dirt and stick torches in the dirt. You just leave it to me, +Kate, and I'll make that barn floor so light you can see to read. +Besides," he added, "it's full moon that night." + +Any reader who may have had the experience of cutting down a "coon +tree" by the light of a hickory bark torch will readily understand +the origin of Ben's idea. Coons were plentiful in the Missouri +bottom lands; a story is told that during the Civil War some people +were compelled to adopt a diet of elm bark fried in coon grease as a +substitute for bread and butter. + +Meanwhile Squire Mulhall was busy cleaning up things about the barn, +fixing a long table where the women folks could put their +knickknacks, and bought {24} a half dozen tin cups, which he said +would be enough to go around with the "gourds" they had. These were +to be placed by the cider barrel that would stand just outside the +barn where all could help themselves. + +Mulhall rode over to see if Pelton would let Andrew come and play for +the dancers, and Jennie help Catherine in the house; and added, "Of +course they can bring Margie along." Pelton had already received an +invitation from Kate, and wondered if it was written in her own hand; +it was real neat and Ben Hardy had delivered it. Pelton didn't dream +of being jealous of Ben, thinking of him as a mere boy, not realizing +there was but a year's difference in age between Ben and Kate. + +"Why, yes," Pelton said, "you can call on me to help in any way I +can; and I will bring over a barrel of cider." + +Mulhall said he had already provided for a barrel, but Pelton thought +one wouldn't be enough and said he would bring another. One of the +neighbors provided a bushel of hickory nuts; another some walnuts, +and the like. Still another, not to be outdone, brought a good +supply of leaf tobacco he had raised, and a great number of cob +pipes; many women smoked in that day.[1] + +Mother Hardy said it would never do to leave {25} Catherine all the +work of providing for so large a crowd, and the other women thought +the same; so word came to her not to bother about the table at the +barn, for they would bring their own dishes and enough of everything +all the people could eat. The fact was, when the word passed around +that Squire Mulhall was going to give a farewell party, with +everybody invited, class prejudice broke down. Or at least it was +suspended; apparently everyone was pleased, and ready to join to make +it a great success. + +A few days before the party, a man rode up to the door of the Mulhall +cabin. + +"Won't you come in?" was the Squire's greeting. Without seeming to +notice the invitation, the stranger asked, "Is this Squire Mulhall?" + +"Yes, won't you come in?" was the renewed invitation. + +"I jest come to tell ye," the stranger continued, "I live down in +Jackson Township where that feller last year came and talked so mean +about ye. We believed him and talked about as mean as he did; but it +was all a lie. So we got together yesterday and signed this paper to +let you know afore you go to Oregon that we now know it was all a +lie, and don't want you to hold anything against us. If ye will let +us, we want to bring up a nice fat critter and barbecue it for your +friends; ye needn't turn yer hand over to pay a cent, and we will +bring a lot of things to go with it." + +The man's manner was proof of his sincerity. {26} After the Squire +had assured him that he and his friends would be welcome without +bringing anything, but that they might bring whatever they wanted to, +the stranger rode off without going into the cabin. + +Hearing what had been said, Kate came near, threw her arms around her +father's neck and kissed him for teaching her by this example to be +kind to one's enemies. She kissed him again and again, while her +tears wetted his cheek as well as her own, saying "I shall never +forget it"; and she never did. + +At last the day of the party arrived and with it, true to promise, a +large delegation of men and women from Jackson Township, with two +wagon-loads of lumber and the "critter"--a fine fat beef--in another +wagon to be barbecued. In an incredibly short time the lumber was +unloaded and a dozen willing hands were laying a floor just outside +the barn for dancing, while some were erecting tables and others +digging a pit for the barbecue. + +This is no overdrawn picture; the pioneers were accustomed to do for +themselves, and not stand by to be waited on. Thereby hangs a big +story of pioneer life, full of self-reliance and independence, the +simple life that developed manhood and joy in the household and on +the farm. + +For the time being, Ben's usual occupation was gone; the older men +fairly drove him away, and told him to be ready to take part in the +dance. The women in the cabin did the same for Kate, who {27} then +started up the ladder to dress for the great occasion. + +Andrew and Stinson's colored man Sam often spent happy hours singing +and playing together; and Sam was asked to come along with his banjo. +When the music began every elderly dame remembered her younger days; +soon the cabin was full of dancers as in the long ago, and the songs +were of the kind that bring rapturous joy. Nothing moves the +emotions more than the pathetic melody in the old folklore songs of +the negro race; in this case the souls of the two experts were in the +music. + +[Illustration: FAREWELL PARTY AT THE MULHALL HOMESTEAD IN MISSOURI, +BEFORE LEAVING FOR THE OREGON COUNTRY, AS DESCRIBED ON THE OPPOSITE +PAGE.] + +The visitors from Jackson Township had also brought fiddlers; dancing +was going on in the barn and on the improvised floor near-by, as well +as in the cabin. For hours the tables were full of happy partakers +of the barbecue and the abundant viands with which they were loaded. + +Ben and Kate had planned to have their first dance of the evening +together; so when James Price asked her for it, she told him that he +should have the next. Ben was on hand for the engagement, and from +that moment Price was jealous of him; as the evening wore on Ben and +Kate again danced together, and then Price was sure he had a rival. +Finally Pelton offered and was accepted; to Kate's own surprise she +was dancing with a slaveholder, but justified herself by Squire +Mulhall's lesson of forgiveness, though somehow there was more to it +than she could explain to herself. + +{28} + +Probably disturbed by the noise and unusual light, the cock crowed at +midnight, but nobody paid any attention to it. At near daybreak the +elderly folk began to leave; but the younger ones said they wouldn't +go home till morning, and didn't. By daylight the hay mow was full +of sleeping men, Andrew and Sam were on their way home nodding, and +the Jackson Township folks were loading their wagons; the big event +passed into history, but the memory of it remained for many years. + +During the night word came to the cabin that some of the men were +acting in an unseemly manner. Catherine said to herself she'd bet +the grocer had slipped some whisky into the barrel of cider he sent; +in fact, was sure of it, as what she had tasted seemed unusually +strong. Going out to the barn and biding her time, she threw her +apron over it and opened the faucet; the barrel was soon empty, and +what had been left soaked the ground. + +Kate and her father were the last to leave the barn. A bright +shining sun spread over the scene; the symphony of song birds so dear +to Kate's ears had nearly ceased, and the dew on the grass was fast +disappearing, though some of it still glistened in the bright +sunshine. Nell, the favorite mare, whinnied to remind the Squire +that she missed the usual early breakfast; Brindle and Star, though +quietly and contentedly chewing their cuds, looked wistfully at Kate +for her deft hands to relieve their full udders of milk. + +{29} + +After attending to the wants of Nell and Ned, the Squire hurried to +the cabin where Catherine, who had returned some time before from the +night's activities, lay in peaceful slumber. Kate soon finished her +task, and as usual took the milk to the cabin. The cock of the yard +had ceased to crow, and silence reigned over the scene so recently +one of boisterous joviality. + +Throwing herself upon the bed without undressing, face resting upon +her arm, Kate's mind was full of visions as well as of serious +thoughts, particularly of the night just ended. The memory of +Pelton's breath upon her cheek as they participated in the dance +became uppermost in her thoughts; in spite of herself, tears mingling +joy, despair and contrition came involuntarily and wet the pillow. + +After what seemed to be hours in this mood, Kate fell into a troubled +sleep which lasted until long after midday, when she was awakened by +the gentle touch of her mother's hand accompanied by words of +affection. "Don't you think you had better have a bite? It's long +after dinner hour; father is up and it would be nice to eat together." + +Catherine had arisen a little after the usual hour, and given the +children their breakfast, followed by permission for them to visit +the children of a neighbor for the day, that the sleepers in the +cabin might not be disturbed. Mulhall arose with a slight headache, +which he couldn't account for, unless it was drinking a little too +much "cider"; Catherine kept {30} her own counsel, but of course knew +what was the matter with the Squire's head. + +Other influences were at work upon Mulhall; the excitement incident +to the warm greetings of his neighbors, and the general expression of +genuine regret that the community was about to lose so valuable a +member, had their natural reaction. The Squire's thoughts also +turned to the stern responsibilities confronting him, and how he was +qualified to meet them. Had he fully informed himself as to the +obstacles to be encountered; was he personally fitted to safely make +the long trip and not endanger the lives of his family? + +In a word, Mulhall awoke in a mood of anxiety, dissatisfied with +himself and in fact with a stroke of the blues, so often fatal to +true happiness. The dinner passed moodily; the Squire had nothing to +say, and Kate very little. Strive as best she might, Catherine could +not arouse the usual cheerfulness, and gave up in despair. + +We think of discontent as synonymous with pessimism, unhappiness, +misery and many other ills of life; on the other hand it leads to +enterprise, boldness and progress. Had the pioneers been content +with their lot, they would never have crossed the Missouri River; +there might have been no long western trails, and the Oregon Country +would probably not have been secured to the American Government. +Civilization itself rests upon the spirit of adventurous discontent; +so when Squire Mulhall arose from {31} the table in that frame of +mind, he simply followed in the footsteps of many others, realizing, +however, that he had not taken care to acquaint himself definitely +with what lay ahead of them on the proposed trip. + +One day Pelton rode up in front of the cabin, hitched his horse and +came to the door. Kate, not knowing who was there, went to answer +the call. + +"Is the Squire at home?" inquired the visitor. + +"Yes, he is at the barn," was her reply, as she invited him in while +the little sister ran to call father. Pelton disarmed all +embarrassment by at once making inquiries about Oregon; and Kate +could hardly do otherwise than to take a seat beside him to answer +his questions--and more too--about Oregon and the proposed trip. + +Bess returned to say that, "Father will be in as soon as he puts the +team away." Neither Kate nor Pelton showed any signs of impatience +at being left alone; she enjoyed talking about Oregon as much as he +liked to hear her, and so they forgot everything except the topic of +the great trip. + +Stamping his feet repeatedly to shake off the mud and partially clean +his boots, father Mulhall's presence was announced; and at once in +true pioneer spirit, he asked Isaac to have his horse put up and stay +to supper. Preparations for a frugal repast were well under way when +Pelton arrived; but it would never do, the mother said, to sit a +neighbor caller to such a picked-up meal. So while the two {32} men +went to the barn to care for the horses, Kate and her mother took +counsel together. + +Only a few days before she had picked off a young turkey with her +father's rifle; but the mother said the "leavings would at best make +a mussed-up meal." Just at dusk Kate went off to the barn for a +chicken; she had no trouble securing a desirable fowl and quickly +returned to the house. They had plenty of "sassafras" bark for tea, +and a small portion of last spring's run of maple sugar. + +One of the neighbors had found a bee tree and brought over a dish of +honey that the mother had saved for special occasions. Thirty years +before, Daniel Boone discovered bee trees lower down the river; but +the dry plain and lack of timber had served as a barrier to invasions +farther west extending, as we have seen by Jake's letter, to the +Oregon Country--and as we later know, to the whole of the Pacific +coast. + +The children had an early supper and were out of the way, leaving +only the four people to partake of the meal and join in the +conversation, most of which was naturally about the proposed journey. +During the evening it developed that Pelton knew more about the +Oregon Country than the Mulhalls; so Kate couldn't help but surmise +that his early inquiry about Oregon thinly veiled the real object of +his visit. + +She was puzzled to know how anyone of spirit could come back after +the rebuff she had administered to him; but could not help +acknowledging to {33} herself that she had really enjoyed the visit, +and wondered if she had in any way revealed her inmost feelings. +Long before bedtime she climbed the ladder to the loft determined not +to "make a fool of myself"; but as before, she couldn't go to sleep +until long after their visitor had left. + +As Pelton rode home from the Mulhalls, he berated himself for not +carrying out the design that prompted the visit, and let Kate know +that he intended to free his slaves; then his pride would again rise +up to justify hesitation. Would Kate assume that this resolution was +either a subterfuge, or simply to win her hand? Could she respect a +man who would sacrifice a principle, as Kate would assume that all +slaveholders believed that slavery was right? No, he must convince +her by deed to prove the sincerity of his purpose, not by words of +promise actuated by the motive to gain favor in her sight. + +Then came the question, could he free all of them? Margie was a +minor and if "free" could, under the laws of Missouri, be taken +before the County Court and bound out to servile employment until of +legal age; this was virtual slavery, and it would unquestionably be +done upon motion by some one of the slaveholding class who might make +application to the court to enforce the law. The secret "Blue +Lodges"--night riders in fact--law or no law, in conjunction with +other organizations of similar aim, virtually ruled the State. When +Pelton arrived home and in accordance with life-long custom called +Andrew, in {34} a fit of absent-mindedness he told him to take care +of "Kate" instead of naming his saddle horse, "med." + +"Massa, what's you mean?" asked the servant. + +"Oh, I mean Ned, of course," was Pelton's reply. + +Andrew chuckled to himself and told Jennie he'd bet Massa had been +off to see Kate Mulhall, bringing a response that she hoped he might +"ketch her." Pelton was vexed at himself, but now recalling the slip +of the tongue, awoke to the consciousness of how completely the one +name had taken possession of his mind. He did not know that another +was awake in the Mulhall cabin loft revolving his own name in her +mind. + +The spark of hope to win Kate's hand was almost extinguished; yet he +felt sure that only the slavery question prevented the successful +prosecution of his suit. Pelton thought he knew, and actually did +know, her real feeling toward him, while Kate imagined that she might +have given some manifestation during Pelton's visit--a possible +unguarded word, a tone of the voice that spoke louder than words, or +an expression of the eye that revealed her secret. All these haunted +her wakeful hours, and followed into the dreams of restless slumber. + +Who can fathom the essence of pure love, that flows from the heart +like the fragrance of the flowers of the field, that knows no bounds, +breaks all barriers; and, if disappointed, leaves a sting in memory +through life? Such was Isaac's love of Kate. He had known her +independent character and unselfish {35} devotion to her father, and +last though not least, her altruistic actions on many occasions. He +was but two years older than Kate, and in health her equal; why +should he not claim her and establish a happy home? Then that +monster slavery would arise to dispel his dreams. + +Pelton had inherited a part of his father's estate, including two +slaves, Andrew and his wife Jennie. Both were older than he; in +fact, Jennie looked after his clothes when he was a boy, and he +thought almost as much of her as of his own mother. Pelton +maintained his own household and "Mamma" Jennie took scrupulous care +of it. + +She had a five-year-old girl that Isaac thought the cutest little +thing he had ever seen--fat, chubby and always in good humor; and of +course Jennie thought there never was another such a cute girl as her +Margie. Sometimes a cloud came over her face as she thought what +might happen if "Massa" died, or got in debt and couldn't pay; but as +yet little Margie had no forebodings, and her mother was careful not +to open any way for such thoughts. + +Pelton had long contemplated setting free all three of them; but if +he did, what could Andrew do for himself? He might apportion enough +land to make a home for them; but a black man was forbidden by law to +own land, and in fact had no protection for property of any kind. At +one time he had seriously thought of going to Oregon himself, taking +Andrew and Jennie with him to set them free there; but {36} word came +that the pioneers had passed a law[2] forbidding negroes living in +Oregon under penalty of the whipping post, if they did not leave +after due warning. Kate, in entire ignorance of Pelton's troubles +and intentions, looked upon him as one of the class she could never +treat with forbearance. + +Up to this time Isaac had kept his own counsel as to his plans; to +let them be known would serve no good purpose and bring upon him a +storm of obloquy and reproach from other slaveholders for endangering +their property rights. Within his recollection, the like had been +done only once in the neighborhood, when Squire Young manumitted +eleven slaves, and finally moved away to escape continual insult +because of his act. Pelton knew, or thought he knew, that Kate's +impulsive action was because of her intense hatred of slavery and +aversion to slaveholders; but anticipated the taunt that he had freed +his negroes as the price of winning a wife. + +He had made the fateful visit in an undecided frame of mind--just +drifting, though intending if the opportunity occurred to make a +clean breast of his whole plan. But soon after Kate left the room, +he started for home while she lay sleepless on her bed in the loft. +Here we leave them, each with a troubled mind, to take up another +thread of the story. + + + +[1] The author remembers lighting his mother's pipe with a coal of +fire nearly ninety years ago, before matches had come into general +use. + +[2] This law, passed by the Provisional Government in 1843, was never +enforced and soon repealed; but it served to illustrate the intense +prejudice against the black man by pioneer settlers who nevertheless +voted resolutely against making Oregon a slave State. + + + + +{37} + +CHAPTER II + +OFF FOR OREGON; CROSSING THE MISSOURI; ENCOUNTERING THE BUFFALO; +TROUBLES WITH THE INDIANS. + + +Ben Hardy was employed to help break in the team and for other +necessary preparations; also, if his father would consent, to make +the entire trip with them. Neither Ben, the Squire nor Kate knew +anything about oxen; but all realized that they must have a team. + +A few days after the party at the Mulhall cabin, the trio +experimented in breaking in some cows to the yoke. Kate thought +Brindle and Star would make a capital team, and at the first attempt +succeeded in getting the yoke on Star--except that she broke away +from them and circled around the yard with her tongue out, bucking +and fiercely bellowing. Kate quickly climbed the fence in dismay, +wondering why gentle old Star should object to be yoked. + +Finally getting both cows under the yoke just before dinner call, +Kate and her father went to the cabin while Ben started home for +lunch. Kate, the first one out after dinner, could hardly believe +her eyes. Star, yoked by them on the off side, stood on the near +side, while Brindle had changed places with her, and was on the off +side. Kate knew perfectly well that she had been yoked up last and +on the near side. + +{38} + +In her astonishment she at first overlooked the yoke hanging under +the necks of the cows instead of resting on top; they had turned the +yoke, and as a sailor might report such an incident--"the starboard +ox was on the larboard side, the larboard ox on the starboard side, +and the ox-yoke had left the hurricane deck and gone below." Squire +Mulhall could see the humor of the incident, but realized a very +serious side to it, as illustrating how little they knew about +outfitting for the great journey. + +He ordered the attempt to break in a team discontinued for the time +being; and the next morning mounted Nell and rode off, ostensibly in +search of a team, though, as he afterwards said, with a notion to +look at the country north of the Iowa line. "But what's the use of +raising corn to burn in the stove to keep from freezing, or bacon as +fuel for racing steamboats?" While in Iowa he was asked if he knew a +man by the name of Pelton reported to live in the county from which +he had just come. + +"Yes, but what of it?" was the Squire's laconic reply. + +"Nothing," the stranger continued, "except he has been looking for +land to settle free negroes on, and the neighbors didn't like it." + +Now for once in his life he had something to keep from Catherine, who +had told him what she had surmised--and in fact knew--Kate's secret, +although only through her motherly instinct to read signs often +plainer than words. Again Mulhall wavered; to tell {39} Catherine +what he had heard would be equivalent to telling Kate, the apple of +his eye. He could not bear the thought of losing her; in fact had +resolved never to go to Oregon unless Kate went along. + +During the Squire's search for a trained team (labor lost, for there +were only here and there old, slow, broken-down or ill-matched oxen), +he heard of a missionary or itinerant preacher who represented that +he had been in Oregon. Mulhall eagerly took the track of this man +and followed it for days before overtaking him; but was well rewarded +by finding his new acquaintance a very intelligent, well-read man +with large experience in the Oregon Country--just the one he was +seeking. + +But he had already been gone a week, was nearly a hundred and fifty +miles from home, and Catherine would soon become very uneasy about +him. The minister would probably also talk more about missionary +work than topics Mulhall was eager to discuss. So on the second day +arrangements were made for the two to go to the Mulhall home where +the missionary could rest from his labors, recuperate his worn-down +horse and confer at more length about outfitting for the trip to +Oregon.[1] + +This was done, and following the counsel of the visitor, preparations +for the trip went on apace. The Squire purchased ten trim, well +developed five-year-old steers, not off the range but farm raised, +with two extras as a relief for lame or other temporarily {40} unfit +ones in the teams. In other matters the missionary's advice was +adopted, with the result that when completed Mulhall's outfit was +equal to any he afterwards saw on the plains, and far superior to the +vast majority of them. + +Ben Hardy, whose mother hesitated but finally gave way to his +pleadings, was engaged to take charge of one of the teams. Mulhall +offered such liberal compensation that Ben's father also consented, +although the lad was still under age. The Squire knew that Ben would +be true to his interests, and thought of him not as the hired man, +but as one of the family; in fact, he promised Ben one of the teams +for his own when they arrived in Oregon. + +Ben had a secret of his own about which Mulhall knew nothing. He and +the Shaeffer boys were friends, and no one suspected that Ben's +frequent visits to their home had any other attraction than a good +time with the boys; nor did they dream that "Bennie," as they called +him, had any thoughts about their sister. But mother Shaeffer had +detected more than mere friendship between Ben and Linda; and under +the circumstances developments were not likely to be long delayed. + +Ben resolved to make a clean breast of it and know from Linda's +spoken words that she loved him and would await his return, or +possibly come to him; and firmly concluded not to go unless Linda +would consent. In this mood Ben boldly declared himself to Linda in +a scene that need not be described here. {41} Linda was a dutiful +girl and would have no secret from her mother. "I will go with you +now if mother will consent," she said between smiles and tears; "or +I'll wait until I can come to you." The thought of having Linda go +with him now had never entered Ben's mind until she suggested it, +subject to her mother's consent. + +"I'll be true to you, Ben, to the end," she said and submitted +willingly to the sealing of the promise by a responsive kiss. "Come +tomorrow night, Ben, and we'll talk it over with mother;" and so they +parted. + +Ben went home living in a new world, with increased confidence in the +future and a happiness never before experienced. This scene was +enacted a week before the start was to be made; and meanwhile Ben was +busy at the Mulhalls' from dawn to twilight. Two ox-teams, each with +two yoke of oxen, and a yoke of cows were used to haul fuel from a +distant woodland for the new owner of the farm, training the teams +and drivers to the road, as well as a token of good will. + +Kate and her mother were busy preparing and cooking various articles +of food, while the Squire was laying in a stock of provisions, water +containers, tents and other necessities for a journey of more than +two thousand miles extending over a probable period of six months. +Mulhall had been warned that once across the Missouri River, he would +be in the Indian Country and unable to renew his {42} equipment +except from overloaded outfits, abandoned property, or by dealing +with the sharpers of the so-called trading posts, some of them +regular dens of thieves, often kept by renegade white men. + +A mishap to one of the teams on the road detained Ben until long +after dark; and when he reached the Mulhall barn, the teams and all +the loose stock had still to be cared for. So he could not keep his +appointment with Linda; and it was near midnight when he crawled into +the hay mow to snatch a few hours of sleep before daybreak. + +"I wonder why Ben didn't come to-night as he said he would?"; and in +spite of all efforts, Linda's voice betrayed her deep solicitude. + +"I'll warrant he had good reasons," the mother responded; but Linda +could not be satisfied in her own mind. The great journey was to +begin the following Monday, and it was only seven days before the +start. Upon awaking Tuesday morning, Ben resolved that at all +hazards he would go to see Linda that day. + +On his way to the Shaeffer home, conflicting thoughts ran through +Ben's mind. What would Mulhall say? What would his own mother and, +particularly Linda's mother, say? If she could go along, it would +enable them to make an earlier start in life; and each would be +entitled to a hundred and sixty acres of land from the Government +free, whereas in a year or two at most, neither could secure any +without purchase. + +It was late Tuesday night when Ben left the Shaeffer {43} home after +a long visit with Linda. The mother did not positively forbid her +going now, but strongly advised against it; upon second thought Linda +herself began to doubt the advisability of such a move, though +willing to go and share the hardships with Ben if he thought best. + +With tears that could not be restrained by either, they decided that +Ben had better go alone. Who can fathom the sacrifice of such a +decision or decide as to the wisdom of it? Once made, cheerfulness +returned, plans for the future were laid and sacred vows renewed; and +life opened to them anew. + +The wagons were loaded and the tent set up well in advance, so the +start could be made early on the following Monday. When the time +came, Kate had saddled Nell, and Dick and Ned had been hitched to the +carriage for an hour; but the start was delayed, and Squire Mulhall +remained in the cabin. At length, after consulting with Ben, the +conclusion was reached that the ox-teams should go ahead and the +carriage would follow later. + +Catherine assumed a bold, cheerful attitude while the preparations +were being made, and concealed her pent-up grief at leaving. Several +of her children were born in the cabin, and one of them had died in +it. She had passed many happy hours within its humble walls, and +tender memories came vividly to mind. Even Mulhall was moved with +emotion as never before, and determined to wait quietly until +Catherine recovered her composure. + +{44} + +No one without the experience of parting with one can realize the +deep feeling of affection for the home, even if it is only a cabin. +The love of a lowly dwelling is often more intense than that of a +princely palace, for a cabin becomes a part of one's self. No wonder +that the good housewife should shed tears of regret upon parting with +the home she had loved so well and so long. + +After all the neighbors who came to bid Godspeed to the Mulhalls had +left, Catherine quietly came out of the cabin, entered the carriage +and drove in the track of the ox-teams without looking back, shedding +a tear or making any sign of distress. The struggle was ended and +the die cast, although the sacrifice required supreme courage. + +In spite of all their efforts, Kate and the two younger sisters were +unable to drive the loose stock fast enough to keep up with the +ox-team, and finally lost one cow in the brush. Riding forward to +overtake Ben and have him make an early camp, Kate had a foretaste of +what was ahead of them on the journey. + +Ben found a convenient barnyard and plenty of feed for the cattle, +and a cheerful grass plat for the camp. He quickly had the tent up, +fire in the stove and the oxen fed when the carriage and Kate arrived +with the loose stock. Whoever has had the experience of a good camp +under favorable conditions will realize the cheerful atmosphere that +enlivens the spirits of all; the bracing air, the novelty and keen +{45} appetites due to the exertion of the journey, combined to bring +joy and contentment. + +They were only eight miles from the old home; but the start had been +made, and all considered it a good distance for the first day. Early +in the calm, warm mid-April evening, the sharp notes of the bob white +quail rang in the ears of the campers, soon followed by the shrill +whistle of the whippoorwill in the near-by meadow. Millions of +fireflies, with their mysterious alternating of light and darkness, +were floating in the air. Contentment reigned supreme in the camp, +and care for the morrow was soon forgotten in peaceful slumber. + +Difficulties and trials beset the early part of every trip like the +Mulhalls'. In the deep, sticky Missouri mud, a well trained team +drawing a light load could flounder through with great exertions; but +with half-trained oxen and a heavy load it was frequently necessary +to double the teams, or lighten the loads and make a second trip. + +Walking alongside his wagon or prying up a wheel deeply sunk in the +mire, Ben became bespattered with mud from head to foot, but did not +lose patience. The cows would not keep in the road, often compelling +Kate to dismount and go after them on foot. Neither would swear, +though both at times felt like doing so; but when night came, they +laughed off their troubles in the camp. + +They had been acquainted for years, but neither had fully measured +the other until now. "I golly, {46} Kate, it's rough driving the +cows, isn't it?" "Yes; but what about the teams? I think you catch +it worse than I do." Their mutual trials drew them closer together; +and each had unlimited faith in the other. + +Squire Mulhall had great confidence in Ben when he engaged him for +the trip, but every day his admiration for the lad increased as +better acquaintance brought out his sterling character. Thoughts of +Ben for a son-in-law flitted across his mind, and would involuntarily +return; but he kept it to himself--the second secret from Catherine. + +Finally, after a long struggle encountering mud, rain, wind-storms +and quicksand, the Mulhall outfit arrived on the high bluffs +overlooking the Missouri and the great encampment of emigrants. +Hundreds of tents near the ferry landing and extending back from the +river revealed the magnitude of the great western movement of the +50's. Squire Mulhall could not do otherwise than camp with the +motley throng, and turned the ox-teams out to graze with several +thousands of other stock in the river bottoms. + +Looking around to size up the situation, he found people there from +several States, of all conditions in life and with nearly as varied +outfits as there were camps--scarcely any two alike. Here was one +bound, like himself, for Oregon; right alongside, another emigrating +to California; next a group of Mormons going to Salt Lake--all +waiting their turn to be crossed over the Missouri by the two scows +called a ferry. + +{47} + +The throng consisted of all ages from the very old to the infant in +arms, and were in various moods. Near-by would be a religious +meeting with singing, praying and preaching; others were engaged in +pitching quoits, card playing or foot racing--anything to dispel the +tedium incident to the long delay on the Iowa side of the river. +Some of these people had been camping there fully two weeks, waiting +for their numbers to be called, and might be obliged to remain +several days more. A brisk trade in "turns" naturally resulted; in +one case fifty dollars was paid to entitle the purchaser to immediate +crossing. + +Open gambling was seen in many places, and a great crowd congregated +around a race-track. In a stroll of a couple of hours Mulhall +noticed a number of intoxicated men, though not many were boisterous; +the intoxicants evidently came from the camps. Here, as back in +Missouri, whisky was pure but cheap (averaging 25c a gallon), and no +regulation as to sale or disposal. + +One corner of the encampment was particularly clean and orderly; no +litter of papers or cast-off articles of any kind were in sight, and +there was an entire absence of gambling, card playing or other +amusements. Two of the emigrants in peculiar garb were digging a pit +in which to bury rubbish. The men were usually either reading +well-worn Bibles, writing or amusing the children, while the women +were generally caring for the camp, sewing or knitting; one was +weaving cloth on a hand-loom, and {48} another spinning yarn on an +old-time wheel, the sharp tones of the spindle vibrating in the air. + +It was like part of a long established and law-abiding eastern +community transplanted to the edge of civilization. A brief +conversation disclosed that these campers were from a Methodist +settlement in central Indiana, and that their pastor, though +temporarily holding service at a near-by village, was traveling with +them. Mulhall thanked them for the invitation to attend the evening +meeting and continued his stroll, intending to do so if Catherine and +Kate would accompany him. + +The next group of camps visited presented a very different +appearance. More than half of the party, which was bound for the +Mormon settlement at Salt Lake City, had recently arrived from +Europe. There were very few men; the greater part were women who +huddled in tents almost devoid of camp conveniences, while a number +of their ragged and dirty-faced children were playing in the vicinity. + +Men and women alike showed a sober mien; here and there a man would +be reading a Bible, and Mulhall noticed one reading the Book of +Mormon. Like the Methodists, they held religious services every +evening. There were very few wagons for so large a party, making the +problem of their transportation unusually difficult. In a corner of +the encampment were a number of hand-carts which a portion of those +belonging to this camp intended to use in crossing the plains; and +one man with a {49} wheelbarrow completed the picturesque assemblage. + +With the invitation in mind, the Squire and Catherine prepared to +attend the Methodist meeting that same evening. Kate said, "Ben, +let's go, too." + +"I golly, Kate, that's just what I was going to say," Ben replied. +So all dressed in their best and walked toward the Methodist camp, +for which they had started, along a path which led near the Mormon +part of the encampment. + +Seeing the people gathering for religious services Mulhall, more out +of curiosity than otherwise, suggested that they stop and listen for +awhile. Catherine had only a faint idea of what "Mormon" meant; but +held a deep prejudice against them, and said that she preferred to +attend what she considered a real religious meeting. But as the rest +of the party desired to hear the Mormons, Catherine consented, and +all took seats among those provided for strangers. + +The minister, a burly figure somewhat uncouth but evidently sincere, +opened the meeting by reading a chapter from the Old Testament; he +took his text from the chapter read, and to their surprise preached a +real orthodox sermon, differing little from what they had often heard +from itinerant Methodist preachers passing through their +neighborhood. On the way back to their camp Mulhall berated himself +for not attending the Methodist meeting as originally intended; he +resolved to do so the next evening, and all the others said they +would accompany him. + +True to the resolution, preparations were made to {50} go as the next +evening approached. Ben had left early in the morning to look after +their cattle running at large in the Missouri bottoms with thousands +of others belonging to the numerous camps, and at dusk had not +returned. Three of the oxen could not be found; whether they had +strayed off on their own account or had been stolen he could not +tell, but strongly suspected the latter. He did not return until +dark and then was tired and hungry; Kate said she wouldn't go until +Ben had dinner, and her mother was of the same mind. + +Mulhall lost interest in the meeting when Ben came with the news; the +loss of three of his best oxen would be very serious, and he was then +in no mood to think of anything else. Early the next morning Kate +saddled Nell and Ben borrowed a saddle for Ned; after an early +breakfast the two mounted and started down the wide river bottom to +look for the strays. Toward the end of nearly an all-day search they +were found about seven miles from camp; but from that time on either +Ben or the new hired man always stayed out with the herd. + +A few mornings after the night watch had been inaugurated Ben, having +had Dick for a bedfellow the night before, remarked, "I golly, I +snuggled up close to his back and slept as warm as wool." That was +the beginning, for him, of an experience shared by many pioneers, +including the author; and is the origin of the term "bedfellow of the +ox." + +A few evenings later, when everything was still and {51} calm, and +not a breath of air stirring, Mulhall, while sitting in front of his +camp, heard a number of voices in the distance. The sound came from +the direction of the Methodist camp; he thought he caught a word or +two, but was not sure. + +Just then a gentleman passing by asked, "Do you hear the Methodists?" +"Is that noise of voices we hear the Methodists?" Mulhall asked. +"Yes, they have been going on that way for an hour," answered the +stranger, who passed on and disappeared from sight. + +Kate and Catherine had both retired for the night, but Mulhall +resolved to go and hear what they were saying and see what they were +doing. He walked briskly in the direction of the sound, sure enough, +it was a "Methodist awakening," as the participants expressed it. + +The reader would not doubt this part of the narrative if he had ever +attended a meeting of the "shouting Methodists" of Indiana in early +days, particularly after a sermon where endless punishment was +preached for unbelievers. Now the Squire saw some of the men and +women who a few days before were sedate in their industrious camp, +shouting and violently gesticulating; some were fairly dancing in an +ecstasy of joy, others praying or lying down as if in a trance or +stupor. + +When, after waiting three weeks, Mulhall's turn came to cross the +river, he concluded to send one team and wagon ahead with the tent +and cooking outfit; {52} Ben and Kate went along with it to establish +and prepare the camp for the remainder of the party. About +mid-stream the boat upset. The heavy running-gear of the wagon +immediately sank out of sight; but the bed, though partly submerged, +and with Ben and Kate in it, continued to float, though it was being +carried away from the scene of the mishap by the strong current. + +Sometimes the outfit would sink to near the top of the cover, and in +another moment the whirl of the turbulent current would leave the +greater part of it visible again. Ben managed to remove the cover +that had entrapped them, so they were not in immediate danger of +drowning; he at once began throwing heavy things overboard, the stove +first and then whatever else could be found to lighten the load. + +At a bend of the river in sight from the crossing, the bed grounded +on a sand-bar projecting upstream from the head of an island, and +swung around broadside, affording the imprisoned occupants a safe +landing. Seeing their peril, two Indians plunged fearlessly into the +Missouri, and swam out to the rescue; others immediately followed in +canoes, and soon landed both of them safely on the west side of the +great river. Yet we sometimes hear thoughtless people say, "there +are no good Indians but dead Indians!" + +Kate returned to the Iowa side by the next boat, but Ben remained +awhile longer on the west side to care for the team that had swam +across. One wagon, {53} the yokes, chains and a considerable part of +the outfit had been lost. After arranging for the care of the team, +Ben crossed back about dark to rejoin the remainder of the party +still waiting there, and to consult with the Squire. + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + +[Illustration: NEAR CATASTROPHE IN CROSSING THE MISSOURI] + +Illustrating a scene witnessed by the author and many other Pioneers +to the Oregon Country. The sinking of the wagon, endangering the +life of Kate Mulhall, the heroine of this story, and her rescue by +Ben Hardy, as described on the opposite page, make a stirring +incident of overland travel in the early 50s. An interesting +reference to this "near catastrophe" a half century later, will be +found on page 231. + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + +[Illustration: TYPICAL EMIGRANT OUTFIT ON THE OREGON TRAIL] + +"Prairie schooner" unit of a line made up of vehicles drawn by +horses, mules, oxen or cows, with three yoke of oxen (driven by a man +walking along the left-hand side of the farther yoke), followed by +the captain of the train and protected by an armed guard at the rear. +Many an outfit like this one starting out in good condition was +reduced to the situation illustrated in the drawing on page 75 before +the end of the long journey. + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + +At the time of the accident, Catherine was at the camp and knew +nothing about it until told by Kate herself; then she fell upon her +knees to offer thanks for the rescue of her daughter. When told that +Kate had been saved by Ben's courage and cool-headed action, she gave +way to tears of joy and gratitude, and exclaimed, "Where is he? +Where is he, the dear, dear boy?" When he arrived, mother Mulhall +kissed him again and again; even the Squire had difficulty in +controlling his emotions, while Kate seemed dazed and said little. +Of course the deep gloom in the camp was accompanied by rejoicing +that there had been no loss of life. + +The emigrants flocked around to praise Ben's act of bravery; but he +made light of it, saying anybody but a coward would have done the +same, and he wasn't entitled to any special praise. That evening an +elderly Quaker with his wife and daughter came to Mulhall's camp. + +"We came to see thee," he said, "to join in praise to God for his +mercy in restoring thy son and daughter to thee; and further to tell +thee the Spirit moves us to proffer aid to enable thee to repair thy +loss." The Squire was deeply impressed with the evident sincerity of +the man, and felt to some extent relieved {54} from the feeling of +depression he had been striving to dispel. + +Catherine was unable to conceal her emotion or control herself; the +shock upon the poor woman's nerves had been too great. Kate arose +from a cot to assure her mother that she would be all right again in +a little while, but seemingly without effect until the Quaker lady's +sympathetic words wrought a change of promised relief. + +One of the ferrymen came into the camp and witnessed the scene of the +Quakers striving to alleviate Catherine's anguish. The two women +were about the same age; and the daughter of the Quaker family had +been a great comfort to Kate in her distress. Grasping the +situation, and seeing that he could do nothing at the moment, the +ferryman soon withdrew, beckoning Mulhall to follow him outside. + +"I come," he said, "to tell you we think we ought to replace your +wagon and outfit, and will do so to-morrow. A number of parties who +have concluded not to go any farther will sell their wagons and +outfits at a reasonable price. Come and see us in the morning." + +At the moment Mulhall was more concerned about his wife than over the +loss of a part of the outfit; but the calls of the Quaker and the +ferryman were appreciated more for the sympathy manifested than for +the offer of material aid. The Quakers stayed until long after +midnight. Catherine had been induced to lie down; and with the hand +of the good {55} Samaritan on her brow, had fallen asleep and +peacefully rested. + +Kate's companion had exercised much the same influence upon her as +the Quaker mother had upon Mrs. Mulhall; and shortly after midnight +she also passed from consciousness to sweet slumber. The three +visitors then noiselessly withdrew, and deep silence fell upon the +camp. Catherine slept late and awakened calm, and reassured when she +found that Kate was up and preparing breakfast. + +True to promise, on the following day the ferryman gave the Squire +his choice of three wagons and outfits; and before night he was ready +to cross the Missouri to the Indian Country, then extending across +the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean. Mulhall was confronted +with a perplexing situation--one team was now on the west side of the +river, and the other on the east or Iowa side. The hired man, who +shall be nameless, seemed to delight in using his long whip-lash on +the oxen, and goaded them to unnecessary exertion; and had proven +very unsatisfactory in other ways. His language was also offensive; +and when the Squire found that he had been indulging immoderately in +liquor, summarily discharged him. + +Fortunately for Mulhall, at this juncture Douglas Craig, the young +man with the outfit presented to him by the ferryman, came highly +recommended and expressed a desire to continue on the trip; the +Squire immediately engaged him, and never had cause to {56} regret +it. As soon as Mulhall could move his camp to the landing, he +crossed over without much difficulty, leaving Ben to follow when he +could get the cattle up from the bottoms. + +That night the campers heard the shrill whistle of a steamer from +down the river, and soon saw the lights of the "Ajax" as it moved +slowly up to the landing. A great throng greeted the captain as he +came ashore, and vociferously clamored to be ferried across the +river, with the promise of extra compensation if done that night. So +the occupation of the open-scow ferryman was gone, and the steamer +took its place; after that a hundred wagons with their teams were +crossed by day and nearly as many at night. + +One can scarcely imagine the confusion that followed the congestion +on the one road leading, out from the landing place on the western +side of the river. Outfits had been separated and cattle gone +astray, children were separated from their parents, and thieving +Indians mingled with the throng. Mulhall soon brought together his +outfit (small as compared with some trains of fifty wagons) and drew +off to a nearby camping place. + +He had been cautioned by the missionary not to join in the rush to +drive furiously forward, as others would certainly be doing. Kate +became very impatient at the delay of a day that her father +considered necessary to have everything in readiness. On the fourth +day they were confronted with a narrow {57} but deep river; and there +was another struggle to get across. + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + +[Illustration: USING A WAGON-BOX AS A "BOAT"] + +Many of the Pioneers crossed the rivers on the Oregon Trail with all +of their outfits, except the oxen, in the manner shown by the +illustration. At best it was a hazardous adventure; at one place on +the North Platte nine men were drowned in making the attempt. The +author crossed the Snake River twice by this method and swam his +oxen; this photograph, taken in 1912 on the "Loup Fork," a tributary +of the Platte River in Nebraska, shows his improvised craft in the +middle of that great stream, and will convey some idea of the dangers +encountered by the emigration of which he was a part. See pages 57, +69-70 and 213. + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + +The confusion was increased by many coming into camp every hour day +and night. Some were using a scow ferry entirely inadequate to +accommodate the great numbers suddenly brought upon the scene; others +were crossing on rafts, and still others in their boat-shaped +wagon-boxes. A few had constructed "bull boats" (a light form of +willow twigs, with a buffalo hide bottom). + +Douglas Craig, the new man of the Mulhall outfit, proved to be an +expert horseman and an all-around stockman; he soon managed to get +the cattle over, while Ben crossed the wagons. An account of the +experiences and daily incidents of even one such outfit as Mulhall's +in its slow progress westward would fill a larger volume than this. +So we will attempt only to briefly sketch the trials confronting the +bold pioneers who passed over the Oregon Trail in the early days +before the rivers were bridged, supply depots established or +protection from the Indians given by the Government. + +"What's that dark shade on the land?" Kate asked her father as she +rode up to his carriage. Mulhall turned his glass in the direction +indicated for a moment and replied, "Why as I live, that's buffalo." +In the clear atmosphere of the plains an object many miles away often +seems near-by. Kate was ready in an instant to go and bag some big +game, but knew her mother would not consent; so she called to Ben, +{58} "Take my rifle and Nell, and get one. I'll drive your team." + +By this time the whole line on the road had discovered the herd, and +nearly all the men were making preparations to join in the big hunt. +Just ahead there seemed to be a great commotion, teams turning out of +the road and horsemen riding furiously back and forth. One, racing +down the line, shouted in a loud voice, "Unhitch, unhitch; form +corrals with your wagons; a buffalo stampede is coming. Quick, +quick; don't shoot, don't shoot;" and like Paul Revere, he passed on +to repeat the warning. + +Mulhall had fallen in with several independent outfits and in the +evenings the group had been forming a circle of wagons to guard +against the loss of stock and lighten the burden of the night-watch. +In a very short time the wagons were arranged and the loose stock +placed inside the circle; but the buffalo were all traveling in one +direction on their annual migration, not a stampede. Nothing but +some insurmountable obstacle could turn the herd from the course that +its almost incredible numbers were pursuing. + +In their migratory movements buffalo are, as one might say, +controlled by instinct like birds of the air. Here was a living +mass, to all appearances one vast unit, passing over many miles of +the trail, each animal traveling in the same direction as if guided +by a compass or the North Star. The emigrants could do no more than +guard their own stock and let {59} the buffalo continue their +majestic procession for hours. + +After the mass had gone on and only stragglers remained in sight, the +ban against shooting was removed and an exciting buffalo hunt was on. +Ben followed Kate's suggestion by taking Nell and trying with his +rifle to bring down a fat buffalo cow. Not being either an expert +horseman or a crack shot, he had a rather prolonged and exciting +race; but finally succeeded in securing a fine heifer. He could have +more easily shot an old buffalo, as many did; but was out more to add +to their depleted larder than for the excitement of the chase. + +When Ben returned to camp it was evident that he was in virtual +collapse, his strength nearly gone and his pulse weak. Thoroughly +alarmed, mother Mulhall did everything she could to arouse him from +the stupor into which he had fallen, but all to no purpose. Kate +fairly ran over to the near-by camp for a doctor, who partially +revived him but cautioned him to be careful and patient for several +days. When questioned, the physician answered evasively as to a +possible fatal result. + +An epidemic of cholera was ravaging the camps and taking a fearful +toll; only the day before the Squire and Catherine halted the +carriage before a newly made burying-ground and counted forty-four +graves, none more than three days old. Only those in the best of +health seemed immune from the scourge. Mother Mulhall reproached +herself for consenting to {60} let Ben go on the hunt, and retired to +pray in secret for his recovery. + +Kate showed unmistakable evidences of deep grief, and also blamed +herself for having encouraged Ben to go; she remained by his bedside +throughout the night, and was reluctant to leave when morning came. +As the day wore on there were signs of recovery, and by the third day +he had sufficiently improved to warrant resuming their journey. +Meantime more than a thousand wagons had passed on, leaving many +detained in stricken camps to bury their dead. + +Mulhall had been a witness to the great epidemic that lined the trail +for a thousand miles with uncounted graves of dead pioneers. He had +lost considerable weight on the way; how much he did not know, but +realized the fact by the fit of his clothes. Catherine said the +difference in food had wrought the change, to which the Squire +responded that in such case he would probably lose in strength, while +he felt stronger than for many years before. The fact gradually +dawned upon him that the regular exercise taken on the trip had +increased his strength while reducing his weight. + +Under the hot sun Kate became tanned, but lost none of the fire in +her eye nor her cheerfulness of spirit, although her patience was +often tried by the wilful ways of the loose stock. The two little +sisters helped her part of the time, until the sand became too hot +for their bare feet; but were always welcomed {61} in the carriage +driven by their mother. When Ben was transferred to the carriage, +their place of refuge was gone; after that one at a time would ride +behind Kate, or she would often trudge along afoot while the two +little ones rode Nell. + +All the past glamour of the trip had now gone out of Kate's mind; but +she could not admit to herself any regret that they were on the way +to Oregon. At least they were free from the hated question of +slavery! Then her mind would revert to Pelton, with the thought that +she might have been too rash in her manner of rejecting his advances; +had she known what her father knew--that Isaac intended at all +hazards to free his slaves--grief would have seized her in spite of +all efforts to restrain it. + +Kate had intuitively come to discern what was in her father's mind +with reference to Ben, and believed that her mother felt the same way +as her father. When such thought came into her own mind, the vision +of Pelton rose above them all. Love Ben? Yes--as a brother; and +then she would try to think of something else. + +"What's this?" Squire Mulhall asked aloud rather excitedly to +himself, stopping his team in the middle of the road. Soon both +wagons were driven to the outside, opening a passage for other teams +pressing on from behind. "What's happened, stranger that you are +here by the roadside with no team?" It needed only a short time to +explain that the family had started across the plains with a {62} +neighbor who owned a team; but after some altercation, the neighbor +became abusive, stopped and hurriedly pitched the bedding and +clothing of the others out of the wagon, driving on with all the +provisions. + +"How long since?" the Squire asked. "About two hours ago," the +stranger answered. "Put your things in my other wagon and let your +wife and children get in here until we reach camp tonight," said the +Squire, thoroughly aroused and with indignation manifest in his +voice. "Perhaps we will overtake the brute by nightfall." + +The family consisted of husband and wife, both apparently honest and +intelligent, and three small children, the oldest about eight. +Leaving his team in charge of the stranger as soon as they were back +on the road (which was literally filled with passing wagons and loose +stock), he soon found Kate; and taking Nell, rode on ahead as rapidly +as possible. + +He soon encountered a train of a dozen wagons which had no sooner +been passed than another one of thirty was overtaken; each vehicle +closely followed the one in front, and to make headway it was +necessary to ride alongside the road, often obstructed by sage-brush. +That evening the Squire said he believed that he had been obliged to +go around at least five hundred wagons to gain five miles on the +moving trains, all the while keeping a sharp lookout for the outfit +which abandoned the family now traveling with him. + +It was learned that the culprit, who had been {63} recognized by the +description, passed on just before dark and would probably travel all +night. Three armed men were mounted and given instructions to +continue on far enough during the night to be sure they were ahead of +the outfit, and then to stop and wait for it. Just at daylight they +overtook the guilty party and soon convinced him that resistance was +useless and submission to arrest his only safe course. + +The "unwritten law" of the plains was a tacit consent that all +grievances, misdemeanors or accusations of crime must be laid before +a jury of elderly men; and no one should take the law into his own +hands--in a word, no mob violence. Squire Mulhall soon succeeded in +bringing together several of the older pioneers, who resolved to take +immediate action; swift and adequate justice was administered, and +the incident was almost immediately closed. This code of action +prevailed all along the line; no one was punished without a hearing, +but there were no delays on technicalities, or any appeals. + +Mulhall's trail followed the track that Marcus Whitman had made from +the west bank of the Missouri River nearly two decades before, when +that famous missionary was on the way to overtake the expedition of +the American Fur Company before it reached the Indian tribe reported +as hostile to white men passing through their country. It will be +recalled how Dr. Whitman swam the Platte where it was a mile wide, +and re-crossed with the cattle until nearly exhausted, while Mrs. +Whitman and {64} Mrs. Spalding were towed over in a frail bullboat by +two Indian women swimming, accompanied by Indian boys who assisted +them heroically. + +On the sixth day out from this river, definite information was +received that a camp of thirty Indian lodges was disputing the right +of the emigrants to proceed farther without payment of toll for each +wagon. A number of outfits which had already refused to pay were +encamped there; Mulhall considered this a wise move until he could +reconnoiter and find out just how serious the situation was. + +After the rumor of the obstruction had been confirmed the evening +before, the firing of a rifle startled the camp. Unobserved, Kate +had slipped out of the camp with her rifle; if there was going to be +trouble with the Indians, she would have a fresh load in it. The +next day, when her father had concluded to go ahead and ascertain the +facts about the detention, Kate said she would go along. + +Mulhall had not thought of taking arms with him; but Kate noticed +that a number had gone forward carrying their guns, and said it was +better to be prepared. Catherine firmly approved the move, and added +that they would put the camp in best shape possible for defense. +Experienced pioneers all agree that the most retiring and apparently +timid women usually were the most courageous in times of danger on +the plains, whether from Indians or other causes. + +Kate mounted Ned, bareback, while her father {65} rode Nell. It was +a ride of six miles past several camps and many teams standing in the +road; and hundreds of excited men were found at the point of +detention. The place chosen by the Indians was a small ravine where +a recent washout had been bridged by a train of emigrants that had +passed on sometime previous. + +On the farther side the Indians were camped; most of the men were +mounted, but had not put on their war paint. They were intending to +dispute the crossing until payment was made for passing through their +country--a plausible claim, as the white man's government had made no +treaties with them. + +Here the dilemma--whether to pay toll or force their way +through--confronted the responsible men of the emigrant column. Was +it just to force their way across the country if the Indians owned +it? What right had the white man to pass through it, kill their +buffalo, turn his oxen out on their range to eat off the grass, or to +burn the scant supply of fuel? + +Many of the pioneers had never thought about this and were puzzled; +but when the Chief said, "One cow, one wagon," all saw instantly that +to submit meant the disintegration or even stopping of the whole +emigration. As that tribe did not claim to own the country farther +than to the next river crossing, a similar demand might be made again +and again. + +While the improvised council was discussing this {66} question, there +was a great commotion. Many who did not go near the council had +driven their teams close to the disputed bridge-head, when one bold +pioneer spoke in a loud voice, "You fellows get ready to follow; I'm +going across that bridge if I have to run right over an Injun!" and +he did. The Indian narrowly escaped; other teams followed in quick +succession; the blockade was broken, and for the next twenty-four +hours, day or night, scarce a moment passed without a wagon on that +bridge. + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + +[Illustration: UNDER THE YOKE FOR THE FIRST TIME] + +In their struggles to shake it off, Brindle and Star had reversed the +yoke, as described on page 38. Large numbers of cows were "broken" +like oxen, and in many instances helped to make up a "team." This +incident is recalled, half a century later, by the visit to the old +homestead in Missouri described on page 234. + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + + +[1] See "The Missionary's Story," pages 235-283. E.M. + + + + +{67} + +CHAPTER III + + TRIALS OF THE LONG TRAIL; DANGEROUS RIVER + CROSSINGS; THE DEATH OF CATHERINE; WEST OF + THE ROCKIES; SEPARATION OF THE PARTY; NEW + HOMES IN THE OREGON COUNTRY. + + +The Dust--clouds of which were so dense that oftentimes the leaders +of a team could not be seen--became almost intolerable. Kate adopted +the sensible practice of starting early in the morning with the +carriage and loose cattle so that her mother might escape as much of +it as possible. One day Mulhall saw her riding hastily back to the +team. + +"Father," she exclaimed, "Ned has dropped dead in the harness and the +carriage can't go any farther." Craig had been ill for several days +and Mulhall was driving the team. Leaving it to Kate, he rode ahead +to find Catherine in distress and his favorite, trusty horse lying +stiff beside the carriage. Unsaddling Nell and harnessing her +alongside Dick, the Squire started the outfit on the road, advising +Catherine to camp as soon as a suitable place could be found. + +The little twin girls had forgotten their loose stock, which by this +time was widely scattered; part of it had gone on with the other +herds, and some was on either side of the road. One old lame cow, +Beckey, had laid down where the carriage stopped {68} and was +unwilling to resume the journey. It was late in the evening when all +came together at the camp; three head of stock were missing; water +could be procured only from a deep ravine half a mile distant; no +fuel was in sight for a camp fire, and "buffalo chips" had +disappeared from near camping grounds. + +With Ben's assistance, Kate unyoked both teams and started the oxen, +whose tongues were out from thirst, and such of the loose stock as +could be found, to the ravine for water. The entire party had been +without water for several hours before reaching camp; and how could +they prepare food without it, or fuel or Kate's help? Anyhow the +oxen must have the first attention, and water procured for the camp; +and it was a question whether or not they could get all the oxen out +of the ravine after their thirst had been slacked. It was past +midnight when Kate lay down to rest, and for the first time on the +trip she gave way to grief. Her mother had gone to bed supperless; +Kate had seen for some time that Catherine's strength was failing, +and realized that the strain was likely to become too heavy for her +to bear--a thought which fairly stunned and even terrified her. +Blaming herself for favoring abandonment of the Missouri borne and +undertaking the long trip, nature finally relieved her by deep and +restful sleep. + +Mulhall and his fellow travelers had come to dread river crossings +without bridges or established ferries more than the Indians, dust, +the fatigue, lack of {69} grass for the oxen or anything else on the +trail. All were rejoiced to be safely across one, and hopeful that +the next would be less dangerous; but in this they were often doomed +to disappointment. + +As they left the sluggish current of the main Platte River to ascend +its chief tributary the North Platte, the current was found to be +swifter as the trail led gradually up the east slope of the Rocky +Mountains. An account of the crossing of one of these, written upon +the spot at the time by W. P. Woods and preserved in his diary, will +illustrate the difficulty and dangers to be surmounted: + + +Thursday, June 21, 1849--We made an early start and drove 12 miles to +the mouth of Deer Creek, where we found teams crossing the Platte. +Four boats, each consisting of two dug-outs fastened together, had +been made by emigrants who had crossed before and gone on, others +buying their rights and continuing the work. We paid $3 per wagon +for the use of the boats, and swam the oxen. + +Just before reaching here the accidental discharge of a gun by a +member of the Pittsburg Company, who was unloading a wagon to make +the crossing, killed a man from Illinois, the ball passing through +the body just above the heart. A man was drowned here yesterday; and +just 12 miles above seven men have been lost in two days while +rafting their wagons across. + + +Friday, June 22, 1849--We were roused early, and in good season +commenced crossing our wagons. The line for two miles along the +river bank presented as busy an aspect as it ordinarily does in St. +Louis, or any other small town in the States. Wagons in pieces, +boxes and chattels of all kinds made a scene of extraordinary +activity far out in this uninhabited western country. + +Our "boat" was called the "Two Follies and Betsy," from their being +two dugouts, with a log between them. Joining forces with the twelve +Cincinnati mule trains, the "boat" started off in style with 30 men +to cordelle it against the current. The men were obliged to work in +the water, which {70} rendered it quite unpleasant; but by 4 o'clock +P.M. we were across, and then drove the oxen down to swim. + +With all of our efforts, swimming and wading from that time until +dark, we could only get three of them across; so had at last to let +them return to the shore, and were obliged to keep watch of them +until morning. The water is remarkably swift and cold, the low +temperature probably due to our proximity to the snows of the +mountains. To the south of us, about four miles from the Platte, +there arises a range of very high pine-clad hills, which appears to +terminate in the Laramie Mountains. + + +Saturday, June 23, 1849--Again resumed our labors by recrossing the +river for the purpose of crossing our ox-teams, but at first with no +better success than the day before. Here we witnessed scenes far +surpassing anything the imagination ever conceived--the long to be +remembered crossing of the Platte. No pencil can portray or pen +depict the scene as it really was. + +Fancy for one moment our feelings on observing the vast aggregation +of oxen, mules, horses and wagons mixed indiscriminately with men +clothed, half-clad and even almost naked, encountering the elements +that were temporarily stopping our progress. By about noon we +succeeded in crossing; but both men and teams were extremely +exhausted. + +The onlookers witnessed sights ranging from the laughable to the +alarming. In one place six men were assisted ashore by hanging to +the tail of a mule, with a rider on him at that, while in another +case extreme efforts were being made to save a man from drowning. A +boat, with a wagon containing women and children, sank but was saved +by striking a bar. + +I was carried by the swift current outside the jam of cattle, and +saved myself by catching hold of the tail of an ox as I passed him, +and letting him tow me to shore. Those scenes are over, though we +shall long remember them. We yoked our teams and drove on over a +very rough sand road for about four miles, where we encamped on the +river hank to feed our oxen and rest ourselves. Many a man here +wishes himself back in the States.[1] + + +For a considerable sum, Mulhall secured a means of crossing by a +train which had been provided for the emergency; and though not +detained or endangered, {71} was much relieved when safely landed on +the opposite shore. He knew, however, there were two more crossings +of a mighty river on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains about a +thousand miles ahead of them. + +Catherine's strength had rapidly declined, and soon after the +crossing just described it became evident that the day of her long +rest was near at hand. Mulhall's first impulse was to stop and camp +until she recovered her strength; but if he dropped out of the +passing throng and was left alone, the peril of Indians would be +greatly increased. He was in the mountains with no permanent +settlements--in fact none on the whole length of the trail beyond the +Missouri; during the winter which would be coming on with heavy falls +of snow, his teams would undoubtedly perish, and his party suffer for +lack of food and shelter. + +Taking charge of the carriage himself and driving carefully, he +fancied that Catherine's strength was gaining; but alas, was doomed +to disappointment. The sorrowful end was not long delayed. Among +the fleeting clouds well up on the eastern slope of the Rockies, +nearly a mile and a half in altitude above the home they had left in +old Missouri, they buried her in the shifting sands of the Sweetwater +River Valley. Her last words to Kate, "Take good care of father," +rang in her ears ever afterward; and she did--loyally and +faithfully--until the last day of his life. + +{72} + +Nearly prostrated by the calamity that had befallen them, Kate felt +that she did not want to go any farther; but gradually recovered her +sense of duty to the little orphaned sisters, her father and herself. +The anguish in leaving the lone grave can only be known to those who +have been through some such experience; and the thought that the +little mound of sand would soon be leveled by the fierce winds of the +mountain slope added poignance to the already overwhelming grief. + +Craig deeply sympathized with the stricken family. Little Sarah, one +of the twins, who was of an age to realize her great loss and yet not +old enough to be resigned--if that age ever arrives--would not be +calmed when the hour of burial came. She clung to the rough box +containing her mother's body, and with pitiable outcries pleaded with +her father, "don't leave her here; _don't; don't!_" + +"Child, do you see the rift in yonder mountains?" Craig asked. +Between deep sobs she answered, "Yes." + +"That's Split Mountain, two thousand feet high," Craig continued, +"none other like it anywhere in sight of the trail. The two +mountains stand so close together the space between them seems from +here like a black ribbon, although, we know they are many rods apart." + +The child fixed her gaze intently on the mountain while Craig +continued, "That is almost exactly north of where your mother's grave +will be; I saw the North Star last evening just above it." + +{73} + +Craig had arrested the child's attention for the moment, and in a +tone of sympathy asked, "Did you notice those tracks in the stone +made by the wagon wheels just where we turned off the trail to this +camp? They are so deep they will last forever." + +Craig had drawn the child's attention away from the bereavement, but +had not arrested her deep grief; and added, "Those tracks will tell +you where to stop to look for your mother's grave, if you ever come +out to search for it when you grow up to be a woman--no others like +them." + +This thought impressed the little girl as no other words Craig had +ever spoken. Between the long infrequent, tremulous sighs that could +not be suppressed, she looked imploringly and trustfully into Craig's +eyes while he continued, "You remember that grave we passed marked by +a wagon tire half sunk in the ground?" + +"Yes," answered Sarah, hesitating a moment, "I remember the name, +'Rebecca' inscribed on the tire, but have forgotten the other." + +"Winters," Craig thought to himself, and then said, "that's it, +Rebecca Winters. Now my little friend, I'll mark your mother's grave +the same way, so you can find it the longest day you live;" and his +own tears dropped on the hand of his little friend, which he held in +his. + +The scene was enough to melt a heart of stone; the faltering voice, +the Scotch brogue, the deep sympathy with the distressed child, and +Sarah's {74} trustfulness somewhat relieved the feelings of all, and +the burial was completed in silence. Craig immediately afterwards +disappeared from the camp, and returned after dark with a wagon tire +noticed a few hours before they had camped. It was from one of the +several wagons that had been burned--mute evidence of a massacre +where none were left to tell the story. + +Douglas Craig was an all-around, handy man; in his native country he +had worked as a smithy, and was an expert with metals. Early the +next morning echoes of his work could be heard; he was inscribing the +name, "Catherine Mulhall, died 185-; aged fifty-seven." + +All day long this labor of love went on with scarcely long enough +intermission for a hasty dinner. Kate and the little girls went out +in search of flowers to decorate the grave, and were rewarded by +finding an abundance of wild roses and several other varieties of the +flora in that region. + +Kate noticed a very small but well formed pine tree that seemed +likely to grow into a suitable landmark. The thought came to her +mind that they might transplant it to grow on the grave; and Ben said +they could, without disturbing the roots. + +Both busied themselves nearly all day changing the beautiful little +tree to its new home and planted it, with roots undisturbed, at the +head of the grave, with a vigorous wild rose bush. The girls +gathered leaves and decaying wood to mulch the ground. Before +nightfall, the little mound built over the sacred {75} spot was +partially leveled down, covered with flowers and the inscribed wagon +tire set in place. + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + +[Illustration: A CORRAL AT AN OVERNIGHT STOP ON THE TRAIL THROUGH THE +INDIAN COUNTRY; SEE PAGES 58 and 169] + +The illustration shows the nature of the precautions adopted for +defense--soon abandoned when trains began to disintegrate and break +into smaller units, making it easier for the Indiana to attack and +sometimes massacre a company, with a result like that shown in the +illustration opposite page 175. + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + +[Illustration: ALMOST "DOWN AND OUT"] + +Scenes like this were frequent on the Oregon Trail in the 50s, and +are vividly remembered by a few survivors, including the author of +this volume. Many suffered from thirst, hunger and exhaustion, +particularly on long drives through the desert regions; sickness and +death often disrupted or even annihilated families. When wagons were +worn out or broken beyond repair, they were sometimes cut down to +carts or abandoned, and members of the party continued along on foot, +driving their live stock. Most of those who passed through +experiences like this survived the hardships of the overland journey, +and some of them became leading citizens of the Pacific Coast and +Rocky Mountain States. + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + +The throng of moving teams could be traced for miles by the clouds of +dust floating in the air; and the wagons were seen on the trail, +which passed within a half mile of the grave. Both horses lost flesh +until they appeared like skeletons; and it was decided to leave the +carriage there. + +Nearly all the horses of the emigrants had died for want of food and +overwork, or both; and Mulhall feared he would soon lose his if +conditions did not improve. He had lost one ox by straying; another, +lamed, was sold to a trader, and now a second one had gone lame. It +became necessary to reduce one team to two yoke, or yoke up an +unbroken cow with the odd ox; the Squire chose the latter +alternative, with one team weakened. + +Though at the eastern line of the Oregon Country when the summit of +the Rocky Mountains was crossed, they were not yet half way on the +long journey. Reaching the crest of the Continent at the South Pass, +they camped a short distance off the Trail; and when morning came +found banks of snow in the hollows and on the northern slopes, and +thin ice in the camp bucket. + +A month later the party was struggling along the banks of the Snake +River, which had to be crossed twice; and they were still confronted +by the Blue and Cascade Mountain ranges. Apparently it was only a +question of time when Mulhall would be {76} compelled to leave one of +the wagons; this he did at the lower crossing of the Snake River, +where two young pioneers[2] had lashed two wagon-boxes together, and +constructed a platform to enable them to run a wagon onto it and +cross the river without unloading. + +Mulhall soon arranged to send over the wagons by this improvised +ferry, swimming the oxen and horses. Ben mounted one of the horses +and rode ahead as a decoy, while Craig and friendly helpers urged the +oxen into the river until deep water was reached, when all followed +Ben's lead and crossed safely. While this was being done, a woman +died from exhaustion, leaving three little orphaned children to the +care of the stricken husband and father--a pathetic incident which +revived Kate's grief. + +Men were never more loyal to one another than Ben and Craig were to +Mulhall. From all appearances, they might have been his own sons; +Kate had treated them as brothers and the whole outfit including the +little twins, were like one family. + +For several weeks Ben and Craig counseled between themselves as to +the advisability, or possible necessity, of leaving father Mulhall +after the last crossing of the Snake River, and going ahead on foot. +Craig had carefully ascertained the amount of food on hand and +calculated the quantity used each day to supply six persons +constituting the party; and demonstrated to his own mind there was an +insufficient {77} supply for the remainder of the trip, probably at +least another three weeks. + +"We ought to go ahead, Ben," Craig said in his broad Scotch brogue, +particularly when considering grave subjects. "The two of us are +consuming one-third of the daily food," he continued; "and, Ben, did +you ever think of what an appalling calamity of famine would have +overtaken us all had it not been for so many[3] dying on the way?" + +"Won't you speak to father Mulhall about it?" Ben hesitated to +approach the Squire on the subject lest he might think of the +suggestion as a proposal of desertion. "Well, I'll talk to him," +Craig said, seeing that Ben was reluctant to do so. + +When broached on the subject by Craig, the Squire would not agree to +it at all. The sacrifice and danger to Craig and Ben was too great; +better go upon short rations and all keep together; leave one wagon +and kill one ox--"Anything rather than to have 'the boys' take the +risks and endure such hardships," he said to Kate. + +That very morning Kate had given breakfast to two "tramps," who had +been without food for forty hours, "Except a few grasshoppers, but +not many," as one of them, a lad of twelve,[4] naively said, "they +were too hard to catch." + +{78} + +A near famine now confronted the whole of the emigration; and finally +all agreed that it was best for the two to go ahead on foot as they +had discussed, for the young men could travel farther in one day than +the ox-team could in two. Before reaching a final conclusion Ben and +Kate consulted together, keeping their own counsel as to what passed +between them. Ben and Craig had great respect for the Squire--if +indeed affection would not be the more appropriate word; and it was +with genuine feelings of regret that they parted from him. + +On the fifth day, when it was estimated that they were a hundred +miles ahead of "father Mulhall," as they now called him, the young +men met the relief train coming out from Portland to the rescue, and +arranged to have him supplied with such articles of food as they knew +Kate and he needed most. Mulhall received the letter Ben had written +and the provisions with tears of affection for "my boys," as he was +fond of referring to them. + +The supplies sent out to relieve the pressing wants of the incoming +pioneers were not for sale, but for relief. If a man could pay, all +right--the money received would be used to purchase more; but the +majority who were unable to do so, were supplied without obligation +as to future payment. Ben and Craig soon felt their strength failing +from reduced rations; so when they heard of supply trains ahead, they +resumed their usual allowance, and soon regained normal condition. + +{79} + +Knowing that she must be uneasy about him, Ben wrote to his mother at +the end of his journey, and even before he slept under a roof. The +trip had taken nearly two months longer than expected; and now he +learned that another month would be required to send a letter back to +Missouri. Under present circumstances he could not encourage Linda +to think of coming to him, or expect that he could soon return to her. + +Would she conclude that his love for her had declined, or lose faith +in him if he wrote of the most insuperable barrier that now lay +between them? At the time it occurred, he had written to Linda the +facts of Kate's and his adventure in crossing the Missouri. The +gossips had wagged their tongues and surmised that because he had +rescued Kate, she would feel under obligations to marry him; and +Squire Mulhall ardently wished that that, or something else, would +bring about such a result. + +Ben and Kate were both annoyed, but could do nothing to silence the +busybodies; to deny it would only whet their zeal. So much talk +going the rounds of the camp set Ben to wondering if the same gossip +prevailed in his old neighborhood; and if so whether or not it had +come to Linda's ears. + +In this perplexing mood Ben went to bed inside a dwelling for the +first time in more than half a year, and woke up in the morning with +the memory of pleasant dreams of home and Linda. His anxiety to +secure a home in the new country had not abated {80} one jot or +tittle from the time he parted with her on the memorable Sunday +evening before starting with Squire Mulhall for Oregon. The last +words from Linda, "I'll be true to you to the end, Ben," still rang +in his ears as if spoken but yesterday, and had followed him across +the greater part of the continent. + +At the parting with Kate he had given up his secret, reluctantly but +prompted by intense loyalty to the girl of his choice. If anything +should happen to him, he wanted Linda to know from Kate of his +undying love for her to the last; and from Kate's own lips, or by +letter from her, the senseless nature of the gossip concerning them. + +Another matter he wished to confide to Kate--he was going to Oregon +to secure a home for Linda and himself; and desired to make provision +that Linda should fall heir to it in the event that he should die +before they married. Ben was prompted to these serious thoughts by +the experience of being close to death's door twice on the trip--once +in the near catastrophe while crossing the Missouri, and again at the +buffalo hunt, from both of which he had emerged without serious +consequences. + +He regretted to be parted from his mother for her sake and from Linda +for her sake, but took very little thought for himself. The tenets +of endless punishment after death, widely taught in his boyhood days, +never found lodgment in his brain. He believed in a God of love, not +of vengeance; and while clinging {81} to the present for the sake of +those he loved, was resigned at any time to pass to the future life. + +Douglas Craig and Benjamin Hardy had become fast friends; their +mutual trials and duties had drawn them closer together as the +journey progressed. "There isn't a lazy bone in Craig's body," the +Squire said to Kate one day, to which she responded that the same +could be said of Ben. Mulhall readily assented, saying that he had +been blessed with "two of the best boys God Almighty ever made;" and +added, "your mother thought the same, God bless her memory." Kate +made no response, but the tears that came to her eyes at the mention +of her mother's name expressed a deep and abiding sorrow. + +In the morning Ben learned that it would be eight days before the +next mail to "the States," as the pioneers were accustomed to speak +of all the country east of the Missouri River; and so did not write +to Linda as planned. + +"Ben, I've a notion to go with you to hunt a claim," Craig said when +he noticed the preparations Ben was making for the trip. "I don't +like the idea of parting with you just now," he continued; "besides, +maybe it's best for me to take a claim anyway, and not depend +altogether upon working at my trade." + +And so the two "boys," who had come down the Columbia River and to +the southern part of the great territory, started off in search of a +home for each. Mulhall had determined to go into the northern {82} +district of the Puget Sound; so they did not expect to meet him until +such time as they learned where he had located. After many days of +searching, the spot that suited them was found, and a line agreed +upon between the two adjoining claims. + +"I golly," Ben said, "why can't we build one cabin and locate it for +the line to cut through the middle? You can have your bed in one +end, on your claim, and I can have mine in the other end on my +claim;" and then he added, "if you want to work at your trade a part +of the time you would not lose your residence; and if I"--. But Ben +stopped there, for he was near to revealing his secret, if he had not +already done so by his manner and confusion. + +The pact was sealed and the cabin built; and here for the present we +must leave our young friends to trace the fortunes or misfortunes of +Squire Mulhall and his three girls. In due time also we shall learn +whether or not Ben could leave his claim before the four years' +residence required by the law to secure a title; and whether Linda +remained true to him through all that time. + +When Ben and Craig passed out of sight over the crest of the hill +ahead, following the trail with packs on their backs, Mulhall could +control his emotion no longer: and tears coursed down his cheeks as +he spoke in a tremulous voice to Kate of their noble character and +self sacrifices. Kate, more demonstrative than her father, gave way +without restraint to manifestation of distress in voice and weeping. +{83} Observing the unusual scene, little Sarah joined with childish +soothing words to Kate and her father; but the more she said the +deeper their distress, until all restraint was abandoned and the +three were relieved by tears and words of praise for the two "boys." + +David Mulhall, even though mild-mannered and gentle, was a man with a +stout heart, and fully realized the gravity of the situation +confronting him. It was a race with famine and lingering starvation +or death. If he undertook to increase the speed of travel as some +had done, his oxen would probably fail and leave him without a team; +having noticed several such instances, he resolved to pursue the even +tenor of his way. + +The first formidable barrier to be met was the Blue Mountain ranges, +which must be crossed at an altitude of about 4,200 feet; that steep +ascent could not be avoided, and many outfits were stranded along the +slope of the mountain. To lighten the load in the wagon, some +clothing was packed on the horse Ned, while the girls and the Squire +walked. + +By a succession of short drives and long rests, the summit was +reached, though a long stretch of rough roads and steep hills was +still ahead. While not hazardous, the descent into the plains +extending to the west and north was tiresome and tedious; it +presented a scene of enchantment seldom equaled--the whole covered by +a carpet of luxurious grass, dotted here and there with bands of +Indian ponies and tepees of Indian villages. + +{84} + +Mulhall was now about twenty-five miles from the site of the Whitman +Missionary Station, where help was given to all in need until the +fateful day of the massacre, November 29, 1847. Here, at the foot of +the mountain, Mulhall left the trail of Ben and Craig, who had +followed the Columbia route down the river leading to Portland, and +joined the gathering hosts of the migration along the new trail +northward to Puget Sound. + +It was a daring and momentous decision. Two formidable barriers were +in the track--the mighty Columbia, the second river in length and +volume of water on the Continent, and the Cascade Range, which proved +to be the most formidable mountain obstruction of the whole trip, far +greater than that of the Rockies. + +As they passed the site of the former Whitman Mission, Mulhall +tarried to view the locality which had witnessed the activities of +Dr. Marcus Whitman and his gifted wife, Narcissa Prentiss Whitman, in +their efforts to implant the Christian religion in the breasts of the +Indians, and where they had relieved the suffering of many pioneer +emigrants during eleven years of heroic struggle to maintain their +mission. The day of the supreme sacrifice came unheralded, as +recalled by the grass-grown graves of the thirteen victims, which +Mulhall viewed with bared head in the presence of the three +daughters, who had so recently witnessed the closing of the earth +over the precious remains of their mother. When {85} shown the small +grave and told the story of the drowning of the only child of the +lonesome mother, Narcissa Whitman, Sarah's grief again became +inconsolable, and only with great difficulty was she persuaded to +leave the sacred grounds. + +The Columbia River, more than a mile wide and with a swift current, +was directly in their path some thirty miles away. How they were to +cross was not yet definitely known, but it was the general belief +that at the Hudson's Bay Company's fort, situated on the bank of the +river, there would be some means of getting over it. + +After two more days of driving, Mulhall drew up to the camp of more +than two hundred detained emigrants. The first train to arrive, +consisting of 148 people with thirty wagons, finding no means of +crossing, undertook to build a boat large enough to carry a loaded +wagon or several oxen. + +Driftwood lodged on a sand-bar above the fort furnished the material, +and a whip-saw was set to work cutting the lumber; it ran day and +night, and in eleven days the boat was launched. Then the first +crossing was made, and in four more days all were safely across, +after the loss of fifteen days of precious time. + +Whether or not snow in the mountains would block the trail, weighed +heavily upon the minds of the whole company. The abundant grass in +that locality had greatly strengthened the oxen and enabled them to +make good progress, though as no wagons had {86} gone on ahead, it +was necessary at times to stop and open the way. Measured by the +current of the river they must follow, there were still about 200 +miles between the crossing of the Columbia and the settlements on +Puget Sound, about 100 of the whole following mountain streams. + +Evidences of that drive through the gorges had been left, sometimes +on sand-bars with rounded boulders imbedded in the sand, and then in +the shallow streams. Other marks had been made on slippery boulders, +until deep water compelled the emigrants[5] to cross the river or +open a road through the timber and underbrush--one alternative and +then another, until 62 crossings of the river were thus crudely +recorded. + +Just beyond the summit, a rim of almost perpendicular rock was +encountered, so steep that it was impossible to drive the wagons down +the declivity. Three steers were killed, and their hides cut into +strips to lengthen the ropes assembled from the train; in that way +thirty wagons were let down the mountain with the loss of only one of +them. The tree used as a snubbing post was deeply encircled by the +wear of the ropes and finally killed; but it stood {87} sentinel over +the scene for another quarter of a century. + +When Mulhall emerged from the deep forests of the foothills west of +the Cascade Mountain range, he was fairly dazed at the sight that +confronted him; and could scarcely believe his eyes. The evergreen +trees were so tall and dense that they obscured the light and made it +difficult to read common print at the noon hour, while the bright +shining sun spread light and warmth over the tops of the forest +giants. All through the mountains, the eyes of the pioneers had +become accustomed to a lesser light than they had encountered in the +open country. + +That forest is one of the greatest and most notable on the Continent +or in the world. Giant firs grow to a height of three hundred feet; +large numbers of them measure six feet, with here and there one eight +and in rare cases even twelve feet, in diameter. A monster tree +fifteen and a half feet through at the base, and probably a thousand +years old, could be seen as one laboriously followed the trail. + +The mind of the Squire was affected in just about the same way as if +he had suddenly emerged from a dark room into bright sunlight, with +his eyes dimmed by the glare; it required time to recover and grasp +the change. He had arrived at what is locally known as "Elk Plains" +on the eastern margin of the famed Nisqually Plains, a wide extent of +prairie country extending to the Nisqually River, twenty miles away +to the south and nearly that distance to Puget Sound {88} on the +west. The whole intervening space was interspersed with numerous +small, clear lakes with pebbly bottoms into which the creeks emptied +their limpid waters. + +Occasionally a creek would issue from a lake fed by springs in the +bottom; in other cases there was no inlet or outlet, and yet the +water was as pure and sparkling as that running in the creeks. Here +and there were small groves of evergreen timber surrounded by the +prairies to lend enchantment to the landscape, a veritable fairy-land +in the eyes of the wearied pioneers. Unexpectedly, off to the east, +a large number of sheep were seen quietly grazing on the stunted +grass that covered the soil. + +Starting to drive toward one of the lakes, Mulhall suddenly came upon +a herd of cattle that fled at the sight of his wagon and took refuge +in a near-by grove. Kate was sure she saw three deer fleeing with +the cattle--the latter now as wild as any creature that roamed the +plains. At about the same time, a band of Indian ponies was suddenly +encountered, as the outfit rounded a point of timber; the wild scene +was then re-enacted as the ponies, with heads and tails in the air, +snorted and ran. + +The sight of the deer fired Kate's imagination; she thought of the +rifle in the wagon, but could not stop to try her hand on the game of +that region. She thought of Ben, who had saved her life--and Pelton +too. No flowers could grow in the deep forests; but here on the +prairies and margins of the lakes and {89} creeks many species, the +wild rose predominating, grew to perfection. The little sisters +eagerly picked some of the first flowers they had found for many +weeks, and brought them to Kate as they had formerly done to their +mother. + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + +Photograph from Washington Historical Society, Tacoma + +[Illustration: MONUMENT TO BE SEEN ALONG THE CLOVER CREEK HIGHWAY, +ABOUT TEN MILES SOUTH OF TACOMA, WASHINGTON] + +Here, in Mr. Meeker's story, Kate Mulhall unyoked her oxen for the +last time: see page 89. The inscription on the monument will be +found on the reverse of this leaf. + +[Over] + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + + Fac-simile of inscription upon the monument shown on the reverse + of this leaf: + + OCTOBER + 1853 1913 + + COMMEMORATING + THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY + OF THE ARRIVAL OF THE + FIRST EMIGRANT TRAIN + COMING DIRECT TO THE + PUGET SOUND VIA THE + NATCHESS PASS. THEY + MADE THEIR LAST CAMP + OCT. 8TH 1853 ON THE + BANK OF CLOVER CREEK + THREE FOURTHS OF + A MILE SOUTH OF THIS + MONUMENT + ERECTED BY + WASHINGTON STATE HIST- + ORICAL SOCIETY--PIERCE COUNTY + PIONEER SOCIETY MEMBERS--DE- + SCENDANTS AND FRIENDS OF + THE NATCHESS EMIGRANT TRAIN + +[Over] + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + +The Squire soon came to the camp[6] on the margin of a creek, where +he found more than half of the pioneers who had gone on ahead; and +here, about twelve miles from Puget Sound, Kate unyoked her oxen for +the last time. A fine carcass of beef had been sent there for them +by the Chief Factor of the Hudson's Bay Company with the message, +"divide this among yourselves;" and a near-by farmer brought a +wagon-load of vegetables to give out "free for everybody." Just then +a team arrived from the fort with sugar, salt and other provisions, +of which they were greatly in need, and told the pioneers to help +themselves. + +All day and well into the night stragglers came in, some with teams +and others with packs on their backs--all tired and hungry. Fearing +that their teams might be unable to climb the hill out of the valley, +a few had stopped at the last river crossing, and early next morning +an expedition was sent to assist them. + +As evening fell, all were safely camped together, with the +consolation that not one life had been lost in the struggle over the +mountain range. All of the {90} 148 attended a prayer-meeting held +by the light of the camp-fires; the pent-up feelings of emotion were +usually accompanied by silent tears of joy, though some gave way to +boisterous manifestations of thankfulness for deliverance from the +hazards of the trail. + +Kate's spirits had risen; but not so with her father, who had made +the perilous trip to secure a home and a farm. This charming region +was suitable only for grazing, and besides was in possession of a +foreign corporation. He was now in a strange land, without shelter +for his family of girls or ready money, and so far as he knew without +credit; with winter approaching, he could not stay in camp very long, +and as he said afterwards, "I was stumped to know what to do." + +A large majority of those who crossed the mountains with him were in +the same state of perplexity. "I do not believe in that old saying, +'misery loves company.' To be sure, I did love that company of noble +men and women, but not because they faced the trials that confronted +me," was spoken many years later in a reminiscent mood. Mulhall +could not help being relieved at the happiness of the girls, +especially the twins or "little buds," as he fondly called them. + +Sarah had recovered from the shock that so depressed her upon the +death of her mother, and would often refer to her with tears of +affection. Not being old enough to enter deeply into or think +seriously of the cares of life, the girls often joyfully roamed the +{91} byways of the trail in search of flowers or anything new. + +"Mamma, what kind of a bird is this?" both asked at once. They had +now become accustomed to calling Kate "mamma," and she had not +discouraged them in doing so. + +"That's a young robin," Kate answered, as she held the little bird in +the palm of her hand; "where did you get it?" "Mayn't we keep it as +a pet?" Sarah anxiously inquired. + +"Yes," Kate answered, "but not as a prisoner;" and added, "it would +be better off with its mother, don't you think?" + +"But its mother wasn't there; we found it on the grass and it +couldn't fly," both again spoke at once. + +"Yes, but I am sure the mother was taking watchful care of her little +one," said Kate. The girls had set their hearts on having a pet, but +agreed that it was not right to take the young bird away, and +cheerfully returned it to the spot where they found it; after +watching awhile they saw the mother bird come and feed the little one. + +The same evening the girls fairly raced to see who should first tell +the story of an apron full of nuts they had found, and now exhibited +them to "mam-ma." "Where did you find them, girls?" Kate asked. "In +a hollow tree, the cutest little place you ever saw," Bess answered. + +"But that was the winter store of a squirrel; would it be right to +rob the treasure of the squirrel, which {92} might starve before +winter ended?" The girls hadn't thought of it in that light; next +morning without any further word from "mamma," they returned the nuts +to the "cute squirrel's nest," and then started off for new +adventures and discoveries. All of them were greatly benefited by +the vigorous outdoor life; the father was delighted to see the rosy +cheeks of the little girls and the returned sparkle in Kate's eyes. + +"I have in my pocket a document that would be worth thousands of +dollars back in Missouri; but here, where there are no banks, it is +not worth the paper it is written on. What is the good of it if one +can't get the money the writing calls for? No more than a pile of +gold two thousand miles away from anything to eat," he said ruefully +to Kate. + +He was not going to be idle; but the more Mulhall looked over the +near-by country, the less he liked it. Passing nearby the Hudson's +Bay Company's fort he decided to go in and thank the Chief Factor for +the beef sent to the pioneers; and to his surprise found a large +stock of well assorted merchandise on the shelves of the store and +numerous customers, principally Indians, buying or bartering furs for +goods. + +Asked if he wanted to purchase anything, he answered that he had no +money, whereupon the clerk, Edward Huggins, surmising that he had +something to barter, suggested that he see the Chief Factor. The +Squire hadn't the least thought of buying anything when he went into +the fort; but he did want to see {93} the head official and thank him +for the beef. He met Dr. William F. Tolmie, a slightly corpulent man +with flowing locks and an almost florid complexion, who spoke with a +Scotch brogue and had the bearing of a kindly gentleman. + +"Oh, that's nothing at all," he said in response to Mulhall's +expression of thanks; "you could have had much more than that if you +needed it." As the thought of the paper in his pocket and the +possibility of using it to establish a credit flashed through his +mind, he produced the precious document and handed it to the Factor. + +A look of surprise followed the examination, for it represented a +large sum for that time and place. "Do you want the money on this?" +the head official quietly asked, to which Mulhall--fairly stunned and +for once off his guard--replied, "Not all of it now, but I do +urgently need some immediate supplies." "You can have either +supplies or cash as may best suit your convenience--all of it, or +part as you may wish, though we would be perfectly willing that you +take all of it." + +After a dinner with the Factor while dressed in his well-worn +plainsman's garb, which the host appeared not to notice, the business +was consummated; and Mulhall received from the great Company a +certificate of deposit payable on demand. A cart was loaded with +supplies and dispatched to his camp, and a servant was directed to +take him to it. Mulhall arrived there first, and found Kate a little +dejected, as {94} the flour was all gone and only vegetables were in +sight for the coming meal. + +She was surprised when the Squire leaned over her and imparted a kiss +of joy at having rescued his little family from want, while the girls +stood near-by in silent wonder. The pressing situation had been +carefully concealed from the children, who were now accustomed to +being limited in the variety of food; and when told that they could +not have bread for supper, thought nothing of it. They were always +associated with the memory of the cherished wife and mother now +peacefully sleeping in the sands of the Sweetwater Valley near the +summit of the Rocky Mountains; and "let them be happy" ran in the +minds of both their father and Kate. + +Within two years after Mulhall had completed this to him important +arrangement, a very different scene was enacted a few miles distant. +The American Government at that time began dealing with the Indians +in the country west of the Cascade Mountains as tribes by making a +treaty[7] with them; and a sorry mess was made of it by adopting the +policy of driving the hardest possible bargains regardless of the +future welfare of the Indian or the white race. Before another year +elapsed a small war followed, with massacres of whites and Indians +alike, a situation in which Mulhall became deeply involved. + +The great Hudson's Bay Company that so long ruled the Oregon Country +was an English corporation, {95} with headquarters in London; it was +incorporated May 2, 1670, for the purpose of trading with the Indians +of North America. Owing its origin and growth primarily to the fur +business, it did not undertake to develop the agricultural +possibilities of the country, a policy which had a far-reaching +effect upon the history of that region. + +Had the Company encouraged settlement, as the Americans did when they +arrived from the eastern and central western States, the final +solution of the question as to which Government would come into final +ownership of the Pacific Northwest might, and probably would, have +been different. It is generally believed that the firm hold of the +American home builders influenced the minds of the English statesmen +to yield in the final negotiations; they could not very well displace +the large numbers of Americans who came to stay and build up the +country. + +Wishing to avoid legal complications in the region where Mulhall and +his comrades had landed, the management of the Company had organized +a subsidiary under the name of the Puget Sound Agricultural Company; +and thus thinly disguised, occupied the Nisqually Plains with their +sheep, cattle and horses, plowed the fields and erected cabins, but +for occupancy by employes instead of independent home builders. The +Factors (managers) of the Corporation were cultured gentlemen, known +for their fair dealings alike with Indians and white people, +following the policy of the parent organization; and it was {96} with +the head official in that district that the Squire had dealt. + +After the arrival of the cart loaded with supplies from the fort, +Kate sent part of them to several pioneer families that yet remained +in camp, and then revised the plan for their own dinner. Most of the +big company had scattered, some to the timber camps, others to the +shores of the Sound where shell fish abounded and a few to claims, +already chosen, upon which they proposed to make their future homes. + +The first and most urgent problem was that of shelter for so many new +arrivals. In one notable instance a large hollow cedar stump served +as "home" for a family of six until the husband and father was killed +by the Indians. The pathos of that story, with many a parallel in +American history, is mentioned here to illustrate the difficulties +and dangers encountered by the emigration of which the Squire and his +family were a part. + +After dinner Mulhall and Kate took counsel far into the night, while +the little girls were sleeping on their beds of boughs as peacefully +as in a palace. The faint yelping of a pack of coyotes in the +distance could be heard; and the cougar (closely allied to the +American panther) that infested the country, was abroad seeking his +prey. But Kate and her father paid no heed except to the all +important subject as to their future; and it was midnight before a +final conclusion was reached. + +The opening of a farm under the varied and often {97} trying +conditions prevailing in that region was very different from what +they had been accustomed to in Missouri; and Mulhall was past the +meridian of life. Why should he undergo a long period of toil to +secure a competence, when he was possessed of sufficient means to +live without the sacrifices incident to pioneer life on a new +homestead? + +Kate said, "Let's go to the county town where the girls can attend +school and there are neighbors;" her father was of the same mind and +that question was speedily settled. Then they thought of Ben Hardy, +to whom Mulhall had promised one of the teams upon their arrival in +Oregon as extra compensation for his services in crossing over the +trail. Not a word had passed between them about that understanding +at the parting of the Snake River, after which the Squire was reduced +to one team, and it was doubtful whether or not he could complete the +long journey with the one that was left. + +"If I only knew where to reach him, I would send him enough money to +buy a team," said Mulhall. Ben had gone into southern Oregon while +the Squire had moved into the northern part, several hundred miles +away; they might be five hundred or even a thousand miles apart, for +Oregon was a big country without roads or the means of speedy +communication. Where Ben had settled, or whither he had gone, was a +problem difficult to solve. + +Kate said, "I hear there is a newspaper in Oregon; let's advertise." +Mulhall thought a better plan {98} would be to secure a list of post +offices and address a letter for Ben to all of them; "Anyway," the +Squire said, "we must not leave a stone unturned till we find the +boy." Both retired to sleep and forgot their fortunes or +misfortunes, but with a firm resolution to find Ben if they could. + +Following the decision to remove to the county town, Mulhall soon +purchased a nearly finished house at the county seat. The thriving +village, built upon a slope facing west and fronting on a wide bay of +Puget Sound, presented a charming view of the distant range of +mountains bordering on the sea with perpetual snow-mantled peaks; the +landscape of dark evergreen forest covered the islands and mainland +in the nearer view. + +The wide bay was dotted with Indian canoes floating on the tide twice +each day; and at intervals a ship would pass or drop anchor in front +of the village to discharge freight or barter for a cargo of timber. +The fort, a group of log cabins situated a short distance back from +the water-front and out of sight of it, commanded a splendid view of +the landscape. + +In the farther background, west of the Cascade Range, was Mount +Rainier, completely encircled with a wonderland of timber and +flowers--once seen never forgotten, and always cherished as the sight +of a life-time. That majestic mountain of the American Continent, +"kingly and alone," a great dome separated from the mountain range, +standing nearly three miles high and covered with perpetual snow, is +the father {99} of seven rivers and twenty-eight glaciers, and has a +base of several hundred square miles. The alpine flower beds are +simply wonderful to contemplate; according to John Muir, there are +two hundred square miles between the timber and the summer snow-line +circling the dome, with literally several thousand varieties of +flowers, some of which force themselves up through the receding snow. + +Kate at once took up the task of searching for Ben. Writing the +first two words, "Dear Ben," she stopped to ask herself might he not +think she penned them with a deeper meaning than merely a friendly +beginning of a letter? However, Ben was dear to her; he had saved +her life, had been loyal to her father, was always kind to all, +industrious and truthful. + +Before she had time to fully analyze what was passing in her mind, +Kate began to realize that she was thinking of Ben more than as a +brother. Her pen hovered over the paper; but she finally laid it +down with nothing more than the two words already written. That +evening at supper Kate asked her father if it would not be best for +him to write to Ben. + +"Oh, no! You know I scarcely ever write a letter; besides I am very +busy on the house," replied Mulhall. "You write, Kate, it's just as +well." The Squire did not have the least suspicion of why she should +want him to write to Ben instead of doing so herself. If he had, the +more he would have preferred {100} that Kate write, for he sincerely +wished that she should marry the "dear boy," as he always thought of +him. + +Kate did not undertake to write to Ben that night, and the paper with +the two words on it remained on her table untouched. The idea that +Ben might interpret them in a different way from what she intended +would not down, while she half realized that they meant more to her +than she was willing to acknowledge. Not for mountains of gold would +she betray the secret Ben had confided to her, and stand between his +love for her very dear friend, Linda Shaeffer. + +But Linda was more than two thousand miles away, with what Kate +thought an insuperable barrier between them. The paper with the +words "Dear Ben," was kept for several days without another word +being added to it; and in fact the letter was never written. Kate +hesitated to trust herself. + +Hadn't she now abandoned all hope for the fruition of her first love, +with a pang of regret and bitterness as she thought of Pelton? She +would resolve never to marry, but hereafter devote her life to +altruistic work for young girls. Kate had no knowledge of Isaac's +resolution, while at that very moment he, with the one absorbing +purpose in his mind, was feverishly carrying out plans to make the +trip to Oregon and win her for his wife. + +A few days later an advertisement appeared in the two Oregon +newspapers asking Benjamin Hardy to communicate with David Mulhall at +a certain post {101} office, and learn something of interest to him. +As weeks passed without response, the Squire and Kate were greatly +worried, and wondered if some accident had befallen him. She then +began writing to postmasters with no better results. + +Kate was almost in despair. Might it not be possible that he had +found a good location, taken up a claim and then started back to +Missouri for Linda? More weeks passed, then months; and yet not a +word came. There was ever a warm corner in her heart for the +playmate and companion of bygone school days; and she would never +relax her efforts to unravel the mystery of his strange disappearance. + +Ben was hard at work, in ignorance of the search for him; but often +wondered what had befallen father Mulhall, as he always thought of +the Squire, Kate and the little girls after their separation on the +Snake River. He had written to Linda, but months elapsed and no +answer had come. Though often alone in his cabin with only one +neighbor in sight, he was too busy to be lonesome; Craig was off +working at his trade most of the time while Ben was making +improvements on both of their claims. + +Once a month Craig would bring supplies to the cabin, stay over +Sunday and then be off again. They sorely needed a team; and Craig +was gradually saving so that they might be able to buy one by +planting time in the spring. Ben gave no thought to the +understanding by which he was to get a team from Mulhall; he would +have rejoiced to hear of the safe {102} arrival and good fortune of +the kind-hearted family which had treated him so tenderly in his +sickness and, as he believed, saved his life. + +Ben had written a second letter to Linda, receiving no reply; but +attributed the delay to the slow and uncertain mail service. He was +now in vigorous health, gaining in weight to surprise even himself; +the pale spare face disappeared and a ruddy complexion took its +place. Pure Oregon air, simple diet and steady work had developed +him so that an old-time acquaintance would hardly have known him. + +At last a letter written in a spirit of gloomy forebodings, came from +Linda. She had heard of the misfortunes of the Mulhalls, and could +not see how she could ever reach Oregon; but remembered her vow to be +ever loyal and true to Ben no matter what happened. + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + +[Illustration: REDUCED TO A HAND CART] + +A considerable number of Mormons traveled to Salt Lake City as shown +in this illustration; described on pages 48-49. + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + + +[1] While somewhat unusual to insert a quotation in a work of this +character, no better description of the difficulties and dangers of +crossing the Platte in pioneer times has been, or is ever likely to +be written. E.M. + +[2] Edward J. Allen and Ezra Meeker, the author of this historical +narrative.--Editor. + +[3] It is estimated that fully 5,000 died that year on the Oregon +Trail. + +[4] The author knew the lad who made the remark and of his +experience; he was afterward a successful merchant in Tacoma, +Washington. + +[5] The author personally knew a large majority of the people in that +train, several of whom became prominent in the affairs of the +Territory just founded, among them the actual personalities +represented in this story by David Mulhall and his daughter Kate. Of +the 148 comprising it, not one of the adults is now left, and only +two or three of the younger members who vividly remember these +events; their generation has nearly passed, but the memories of their +deeds fortunately remain. E.M. + +[6] A granite monument, suitably inscribed, erected by the State of +Washington to perpetuate the memory and location of this camp, +attests the importance of the event. See illustration and +inscription inserted here. E.M. + +[7] The Medicine Creek Treaty, December 26, 1854. + + + + +{103} + +CHAPTER IV + +A MASSACRE AND A WAR; KATE MULHALL, DEPUTY SHERIFF; A RACE FOR A +WIFE; THE WEDDING AND CHIVAREE; A DELAYED AND ADVENTUROUS HONEYMOON +ON PUGET SOUND. + + +The great body of pioneers just arrived, like those who had preceded +them, were honest and earnest Christian people, though as in all +movements of large numbers of men and women, there were a few mere +adventurers. Some left their former abodes for the good of the +country and their own safety; others had fled from the consequences +of unhappy marriages or acts of indiscretion, and though seldom +criminals, preferred to let the past life fall into oblivion. + +So a "Mr. Smith" one might meet in the new community may have been +Mr. Jones before leaving his former place of residence. These were +not necessarily bad men in the common meaning of that word, but were +making a new start, generally with the firm purpose of leading +upright lives in the future. The reason for referring to this phase +of pioneer life will appear later. + +Many thousands of Indians roamed through the country at the time of +Mulhall's settlement in the new land of opportunity. A friendly +feeling then prevailed between the races as such, and instances {104} +of sincere friendship between individual Indians and whites were not +uncommon. This ought never to have been disturbed. + +The honorable policy of the Hudson's Bay Company had won the +confidence of the Indians by always keeping promises and giving fair +value in trading with them; and they were inclined to believe in the +rectitude of white people in general. Unfortunately this good +opinion was soon changed to one of distrust and hatred. + +Agents of the American Government came into the country to make what +may, by courtesy, be called "treaties" with the natives. The +simple-minded and unsuspecting Indians were overreached, inveigled +into surrendering their rights to practically their entire hunting +grounds,[1] and otherwise outrageously wronged. Indeed, when the +nature of these transactions became known at Washington, the +Government made restitution so far as possible, but too late to avert +a cruel conflict. + +{105} + +That followed a massacre on October 28, 1855, by infuriated Indians +of innocent pioneers--men, women and children--thirty miles away. A +friendly native brought the appalling news to Mulhall during the +night of the same day the tragedy occurred. Consternation reigned in +the little village, the people not knowing to what extent the Indians +might go in wreaking vengeance upon the white race. + +Measures of defense were immediately taken by the villagers as best +they could but they were not very effective. A log cabin that +sheltered and protected many others besides the owner and his family +was soon built; and is still preserved in the village where Mulhall +dwelt, seventy years after the event. + +A breach which at once occurred between the military authorities and +the civil officials nearly came to a clash of arms; confusion reigned +supreme, and conditions verged on anarchy. The military, though now +obliged to wage war against the belligerent Indians, condemned +various acts of the civilians which brought on an unnecessary +conflict. Overnight Mulhall, it might be said by natural selection, +became Sheriff. + +By obeying orders from the military headquarters, which ran counter +to those of the civil court, he was arrested for contempt, carried +off to another county and confined. Before being taken away he +slipped a paper into Kate's hand, saying in a low voice, "Conceal it +quick," which she did. + +After her father's departure, when immediate {106} danger of further +interference had passed, she opened the letter; and to her surprise +found it contained an appointment as Deputy Sheriff during his +absence. It was a critical situation, in which she held the keys of +the Court House and the jail, and possession of the premises. + +Would the opposition use force? and carry her off as they had Sheriff +Mulhall? The military commander said they should not, and sent a +guard to protect her at the jail, while a number of citizens rallied +to her support. Before morning the excitement quieted down, cooler +counsels prevailed, and she was able to safely leave for her home. + +Kate found the little sisters terrified, and their eyes reddened by +weeping during most of the night for father and their "mamma." They +did not go to school the next day, but accompanied her back to the +jail where all had dinner together. By her tact and courage, Kate +soon became the heroine of both the military and civil factions, as +well as of the village; and conducted the office without opposition +until the release of her father. This brief reference to a strange +incident of the old frontier throws an additional light upon the +character of Kate Mulhall, and is at the same time an interesting +glimpse of pioneer life. + +The jails of that day were without ventilation, sanitary conveniences +or pretense of decency; all prisoners, civil and criminal alike, were +usually huddled together in one room like sheep in a pen. Under +{107} these conditions it is not strange that the Squire's +incarceration soon began to tell upon his health and strength. + +* * * + +Kate and her father were about a thousand miles out on the Oregon +Trail when Isaac Pelton, still in Missouri, adopted a definite plan +of action. He had discreetly kept his own counsel, planted the crops +as usual and pursued the even tenor of his way as if no changes were +impending. + +One Saturday evening he mounted Ned and left home without informing +any one where he was going, or how long he would be gone; and +traveled all night to the county seat of Harrison County, adjoining +the State of Iowa on the North. His mission was to buy a few acres +to give him legal standing as a landholder in that county; this done, +he returned as mysteriously as he had gone. + +In its next issue, the _Gazette_, the local county paper, published +an item to the effect that Isaac Pelton had bought land in Harrison +County, Missouri, and was about to remove to his new home. In the +same issue appeared an advertisement offering for sale all his +holdings of real or personal property, but not including his slaves +and teams. + +Midsummer had just passed and harvest begun when Pelton and his three +negroes left La Fayette County, in which he had lived so long; there +was no molestation, or even a faint suspicion of what had {108} +prompted the move. Harrison County contained over ten thousand white +inhabitants and only twenty-five slaves; upon arrival there, he filed +his manumitting paper for record freeing the three, and came out of +the Court House to receive congratulations wherever he went. + +Andrew and Jennie were in blissful ignorance of their master's +intention to liberate them; and Pelton had been very careful not to +drop a hint of it, acting on the principle that the only sure way to +keep a secret is to say nothing about it to any one. So now, when +the long resolution was an accomplished fact, he felt a heavy burden +lifted from his shoulders, and was in a mood of exultation for having +performed a duty and accomplishing what he had so long contemplated. + +The first thing to do, however, was to break the news to Andrew and +Jennie. He was curious to see how they would take it, but was not +prepared for the surprise that followed. + +"My Gawd-amighty, Massa, what'll I do?" exclaimed Andrew. "You turn +me out on the world to take care of myself and Jennie and Margie? I +hain't got no sense; I hain't got no nothin. Jennie, honey, what'll +we do? Massa, I love you; I dun want to go way." + +Pelton had anticipated a joyous scene to follow the news of their +freedom, but there was nothing but outcries and lamentations. That +was an exceptional case, though one like it occurred in the present +State {109} of Washington, where a slave refused to leave his master; +after a lapse of years, during which the infamous law debarring the +negro from holding land was repealed, he was finally rewarded by +inheriting the property. + +After the first outburst of grief, and upon Pelton's assurance that +he could stay with him as long as he lived and that no one could take +Jennie or Margie from him, Andrew shouted with joy and threw his arms +around his old master to express his ecstasy. A new light had shone +upon him. + +Just before the falling of the leaves in the autumn after the +departure of Squire Mulhall for Oregon, Isaac wrote to Kate a frank +declaration of his love, and enclosed a certified copy of the court +record confirming the manumission of the three slaves as stated in +his letter. He was restless in the new environment, at best only +temporary; and counted with impatience the days and weeks, and +finally the months, awaiting a response from Kate. + +None came. After investigating the reported wreck of a mail steamer, +he became convinced that the letter had been lost; and late in the +midwinter following her departure for Oregon, wrote a second one. + +"Kate, come here," Squire Mulhall said one day soon after receiving +mail by the semi-monthly steamer and pointing to an article in the +local paper from his old neighborhood in Missouri, "Do you see that?" +It read, "Isaac Pelton has set his three {110} slaves free and +removed to Harrison County, near the border of Iowa." + +Mulhall was surprised when his daughter at once left his presence +without making any comment or showing interest in the item he had +just read. Kate knew that she could not control her emotions, and in +the solitude of her room gave way to self denunciation for her +attitude when Isaac visited their cabin before they left for the +Oregon Country. + +During all the trials of the long journey over the Oregon Trail and +the anxieties afterward in their new home, the thought of Pelton +would become upper-most in her mind in spite of all efforts to banish +it. Now that he was no longer a slaveholder, she could cherish a +sentiment for him even though unaccompanied with hope that they would +ever meet again. + +Finally, after nearly a year from their parting in the Missouri +cabin, Pelton's second letter arrived. Kate's emotions can better be +imagined than described. Her hopes had been all but extinguished; +and now to have them suddenly revived came almost as a shock of pain, +though mingled with joy. + +Kate did not answer at once; anyhow it would be nearly a fortnight +before another mail would be dispatched to "the States." A momentous +question involving the future of her own life was to be decided; and +as the days passed the task became more difficult. + +While in this state of mind, one of the little sisters fell seriously +ill, calling for her almost undivided care; and she felt an increased +responsibility for her {111} father and the two orphans. Finally the +letter was written and dispatched; but Pelton left for Oregon before +it was delivered in Missouri, and never received it. The contents +remained a secret in her own breast, and as time passed brought +regret that it had been written. + +James Price was an undisguised admirer of Kate, but fearing rejection +of his suit, had never made formal advances, although nothing had +transpired to either encourage or discourage him. He was well aware +that Kate would go to Oregon at all hazards if her father did, but +rather shrank from the thought of accompanying them as a son-in-law +in a subordinate position. + +After the Mulhall outfit left, Price berated himself for being such a +laggard and entertaining a false pride; and resolved that he would go +to Oregon the following year. Price did not, like Pelton, disguise +his intention to make the trip or his admiration for Kate; so it +became common talk in the neighborhood that Price intended to go to +Oregon to win her hand. + +A year after the Squire had left his home in Missouri, the _Gazette_ +published the information that James Price had started for Oregon +with an ox-team, over the route followed by David Mulhall the +previous year. It expressed the hope that he might succeed in +securing a home in the new country; and the people of the +neighborhood interpreted this by adding, in their own minds--"and +what is of equal {112} importance, a wife." Pelton and in fact the +whole neighborhood, knew of Price's admiration for Kate; and when the +item appeared tongues were set to wagging that he was "going there to +marry Kate." + +Price was well out on the way before Pelton became aware of it, and +the fact that his rival had gone considerably disturbed his peace of +mind. He believed that the gossip as to what prompted Price to make +the journey was true, but hardly thought he could have any assurance +from Kate that would warrant the trip. + +"But suppose Price arrived and should renew his suit, what then?" he +asked himself. He knew that Kate respected Price, and when convinced +that his first letter had been lost, was not sure that she would +receive the second one. The more he thought of it, the more agitated +he became. + +"I'll go myself," he said one day; "I can go by the Isthmus and beat +him there yet, and I'll do it." + +That night he was troubled with the thought of an unexpected +obstacle. When he freed Margie, Pelton had himself appointed as +guardian to safeguard her liberty and prevent other parties from +depriving her of it under the obnoxious law to which reference has +been made. Who that he could trust would now accept the +responsibility? Any number would be eager to secure her services +while under age; but would shrink from the obloquy that would be +attached to such a transaction. + +Besides, there was real danger from the "night {113} riders" that +infested the county. The slavery question was in the minds of +everybody; only a small minority believed it was possible to abolish +the system, and very few had the courage to freely express +themselves. It was before the passage of the Fugitive Slave Law of +1850, but the "underground railroad" was in full operation. While +not talking much openly, the Quakers usually supplied the "stations" +for the escape of fugitive slaves. + +Eli Sumner, a staunch "Friend" residing not far from the Iowa line, +had a large and commodious barn, as was the Quaker custom, but lived +in an unpretentious house. It was generally believed that he +maintained an "underground station" on his premises, and that +escaping slaves could trust him. Nothing had been proven, but he had +the name of being a Free-soiler; and was therefore under suspicion by +the slaveholding class. + +Pelton realized how little time there was to spare if he would beat +Price to Oregon; but he had fully made up his mind to undertake the +long race. Price couldn't average more than fifteen miles a day with +his oxen; and by estimating the distance, Isaac believed he had an +advantage of about three weeks. But he might not make close +connections; and furthermore, had a journey of nearly a thousand +miles before reaching New York, a considerable part of it by +stage-coach. + +"I'll trust Sumner," Pelton said to himself and next morning started +off to see him. + +{114} + +"Yes, thee can bring them up here and I will do the best I can for +them," the Quaker said after Isaac had explained his mission; "but I +do not see why I should be appointed her guardian (referring to +Margie), as Iowa is a free State." + +"Yes, but suppose the night riders should once get her across the +line; might she not be helpless?" Pelton responded. + +"Well, just as thee thinks; they can have that little house, and I +will give the man employment, or he can work where he wills." + +A load was lifted from Isaac's mind when he saw Andrew and Jennie +safely in their new temporary home, and Margie under the guardianship +of the good Quaker. Depositing a considerable sum of money with +Sumner for emergencies, and bidding farewell to them all, he left +with a light heart, determined to send for them some day if he +secured a home in the Oregon Country and won Kate for a wife. + +As the weeks passed, the great race was progressing slowly and even +painfully for both participants, Price continued steadily on with +pleasant anticipations of a hearty greeting from his old-time +acquaintance, Squire Mulhall, and at least a cordial reception by +Kate. He knew nothing of Pelton's intentions or movements; if he +had, it would not have hastened his arrival, for his average progress +of two miles an hour could not be increased. + +Price had met and overcome the usual difficulties {115} of a trip +over the long trail. Unincumbered with dependents or loose stock, +and with only one comrade selected from among his acquaintances for +dependable character and aptitude for such an undertaking, the cares +of the journey were much less than with those accompanied by their +families. + +He had a light-weight covered wagon, in which they could sleep, and +did not a carry a tent. The team consisted of four trim +five-year-old steers broken during the winter to work under the yoke, +and two extras trained to be led behind the wagon. One day's +experiences represented nearly all the trip across the Plains. + +Camp was usually made early; one of them would at once take the oxen +to water and grass, while the other would prepare the evening meal. +Then one soon went to bed and the other out with the oxen; the next +morning an early start was made with the night-watcher in the wagon +asleep. Sound and refreshing sleep was possible under the +circumstances and practiced by many, seldom disturbed by the slow +movement of the ox-wagon. + +Pelton did not find his journey to Oregon by the Isthmus route an +agreeable one; quite the opposite, with some hardships and a great +deal of discomfort. Three days were lost in New York waiting for a +steamer, followed by nine or ten days on the water, which passed +quite pleasantly, then a crossing of the Isthmus--a difficult matter +in those days, with the ever-present risk of tropical fever. +Emerging on the {116} Pacific side, a second wait of three days +ensued before another--and inferior--steamer could be taken to San +Francisco, where Isaac arrived after heavy seas had blown the ship +two hundred miles out of its course and added considerably to the +delay. + +Five days were spent at the Golden Gate before an old and clumsy +looking hulk left for the northern ports; the trip was slow and beset +with dangers, and the boat narrowly escaped destruction while +crossing the treacherous bar of the Columbia River. But at last +Portland, then a little village of probably not more than a thousand +inhabitants, was reached; and as there was then no regular service to +the Puget Sound country, Pelton was obliged to take a steamer plying +on the Columbia River to the Cowlitz River, where a stage line +operated over wretchedly bad roads a considerable part of the way to +Olympia, at the head of Puget Sound; and from Olympia he employed an +Indian with a canoe to take him to the little village where the +Mulhalls had established a residence. + +Up to the last moment his mind was tormented with visions of Price. +Had he arrived, and if so, how many weeks before? How had he been +received by Kate? The time that Price could have arrived had passed +by several weeks; and Pelton himself had been delayed long after the +date he had expected to reach his destination. + +He soon found the house and walked boldly up to it with mingled +emotions. Kate was in the kitchen {117} preparing the evening meal +with no thought that Pelton was any nearer than 2,000 miles; and when +she opened the door in response to the knock outside, the two stood +face to face. One word from each other sufficed, "Isaac!" "Kate!" +They fell into each other's arms; the long suspense was over, the +race won, the goal attained--and the prize at last secured. + +James Price, whom Pelton had feared, was in reality no rival at all, +so far as Kate was concerned. No matter what aspirations he may have +entertained, she had never thought of being anything more to him than +an old-time acquaintance. But the poor fellow never reached the end +of the journey on which he started in the early spring. + +While plodding slowly along with his ox-teams, he was overtaken on +the sage-brush plains of the Snake River by cholera, the dread +scourge that proved fatal to many emigrants in those days; and he was +buried in the sands of that desert region. Both Pelton and Kate felt +a genuine pang of grief at the untimely fate of the unfortunate young +man. + +* * * + +Kate said, "Let's have a quiet wedding and invite three or four of +the near-by neighbors." + +"That will never do," Squire Mulhall replied; "let's go to the church +where everybody that wants to can come." Isaac was neutral, only +remarking, "you folks settle it between yourselves." + +{118} + +Kate hesitated to differ with her father, but she wanted a quiet +wedding; finally the argument ended and all agreed to go to the only +church in the village, and one with a history. That was the first +place of worship in the new Territory where now, more than seventy +years after the events here recorded, stands a granite monument to +perpetuate a part of its interesting record. + +It was near the holidays when the eventful Sunday for the wedding +arrived. The Indian conflict was over, but many of the settlers +still remained near the fort; the village was full of people and the +saloons were all open. The clouds hung low, patches of fog just +lifting in sight. When the wedding party arrived, the church was so +filled that the principals had difficulty in entering. + +Squire Mulhall had insisted that Kate have a dress to suitably +commemorate the occasion, which had been the principal subject of +talk among the dames of the villages, and the church was crowded with +them at an early hour. Many who had seen Kate as Deputy Sheriff +booted and spurred, with pistol strapped to her person, could +scarcely believe their eyes when they saw the happy, modest and well +dressed young woman soon to become a bride. + +All attending the ceremony had donned their best, and some had +supplemented their wardrobe especially for the occasion. The church +was profusely decorated with evergreens so abundant in the recesses +of the forests, and numerous varieties of beautiful ferns, {119} to +which were added many flowers still in bloom, although it was near +midwinter. + +Pelton had made one request of the clergyman--to omit the word +"obey;" under existing law the phrase was not mere form, but +literally interpreted. When, immediately after the ceremony, Pelton +handed the bride a sealed envelope, no one in the assembly who saw +the incident was more surprised than Kate herself. "Don't open it +until tomorrow," he said in a low voice; and the incident remained a +mystery. + +The Peltons had planned a quiet evening at home with only a very few +selected guests; father Mulhall had apparently acquiesced, but there +were others with plans of their own. Mrs. Pelton--let us continue to +call her Kate, which sounds so much better--wondered why her father +had bought a barrel of apples and some candies, nuts and other +delicacies she found in the pantry. + +She suddenly clasped her husband's arm with a tight grip as an +unearthly noise, such as she had never heard before, broke out +nearby. It was no longer the Deputy Sheriff, but the timid bride +looking for protection. Drums beating, horns tooting, guns firing, +beating on tin pans--even the oldtime horse fiddle with its unearthly +tones to make night hideous--to which was added yells and shouting, +all combined to startle. Kate was off her guard for once, and fairly +trembled with excitement until she realized that it meant a +charivaree. + +{120} + +"Come in, boys," the Squire said, as he opened the door. + +"No, we want to see the bride and groom," the spokesman answered. + +At first Kate shrank from going out, but after each parley the noise +would resume, as it seemed automatically; and still the bride would +not, as she afterwards said, show herself. Finally a torch-bearing +party was seen approaching, and sweet singing voices were heard--as +much of a surprise to the noisy party outside the residence as to +those inside the house. + +It was the church choir giving a serenade. The old Scotch tailor +with his bagpipe was there; the glee club of the village rendered its +best song; the violin and flute added to the music, and with it +dancing began on the sod. "Let's go," said Pelton. "All right," +answered the bride; and before they could realize it, they were +dancing with the joyous crowd. + +It was near midwinter; the falling of the leaves had stripped the +deciduous timber growth of the valley bare, but the evergreens of the +tablelands retained their color as in the summer time. The sheltered +ferns in the deep recesses of the forests were preserved in all their +delicate beauty, while here and there a modest flower peeped from a +sheltered nook. Grass was green in favored places on the common and +in the gardens of the village. + +Pelton could scarcely believe his eyes as he viewed the scene, +particularly when it included a ship {121} sailing by; the square +rigged sails of the three-mast schooner was to him a thing of +exquisite beauty, moved by some invisible power. Everything looked +bright, and he was happy; the girl he had sought and won, now his +beloved wife, never before looked so lovely to him. + +Kate, no less happy than her husband, pictured to herself a quiet +home where she could live as her mother had done amid the joys of a +pioneer life. Now, more than ever, she realized her deep love for +Isaac, and wondered what life would have been to her without him. + +But there was one disturbing element; Bess and Sarah were +unmistakably jealous of Pelton. They had been accustomed to the +undivided love of "mamma," as they continued to call Kate, and were +not easily reconciled to sharing that affection with another. Kate +consulted with Isaac, then with her father, and finally all three +conferred together as to how best to convince the little girls that +her love for them was just as intense as ever. + +The Squire suggested that he take the girls on a visit to Ben; they +would enjoy it, and besides he wanted to see the "dear boy" himself. +Pelton thought it would be better not to disturb them until the close +of school, adding that he intended to make a trip to see the country +and wanted Kate to go along if "father" would not be too much +inconvenienced during their absence. + +Mulhall cordially seconded the suggestion, saying {122} that he and +the girls could get along splendidly; he would have Clara Laighton, +Kate's dearest friend, come to prepare the dinners in the evening, +while he and the girls could get breakfast, and they take their lunch +to school. The Squire's evident sincerity, bordering on enthusiasm, +relieved Pelton and Kate from any uneasiness regarding his +willingness that the trip should be made, and how the little girls +would get along while they were absent. + +So the question came up as to where they should go, how and the +length of time they would probably be gone. The conclusion was +finally reached to take a cruise on Puget Sound; "We can always get +plenty of clams," Kate said, "when the tide is out." She had +utilized clams to feed prisoners in the jail, and knew their value; +besides it would be jolly to dig them and bake them as the Indians +did. + +Pelton was in doubt whether to take a boat or canoe; Kate said by all +means a canoe, and explained their pattern for speed and safety, as +exemplified by the clipper ships[2] which carried the Stars and +Stripes to all parts of the world. The marvel of shaping these +canoes from the body of a large tree, guided by the eye alone, +remains a mystery to this day; the Indians did so, but it is +difficult to fully understand how. + +{123} + +First, the exterior parts are cut down to a solid trunk of wood the +size and shape of the finished canoe. Then follows the more +intricate labor of removing the center, either by chipping off pieces +with rude tools or burning out the excess. Coming down to what is +left for the framework of the canoe, the problem is how deep to cut +without penetrating the outside shell, which seems to be determined +more by instinct than by measurement. They are made in various +dimensions, from the one-man canoe up to a size in which thirty +Indians go boldly out to sea on their fishing excursions. + +Pelton secured the service of the native Steicca and his Indian +"klootchman" (wife), who were recommended by the Chief Factor of the +near-by Hudson's Bay Company fort; and hired their five-man size +canoe. Steicca was a person of note among his people, and had gained +the confidence of the men at the fort. He was above the average +stature for his tribe, popularly designated as the "Fish" Indians, +because they depended almost entirely upon sea food; his klootchman +was a comely native from the over-mountain tribe known as the "Horse +Indians." + +She kept herself and clothing clean, in contrast with the +carelessness or uncleanliness generally seen among the women of the +tribe to which her husband belonged. Their four-year old boy was +likewise always neat and tidy; and Kate thought he was one of the +most likable urchins she had ever seen. + +Pelton had procured a closed tent with complete {124} camping outfit, +which included a mirror for Kate and a bootjack for himself. Nothing +seemed to be overlooked to make her feel at home on their bridal +trip--a honeymoon in a Garden of Eden to them. + +They embarked in the early morning observed by many friends and +acquaintances, both men and women, the latter representing nearly +every household of the village. Children were there with handsful of +rice to shower good will upon the heads of their departing friends; +Sarah and Bess looked on, but could not understand what the throwing +of rice meant. + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + +{125} + +[Illustration: THE HONEYMOON PARTY IN AN INDIAN CANOE ON PUGET SOUND, +AND SUDDEN APPEARANCE OF THE HAIR SEAL; DESCRIPTION ON PAGE FOLLOWING] + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + +Just as Kate and Isaac were settled comfortably side by side in the +capacious canoe, Mrs. Steicca--"Sally" let us call her, instead of +_klootchman_, sat at the post of honor as both captain and pilot, +with paddle in hand ready for the start whenever the word was given. +This was the usual custom among the Indians, who skillfully guided +the canoe in rough waters and boisterous winds, as well as in the +placid waters usually prevailing on the bays of Puget Sound. + +As Steicca pushed off the bow of the canoe both paddles were dipped +vigorously into the water, and the handles struck the sides with +resounding thumps, while each hummed in harmonious minor key an +Indian ditty common to the tribe. The dull sound of the paddles +knocking against the side of the canoe, and the voices in unison, +could be heard long after the view of the slowly disappearing craft +had {126} become dimmed to the assembled villagers, who then +reluctantly returned to their homes. + +Propelled by the combined strength of both experts, the canoe passed +rapidly through the water, accelerated by the swift current of an ebb +tide. The morning haze had not cleared away and the water was of a +glassy smoothness--not a ripple on the surface near-by--though not +far away there were slightly disturbed patches, when Kate caught +sight of what appeared to be a human head rising out of the deep +water in the wake of the rapidly passing canoe. + +"What in the world is that?" she exclaimed as she gazed for a moment +at the seeming apparition, which now quickly disappeared from sight, +and excitedly grasped the arm of her husband. Pelton jocosely +suggested it was a mermaid. + +"Do you believe in that stuff?" Kate asked, to which Isaac replied +that at least it looked like the picture of one; and she admitted it +did. In her childhood Kate had read the old-time legends about +mermaids; and knew that all down the ages, the belief in creatures +half human and half fish had existed among thousands. And now, was +it possible that she had a glimpse of one? Kate was not +superstitious, but the sight startled and puzzled her; and the reader +will doubtless also wonder what it could have been. + +An old record describing the mermaid states that "they have a way of +lifting their round heads and shoulders from the water with a queer +look of almost {127} human intelligence upon their faces;" and that +is exactly what Kate had seen. The head that had come above the +surface only a few rods in the wake of the canoe, as if to +investigate what had disturbed the repose of its abode, was about the +size of a half-grown girl, with a suggestion of languid eyes and a +plaintive countenance. + +Only the face could be seen, and that but for a moment--long enough +to indelibly fix the features in Kate's mind. It was the head of a +hair-seal, common at that time in the waters of Puget Sound. The +sudden appearance of these strange creatures has startled and puzzled +many travelers; and led large numbers of people to believe in the +existence of a real mermaid. + +As the canoe sped on its way, the hills on the east shut off the sun, +the channel became narrow and crooked, and the view of waters ahead +vanished, leaving only the high elevations, covered with dense +forests of evergreen fir, in sight on either side. The outlook ahead +seemed as if the party had come to the end of the waters, with a bold +elevation--almost a mountain--directly in front. Just then the canoe +lurched to the eastward, and despite the utmost efforts of the +Indians, shot off the line of travel; then it started as suddenly in +the opposite direction, as if possessed by an evil spirit. + +The shadows of the hills bordering the narrow passage and a fleeting +cloud darkened the view as if night was approaching. A dull, subdued +roar {128} comparable to an indistinct echo of a distant sound, +reached the ears of the party. Just ahead, the waters apparently +swelled up above the common level and then broke away to form again +either to the right or left, or both to spread currents running in +circles. + +Now the sound became louder from the choppy sea of broken waves, +forming small conical volumes of water mounting in the air and +falling back to the surface. To make matters worse, the whirlpools +drew in short bits of driftwood; and some of the larger pieces +thumped against the sides of the canoe, interfering with the paddles. +The canoe had encountered a tide-rip--water roughened by conflicting +tides or currents, a phenomenon of which neither had ever heard. + +Kate spoke first; "I wish we were landed, Isaac, don't you?" Pelton +felt about the same, but made an effort to speak encouragingly. + +It was a battle of the tides in a narrow channel of the Sound with a +swift current due to the tide receding toward the sea. The whirling +waters extended from shore to shore, while whirlpools of varying +extent suddenly formed and as quickly vanished, all moving rapidly in +one direction--a grand sight to the beholder from a safe point of +vantage, but to Kate an object of terror. + +"_Tenas alia copet_" (it will soon quiet) Sally said, more to herself +than otherwise, perceiving Kate's perturbed state of mind; and +pointed the canoe toward the eastern shore-line. A few minutes {129} +sufficed to reach an eddy outside the disturbed waters, and to shove +the nose of the canoe obliquely and gently over to a pebbly beach. + +Sally's boy, named Pete after the great humanitarian, Peter Skene +Ogden, a courageous and trusted Factor of the Hudson's Bay Company, +was the first one out of the canoe. He jumped into the water, waist +deep, and began his pranks in a salt water bath, while the mother +laughingly scolded him for his rashness. + +Kate and Pelton were glad of relief from their cramped position in +the canoe, independent of the anxiety of their experience with the +tide-rips. "_Tenas in-e-ti sitcum sum Skookum chuck copet_" (just +after noon the current will quiet), Steicca said; and suggested that +they remain where they were until the tide turned. Kate had learned +enough of the mongrel Chinook jargon to understand what the Indians +said; so she and Pelton readily assented. + +A steep bluff prevented exploring the nearby woods, and there were no +trees until near the top of the hill. Steicca at once began +preparations for a brisk fire with the abundant material in sight. A +great mass of driftwood obstructed the shore-line just above their +landing, some half imbedded in the sand and gravel of the beach, and +other debris evidently having been driven beyond the reach of the +highest tide by storms of wind and wave. The dead limbs of these +derelicts supplied excellent fuel to speedily make a roaring fire. + +{130} + +Kate noticed the Indian gathering and piling small rocks on the fire +while Sally dug a small pit, lined it with loose rock, and built +another fire in preparation for a clambake. As it was near low tide, +the clam beds were exposed and an abundance of the bivalves easily +secured for a bounteous meal. Clams are found on the conveniently +located sloping beaches, and in enormous quantities along the fifteen +hundred miles of the shore-line of Puget Sound waters; so the saying, +"dinner is always ready when the tide is out," was literally true. + +Kate forgot the apparition of the head and the whirls of the +tide-rips that had so startled and alarmed her when their attention +was attracted to the picturesque beach, with its many shells and +pebbles of various sizes, shapes and beautiful colors. She at once +began to make a collection of them, without noticing that Pelton had +withdrawn from sight. He had quietly taken his fowling piece and +clambered along the beach to a nearby lagoon, where he soon bagged a +couple of fat mallard ducks. + +No one visiting that region now can have any adequate idea of the +vast number of ducks there in the early days. The air was fairly +black with these game birds; he could easily have taken a dozen, but +hastened back with the two for dinner. + +"_Nika mamook_," Sally said, when she saw the birds, meaning that she +would cook them; Pelton readily assented and joined Kate in her +search along the beach. The pit of hot rock was nearly ready for +{131} the clams; and Sally soon had the ducks prepared for it. Now +the rocks were smoothed off, the pit enlarged and the whole covered +with a layer of small branches of fir twig ends. + +The ducks were placed in the middle of the pit and the remaining +space filled with clams. As a sudden dash of water produced an +abundant supply of steam, the whole was quickly covered with boughs +and ferns, upon which a thin layer of earth was laid and topped by +hot rocks from the larger fire. + +It was a clambake by experts. Before that time Kate and Pelton did +not know what the term meant, but they lived to see it become +synonymous with a feast. The "clambake" here supplanted the barbecue +in Missouri, where the ox was roasted on a spit. + +As years passed they also witnessed the gathering of a thousand or +more people at the annual jubilee, all partaking of the luscious +contents of an immense clam pit covered with wagon-loads of unhusked +green corn. This institution, the clambake that was for many years +the central attraction for social gatherings, political conventions +and even religious meetings, is only but a memory. + +As the time approached for the turn of the tide, Steicca became +impatient to open the pit. There came an interim when the battle of +the waters temporarily ceased, as the ebb tide spent its force and +before the oncoming rush of the flood from the ocean. Steicca knew +that when the flood regained mastery, it would be impossible to stem +the force of the {132} current in the Narrows and round the point to +the large bay ahead. But Sally was unwilling to interfere with her +well-laid plans for the first dinner served to her new friends, the +admired lady of the village they had left, and the gentleman who had +traveled so far to win her. + +Indian women, though occupying humble and inferior positions in the +life of their tribes, are not devoid of imagination or true devotion +to their husbands and children. An Indian mother never chastises her +child, and will seldom run counter to the wishes of her husband. + +But to open the pit before the contents were ready to serve would +break her heart. In this dilemma, woman-like, she appealed to Kate, +who had watched with interest the painstaking preparations for the +feast and sympathized with Sally in her distress. + +"Of course," Isaac said when the situation was explained by Kate, +"I'm willing to stay if you are; it's just as jolly here as around +the point in the big bay." And Sally was soon made happy by the word +they would camp and stop over there until the next tide. + +Pelton desired to make the camp leisurely to try his hand, and began +to move the outfit from the canoe. Machinery seldom runs smooth on +first trial, and so it is on a camping trip; several things had been +overlooked or mislaid and a number of surplus articles were found. +The folding cot, stools and the stove came out all right. While +Sally was busy with {133} the clambake, Kate was arranging the +details of the forthcoming meal, for which she had made ample +provision before leaving home. + +Steicca had erected their camp, consisting of mats fastened to a +semi-circle of small poles driven obliquely into the ground; such was +the usual temporary shelter of nomad Indians even in midwinter, +affording protection from the wind but little from the rain. Sally +seemed as proud of the camp as Kate was of their new tent and camp +equipage. + +While waiting the opening of the clam pit, Sally brought out her +knitting for "Siwash" (Indian) socks, made of coarse thread from wool +carded in her own camp and formed into yarn by manipulating the crude +rolls with the palm of the hand. Indian women are always busy, and +seem at a loss to pass the time without knitting or weaving mats, +making baskets or moccasins, while the average Indian man is +apparently ill at ease when he has something to do. + +Sally had some plain shaped plates made from the inner bark of the +cedar with a shallow rim on the outer edge, all water-proof; on +these, as we shall see later, she served the clams and ducks. Having +been busy with her camp work, Sally had forgotten to keep watch of +her boy Pete; but now he must be called in, scrubbed and otherwise +prepared for the meal. Frequent calls, Pete! Pete! brought no +response. + +Finally a track was found up a ravine, leading to the discovery of +him perched on the limb of a {134} scraggy tree high above the reach +of his mother. Boy-like, white or Indian, young or old, he had gone, +in search of adventure, and while looking for bird's nests, had +ventured too far to easily return. + +Did his mother scold him? Not at all. Indian women do not scold +their children or their men, but sometimes do each other to the point +where words fail, and facial grimaces take their place. + +The time had arrived to open the pit, and everything was in +readiness; Sally beckoned to Kate, who came over to the spot with +Pelton, whose curiosity was aroused. Steicca was on hand to see; and +of course Pete was there, subdued and hungry. The outer covering of +stone, earth and boughs were first carefully removed, revealing the +inner covering through which the steam had percolated. + +"_Closhe_" (all right), Sally said to herself as she lifted the inner +covering and disclosed the contents cooked to perfection. Both ducks +were handed to Kate (one of which was promptly returned by Pelton), +and the plates piled high with clams. Kate divided her own supplies +with Sally; and the banquet was on in both camps. + +Such was the experience of Pelton and Kate in their first camp; her +diary briefly tells the story in these words, "Tuesday ----185-, +broke camp early; encountered tide-rips so strong as to spin the +canoe in a dizzy whirl. Sally lost control for awhile, a little +water spilled over into the canoe; somehow wasn't frightened much." + +{135} + +A few hours sufficed to bring them into the calm waters of a large +bay where numerous fishing parties, trolling for salmon, were in +sight. Here and there glimpses were had of passing canoes, and the +thump of paddles mingled with songs, loud laughter or talk to distant +parties. The beach for miles was lined with Indian camps, where some +of the men were lounging in listless idleness of mind and body, +seemingly almost too indolent to breathe, while others--and +particularly the women--were industriously drying the fish, or busily +occupied with their crude handiwork. + +The catch of salmon was of medium size; sixty-pound specimens were +taken with nets in shallow waters, and there seemed to be no limit to +the supply. Little did Pelton then realize the tremendous commercial +value of this product of the sea, amounting afterwards to hundreds of +millions of dollars annually. + +In the far distance a white-topped dome reached above the clouds that +hung upon the lower levels, all reflected in the placid waters of the +bay. Steicca and Sally rested from their labors, and floated with +the tide. A brief entry in Kate's diary describes the scene, +"Beautiful beyond my powers of description--unbroken evergreen +forests in every direction; snow-capped mountains about as far away +as the eye can see; a thousand Indians in sight on the beach and in +their canoes." + +Pelton planned to go direct to the forty beautiful {136} islands he +had been told could be visited within the waters of Puget Sound, and +to more carefully examine the country on their return. The day's +sailing, supplemented by four paddles, left the great mountain dimmed +by increased distance, but brought into the far view another of +almost equal grandeur, and opened to larger channels of waters than +any left behind. + +A council held in the morning decided that the course should lie to +the dim outline of a headland discernible just above the horizon; +wind and tide were favorable, and with the aid of the two Indians +rapid progress could be made. An alternate course would be to follow +the shore-line down to the objective point, considerably farther and +no less dangerous; and so the direct route was chosen. + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + +[Illustration: HELP YOURSELF] + +Tons of furniture, trunks, provisions and other things were abandoned +along the Trail, often with a sign like the one shown in this +illustration; see pages 42 and 180. + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + + + +[1] Over nine hundred square miles of territory were ceded, reserving +only six sections for about nine hundred Indians--and that high +ground, heavily timbered and entirely unsuited to their needs. A +more outrageous "treaty" was never made between the Government of the +United States and its Indian wards; its terms would be unbelievable +were they not preserved among the records of the Medicine Creek +Treaty, December, 1864, in the Archives at Washington. In less than +a year conflict broke out, and massacres followed, with losses of +life to both the U.S. troops and the Indians. The latter were +defeated in the field, as noted in the text; but they fared better in +the subsequent negotiations, for as soon as the war ended and the +Government was apprised of the wrong inflicted by that treaty, +suitable reservations were provided. + +[2] In 1849, after the discovery of gold in California, it is said +that more than seven hundred cleared from Atlantic ports to San +Francisco; many celebrated clippers made the trip from the East to +the West in the years 1850-51, and very fast passages were common +from 1850 on. + + + + +{137} + +CHAPTER V + +AN ENCOUNTER WITH PIRATES, AND A FORTUNATE DELIVERANCE; BEN FOUND; +HIS PROMPT START FOR MISSOURI AND UNEXPECTED ARRIVAL; A SON BORN TO +THE PELTONS. + + +Near the noon hour, with the headland yet in the distance, Pelton +noticed two canoes whose occupants were paddling as if speed were a +question of life or death with them. Not long afterward, another was +seen going frantically in the same direction, followed closely by two +more. Steicca observed the racing canoes, but though evidently +disturbed as to the cause, discreetly said nothing. + +About the same time Kate saw either a boat or large canoe coming +directly toward them and wondering what it could mean, called Isaac's +attention to it. Sally had likewise discovered the craft and showed +signs of uneasiness. A friend had told the story of how, many years +ago, her little boy was taken captive by the northern Indians, +carried off into slavery, and had never been heard from since. +Somehow the appearance of this boat or large canoe revived the memory +of that occurrence and created a fear for the safety of Pete. +Slavery was once practiced in her own tribe (though at that time +discontinued); but she had been told by other Indians that the +northern tribes were known to still {138} follow the practice, which +seemed corroborated by the taking of her friend's boy. As the large +craft approached nearer, Sally hid Pete under the cover of a mat +beside her with fearsome admonitions that impelled him to lie quiet +and not betray his presence. + +Pelton's suspicions led him to slip his fowling piece out of sight, +and Kate's trusted rifle was under the outfit in the bottom of the +canoe. Isaac directed that no sign of fear should be manifested when +they were overtaken, and all intercourse with the strangers be left +to him. + +As the pirates came alongside they insolently threw a line over the +bow and stern posts, and then lashed the two canoes firmly together; +being much longer and wider, theirs loomed high above that of +Pelton's. It was of the pattern of the canoe in which the northern +tribes manned with seventy or more men went boldly to sea on their +whaling excursions; while not one of the largest, it would easily +hold twenty men. + +Seven were on each side, with paddles in their hands, one at the helm +and a lookout in the bow, sixteen in all stalwart men in size and +physical condition far above the tribes farther south. The same may +be said of their mentality. In the northern tribes were painters and +sculptors of considerable ability, as evidenced by their totem poles, +inscriptions on rocks and ornaments of their mammoth canoes. + +There were silversmiths in some of the tribes, as {139} shown by many +specimens offered for sale on occasions of their peaceful visits to +the white settlements. Nor were the women behind the men in ability +for fine work, abundantly illustrated by baskets, mats and other +articles for ornaments or domestic use. + +Ethnologists attribute the superiority of these northern tribes in +part to a mixture of Japanese blood from castaways in past centuries, +perhaps even in prehistoric days; facial resemblances suggest the +fact, which seems to be confirmed by the remains of wrecked junks on +the northern coast. These were the people into whose clutches Pelton +and Kate had fallen on their honeymoon trip. + +The spokesman for the buccaneers began by saying that they wanted a +tent, one of which was in sight, to which Pelton firmly responded +that he did not have any to spare. He had noticed a ship beating up +the Sound against the wind that had tacked toward them, and realized +that a parley to gain time until the ship came nearer would be their +best chance of escape. + +Isaac noticed a silver ring on the spokesman's hand and offered to +buy it for his bride; for a moment the wily savage was thrown off his +guard, and looked Kate over with evident satisfaction. Just then one +of the men said something in a low tone, and after several articles +had been snatched by the robbers, the lines fastening the two canoes +together were suddenly cast off. + +This precipitate action was caused by the near {140} approach of the +ship then bearing directly upon them; but unfortunately, it tacked +and bore rapidly away the same moment the lines had been loosened +from the canoe. Instantly all four paddles were frantically wielded +to overtake the ship, until by a supreme effort Steicca broke his. + +The Indians soon discovered their advantage, but did not give chase +until they observed that the space between their victims and the ship +was widening. Kate then gave her paddle to Steicca and intently +watched the movement of their recent captors. + +"As I live, Isaac, they have started to follow us," she said, as the +bow of the robber canoe was turned toward them, "is your gun loaded?" +"It is not," Pelton answered. "Then load it quick, and be careful," +she cautioned, speaking while reaching down for her rifle and +ammunition so as to be ready for action at the crucial moment. + +Realizing that it was impossible to escape by racing their few +paddles against fourteen, Isaac loaded his gun and deliberately +calmed his nerves for the contest. The ship was now too far away to +render assistance, and the robbers were rapidly gaining on them. +While yet beyond rifle shot, Pelton directed Steicca and Sally to +cease paddling, not to make any movement in the canoe other than to +keep it pointed on its course, and for Steicca to lie down. + +"I believe you can reach them now, Kate," Isaac said. "Wait a +minute," came the response in a firm {141} voice, while she stood +upright in the canoe. We may well believe the aim was deliberate, +for the bullet lodged in the body of the lookout, who tumbled off his +perch into the water. + +It took but a moment to reload the rifle. Pelton could not reach the +buccaneers with his fowling piece at that distance, and held his fire +in reserve. The robbers stopped to pick up their dead or wounded +comrade. + +Sally and Steicca resumed their strenuous paddling as Kate sat down; +but when Isaac saw the Indians coming toward them a second time, he +again directed to cease paddling so their craft would be steady for +aim at the next victim. Onward came the great canoe, again Kate +reserved her fire and was successful in hitting her target--this time +the helmsman. As the canoe swung off its course to within range of +Pelton's gun, he disabled two or more on her broadside. + +By this time the ship tacked again and was now approaching, while a +sloop rounded the nearby point and made directly toward the +distressed voyagers. Seeing these, the marauders drew off toward the +eastern channel, and were soon out of sight. + +It is unlikely that they ceased the pursuit because of their losses, +for it is a matter of history that once this same tribe had 117 +warriors in a combat, besides their women and children. During the +fight 27 were killed and 21 wounded; but they held out stubbornly for +two days, when hunger {142} compelled them to yield. Another +historic reference illustrating the ferocity of this tribe, the +"Haidahs," states that "both ships were attacked by northern Indians +when off the upper end of Vashon Island; all on board, eleven in +number, were murdered and the ships plundered and burned." + +When the ship was finally hailed, no explanation was required, as the +pilot had heard the guns; the captain, with the aid of his glass, +knew what had happened. As the canoe came alongside, he cordially +invited all, including the Indians with the Peltons, on board; he +also took up the canoe, as he was intending to cast anchor off the +village from whence they came. + +Nothing on the ship was too good for his unexpected guests. The +captain had heard of Kate's experience as Deputy Sheriff, but not of +the wedding. His enthusiasm at that news knew no bounds; by the time +they arrived at the village he insisted that the bride accept a +silver table service which she treasured to the end of her life as +the present from the big-hearted captain. + +Pete had the time of his life with the sailors, who were surprised to +see the bright little fellow, up to all sorts of pranks as he +explored the ship from stem to stern and from top to bottom. He and +his mother were fairly loaded down with presents; Pete never forgot +his sailor friends, and in fact became a sailor himself. + +The evening after their arrival at the village, {143} Kate and Pelton +rowed out to the ship, still at anchor in the harbor, to offer the +old tar sincere thanks and leave with him some token of good will and +appreciation for the opportune way in which he appeared upon the +scene and rescued them from imminent peril of the northern savages. +Capt. Pierson was past middle age but in perfect health, and an +impulsive jollity pervaded his whole being. He would not listen to +their leaving the ship until after dinner, nor to their profuse +thanks for his act. + +"Oh, that's nothing; a man who did not respond in such an emergency +would be a brute. I only wish I could have chastised the rascals," +he said--and meant it. + +The captain belonged to a class of seafaring men (now almost +extinct), which once carried the Stars and Stripes to the farthermost +corners of the earth--free and easy with comrades, but usually a +strict disciplinarian, though sympathetic with his men. He was the +aristocratic ruler of the little world within the bounds of the ship, +their home and castle; all were inured to the hardships of long +voyages without complaint, but every one greatly enjoyed the respite +of a few days in port. + +From time immemorial the "ships that go down to the sea" have carried +the commerce of the world, and planted the seeds of civilization in +every clime. It is difficult to realize that all this has been +changed within the range of one span of life. Only a very small +number of sailing ships now leave the ports {144} of the United +States; and the noble "clippers," the pride of the nation at that +period, very seldom grace the waters of the two hemispheres any more. +And the rugged, jolly captains, bronzed and weather-beaten, rough in +speech and stern in looks though usually kind-hearted and generous +beneath the surface, have almost vanished--like their ships. + +Seafaring men who navigate the oceans in the immense vessels of the +present time are entirely unlike the old-time sailors in appearance +and actions. The modern crew appear upon our thoroughfares in fancy +uniforms, the officers resplendent in gold braid and gilt buttons, +and the common sailors in natty uniforms, usually without anything to +mar their dandified appearance. One can easily tell that reefing a +mainsail or splicing a rope is no longer part of their duty. + +But the old-timers came ashore careless in appearance and rollicking +in manner, out for a good time--ready for a fight or a frolic--and +usually had it. Now they belong to the things that were, and we see +no more of them. + +Captain Pierson believed the reason the Indians did not return the +fire was that their spokesman wanted to take Kate captive, for they +could have destroyed the little honeymoon party without mercy. The +confusion incident to the loss of their helmsman, quickly followed by +the wounding of several of their paddlers, and the sudden tacking of +the ship so disconcerted their plans that the marauders barely {145} +had time to get beyond reach of the howitzers on its deck. It was +late when Pelton and Kate fairly tore themselves away from the jovial +captain and left the ship, and long past midnight before the council +of Kate, Isaac and Squire Mulhall broke up, after agreeing upon a +plan of action. + +Pelton had several times spoken about his former slaves, Andrew and +Jennie, whom he had left in Iowa; and could not banish from his mind +thoughts of the danger that "night riders" from Missouri might carry +them off into captivity. Besides, Jennie had cared for him with a +mother's solicitude after the death of his own mother while he was +still quite young; and Andrew had always been kind to him in his +boyhood days, as well as faithful to his interest in later life. And +that unsophisticated little girl, Margie! Somehow he could not feel +easy in his mind to leave them where they were; now they were +separated, he realized that he remembered, and appreciated more than +ever before, their kind and considerate acts toward him. + +How to bring them on from Iowa to Oregon was a problem with almost +insurmountable obstacles, which Isaac had thoroughly discussed with +Kate, taking advantage of that favorable opportunity to let her know +that he had abundant means in Missouri to provide for their trip--and +to her surprise a fairly large sum besides. While Kate had not +married for money, she was nevertheless gratified to know that Pelton +possessed a goodly fortune, and sympathized {146} with his laudable +desire to expend a part of it to better the condition of his former +slaves. + +Kate resolved to share Ben's secret with both her father and husband, +and to suggest that the Squire should go to see or send for Ben. She +would also have her father and Isaac supply him with enough money to +bring Linda to Oregon with Andrew, Jennie and the little girl Margie. +All instantly agreed to the plan, and became so enthusiastic that +they forgot all about their recent escape from death, and the cares +of pioneer life still confronting them. + +"I will not go until school is out," the Squire said, "and then will +take the girls with me." He had noticed that they continued to +harbor jealous thoughts toward Pelton. Kate reminded her father that +any considerable delay would make it too late for Ben to cross the +plains the next season. Isaac advised by all means to avoid the +Isthmus route as being too uncertain, dangerous and withal very +expensive. + +Pelton announced that he would start at once, and search for a claim +until he found one that suited him; then he would immediately proceed +to prepare a home, and be away most of the time until school closed. +In acceding to this suggestion, the Squire said he would take the +girls over to Ben's claim in the spring, as he intended to care for +it himself while the young man was making the trip; and was +anticipating the opportunity to repay Ben for his faithful and honest +service on the long trail. + +{147} + +So intent had been the council, that all forgot the lateness of the +hour; the thought of sleep was banished by the excitement incident to +the plans made, but all felt supremely happy. Father Mulhall +suggested that they celebrate a little by an oyster supper, even at +the unseasonable hour; and Kate, who the very evening before had +secured some Puget Sound oysters from an Indian, instantly seconded +the suggestion. Oysters, unlike other shell fish of the Sound, were +rare and confined to small areas of beds. + +Kate had learned that though very small--not larger than one's finger +nail--these were very delicious; and had provided them to celebrate +their wedding a month ago to-morrow. And here it was, the date +already ushered in, though the sun had not risen! Her celebration +was intended as a secret to be disclosed as a surprise to her husband +and father to demonstrate how supremely happy she was, not only in +the escape from captivity among the hordes of northern savages, but +as the wife of Isaac Pelton. There was no toastmaster or speeches at +the little banquet that followed; but a spirit of unalloyed +cheerfulness prevailed, and all were very hopeful of what the near +future would bring forth. + +Mulhall's search for Ben proved a short one, as the crude records of +the self-surveyed Donation claims quickly revealed the identity of +the nearby participants, and the Squire was delayed only a day in +reaching the location chosen by his young friend. {148} Ben was a +short distance from his cabin splitting rails from a worm fence to +protect the crops of the following season, when the Squire arrived; +and, following the sound of the maul soon came upon Ben intently +engaged at his task, not dreaming of the presence of anyone behind +him. + +Mulhall stopped a moment in mute surprise at the change that had come +over the young man. He was looking at a stalwart frame instead of +the slim lad who had helped to train the team in the Missouri +barn-yard; and stood as if fascinated until Ben by a change in +position became aware that a figure was standing near him. + +"Why, father!" "Why, Ben!" sufficed for the greeting, but not so the +hand-shakes that followed, for the Squire clasped Ben in his arms, +while tears of joy fell upon his own cheeks. We may well believe +that a pleasant visit followed, but it was soon interrupted by the +important information to be shared between them. + +Ben listened, as if in a dazed condition of mind, to words that +seemed to be too good to be true; but when he grasped the full +meaning of the Squire's message, it was Ben's turn to display +so-called weakness; he threw his arms around Mulhall's neck and +planted a kiss upon the furrowed cheek of his friend and benefactor. +But the Squire considered that all he had done, or proposed to do, +was only a recompense in part for a debt that could never be paid in +full. + +{149} + +"But, father, what am I to do about my claim?" Ben asked after taking +a little time to think over the proposed trip. "Well, I'm going to +stay here until you come back with that young wife; and you may be +sure there will be some crops growing when you return," the Squire +responded. So preparations were made almost at once for the proposed +trip; and time began to pass. + +No one could tell how long it would take to reach the old home, +though Ben knew that he must go out to sea over a dangerous bar where +recently there had been a wreck, with the loss of many lives. Thence +on to and across the Isthmus and to New York, where he would reverse +the direction of travel and turn his face westward toward their +former home in Missouri.[1] Parts of the journey would be by +railroad, stage-coach, horseback and steamboat. + +We cannot record the incidents of the trip, thrilling though some of +them were; it will suffice here to say that on a frosty noonday in +February, 185-, Ben clasped his surprised mother to his breast with +the utterance of one word, "Mother." The story of another overland +journey from Missouri to the Oregon country will be told after we +have followed the fortunes or misfortunes of David Mulhall, Isaac +Pelton and his bride, and the two little twin sisters. + +{150} + +It will be remembered that when the Squire left home to find Ben +Hardy, Pelton was preparing to look for a claim where he could +establish the home so long pictured in his mind. In the course of +his wanderings, Isaac had some thrilling experiences which came near +ending in tragedy. The Oregon Country of almost limitless extent--as +one might say, a thousand miles each way--presented many and varied +conditions to confuse and impel one to continued search, with +something new almost every day. + +In the small corner of the great region which Pelton examined there +were no roads or provision for crossing rivers, and only a few sparse +settlements. When a cabin was found, he was always assured of a +cordial welcome and the best it afforded; but at length, after a two +days' tramp he was virtually lost, without blankets or food. That +somewhat cooled his ardor; and as he had already overstayed the set +time, Isaac suddenly abandoned the search and turned his face +homeward. He arrived there safely, to the great relief of Kate, who +had become very uneasy at his prolonged absence and non-return at the +appointed time. + +Pelton's story of what he had seen and experienced--wading a river +nearly waist deep, slipping off a log into the water and swimming +with his boots on, losing the trail and camping in the deep forest +overnight without fire, blankets or food--cast a shadow over the +bright pictures of a home in the minds of {151} both; but he had +found a magnificent country, and intended to go back and try again. +At first Pelton resolved not to tell Kate of the mishaps of the trip, +of the real hardships endured or how he had come so near to death's +door. + +He argued to himself that it would only sadden her and do no good. +Then the question as to whether or not he was justified in having a +secret from his trustful wife would come uppermost in his mind. If +he now began with one, others would surely follow, and the resolve--a +compact with himself--was made that he would have none; so the full +story was told to her. + +A month passed and though several trips were made, no location was +yet found to suit him. Finally, he received information from a +neighbor about some excellent land not yet taken; and immediately +starting out to examine the tract, found it even better than +represented. After staking his claim, he returned and informed Kate +of his good fortune in finding a location satisfactory in every +essential respect. + +Father Mulhall wrote that Ben had started on his long trip, and was +now well on the way; and that as soon as school closed, he would come +after the girls. He added that he would plant on Ben's claim and +stay with the crops until he returned; and as a postscript, Wouldn't +Kate like to come over with the girls, and see Ben's claim and Craig? +In reality the Squire was lonesome and wanted his daughter with {152} +him for awhile; he also knew that she and the girls would enjoy the +trip--besides he had a surprise in store for them. + +Pelton said, "By all means, go; it will be a nice jaunt for the +girls, though a little rough. I'll give each of them a pony to make +the trip horseback, and all can have a jolly good time on the way, as +well as while there." He was enthusiastic in urging Kate to go, +while she didn't feel sure of wanting to do so. + +The fact was, she was more inclined to move out on the claim which +she had not seen, while Isaac planned to wait until he could have a +surprise for her in the new house he was contemplating. Kate +suggested building a cabin, where she could be as happy as in a more +commodious residence, to which Pelton assented with a mental +reservation that he would build one for Andrew and Jennie. And if +Kate persisted, they could live in the cabin while the house was +being built, though that would defeat the surprise party he had in +mind. + +"Isaac, I believe you want to get rid of me," Kate jestingly said one +day after making up her mind to go with the girls; but lovingly +added, "you'll feel sorry after I have gone." However, they +understood each other and were drawn closer together by the thought +of temporary separation. + +Pelton's attention was called to two ponies so nearly alike in build, +size and marks that it required close observation to distinguish +"Tom" from "Jerry"--both beauties, with keen bright eyes, lively yet +{153} docile, and safe for the girls to ride. He did not let the +extra price asked stand in the way of his becoming the owner of them; +and purchased two new saddles and bridles to set them off handsomely. +A small riding whip, though not needed in riding, was attached to +each saddle. + +On the afternoon of the last day of school, the ponies were brought +by Pelton's direction into the front yard before the girls came home. +Their manes and foretops were plaited with red, white and blue +ribbons; and they held up their heads as if proud of the decorations. +Before Isaac rode off to the homestead to be gone overnight, Kate was +enjoined not to tell them from whom the ponies came--only to say they +were presents, and "lots" might be drawn to determine which one of +the girls should own "Tom," and which one should have "Jerry." + +"Who brought these here, Mamma? Where is he? Tell him to take them +away!" was spoken in such quick succession as to preclude the +possibility of an answer until the questions and the exclamation had +been completed. + +"The man said they belonged to two little girls that live in this +house; he left them in the front yard, but went away without any +explanation," Kate replied. All of this was true, though not all +that she knew. Kate and the girls then took hold of the halters, and +led the ponies outside the garden gate. + +"What did you mean, Mamma, when you said they belonged to two little +girls that live here?" + +{154} + +"That's what the man said when he left them and went away." + +"But you don't mean it?" persisted Sarah. + +"I only told you what the man said." + +"Yes, but you don't believe it, do you?" Sarah came back in an +attitude of cross-questioning. + +"Look on the pummel of the saddle and see," Kate responded; and in +doing so displayed evidence of knowing more about the case than she +had intended to reveal. + +"From Santa Claus to Sarah," the girl read as she held in her hand +the paper just taken from the saddle, unnoticed before. Then she +intently re-read the label, and exclaimed, "Oh, I know--it's from +Uncle Isaac, as sure as I am alive." + +For the first time in her life she had called Pelton "uncle"; before +it was either "Mr. Pelton," "Sir," or some monosyllable to address or +make reply. Sarah had recognized the handwriting on the note, and +then knew instantly where the present came from. + +Now that she was trapped, Kate gave away the whole plan about the +intended trip to see father and Craig, and have a good time on the +trip besides. Sarah fairly worshiped Craig since the memorable scene +at the lone pine on the Oregon Trail. His promise, "I will mark your +mother's grave so you can find it the longest day you live," had sunk +deep in her memory and fixed in her youthful mind the thought that +some day she would visit {155} the sacred spot and pay homage to her +saintly mother--the germ of a plan that led in later years to a +pilgrimage to the grave, as will subsequently appear. + +Next morning the ponies were returned to the front gate of the garden +all ready for a run in the country, and with a riding mare for +"mamma." The girls had not forgotten their experience of riding +"Nell" on the plains, but were at first shy of the ponies. Sarah +soon plucked up courage to mount Tom, while the Indian boy held him; +but in a spirit of mischief, the boy suddenly let go of the halter, +whereupon the pony started off on a canter before the rider was +fairly seated, or could grasp the reins. + +Up the village street they went on a gallop, Sarah holding onto the +pummel of the saddle, with her feet dangling in the air outside the +stirrups. Tom stopped of his own accord at the hitching rack in +front of the village store, and Sarah scrambled off the pony's back +as quickly as possible to be out of sight of the idlers there. Her +teacher, happening by and seeing her predicament, held Tom until she +mounted with both feet in the stirrups and reins firmly in hand; then +with the pony under control, she was soon back at the starting place +by the garden gate. + +When all three were mounted, the course taken led up the hill and at +a more moderate gait until the prairie was reached. A delightful day +in the wide, open spaces, with a visit to the old camping ground and +a canter back home in the evening, ended their first day of horseback +riding in joviality and {156} pleasure. A few days of such practice +sufficed to prepare them for their long jaunt on the road or trail to +Ben's cabin beyond the big river, over the prairies and through dense +forests. + +Following a narrow road the third day out, Sarah leaned over to avoid +the overhanging brush and fell sprawling into a sea of mud, the +saddle having turned to Tom's side. Seeing her sister's predicament +Bess laughed, but Sarah rather pettishly said she couldn't see +anything funny about it, to which sister readily assented, but +admitted that somehow or other she couldn't help it. The incident +had a serious side, as her clothes were now spattered with sticky mud +from head to foot; her shoes were filled with it and even her hair +bedaubed. + +It was necessary to stop and clean her clothes, empty her shoes, +gouge the mud out of her ears and wash it off of her face. A few +miles further on, it became Sarah's turn to laugh when Bess was +scraped off her saddle and tumbled over Jerry's rump, holding onto +his tail to lighten the fall; but Bess couldn't see anything funny +about that! After numerous mishaps, the party finally reached the +river steamer, where the ponies were comfortably stalled; then all +the party had a general clean-up on the upper deck, and a good laugh +together as the adventures on the road were recounted. + +In two days more of tiresome traveling, with the glamour of a +horseback ride worn off, Ben's cabin was reached and father Mulhall's +welcoming kiss {157} bestowed. Notwithstanding the various +adventures on the trip, all enjoyed the experience, and expressed a +desire to return the same way. + +The very next day, Craig came, as he did every other Sunday of the +month, to make good a legal "residence" on his claim. He was a great +favorite with the twins, and the reunion that followed repaid all the +fatigue of their trip. Toward evening he excused himself to visit a +neighbor, and withdrew, leaving his end of the cabin free to the +visitors. + +Only a week had passed when, to her father's surprise, Kate announced +that she would start for home the next day after the morrow. He felt +hurt that the daughter he loved so well should cut her visit short; +but nothing he could say would alter her resolution. Kate had a +reason of her own which she did not explain to her father--but which +he would know later, and the reader will probably surmise. + +Pelton was as much surprised at her sudden return as the Squire had +been upon her hasty departure; and his plan of introducing Kate into +a finished residence, of which he was certain she would be proud, was +frustrated. He had all the workmen that could be employed to +advantage in hastening completion of the residence, including hot and +cold water under pressure in the kitchen, a convenience she had never +experienced. + +Isaac admitted to himself that he was pleased when Kate told him she +preferred to stay for the present in their village home. But when he +returned from {158} the claim on the second Saturday, he found the +drawer of the dresser locked--something that had not happened +before--and his razor, shaving cup and brush outside. Pelton was +becoming conscious that Kate had a secret she didn't want to +disclose, but said nothing about it. + +Work on the residence progressed apace; and every Saturday Isaac came +to spend Sunday in the village. Somewhat to his relief, Kate had not +yet expressed a desire to visit the new home; but a month later +Pelton was ready, and to his delight Kate, still without an inkling +of the great surprise in store for her, said that she was willing to +go. + +One day, after Kate had been at the new home for a few weeks, +enjoying it with indescribable pleasure, a lady and gentleman drove +up to the front door. Though strangers, she had evidently expected +them, and promptly directed the man where to stable his horses, and +then asked him into the house for lunch, though it was after the +usual hour. The woman went at once to the kitchen and began helping +to prepare the lunch and to make herself otherwise useful. + +Isaac came in later, but expressed no surprise at their presence, for +he was also expecting them. Without ceremony, the lady took charge +of the household work, while the gentleman sauntered into the library +and became absorbed among the books in the small but choice selection +on the shelves. Thus a week passed in quiet expectation. + +One night a light was left burning in the room {159} up-stairs, and +neither of the visitors retired at the usual hour. The nurse +remained in the room with Kate, and the doctor made frequent visits +there, finally remaining a considerable length of time. Then, in +answer to Pelton's anxious inquiry, he said, "It's a boy, and a +rousing little fellow he is." + +When father Mulhall heard that he had a grandson, the mystery of +Kate's early departure was explained; and his slight pique was turned +to joy and exultation, increased by parental pride in the daughter +who had always been so loving and helpful to him. As soon as they +knew about it, the twins were very anxious to see their nephew, and +filled with childlike pride at the prospect of being called "aunt." + +[Illustration: BABE IN THE WOODS; SEE ALSO PAGE 188.] + + + +[1] The map of the Oregon Trail and the National Road on page 8 will +give the reader some idea of the principal routes traveled to +Missouri, either from the Atlantic Coast or the Pacific Northwest, +during the period covered by this narrative. E.M. + + + + +{160} + +CHAPTER VI + +THE WEDDING OF BEN AND LINDA; A SECOND OVERLAND TRIP; MASSACRE OF +NEARLY ALL THE COMPANY; BINDING UP THE WOUNDS; THE TRIP RESUMED; +SURVIVORS REACH THE OREGON COUNTRY. + + +Ben's hair had grown long, his beard had been cropped only with +shears, and his face was tanned by the fierce rays of a tropical sun. +His clothing was begrimed and worn almost threadbare; in appearance +he was very different from the Ben Hardy who had spent the Sunday +evening with Linda Shaeffer just before starting for Oregon with the +Mulhall outfit. It would take considerable preparation to call upon +Linda in presentable clothing; and though very anxious to see her, +Ben shrank from the impulse to do so at once. But his mother said, +"Go as you are; Linda will be rejoiced to see you." + +Ben Hardy had traversed, in the opposite direction, the route that +Isaac Pelton took; and for the same object--to secure the girl of his +choice for a life companion. The departure from his Oregon cabin had +been so sudden that there was no time to write of the trip; even if +he had done so, the letter would have gone forward by the same +steamer on which he sailed. Although his trials had been less {161} +severe than Pelton's and the delays not as great, the journey was one +of continuous anxiety and fatigue. + +His arrival at the old home in Missouri was unexpected and a great +surprise to all his friends there, naturally most of all to Linda. +Ben's last letter, received only two weeks before, described his +progress in establishing a home for them; but gave no intimation as +to when he would come after her, or how she could go to him. So when +Linda caught sight of Ben passing through the gate in front of her +father's residence, she could not at first believe that she saw +aright, but kept gazing in bewildered wonder and trepidation as he +approached the house. + +The change in Ben's appearance had been so great that an acquaintance +could easily have been mistaken in his identity; but Linda, whose +quick eye recognized his familiar movement, rushed from the house and +met him on the walk, half-way between the gate and the veranda steps. +Most readers have known the thrill of such a surprise, though +probably few of the intensity of this one; nevertheless, out of their +own experience, they will understand and appreciate Linda's joy. The +cordial greetings that followed from all the household heartened Ben; +no one seemed to notice his clothes--it was Ben, though greatly +changed, they saw and welcomed. + +There was one of the household who in her heart could not +rejoice--not that mother Shaeffer thought Ben unworthy of Linda; but +the realization that the daughter she loved so intensely would be +taken from {162} her, possibly meet a tragic fate at the hands of the +Indians, and certainly encounter the other hazards of a trip to +Oregon, overwhelmed her. Conscious that she might be unable to +compose herself and control her emotions, the good lady withdrew as +quietly as possible to her own chamber, where she gave way to grief +that could no longer be restrained. + +Mothers who have had similar experiences of impending separation from +beloved and loving daughters will sympathize with Mrs. Shaeffer; such +is life and the story of each generation! We know that joy in a +steady, overflowing stream often follows grief, which becomes less +poignant with the lapse of time. + +As she left the room, Ben caught the expression of distress in Mrs. +Shaeffer's countenance. Could it be possible that Linda's mother was +opposed to their marriage? The very thought disturbed and perplexed +Ben. He did not stay late, though long enough to disclose his plans +for the trip, taking particular care to tell Linda of its +difficulties and dangers. Linda firmly responded, "I am going with +you, Ben;" and with the echo of it in his ears, he rode back to his +mother's home with a light heart, for the moment forgetting the grave +responsibility now resting upon his shoulders. + +With only a small amount left from the current funds provided for the +expenses of the trip, the first urgent business was to secure enough +money to purchase an outfit and allow for the expenditures and {163} +any emergencies on the way. Ben had learned by experience that the +popular fallacy, shared by so many, that currency was not needed on +the Trail, was unfounded; and knew to the contrary. The funds upon +which he depended were in three banks of three different counties; +and one of them had suspended payment upon large deposits. + +A period of great financial depression had recently swept over the +country. Crops were abundant, but the few existing markets were at +considerable distances, and transportation facilities were entirely +inadequate to move even the portions that could be sold. No +railroads had yet been constructed in Missouri, and it was also +before there were a sufficient number of steamers to serve the needs +of the narrow margin of settlements bordering on the two principal +rivers. + +The whole region was without improved roads, but had a superabundance +of products that could not be either consumed or sold at a profit. A +wagon-load of corn would hardly bring enough to buy a pair of boots; +a fat two-hundred pound hog could not be traded for a lady's dress, +or five bushels of corn for a pound of tea or coffee. + +Such were the conditions confronting Ben in providing funds for the +purchase of an outfit, with the possibility of not being able to do +so at all. Luckily, he had some certificates of small amounts which +he turned over to father Shaeffer, and thus avoided direct dealing +with the banks. + +{164} + +The political turmoil which a few years later brought on the Civil +War then scourged the country, and added to the distress of +commercial depression; in fact, was considered by many the greater of +the two evils. Advocates of slavery were becoming more and more +aggressive, while the Free-Soil element grew more firm. The +approaching conflict of arms led many to emigrate as the best way of +escaping from the public and private agitation. + +As soon as it became known that Benjamin Hardy had arrived direct +from Oregon, and was intending to outfit an expedition to return over +the Trail the following summer, he was besieged by numerous parties +desiring to join with him, and by a much greater throng seeking +information. They came two, five or even ten together, and finally a +delegation of forty from an adjoining county to discuss the trip and +country with him. Some offered to form a new company under his +leadership for the land of mild climate and great opportunities. + +Those importuning strangers became a great burden to Ben, and much of +his time was taken in imparting information, or declining offers to +join his prospective trip. To all he expressed the intention of +going with only two wagons, or three at the most, and not more than +eight of his friends; but gave a truthful report of the dangers and +privations of the Trail, and a good description of the Oregon +Country. Father Shaeffer's farm was better equipped for assembling +an outfit than his mother's; besides the {165} "Shaeffer boys"--all +stalwarts--were eager to help him train the teams, and another one +for Linda's two brothers who had determined to return with Ben to +Oregon. At first he had no other thought than to assemble the outfit +and train the teams at his mother's home, for he desired to be with +her as much as possible while preparing for the trip. + +At the same time, Ben could but acknowledge to himself that he wanted +to be near Linda; so arrangements were made for his mother to drive +over every day to help Mrs. Shaeffer prepare for the wedding and make +clothing for the young couple. A part of the cloth was to be woven +on mother Shaeffer's loom by Mrs. Hardy. + +* * * * * * * * * + +The wedding was a very quiet affair, with only the Shaeffer family, +Ben's mother and family, and a very few friends to witness it. Linda +was dressed in a frock of her own make; she had woven the cloth for +the very occasion while Ben was more than two thousand miles away, +but with an abiding faith that the time would come for her to wear it. + +Ben was dressed in a suit Mrs. Hardy made out of "boughten store +cloth," as she described the material; while not a "tailor fit," the +mother was proud of it, and all agreed that she did very well. At +that time the women not only made their own dresses but also the +clothes of the men folks; so it was nothing out of the ordinary for +mother Hardy to make Ben's wedding suit. + +{166} + +The "boys" all wanted to invite the young folks of the neighborhood +and "have a good time," but mother Shaeffer pleaded for a quiet +wedding; and in deference to her wishes, all of them gave up the +thought. To her the marriage was a solemn occasion, and she could +scarcely restrain the tears while preparations were being made for +it. Ben had come to know the real reason and deeply sympathized with +her; he felt almost a twinge of conscience for taking the dutiful +daughter from the companionship of a loving mother. + +Mrs. Shaeffer had great respect for Ben, believed him worthy of her +confidence and a suitable husband for her daughter; but she wanted +Linda to herself. In calmer moments she realized the selfishness of +such an attitude, and how it might affect Linda's later life to +remain with her; but the premonition that something dreadful would +happen on the trip could not be dispelled. Ben was not free from the +thought that disaster might overtake them on the long journey--little +dreaming of the source from which it would come, a peril not +encountered in his former trip with Squire Mulhall. + +April, the time set long in advance for their departure, was near at +hand; the teams and outfits had already been purchased, the animals +were thoroughly reliable and well trained, and everything was about +ready for the start to the far West. Robert and Abraham Shaeffer had +also provided themselves with a team and outfit, and were equally +well prepared; {167} two independent outfits satisfactory to Ben with +four stalwart and reliable men, were in readiness making ten +trustworthy adults in the party. There were also three women and +four children, with Andrew, Jennie and their little girl Margie--in +all twenty persons, five ox-teams, one horse-team and a matched-mule +team for Andrew. + +But the banks had not yet responded to the extent of the full amount +needed to defray the expense of outfitting, and enough to provide for +necessary supplies and incidental expenses on the road. It seemed as +if they might be held back at the last minute by the difficulties of +securing the necessary funds. + +When all the other arrangements had been completed, Ben and father +Shaeffer rode over to the nearest bank; with a determined expression +of countenance, fire in their eyes and resolute tongues, they soon +convinced the cashier that the money should be furnished to Ben as a +matter of right. Thereupon sufficient for all anticipated needs was +handed to him, and that part of the problem solved. + +Ben had secured a light wagon, with half-springs under the bed to +shelter Linda night and day, and also himself when not called +elsewhere during the day, or kept out on watch at night. He had +planned to take a full share of the duties and responsibilities of +the trip, no matter how arduous or fatiguing they might be. + +Andrew, Jennie and Margie were ready when Ben and Linda arrived. Eli +Sumner, the elderly {168} Quaker in whose care Pelton had left his +former slaves, provided a span of matched tan-colored mules and a +complete outfit for them. All three took an affectionate farewell of +their benefactor, for Sumner had been kind to them--just as good as +"massa," Andrew said; and could not restrain tears of gratitude with +the last shake of the hand. + +The ox-teams had been sent several days ahead to the Missouri River +crossing, where Ben was to join them with Andrew, Jennie and Margie. +A great surprise was in store for Ben upon arrival; all the teams of +his party were awaiting him, but the great throng seen there on his +first trip was conspicuously absent. Instead of five hundred or more +wagons on the former occasion, there were now not more than fifty +besides his own little party. + +In striking contrast to the pressure of two years before at the ferry +landing, where a long line of emigrants waited their turn to be +carried over, now all were easily crossed about as they arrived. +Stirring memories of his adventure on the previous trip came vividly +to mind. The sand-bar where the wagon-box had grounded with Kate +Mulhall in water waist deep, was there; likewise the little island in +front of the ferry landing where the scow upset, though since +partially worn away by the swirling current of the great river. + +Grass was abundant near-by the camp site, instead of being cropped +close as he had seen it the first time. Profiting by Mulhall's +experience with the {169} horse team, Ben determined to provide grain +to last his horses and mules a long way out on the Trail. First he +planned to take another wagon and abandon it when unloaded, thus +strengthening his teams with the extra oxen, but under the +circumstances, he concluded it would be practicable for teams to make +the return trip; so two wagons were secured and loaded with grain. + +When fully prepared the crossing was safely made, and the great trip +across the plains started on April 18, 185-, about three weeks +earlier in the season than the previous one. The absence of Indians +was at once noticed by Ben, who caught sight of a few in the distance +the second day out; but they did not come anywhere near the train. +At the crossing of the second river on the fifth day, some of their +tepees were found on both sides of the Trail, and one directly across +it at the usual landing place. + +There were a dozen or more lodges with altogether probably fifty +Indians, of which about twenty were men. Ben interpreted their +obstruction of the Trail as a sign of hostile intent; and after +selecting a suitable place for defense in case of attack, he at once +gathered all of his people into camp. The wagons formed a corral, +the guns of the party were carefully examined and an armed guard sent +to the grazing ground with the teams. Every one was cautioned not to +go near the tepees, but to await developments; and although Ben's +camp was only about fifty yards away, no Indian approached near it. + +{170} + +Little or nothing would be lost by waiting, as other teams were +expected in a few hours; at nightfall seven did arrive with eleven +armed men. Their wagons helped materially to enlarge the protecting +circle, while the men increased the strength of the guard. + +At a council that evening it was decided not to go near the Indian +camp for twenty-four hours, unless the red men first came to them; +and to show a bold front, asking no favor except to be allowed to +cross the river undisturbed--and make no concessions. The Indians +evidently did not want a show of arms, their immediate object being +robbery under the guise of collecting toll; they had discovered that +only a few wagons were crossing the river, and thought they could +safely intimidate the smaller numbers. + +Realizing the impending danger, Ben at once saw the necessity of +forming a larger company, for there might be fifty thousand warriors +within riding distance of the Trail, and still greater dangers ahead. +That night couriers were sent back to ascertain how many men could +come up on the morrow; and definite information was received that +thirty more wagons would reach their camp before the next night. + +When the Indians saw these reinforcements, they silently decamped and +left the crossing unobstructed; but the incident naturally caused +uneasiness in all the camps, as the sequel will show. By later {171} +accounts, at least eleven massacres were perpetrated along the Oregon +Trail by Indians during the overland migrations. + +Some of those tragedies were revealed only in part by the irons of +destroyed vehicles, with not a human being left to tell the dreadful +story. Ben concluded that it would be unsafe for the two grain +wagons to return; so he took them over and employed the drivers until +they could find an opportunity of returning with others--or else +continue all the way with him to Oregon. + +Four days more of travel brought the train to another river crossing +where they saw eleven nude men, women and children of a party whose +three outfits had been burned, all provisions carried off and their +teams driven away. Why the Indians had spared the lives of the +victims none could tell; they had not been harmed bodily, but +stripped of all their belongings. Ben gave the unfortunates one of +the grain wagons and a team, while the people of the train fed and +clothed them. + +They were now in the buffalo country, and near where Ben had gone on +the hunt that had been almost fatal to him on the previous trip +across. He had no desire to duplicate the experience, but there were +four more to feed than originally provided for, they had given the +destitute party a month's supplies with the wagon; and he now +realized the necessity of replenishing their stock of food. + +So the camp was put in order and an organized {172} hunt arranged; +teams were sent to bring in the game and preparations made to cure +it. In five days the wagons returned fairly loaded down with jerked +buffalo, and the journey was resumed with a bountiful supply of meat +added to the previously diminished store. + +So far Ben's horses and the mule team had felt the strengthening +results of light rations of grain; but by this time nearly all of it +had been fed out. Fortunately, the grass continued to be plentiful +along stretches where, two years before, it had been eaten close to +the ground by the large numbers of cattle and horses, with here and +there a flock of sheep in the emigrant column. + +The Trail crossed a wide, open country inhabited by warlike tribes, +some of which were off on hunting expeditions or in forays against +other tribes, and a few had not yet returned from their trapping +expeditions. To the agreeable surprise of the emigrants, very few +Indians were now seen, and those showed no signs of making trouble. + +After this had continued for several weeks, vigilance was somewhat +relaxed and the company began to fall apart--a repetition of what had +transpired in previous years, often with disastrous results. +Believing that all danger from Indians had passed, Robert and Abraham +Shaeffer concluded to try their fortune in the California gold mines, +and left the train. + +Before he realized what was happening, Ben found {173} himself with +the original company, except for the Shaeffer boys; but was not as +much disturbed about it as he would have been a few weeks before. +The grass was good, and the abundant feed in the vicinity of the +camping places relieved the long tedious night watches, often far +removed from them. His horses, mules and oxen were in good +condition; the cows gave plenty of milk for the company, and the +surplus cream made considerable butter. + +Linda was enjoying the trip; if this was "hardship," she could have +endured more of it without complaint. Andrew, who never tired of +entertaining the little camp with his violin and quaint plantation +songs, was happy with Jennie and Margie. Ben was comforted by the +thought that they would soon be in the cabin home to which they had +looked forward so long, and began to count the days--each one +bringing them so much nearer their destination. + +So far the trip had been a surprise to Ben, and a marked contrast to +the one he had made with Squire Mulhall only two years before. The +seasons had differed somewhat, but the greatest change consisted in +the overcrowded Trail in 185-, and the much lesser number now. + +He had been traveling several days in a wide and fertile valley, now +the pride of a great State, and had just crossed the river for the +first time to the right bank. The spot was ideal for a camp, with an +abundance of grass, plenty of fuel and pure water for all. So +enticing was the scene that Ben concluded {174} to lay over Sunday to +rest the tired teams and the weary members of his party as well. + +A low perpendicular bluff paralleled the river, with a narrow portion +of the main valley, which promised ample feed for the teams, between +them. The bluff on one side and river on the other prevented the +stock from scattering; and for once no guard was sent out, as had +been customary heretofore. A strip of wild grass higher than a man's +shoulder bordered a dense growth of brush near the river. + +The women took advantage of the stop-over to do their washing near +the river crossing; and one of the men was bagging some of the +numerous rabbits in the valley. Andrew spent most of his time +entertaining others, as usual whenever opportunity offered; two of +the horses had left the range and returned for a bit of bread or lick +of salt. Ben was busily occupied with the cares of the camp, and +planning the next stage of the trip. + +On the following day two Indians were seen passing on horseback along +the top of the low bluff; but nothing was thought of it, as there had +been no trouble with them for several months, or for a thousand miles +along the Trail. A small train of wagons crossed the river during +the day and continued on to the west; soon afterward an Indian was +seen fording it at the same place and riding furiously toward the +east. About two hours later the same Indian returned, his pony +exhibiting all the signs of {175} continued hard riding; after what +followed it is certain that he was a scout sent up the Trail to +ascertain whether or not another train was approaching. + +During the afternoon two men from a near-by camp went out to milk +their cows and look after the oxen; and to their surprise were unable +to find either. Following on up the valley they soon came upon sure +signs of hurried travel, and realized that the cattle had been +stampeded from some cause not then apparent; after continuing along +the Trail until near dark they were compelled to return slowly to the +camp. + +To their amazement they found it in utter disorder, and without a +living soul. Wagons had been run together and partially burned; +remnants of the outfits were scattered in every direction; remains of +dead bodies were heaped upon the fire and in part consumed. The +dreadful fact dawned upon them that the camp had been raided by the +Indians during their absence, and their comrades massacred. + +Linda, who had found a near-by refuge, remained in hiding until she +heard voices in her own tongue, and then came out to the desolated +camp. It was too dark to recognize the mutilated bodies, but by a +token on the remains Linda discovered that Ben was one of the slain, +and immediately lost consciousness. The horrors of that long night +are beyond description, as the fears and alarms of a lifetime hovered +over the heads of the sleepless survivors. + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + +[Illustration: SCENE AFTER THE MASSACRE, AS DESCRIBED ON THE OPPOSITE +PAGE] + +This was part of the price which the overland travel of the 40s and +50s paid that the far Northwest might be settled by Americans and +made a part of the United States. At least eleven such catastrophes +are a matter of record. It is, of course, impossible at this date to +recover the graves of the marytred Pioneers; but we can--and +will--erect suitable memorials to the Unknown Dead of the Plains. + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + +But the first duty was to look after the living and {176} let the +dead rest where they were. One of the men waded the river and +started eastward on the Trail in search of aid, which he fortunately +met within a few miles. Couriers were dispatched east and west to +warn the emigrants and urge volunteers to assemble and punish the +Indians. + +In the early morning food and clothing were delivered to the stricken +victims, and soon a train arrived to supply physical comforts to +them. A hundred miles of the Trail were traversed by couriers, and +before night a large number of armed men had assembled; time pressed, +and none was lost. + +During the day the trail of the oxen was anxiously located, so it +could be followed at night. Each rider carried his rations in his +pouch, or in packages strapped to his saddle; there was no thought of +bedding or camp equipment, as they intended to march all night in the +hope of overtaking the Indians. It is wonderful what a body of +resolute men can accomplish when all are of one mind. + +The trail, which led up the valley for some miles, was easily and +rapidly followed in the night; on the table-lands it was dim, but +recognized without much difficulty. At break of day a secluded spot +was selected, the horses tethered and silence enjoined upon every +one. A cautious reconnaissance had discovered signs of Indians; at +midnight the march was resumed, and their camps sighted at daylight. + +Each became his own captain as they descended in fury upon the +slumbering Indians, and during the {177} mêlée that followed neither +age nor sex was spared; women and children were ruthlessly shot down, +and no prisoners taken. The oxen and all except one of the cows and +two of the horses were recovered, but Andrew's mules could not be +found. Orders were then given to assemble all the Indian horses +possible, and shoot them on the spot. + +The chastisement was swift, severe and long remembered by the remnant +of the band. While this did not bring the dead to life or heal the +wounds of the living, some reprisal was necessary to deter the +savages from again molesting emigrant trains following the Trail on +peaceful missions of finding homes for themselves and their families. +It was cruel; but the emergency called for desperate measures. + +After the massacre Andrew, Jennie and Margie wandered off listlessly +on the Trail leading west, and passing scouts found them later a +short distance from the camp. The Indians were terrified at their +first sight of a negro, evidently believing Andrew to be an emissary +of the evil spirit who could bring dire disaster upon them for any +harm done to him; so he escaped.[1] + +As Andrew returned to camp, the shock of the disaster seemed to +awaken him to new duties of life; and a vision opened up before him. +"Massa Ben" was gone, and only he was now left of the men {178} in +the original party. Up to this time he had looked to others for +direction, leaning upon them as a child upon a parent; but now he +must act for and depend upon himself. Without realizing the change, +Andrew became virtual head of the remnant of the party, and quietly +assumed the responsibility. + +His first act upon returning to camp was to look after the comfort of +"Missus Linda" and provide a place where she might rest, while Jennie +prepared some nourishment for her. Others had attempted the gruesome +task of separating and identifying the dead; but they were so +mutilated and in such a confused mass that all were finally buried in +one grave. + +Andrew's grief at the funeral was inconsolable; falling on his knees +at the grave, he offered up a prayer expressing resignation to God's +will and inspiring hopes for the future, that touched the heart of +every one. While a surprise to all, it was comforting, particularly +to Linda; Andrew's thoughts seemed to be centered mainly on his young +mistress, and he spared no effort to encourage and assist her. + +The burial of the victims preceded by only one day the revenge upon +the Indians. Echoes of boasts from the returning party that none had +been spared, children and mothers slain and the wounded dispatched +without mercy, troubled Linda's gentle spirit. She could not +participate in the elation of the men, and recalled what Ben had said +of the "irrepressible conflict" between the Indians and the whites, +as well as Andrew's prayer to "look for {179} relief from God +Almighty," as the fervent negro had expressed it. + +An exact account of the massacre will never be known, for none were +left to tell the story. When the attack was made Linda and the three +other women of the train were washing at the river, only a few +hundred yards from the camp, though out of sight from it. Hearing +the guns and seeing many armed Indians near-by, all rushed for the +brush and high grass, hiding as best they could. + +Immediately after the interment Linda retired, supperless and +disconsolate, to the temporary camp Andrew had prepared for her. The +situation was indeed very desperate. Her brothers had gone on to +California, the last hired man had left them three weeks before, and +her husband was dead. + +Deep grief, prolonged fatigue and loss of sleep finally overcame her, +and she sank into a slumber where sorrow was temporarily forgotten. +Morning brought partial relief; and Linda could then fix her mind on +the emergency that confronted them. As soon as Jennie knew her +"missus" was awake she brought some food, of which Linda partook +sparingly, although it was the first for about thirty-six hours. + +The wagon and yokes had been burned, and the clothing destroyed or +carried off with the remainder of the outfit; nothing was left but +the horses, the oxen and one cow. Linda had the helpless colored +man, as she still thought of Andrew, as well as his {180} wife and +child, to consider; but a new courage took possession of her mind and +drove away despair. "I have yet something to live for," she said to +herself. + +Summoning Andrew to her bedside, Linda was surprised to note his +confident demeanor. "Yes, missus, I kin drive the oxen, I knows I +kin." "But, Andrew, we have no wagon." "Yes, missus, there's a +wagon down by the ford; I seen it this mornin." When reminded that +the wagon didn't belong to her, Andrew responded, "Everybody takes a +wagon standing on the road, if he thinks it better than hizzen." + +Linda remembered the accepted practice of the Trail that abandoned +vehicles, of which there were a great number, became common property; +and followed Andrew to the ford to see the wagon. "Yuse jest take +that; I kin drive it, I know I kin," Andrew confidently reiterated. +"Yuse kin take my wagon (which had not been destroyed by the +Indians), Jennie kin ride the mare and take care of the loose oxen +and the cows, and Margin kin ride in this wagon with me." Evidently +Andrew had been thinking and planning while Linda slept; the new +experience awakened his latent abilities. + +Fortunately a considerable part of their money was sewed in a dress +she wore; and some hidden under a false bottom of the wagon-box was +recovered, much to her relief. Linda and Andrew managed to put +together an outfit enabling them to resume the journey. He developed +as the necessity required, {181} Jennie soon became more than a +dependent, and even Margie found incidental ways to be helpful. + +Several hundred miles of the Trail were still ahead of them; but each +day brought new experiences and increased confidence. Linda's +strength gradually returned; and Andrew proved that he could drive an +ox-team as well as play the violin, which had been laid aside unused +since the fatal Sunday when "Massa Ben" had been killed. His whole +ambition centered in the welfare of his "missus," and he felt an +obligation to see her safely in the cabin home. As they neared the +end of the journey, Linda became still more self-reliant. She was +surprised at the improvement in Andrew and Jennie, and finally in +herself; and realized in a still larger measure that she had +something more to live for. + +Just seven months and one day after she and Ben drove out of the +Shaeffer door-yard in Missouri, Linda drew up unannounced in front of +the cabin which he had built on his claim in the Oregon Country. It +was late in the evening, while the Squire and the girls were at +supper. Hearing a noise outside, Mulhall arose and as he opened the +door Linda was just reaching out to knock for admission; catching +sight of her, the girls screamed with delight and in their hasty +greeting nearly upset the table. + +"Where's Ben?" was the first question the Squire asked; but quickly +divining from Linda's countenance that something had happened, the +question {182} was not repeated. He then turned to greet Andrew and +Jennie, and after them Margie. Leaving Linda with the girls, Mulhall +accompanied Andrew to care for the teams, and then learned the +dreadful news; thus he knew there could now be no joyful reunion, and +hastened back as soon as possible. + +The sight of the cabin that Ben had built for their home, and the +conveniences he had arranged inside, revived the dormant grief within +Linda's breast until she sank unconscious and helpless to the cabin +floor. Poor woman! She had fortified herself with a resolution to +be brave; but her emotion would not down, and relief came only in +unconsciousness. When she awoke the Squire refrained from asking any +questions about the tragedy, but talked about the country of which +she had seen so little, and discussed plans for the future. + +Next morning when Linda's calmness had returned, she voluntarily told +Mulhall the whole story as they wandered over the extensive and +beautiful Donation claim, a mile in length and half a mile in width. +It was an ideal place for a home, nearly all fertile prairie with a +clump of timber in one corner some distance from the cabin, while a +rivulet of pure water fed by springs on the claim flowed through the +land. Small wonder that Ben should have written to her so +enthusiastically about their future home; or that he braved so much +to reach it with her. + +He looked forward to a bright future spent in {183} developing and +embellishing this choice tract of land in a salubrious climate, with +the assistance of the young wife whom he adored. But the treacherous +savages in the wilds of what is now part of the State of Idaho put a +cruel end to his joys and hopes. Unfortunate man! But not the only +one, for many like him met a similar fate on the Oregon Trail. + +Craig, who had never before seen Linda, came the following Sunday, +and was fairly stunned when told of the disaster. He loved Ben for +the many good traits of his character, and was drawn closer to him +through their mutual adventures. "My lady," he said in a broad +Scotch brogue, "you shall have the cabin and all there is in it; and +I will move the line twenty rods away." + +He added something about being able to secure a full claim for +himself, as there was still vacant land adjacent; but made no mention +of the fact that the new boundary would make his own less valuable. +It did not matter very much, for he had long thought that Ben should +come into the ownership of both claims, a mile square in the great +fertile valley. There were many instances in which the earlier +settlers had taken up that amount of land in their own right, under +the law as at first passed; but later settlers were restricted to +half that area. + +Craig at once had a new cabin built to comply with the legal +requirements of his own residence; and then without either +ostentation or Linda's knowledge, had his will re-drawn in her favor +instead of {184} Ben's, as the first one read. We are not sure that +Ben knew of the first; both acts were characteristic of Craig's +modesty, forethought and generosity. + +Andrew wanted very much to see "Massa Pelton," but hesitated to leave +Linda; he could not tell which he loved best, his old master or the +new missus. Both had been good to him, which was more than he could +say about some others of the white race. + +Great numbers, perhaps a majority, of the early settlers in the +Oregon Country had come from slave States, bringing prejudices +against the black man so intense that at first no negro could live in +their midst under pain of the whipping post. Unbelievable! the +reader will exclaim--but yet authentic history. The law had been +passed by the Provisional Government under the stimulus of temporary +and unreasonable excitement, and without due consideration or +deliberation; it was never enforced and soon repealed. + +Linda asked the Squire if he thought Pelton would consent to have +Andrew and Jennie stay with her through the winter; but at the moment +Mulhall considered it unlikely. "Won't I have time to write him +before you go with Andrew?" she asked. "I'll wait till you do," the +Squire answered, as he could see the necessity of help for the lone +widow, though he didn't yet know the principal reason. + +Linda wrote not to Isaac, but to Kate. After telling her of the +tragedy, she explained that she was looking forward to another one to +live for, which explained why she so much wanted Jennie to be {185} +with her. When Kate told Pelton of the special reason he said, "God +bless her, yes! I would almost say you should also go and be with +her." But Kate had her own household and their own little boy to +care for. + +Squire Mulhall was reluctant to leave for home, as he had planned to +do on Ben's arrival; in fact had about made up his mind to stay. But +the girls must be taken back before school opened; and he did not see +how it could be managed unless he made the trip with them, even if he +returned at once to the Hardy cabin. Imagine his surprise when, two +days after Linda received Kate's letter telling her that Andrew and +Jennie could remain with her, Pelton knocked at the door and greeted +the astonished Squire in the cabin. + +Isaac explained that he wanted to see his former slaves so badly +that, over-night, he concluded to make the trip; besides Kate had a +small package to send to Linda. He instinctively knew also that the +Squire would want to stay longer with her; so on his return he would +take the girls back in time for school. Andrew fairly shouted with +joy at the sight of his old master; Jennie was no less jubilant, but +had a different way of showing it; not until sleep overtook them, +could either restrain their long pent-up feelings. + +The two men counselling together that night agreed upon a course of +action--first, that with Linda's consent an addition would be built +to the cabin, and a {186} one-room cabin put up for Andrew; second, +that Pelton would return home immediately, taking the girls to his +home until Kate could make suitable arrangements for them in their +own home in the village near the school; and third, that the Squire +should stay with Linda for an indefinite time, or at least until +after the approaching event that was to mean so much for her. + +It required only one week to have Andrew's one-room cabin ready to +move into, and not much longer to complete the addition to the main +dwelling, more than doubling its rooming capacity. Meanwhile Isaac +had returned home with the girls ready for school. The two men +wanted to build a more pretentious residence, but Linda said she +preferred to live in the humble one that Ben had built with his own +hands. + +The little conveniences that he had provided seemed doubly precious +in her eyes; every shelf and cooking utensil, the sheet iron stove +and even the cups he had used all seemed treasures to her. Having +been planned and built to accommodate Craig as well as Ben, the cabin +was commodious and very comfortable. She did want an open fireplace, +that she might enjoy the cheerful glow of the evening fire and the +pure-health giving air; so a large fireplace was built in it. + +* * * * * * * * * + +The Squire had been busy during the summer, and raised a bounteous +crop on the fresh plowed virgin {187} soil; to protect it during the +winter he had erected a "post-barn" large enough to shelter all the +stock and store the provender. Trunks of beautiful young timber +growths up to a hundred feet in length and practically any size +desired, were easily obtainable. A post-barn was constructed by +planting posts of this timber deep in the ground to support a roof, +using the ground as a floor; with a shelter on the windward side, +stock would be comfortable in the open air of the mild Oregon winter. + +Andrew was happy in the thought of staying with Linda, without +expecting compensation for his labor; a wage was something foreign to +his mind. He was denied the privilege of owning a home in his own +right; and what was the use of earning wages, when he could not +enforce collection in courts closed to him? But these things did not +disturb him, as he lived in an atmosphere of love for his master and +missus, Jennie and Margie, and was happy. + +December had come, and still the flowers remained in bloom and the +grass green; Christmas was approaching, and the Squire said they +ought to celebrate. He hoped to divert Linda's mind from her great +loss; but was puzzled how to do so. His first thought was to make a +present to her, though uncertain what would be the best selection. + +Linda did not enter into the spirit of the suggested festivities--not +that she was brooding over her affliction, for she had regained her +cheerfulness. When Christmas was only three days away, and {188} +before the Squire had made up his mind about the present and the +celebration, a boy of nine pounds appeared in the cabin; and all +agreed that his name should be Benjamin. + +Kate--hereafter Mrs. Pelton now that she is a mother--was delighted +when she heard that Linda also had a boy; no trace of jealousy tinged +her thought. Isaac, her own little son, was the brightest and cutest +baby in all the world; there could be no rival to him, and nothing +would excite the remotest feeling of envy. Sincere congratulations +were sent by Mr. and Mrs. Pelton to Mrs. Hardy with a substantial +gift for Benjamin, "the future protector of his mother and a joy +forever." + +From some unexplained cause, both mothers felt that the two babes +were to be drawn close together in the experiences of life, as their +parents had been. Mrs. Pelton, whose wishes seemed almost prophetic, +freely communicated these thoughts to Mrs. Hardy--not Linda any more. +Prophecies of later days, like those of olden times, are often +remarkably fulfilled. + +The two "babes in the woods," we might almost literally say, grew and +thrived amazingly under the best maternal care and in the healthful +environment of pure air and mild climate. Mulhall zealously guarded +the supply of pure milk and food for the household, and looked after +the little one with an almost paternal affection. After putting it +off as long as possible, he reluctantly informed Mrs. Hardy {189} +that he must soon leave for his own home, and at the same time +lessened her anxieties by saying that he would provide for her +financial needs. + +Pelton had reached his own conclusion that Ben Hardy's widow needed +Andrew more than he; and wrote that the colored man could remain with +her a year or longer--practically without limit of time. That was a +sacrifice, as Isaac had planned to have his former slaves near-by, +where he could make their advancing years comfortable and happy; but +was now convinced that Andrew and Jennie would be about as content +where they were as in his own home, and, realized that they would +greatly assist Mrs. Hardy. A second letter, received soon after +father Mulhall arrived home, so informed Mrs. Hardy, to her great joy +and relief; she often wondered if it would ever be possible to repay +this great kindness, forgetting that Pelton was already rewarded by +the consciousness of having contributed materially to the welfare and +happiness of others. + +It seemed to the parents an incredibly short time before the "babes" +of the two households became school children. A few years later they +were taking courses in the University, and grew into manhood--the +pride of their elders and an honor to the State which had been +developed out of the region in which they were born. Gradually, too, +the parents in each family realized that they had passed middle life, +and were approaching old age. + +Their eyes were dimmed and hearing somewhat {190} dulled, but their +minds were still clear and active; aspirations, hopes and even +ambitions remained with them, while reflections upon past +achievements and some failures (the ripe experience to which there is +no short-cut) brought deeper thought and greater happiness into their +lives. In both the Pelton and Hardy families, the results of +successful endeavor, intellectual development and independence were +manifest in an unusual degree. + +Kate--Mrs. Pelton--had changed into a motherly stature so attractive +to her husband and all friends; the active, graceful movement and the +fire of her eye were retained, her complexion was still ruddy, and +there was a sprinkling of grey hairs to lighten the color of the +whole. Pelton continued in excellent health; the active outdoor life +on his farm had developed a sturdy frame, strengthened his muscles +and quickened his mind. Like many other pioneers with great +opportunities before them, he had prospered beyond expectation, and +was in affluent circumstances. + +Ben Hardy had located on a Donation claim of three hundred and twenty +acres of such intrinsic value that if he had lived, the rise of land +values in a country of ever-increasing population and prosperity +would have made him a wealthy man. When the Donation Act under which +he took up his claim was passed, the law provided that half of it +should be held by the wife in her own right. + +Before that date, and for many years afterward, {191} a wife could +not legally inherit or hold property in fee simple except in the +Oregon Country, under this special act. Incredible as it may seem, +she was also denied the right to control her children, sue in the +courts, speak in public or enter schools of higher education. + +So when Linda became Ben's wife, she had no property rights except +insofar as this special law gave her an equal share in the land upon +which they had settled. Hardy did not live to return to the claim, +but after years of doubt and delay, his widow came into ownership of +half (160 acres) in her own right; and by descent her son received +the other half. + +The experiences of these years, and considerable of what may properly +be called semi-litigation, developed Mrs. Hardy's latent ability to +cope with business problems as they arose; so she prospered and +became known as a woman of executive ability. It was in memory of +the husband and for the welfare of her boy, the younger Benjamin, +that she resolved that life was worth living; and right well did she +prove the correctness of the resolution. + +Things did not run smoothly during the whole of the long period. +Pelton had been compelled to make one trip to the old home in +Missouri to adjust some business matters. Mrs. Hardy sustained a +loss in consequence of a heavy snowfall, and met some reverses of +minor importance; but the steady development of the country and +consequent increase of land values, proved of great advantage to them +both. + + + +[1] A similar instance is recorded in the case of York, the slave of +Captain Lewis of the Lewis & Clark Expedition, upon whom the Indians +looked with superstitious awe mingled with terror. + + + + +{192} + +CHAPTER VII + +LINDA'S HOPE NEVER REALIZED; DEATH OF DAVID MULHALL; CRAIG'S PROMISE +REMEMBERED; LESSONS FROM A TRAIL-MAKING OUTFIT; DECISION TO MAKE THE +TRIP. + + +The thread of our story is now resumed at a later date, and in a new +century. Linda Shaeffer, as we first knew her, for many years Ben's +widow, has now passed the meridian of life; her only child, Benjamin, +has grown into manhood and assumed the cares of the farm and home. +Meanwhile the Pacific Northwest has made extraordinary progress, with +an increase in population and improvements in transportation almost +completely changing the old-time pioneer environment. + +In the cool evening of a midsummer day, Linda Hardy was sitting in +front of the ivy covered cabin, whose roof was completely overspread +with the bright green of the beautiful climbing vine. Nearly half of +the front side was likewise covered with growths from the same +vigorous stalk at the corner of the cottage; and the foliage on the +roof had reached to the farther end of the cabin, two rods or more +from the roots that supported and gave life to it. The sultry +atmosphere was filled with perfume from a row of sweet peas that +lined the front of a {193} small but well-kept flower garden, mingled +with aroma from a choice variety of roses in bloom, while sweet +clover and various other flowers added to the pleasant fragrance +afloat in the air. + +A young man with a glow of health in his countenance was leaning +against the wall of the cabin, with his feet on the rung of the +chair, and a book which he had been reading open upon his knees. In +an abstracted mood he suddenly closed the book, placed his feet upon +the ground and for a moment sat upright, looking out into space as if +unconscious of his surroundings. Recovering himself and looking +straight at the matron sitting nearby, he uttered one word, "Mother!" + +"What is it, Benjamin?" + +Only partly aroused from his reverie, he seemed unprepared to say +just what was on his mind; so made no immediate or direct reply. + +For some years, the youthful Benjamin Hardy had hoped that some day +he could visit the spot where the remains of his father had been +left; but any reference to the tragedy seemed always to greatly +disturb his mother. He had the subject of a proposed trip to the +grave on his mind when, half abstractedly, he had first spoken to +her; now fully awake, he hesitated to continue. + +"What is it, Benjamin?" repeated by his mother prompted him to go +farther than he had attempted heretofore. + +"Do you believe, mother, if you were to go out on {194} the Trail you +could identify the spot where father was killed?" he asked rather +hesitatingly. + +"I know I could--the river crossing, the low bluff and the narrow +strip of valley are all there. I can see them in my mind as plain as +the day it occurred." + +"But there are probably several crossings now; how could you identify +the particular one?" + +"It was where the Trail crossed and was worn two or three feet deep +on both banks of the river; Ben, I have seen where it was worn down +ten feet deep. Yes, I could find the crossing, and even the spot +where your father was buried." + +"Mother, I have long wanted to go, find the grave and put a monument +on the spot." + +There was a long silence during which both seemed to be pondering the +subject. The mother spoke first, "Kate has several times written +that she would like to visit her mother's grave and wants me to go +along; but that is nearly a thousand miles, I should judge, beyond +where your father was buried." + +As had been the case before, the conversation ended without reaching +any conclusion. Years passed, and from one cause or another, the +journey to visit the grave of Benjamin Hardy, away out on the +sage-brush plains, was not undertaken. + +Finally, when the Pelton family and Aunt Sarah were about ready to +make the long-anticipated trip to the grave of Catherine Mulhall near +the summit of the Rocky Mountains, and sent an invitation to Linda to +join the party, she had to sorrowfully decline. {195} For some time +her health had not been good; in fact, she had become a prematurely +broken-down woman without any apparent cause, unless it was the +silent grief gnawing so many years at her heart. + +She was never able to revisit the scene of the tragedy where the +young husband whom she adored had been ruthlessly slain by the +bloodthirsty savages; but could not forget the cruel blow fate had +dealt her, and often thought how the bright prospects and hopes of +her young life had been so irretrievably shattered. Though absent in +the flesh, her spirit was ever hovering over the grave by the river. + +Isaac Pelton enjoyed doing things, and from the day when he selected +a tract for his home until the final call, he was a busy man. He had +a worthy helpmate in Kate, mistress of the household, who was as busy +in the cabin as he was in the field. After the birth of their eldest +child, a new purpose in life--a bond of union bringing higher aims +and ambitions--opened before them; both enjoyed excellent health and +were supremely happy and contented. + +Their thoughts centered on the baby--Isaac Pelton, Jr., and heir to +their estate. Both lovingly watched his growth from day to day and +were well repaid, for the boy grew rapidly in health and vigor +inherited from his parents and aided by the healthful climate and +nourishing food of the frontier farm. + +It was before the time of the transcontinental railroads, and the +markets of the world had not yet {196} been opened to that region by +the steamship lines that came later; so the country developed slowly. +The mails were tardy in reaching them, but the few letters were as +welcome and interesting as if delivered the day before or even a +fortnight earlier; and the current literature of the day supplied by +the newspapers of the period, was abundant and furnished subjects for +serious thought. When the steamers were delayed by storms or +accidents, sometimes missing connections that made letters and +newspapers two or three weeks late, plenty of topics were open for +study that had only a passing reading before. + +The newspapers occupied the field later taken by the conservative +magazines; the common practice of re-reading articles developed +topics for speculative thinking and deep study as interesting and +often more instructive than when fresh from the mails with only a +light reading. Neither Isaac nor Kate had received more than a +common school education, which was all that was expected in their +childhood days. Little did they realize how they had acquired a +"higher education" in the broad and thorough school of active life; +but such was the accomplished fact with many pioneers of their day. + +Pelton never tired of taking their little boy on his knee, and +reading aloud while the mother plied the needle on their garments, or +knitted evenings for companionship as well as to provide them with +comfortable clothing. Another stranger came into their {197} +household; and to the great joy of the mother, it was a girl. "Now +we're even," said Kate; "and let us call the little one Catherine." + +She never forgot the grave high upon the mountains, the scene of the +burial of her mother Catherine, or the planting of the little tree +upon it; and always cherished loving thoughts of her. Sarah, one of +the twin sisters, often talked to Kate about it and recalled Craig's +well remembered words, "I'll mark your mother's grave so you can find +it the longest day you live," which had sunk deep into her heart and +kept alive the desire to revisit the sacred spot. + +Time passed and another child--a boy--came; Isaac said the name +should be Adam to perpetuate the memory of his own father, Adam +Pelton. Next a girl was born to them; and Kate selected the name +Sarah, after her sister who faithfully administered to the wants of +father David Mulhall to the last days of his life. + +There were now in the Pelton household two boys and two girls, each +in time to share in the intense love of their parents, and receive as +much care and attention as the first-born. It was in every respect +an ideal family, held in high esteem by all who dwelt in the +neighborhood. + +Isaac and Kate had long wanted the Squire to come and share the +comforts and joys of their household; but he was reluctant to give up +his own home, and hesitated until the unexpected call came. "He +{198} just went to sleep," said Sarah, who watched by his bedside, +and died without a struggle, beloved by his children, respected by +all who knew him, honored by his business associates and the church +to which he belonged. Sarah, who had never married, soon left the +village homestead to live with her sister Kate, and was a welcome +addition to the Pelton household. + +As time passed, Sarah's thoughts would revert to her mother's grave, +and the words of Douglas Craig kept echoing in her ears. Even in her +dreams the fond hope of revisiting that well-remembered spot kept +recurring, and strengthening the resolution that some day and somehow +she would realize the hope of making the long journey to where the +little pine was planted and the grave marked by a wagon-tire. + +Isaac Pelton, Jr. was a precocious child, and in his father's mind +was destined to be a distinguished citizen of the Republic. He did +come to honorable manhood, married early and made business +connections that called him to a foreign land; but died in middle +age, without returning to America. + +His sister Catherine married young, raised a family of six children +and following in her mother's footsteps, filled an honored place in +the community. While experiencing more of the hardships of pioneer +or rather frontier life, she was uncomplaining and happy. Adam and +Sarah, both unmarried, remained at home with their parents, Isaac and +Kate--now "the old folks." + +{199} + +During the lapse of years, while the events recorded in this volume +were passing, a great change had taken place in nearly all the +world's affairs. From a retrospective view, the transformation in +the facilities and conveniences of life and habits of the people, the +advances in the arts and sciences, and growth of religion and +political freedom in the period from the burial of Catherine Mulhall +on the high mountains, to the arrival of the pilgrimage at her grave, +was greater than in the preceding thousand years. + +Within that time, a great Civil War had been fought and the Union +preserved; slavery had been abolished in name, and finally in fact. +After the Emancipation Proclamation, no one could any longer place +men, women and children on the auction block like cattle, sheep or +any other chattel. This was but one step in the great drama of which +it was a part, though the United States had become known throughout +the world as the land of the free, which it was in comparison with +the majority of other countries. + +Lincoln, the Great Emancipator, had been assassinated, but his noble +acts and the cruel manner of his death had enshrined him in the +hearts of the liberty-loving people of the world. Religious progress +was no less pronounced than political, though not by legal +enactments. In the beginning of the period here recorded, many +orthodox ministers taught that all who did not believe in the tenets +of their church were doomed to everlasting punishment {200} in a lake +of fire, portraying a God of vengeance, not of love--driving people +into the church through fear and not from motives of righteousness. + +A great step forward was the establishment of a uniform common school +system, soon to become free; though crude at the beginning, it +contained the germ of the educational development prevailing at the +end of the period. The marvelous progress in the arts and sciences +is beyond question the most far-reaching of all, medical discovery +increasing the average span of life from thirty-four to forty-five +years by conquering the plagues or epidemics, preventing the spread +of violent diseases and reducing infant mortality in amazing +proportions. + +Applications of electricity for power and light have advanced +civilization in many ways; but we are too near to that era to see it +in correct perspective. The discovery and rapid improvement of +internal combustion motors brought the automobile to the state of a +practical vehicle during the period just before the long-anticipated +trip to the grave. + +Sarah Mulhall, who never forgot the words of Douglas Craig spoken to +her when in deep grief beside the freshly made grave of her mother, +the little tree, the rose bush and the flowers planted there, or the +inscribed half buried wagon-tire, assured her sister Kate--Mrs. +Pelton--that she could locate the spot. The North Star, the rift in +the mountains and the marks on the trail would be her guides to it. +She was possessed of a competence, more than needed for {201} comfort +during a long life; and was willing to expend any necessary amount to +reach the sacred spot and erect a monument to the memory of their +mother. + +* * * * * * * * * + +About this time an elderly man who had been among the pioneers of +1852, drove slowly over the old Trail, erecting monuments as he +progressed to preserve its identity, and to perpetuate the memory of +the unknown dead along the way. Upon completion of the Oregon Short +Line R.R., paralleling much of it, the original track had been +abandoned in some places, and became known to many as the "lost +trail." A national interest had been aroused, and two or three of +the States through which it passes had taken measures to aid the +elderly man's work. + +Isaac Pelton and Kate often contemplated the possibility of visiting +the grave of her mother, and like Sarah, planned to do so. But while +their family was being raised, and afterward when the children were +attending school, circumstances always seemed to postpone the trip. + +Besides, Sarah could not leave her father who wanted very much to go +with them, but was prevented by the hand of time on his shoulders. +If the automobile had come twenty years earlier, the Squire and Sarah +could and would have done so; but the long journey with an ox-team, +or even with a horse and carriage was thought too much for his +strength, and he died without undertaking it. + +Adam Pelton, the second son, was of an {202} adventurous nature and +had traveled in foreign lands as well as extensively in his own; he +was in the prime of life and in good health, a thorough mechanic with +experience in repairing automobiles. Returning to the old homestead +after a long absence, he noticed his father's whitened locks, and saw +that his steps were no longer firm. His mother had changed +comparatively little, though now approaching three score years and +ten. + +After passing some weeks at home, consulting with his aunt Sarah and +observing the health of his father and mother, he believed they would +be benefited by a trip away from the homestead over the old Trail to +the grave of his grandmother. "It would be nice to make that trip +next summer, father," Adam said one day while they were strolling +over the farm. "You would not need to turn your hand over to do a +thing; sister Sarah says she could drive one of the automobiles, if +we didn't go too far in a day." + +Adam then counselled with his father, mother and Aunt Sarah, and near +the end of the talk the mother said, "I'm ready to go; and now what +do you say, father?" + +"I'll think it over tonight," Pelton responded. Aunt Sarah spoke up, +"I'm ready to go, Adam is also, and sister--here's three to one; +let's make it unanimous." + +For once Pelton wavered; he wanted to go, but questioned in his own +mind whether he was physically able to stand the trip. "Well, I'll +go, unless {203} Dr. Marshall advises against it," he replied, which, +they all knew the doctor would not; and so the momentous decision +that the trip would be made in the spring, when the maple trees were +in full leaf, was reached. + +Next morning at the breakfast table everyone was cheerful, and they +began planning the outfit to convey them, discussing what they would +take along, when they would start and about how long it would take. +Adam said it would require two automobiles at least, and perhaps +three would be better. "What would you want three automobiles for?" +his sister Sarah asked in a rather derisive tone. + +"The third one to carry the camp outfit," Adam suggested and added, +"we have three elderly people to care for, you know." "Why not build +a wagon-box on the running-gears of an automobile like the one that +went over to mark the Trail?" Sarah responded in real earnest. She +had been reading about the elderly man's trip in a wagon-box on an +automobile, where he had a cook-stove, ate his frugal meals, and had +room for all his outfit, including a bed; and thought it a jolly good +idea. + +"Well, you may laugh if you please," she said to Adam, who at first +was not favorable to the idea, "but there's more in it than you at +first imagine. He had springs to the seat, which could be removed +when he wanted to make the bed, and slept nice and dry away from the +lizards, ticks and fleas we hear about." Sarah had read the story +how at one place the fleas {204} had attacked Mrs. Whitman[1] in such +numbers as to blacken her dress and fairly crazed the good lady. + +Nevertheless Adam could not refrain from a hearty laugh at the odd +expression, "wagon-box on the running gear of an automobile," to the +annoyance of his sister, who well knew of the word "chassis" as +applied to motor cars. But an old-time wagon-box as an automobile +top appealed to her imagination, and she carried the simile further +in her mind to the wagon instead of the automobile. After a few more +sallies of wit, only part in earnest, mother Pelton spoke half +reprovingly, "There now, children, don't you think you have carried +this far enough?" + +Though Kate, as we first knew her, now Mrs. Pelton a matron of mature +age, spoke of them this way in pleasantry, in her heart she felt and +thought of them as her children, and not as a mature man and woman. +Many a mother carries that feeling to the end of her life; God bless +their memories! + +Adam and Sarah had much in common, though each held opinions which +they would stoutly defend when occasion seemed to require it. They +often roamed the fields together, and penetrated the forests in +search of flowers, ferns or shrubs, or to study bird and small animal +life. Sarah had a creditable collection, particularly of flowers and +ferns, while Adam mounted his birds and small animals with his own +hands; both collections, jointly cared for and {205} equally prized +by each, were in one room of the residence. + +Sarah was a pronounced "woman's rights" advocate, and a staunch +admirer of Susan B. Anthony, while Adam did not hesitate to call her +a crank, and thought a woman's place in the household instead of the +political arena. On various subjects they usually agreed to +disagree; but when it came to the temperance question or religious +opinions, they were of one mind. + +Immediately after breakfast, Adam saddled his horse and rode off +without telling anyone where he was going. Notwithstanding his +jocular attitude toward Sarah's wagon-box idea, he had been impressed +with it and went direct to the automobile shop in the city determined +to investigate. "Yes, it's perfectly feasible," they all said when +he explained what was wanted. One mechanic spoke up, "I saw that old +man's outfit with his stovepipe running through the wagon cover just +as if he was in a house." + +Without consulting anyone at home, he ordered the chassis and other +fixtures for two automobiles without the tops, in due time justifying +his precipitate action by the explanation that neither Aunt Sarah nor +his father, or both together, should bear all of the expense of the +trip, as each had expressed a willingness to do. Adam said nothing +that evening as to where he had been or what he had done, but at +breakfast the next morning began teasing {206} Sarah about her +wagon-box on the running gear of an automobile, to prepare the way +for the laugh that was on him; and then came out with the whole story +to the great merriment of all. He could enjoy a joke on himself as +well as on another, and joined heartily in the laugh that followed. + +Preparations for the great journey progressed during the winter, +three months before they could cross the first mountain barrier +without encountering snow. Time seemed to pass slowly, for all were +eager to start. Maps were sought, guide-books searched and all +obtainable literature on or about the Oregon Trail read, re-read and +studied. With the lapse of years the old track had become famous and +revered by millions as a battlefield, which indeed it was; a traveler +who had passed over it wrote a description and brief history of it as +follows: + + +Worn deep and wide by the migration of three hundred thousand people, +lined by the graves of twenty thousand dead, witness of romance and +tragedy, the Oregon Trail is unique in history, and will always be +sacred to the memories of the pioneers. Reaching the summit of the +Rockies upon an evenly distributed grade of eight feet to the mile, +following the watercourse of the River Platte and tributaries to +within two miles of the summit of the South Pass, through the Rocky +Mountain barrier, descending to the tide-waters of the Pacific +through the valleys of the Snake and Columbia, the route of the +Oregon Trail points the way for a great National Highway from the +Missouri River to Puget Sound--a roadway of greatest commercial +importance, a highway of military preparedness, a route for a lasting +memorial to the pioneers, thus combining utility and sentiment. + + + +[1] A fragment of history from the life of Marcus Whitman. + + + + +{207} + +CHAPTER VIII + +THE START FOR THE ROCKIES; RE-DISCOVERY OF THE OLD TRAIL; +RECOLLECTIONS OF BURNT RIVER; ALL SIGNS OF BEN'S GRAVE OBLITERATED; A +GRANITE MONUMENT ERECTED NEAR THE LONE PINE AND WAGON TIRE AT THE +GRAVE OF CATHERINE MULHALL; CLOSING SCENES. + + +At last the eventful day for the start arrived amid auspicious +circumstances. The maple leaves were full size, pastures green and +the grains were coming up with promises of a bounteous yield. Silver +tips of new growth ornamented the evergreen trees. Many of the +hardier varieties of rose were in bloom, some for more than a month; +the crocus peeped out in March, followed by numerous other early +flowers. Birds had nested, and the mates were busily occupied in +securing food for the ones that kept the little eggs warm, and for +themselves. + +The barn on the Pelton homestead reflected the sunlight from its new +coat of paint, but the residence needed no further attention, as a +heavy film of sand had been blown in with each previous application. +The garden fence was given a fresh cover of whitewash, and everything +was looking in the best of condition. Catherine, now a widow with a +large family, arrived to care for the residence and garden {208} +during the absence of the household; and the tenant for the year had +moved into the old dwelling, the first one built, near-by. + +At the hour set for the start, all the travelers were in their places +when Adam said that Sarah, whose arms were resting on the steering +wheel of the automobile she was to drive, should take the lead. +Sarah replied, "No"--that Adam ought to have the honor. The +neighbors who had gathered into a group along the roadside to see +them off wondered what they could be waiting for. + +Finally mother Pelton asked, "Will you leave it to me?" Both almost +in one breath exclaimed "Yes." "Go ahead with father, Sarah," was +Kate's quick answer; and the start was made amidst a flutter of +handkerchiefs in the assemblage of neighbors, the tooting of horns on +both automobiles and waving of small American flags. + +Adam had displayed real genius in providing a convenient outfit. The +automobile with large wagon-size top and high canvas cover was turned +into a living room, with electric lights and a small heater for the +electric iron or to boil water for tea even while they traveled. +Sarah never tired praising Adam for the very convenient arrangement, +and he in turn gave full credit to her for suggesting the wagon-box +that made it possible. + +Pelton soon began to recognize the route traveled on his first trip +to Puget Sound, and also when he visited Linda Hardy and returned +home with little {209} Sarah and Bess. Where Sarah had pitched +headlong off the pony's back into the mud, there was now a thriving +village with brick buildings, a fine Court House, two modest but neat +appearing churches and a commodious hotel. They passed through five +such villages on long stretches of road paved like the main highways +of the eastern States. + +On the bank of a large river he found an enterprising city with +thousands of busy inhabitants, where at the time of his earlier +visits there was only a scattered village with temporary shanties, +and stumps obstructing the streets. Now there were brick blocks +several stories high in the central business district, and fine +residences in the outlying sections. + +No member of the party had ever seen the rift through which this +stream flows between the mountains, and all were astonished at the +wonderful scenery on both sides of it. There were numerous +waterfalls, one with a perpendicular drop of nearly a thousand feet, +and patches of snow on a background of green, making a vista of +surpassing beauty. + +A few days later they came upon the track followed by the Mulhall +outfit half a century before; and Kate quickly recognized the +locality as they approached a second range of mountains. Where only +roving bands of Indians were seen as they journeyed slowly toward the +west on the first trip, vast fields of grain were now growing; and +instead of a few tepees, the dwellings of civilized people dotted +{210} the landscape. A flourishing village with substantial and +well-kept surroundings evidenced the thrift and comfortable +environment of the inhabitants. + +The party had just passed through what seemed a desert land, +bordering on and paralleling the great river. Shifting sands had +formed small dunes, which disappeared and formed elsewhere as the +wind changed in direction or velocity. Not a living thing was in +sight, except here and there a clump of stunted sage-brush or +greasewood. + +Following the stream through this cleft in the mountain range, they +were soon overtaken by a sand-storm driven by the force of the +prevailing winds, occasionally encountered by travelers now as by the +pioneers--at first dimming the rays of the sun, and soon entirely +obscuring it. The haze of sand and fine dust hung low on the horizon +like a fog, and darkened one's view of objects even in the near +vicinity. Kate called ahead to Sarah to turn out of the road, which +she quickly did and was followed by Adam. + +The two younger members of the party had never before gone through +such an experience, but mother Pelton said it reminded her of scenes +along the Oregon Trail in 185-. She had forgotten that they were on +the branch of the Trail which follows the river, instead of the one +crossing the mountain range, as the Mulhalls had done on the first +trip. Before Adam and Sarah could place their automobiles with the +rear ends to windward and close the front covers, {211} the sand and +dust penetrated their ears and eyes, covered their faces, filled +their hair and as Sarah remarked afterwards, "left us in a woeful +condition." + +The electric light was turned on, but the dust that had worked into +the space inside the cover prevented cleaning up until the storm +abated; this it did late in the afternoon, when the journey was +resumed with the people in the car laughing at the appearance of each +other, and the surprise of a lifetime before all of them. About +sunset a modest farmhouse was sighted; as they approached nearer an +orchard of thrifty fruit trees was observed, and soon a large expanse +of growing crops spread out before them in a panorama of living green. + +"Neighbor, you have a fine home here so close to the desert we have +just crossed," Pelton said addressing the middle-aged man who, as +soon as he saw the two automobiles approaching from the west, came +out through the gate of the front yard to offer a friendly greeting. + +"You are still in the 'desert,' if that is what you call the section +you have just passed through," the stranger responded. "What you see +here is the same, or was when we first came four years ago. Won't +you come in?" The ladies at first objected, saying they were not +presentable. "Oh, that's nothing," continued the homesteader, "it's +clean dirt; we're used to it here. Jane (referring to his wife) I +know will be delighted to have you come in and have supper with us." + +{212} + +By this time the mistress of the house appeared and seconded her +husband's invitation. Observing the sincerity of the good dame, +mother Pelton was the first to assent, quickly followed by the +others; and in they went--"Dirty faces and all," as Aunt Sarah said +later. + +While preparations were being made for the appetizing meal that +followed Pelton expressed surprise that it was possible to have such +a property in the midst of a desert. "I'll tell you all about that +later," said the homesteader, as he repeated his wife's invitation, +"Come to supper." After a bounteous meal of fresh vegetables, fruits +and other farm products, accompanied with a bumper of hard cider, the +travelers were anxious to hear the story of how their host came to +make his residence in that locality. + +"You see," he began, "I saw a small patch of reclaimed land with such +fine crops that I at once felt encouraged to try it on a larger +scale. So we bought this tract of 640 acres--a mile square--for a +dollar and a quarter an acre, and in addition took up a desert claim, +making in all nearly a thousand acres of land--or sand, as you +probably think of it. Fortunately the river comes in from the south +with a strong current; my son and I went up far enough to tap the +water, and dug a ditch from it on our land--now you see the result." + +"Do you mean to say that when you came here, the land covered by the +orchard, and where your crops are growing was like the desert we've +just {213} crossed?" mother Pelton asked. "Just that," the host +replied. + +"Well, it seems to me like a miracle," Pelton responded; "and so it +does to the others." There were many other surprises in store for +the pilgrims as they progressed eastward. + +"Yes, I remember this place," mother Pelton said as they descended +the second mountain range. "Father said it seemed like a big hole in +the landscape as we looked down upon it from the other side; but such +a beautiful valley--the Grand Ronde--you never saw." A few days +later, as their automobile ran along a narrow cut in a hillside +parallel to a small river, she commented, "This was the worst road[1] +on all the old Trail--right down in the stream and half the time over +slippery boulders, some of them as big as a wagon wheel; two of the +oxen were down at one time." + +"Oh, I remember this," Aunt Sarah[2] said as they came to a crossing; +"here's where we ferried over on top of two wagon-boxes. I thought +every minute we were going to sink, and to this day cannot see why we +didn't." + +"Here's where we left one of the wagons, and Ben went ahead to get +something to eat," mother Pelton {214} said with a sigh, as they were +approaching the locality where Hardy was killed by the Indians. +Would they be able to identify the spot where the massacre occurred; +and if they did, could they find his grave? For some time before +that, the tragedy of nearly a half century before had been crowded +out of their minds by the diverting incidents of the trip; but now it +was their uppermost thought, and the older members of the party +lapsed into silence. + +Linda Hardy had so minutely described the river crossing and the +natural objects in the vicinity of it, that all were sanguine of +being able to find and mark the spot. They were convinced that the +crossing had been located, for the approaches on either side fitted +the description; the unmistakable mark of the Oregon Trail was +there--worn deep on both sides of the river, as Linda had said. But +all the ground from river to bluff was now covered by a field of +waving grain, without any trace of the sorrowful interment which took +place there at the height of the overland emigration to Oregon. + +Before leaving home, Sarah read a statement to her mother that the +graves of only a few among the twenty thousand who had died along the +Trail could be identified, and wondered if they would be able to find +her grandmother's burial place if they made the trip. Mrs. Pelton +thought they could; but looking over the ground beneath which she +felt sure that the remains of Ben Hardy, who had saved her life, had +been placed after the massacre, she continued {215} in silence as +Adam started across the river to resume the journey along the old +Trail. + +They were now traveling up a fertile valley divided into farms, +extensive green alfalfa and grain fields and highly productive +orchards, with evidences of a happy and thriving people living in +peace and security. Several prosperous villages and the capital of a +State were passed where only sage-brush, grasshoppers and +jack-rabbits (some of the more destitute emigrants subsisting on the +rabbits) were seen on the first trip of the older people in the party. + +Recrossing to the south side of the Snake River, the travelers were +again in a region of shifting sands and desolation--part of what was +once commonly referred to as the "Great American Desert," and +considered practically worthless by some of the so-called "statesmen" +of two generations before. Meanwhile vast irrigation projects had +been undertaken, and in part completed, with a sure prospect of +developing many rich agricultural areas extending as far as the eye +can see. All of these scenes were new but immensely interesting to +father Pelton. + +Three falls, rivaling Niagara in beauty and grandeur, were passed in +quick succession as they continued along that great river; and mother +Pelton recognized the place where she had taken the thirsty oxen down +into the canyon and came so near failing to get them back, as related +in an earlier chapter. Sarah's arms became stronger as she drove the +automobile, and she seemed to be thriving on the dust of {216} the +plains, the smell of the sage-brush, or both. All doubts of her +ability to extend the trip across the Continent if need be, were +dispelled; and the whole party was in good health and spirits. + +Ascending to a higher altitude and cooler atmosphere, they left +behind the beet fields and sugar factories, the extensive farms, +alfalfa stacks and well-fed cattle which have taken the place of the +now almost extinct buffalo. Farther up the Rocky Mountain slope, +they entered a region where crops cannot be profitably grown; farms +and buildings gradually disappeared, and the continuous Trail +appeared in all its primitiveness. Now and then an antelope would +cross the track and turn to scan the stranger as with a jealous eye, +arousing in mother Pelton a wish for her rifle, forgetting she might +not be able to draw a bead as in her younger days. + +So moderate was the upgrade that the drivers of the two cars scarcely +realized that they were ascending the slope of the Rocky Mountains; +and except for the granite monument in the South Pass, they would +probably not have recognized the actual crossing of the Great Divide. +Another day's run would bring them to the spot they had come so far +to revisit. Mother Pelton felt confident that they could find it; +and Aunt Sarah, though a little girl when the grave was made a half +century before, was sure of being able to do so. + +Yet the road did not look at all familiar, or seem natural. +Afternoon came, and there was no sign {217} by which it could be +recognized--nor anything at sunset. It was then necessary to camp, +as darkness would soon make it impossible to follow the Trail; and a +sleepless night for all followed. + +Mother Pelton thought they might have passed the four tracks worn in +the ledge of rocks that was to be the principal guide in reaching it. +Another sign, the North Star, was obscured; and the third help in the +search, the rift in the mountains so well remembered and described by +Aunt Sarah, was not visible. In the morning it was considered best +to drive back over part of the Trail they had traversed the afternoon +before. + +"Hold on," suddenly exclaimed Aunt Sarah after a few miles of back +tracking; "I know we're wrong for I remember that rock." She pointed +to a conical pile--almost a mountain--and continued, "See, it looks +almost like a man's head; we passed that the next day after we buried +mother." Then the party turned right-about, and again started +eastward along the Trail; after traveling a few miles, Sarah drew off +to the side of the road and waited for Adam to come up. + +He arrived a moment later, wondering why she had stopped, and called +out, "What's the matter?" "Nothing is the matter," Sarah answered; +"but, mother, do you see that old Trail going up the hill? Maybe +that's the one you traveled when you were here before!" + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + +Photograph from J. L. McIntosh, Split Rock, Wyoming + +[Illustration: TRACKS ON THE OREGON TRAIL (SEE PAGES 217 AND 220) +MADE NEARLY A CENTURY AGO] + +Over these four parallel tracks (only two of which show in the +photograph), worn nearly hub deep in places, all the emigrant travel +to Oregon, Great Salt Lake and California passed during the period +covered by this story; and they remain to this day a sight of great +historical interest across a sandstone ledge near Split Rock P. O., +in the Sweetwater Valley, Wyoming. The early trappers, traders, +explorers and missionaries--Benjamin L. E. Bonneville, Nathaniel J. +Wyeth, Jason Lee, Marcus Whitman, John C. Fremont and many +others--helped to deepen these enduring markers in stone, now chiefly +interesting as evidences of the great westward movement over the +Oregon Trail. Inset: a miniature view of the split in the mountain +rock from which the name of the locality is derived; see also Douglas +Craig's promise to little Sarah, pages 72-73. + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + +The track to which she thus called attention was {218} dim, showed no +signs of recent travel, and had been overlooked as they passed it the +previous day. At several places there were parallel trails, one +along the river with frequent crossings of the stream, the other +across table-lands high above it, and either over or around +projecting edges of the adjacent hills. Neither Aunt Sarah nor +mother Pelton was sure which one they had gone over before, but all +agreed that they should drive out on the abandoned roadway. + +This proved not only a tedious but a really dangerous task, as the +elements had destroyed parts of it and cut deep gullies in and across +what was left. Nevertheless Adam believed they were on the right +track; mother Pelton thought the same, and said that the trail looked +more natural to her than the one they had traveled the day before. + +Father Pelton took off his coat and joined Adam in some repairs made +necessary by the rough going, and Sarah appeared on the scene ready +to help. Pelton was surprised at how well he was able to do the +unaccustomed work, and greatly relished the dinner mother Pelton and +Aunt Sarah prepared. Hearing the tinkling of a bell over the near-by +ridge during the early afternoon, he strolled off toward the sound; +and soon came upon the bell-wether of a flock of sheep, then the +flock and herder--each equally surprised at the presence of the other. + +"Where'd ye come from?" the man asked somewhat abruptly, and yet in a +friendly tone; and {219} almost at the same instant Pelton remarked, +"I didn't expect to find anyone here." After mutual explanations and +cordial greetings--for each was glad to see the other--Pelton +mentioned that he was one of an automobile party trying to reach the +four track ruts in the ledge of rock on the old Oregon Trail. + +"I know where it is," the herder responded, "down the river opposite +the lone pine tree." The reader may well imagine the relief and joy +of father Pelton upon hearing the three magic words "lone pine tree," +as he believed they contained definite information of the lost grave, +which soon afterward proved true. + +"You can see the tree for miles around, as it stands out by itself; +everybody wonders how it came to be there," continued the stranger. + +"Would you come to our camp a short way over the ridge?" Pelton asked. + +"Sure," the man replied and then spoke in a low tone to his dog, +which immediately headed off some of the flock just starting to cross +the ridge. + +"Wonderful, isn't it?" asked Pelton, half to himself. To this the +herder made no reply but again spoke to the dog, which he left on +watch while the two men started off toward the camp. On their +arrival, work ceased and all assembled to listen eagerly to what the +stranger had to say. + +"Yes, this runs to the four tracks on the Oregon Trail," were his +first words; "you can reach them {220} another way that's open to +travel, but can't get through here in a month's work. Go back about +five miles till you come to the first river crossing," the herder +continued, "turn short around on the river trail about eight miles +till you cross the river twice. Then turn to the right on the old +Trail about half a mile, I should judge, and you will come to the +tracks."[3] + +"You can see the lone pine tree from there, and I think from the last +river crossing," the man responded to an eager question from mother +Pelton. After declining an invitation to stop long enough to share +with them in the meal then almost ready to serve, but accepting a +quarter of the pie Aunt Sarah had just baked, the stranger started up +the slope and soon disappeared over the ridge to his flock and +faithful dog. + +"What a life!" sighed mother Pelton--"with only his dog for a +companion, no comfort but his frugal meal in a lonely cabin and cold +lunch on the range." The day was too far spent to move their camp, +and although impatient to see the lone pine, which all believed was +the landmark for which they were searching, every member of the party +was anxiously anticipating what the morrow might bring forth. + +Following carefully the directions given by the herder, they +approached the second crossing of the {221} river early the next +forenoon. At the first point from which a comprehensive view of the +locality could be had, Sarah unexpectedly held out her hand as a +signal for Adam to stop; and exclaimed in her excitement, "There it +is, mother!" In the far distance a lone pine tree was sighted; and +no one in the party doubted that it had grown from the small tree +planted by Kate Mulhall, Ben Hardy and little Sarah half a century +before. + +A short drive brought the two automobiles to where the wagon tracks +had worn deep in the ledge of rock on the old Oregon Trail; but the +lone pine, still a half mile or so away, was the center of all +attraction. Coming nearer, it was discovered that they were on the +wrong side of the ravine; and although not more than a stone's throw +from where they stopped, no road led across to it. + +There in lonesome grandeur stood the evergreen sentinel over the +object of their long search, the grave of Catherine Mulhall, mother +of two of the pilgrims and grandmother of the younger ones who drove +the cars. Now a hundred feet high, rising above and throwing its +shadows over the grave, the tree was a thing of beauty, observed by +all who passed in the vicinity; and had given the very appropriate +name--Lone Pine--to the surrounding country. + +Retracing their steps to the four tracks and then traveling another +mile or so, they reached the other side of the ravine. After making +several detours and {222} removing a number of obstructions, they +arrived quite late in the day within a hundred yards or so of the +spot. As the nature of the ground prevented the automobiles from +going any farther, they were left in the track, and all proceeded on +foot to the lone pine. + +The sun was just sinking behind the horizon in a halo of glory as the +silent and solemn members of the party reached the hallowed spot. +After so long a period of time, the mound of earth had disappeared; +but wild roses were blooming where Kate and little Sarah had planted +the roots when the grave was made. Though corroded and rusty, the +wagon tire which kind-hearted Douglas Craig had placed as a marker +was still there, but the lettering he chiseled upon it had been +completely obliterated. + +Kate and the older Sarah, both now well past the meridian of life, +stood in mute contemplation of that which had been uppermost in their +minds for so many long years. Although the poignancy of the grief +then experienced had been mollified by time, yet as darkness came and +they turned to leave the grave, tears coursed down their furrowed +cheeks. Camp for the night was made on the nearest suitable ground, +while a spirit of sadness mingled with a feeling of satisfaction that +the cherished plan had at last been realized, pervaded the little +company. + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + +{223} + +[Illustration: THE LONE PINE] + +Marking the spot where Catherine Mulhall was buried a half century +before the scene depicted in the illustration; see pages 73-74 and +119-125 + +---------------------------------------------------------------------- + +Now that the grave had been found, the question uppermost with all +was what should be done about it. Kate had often expressed a wish +that the {224} remains be interred alongside her father in the +beautiful cemetery of a village in the Oregon Country; but Pelton +formerly considered this impractical, if not almost impossible. +However, since the railroad had been built within sixty miles of the +burial place in the mountains, the removal could be made without much +difficulty. + +Aunt Sarah said "No"---the spot where her mother had died was too +sacred to be abandoned; and what could ever be more appropriate than +the one under the shadow of this beautiful lone pine? Then tender +memories of the planting of the tree, of Ben Hardy's unselfish life +and Craig's consoling words, came uppermost in her mind. + +All agreed that the decision should be made by the two sisters who +had been present at the burial of their mother on the first trip to +Oregon. Adam and his sister Sarah looked on in silent awe as the +situation was discussed; their father also refrained from speaking, +though he held a definite opinion concerning it. + +The fatigue of the day, with its exciting incidents and long hours, +finally prevailed and left the momentous question unsettled in +physical exhaustion and finally restful slumber. No further decision +took place, as Kate had been convinced that it would not be advisable +to disturb the remains, and joined with her sister and children in +formulating a definite plan to care for and commemorate the spot. +Pelton said that he would heartily agree to whatever the daughters +{225} and grandchildren should decide--which was to leave the grave +in its solitary grandeur, but to mark it in a permanent and +appropriate way. + +Camp was removed to a more convenient location, while the work of +transporting a large granite boulder from where Pelton had found it +in the course of a morning walk through the vicinity, to the head of +the grave progressed for several days, as it was necessary to secure +additional men and teams from a distance. After the huge stone had +been set in place to the satisfaction of all, Adam and the younger +Sarah chiseled upon it in deep sunken letters a brief record of the +revered grandmother, the planting of a small pine tree and beautiful +rose vine that adorned the last resting place of Catherine Mulhall, +the date of her burial in 185-, and also of this visit. + +Two weeks passed from the day the pilgrims first sighted the lone +pine tree in the distance to the inscription of the last letter on +the boulder; every member of the party felt that the long journey had +been fully justified, and left the spot with an enduring memory of +the occasion. Father and mother Pelton and Aunt Sarah concluded to +return home by rail[4]; and a drive of about sixty miles brought them +all to the nearest railroad station. Meanwhile Adam and Sarah +decided to tour the eastern part of {226} the United States, and +possibly cross the ocean before returning to the Pacific Northwest. + +One of the automobiles was loaded as freight and way-billed to a +small city that had grown up in what was once the Oregon Country; and +the "old folks" were comfortably settled in a westbound Pullman. +Adam and Sarah waited in their automobile near-by the open car window +until the train bearing father and mother Pelton and Aunt Sarah +started westward. All of them waved signals of mutual endearment; +and as the train passed out of sight, the young people began their +journey eastward. + +"A fine boy--Adam," Kate murmured half-audibly to herself; "and a +dear girl." Pelton at her side added, "If ever parents were blessed +with dutiful children, we have been." At the same time Sarah, +speeding east in the automobile which Adam was driving, could hardly +restrain her tears from the recurrence of many tender memories of her +childhood, and the kindnesses of the parents from whom they had just +parted. + +In a tremulous voice she said, "I almost feel that we ought not to +have left them;" Adam felt much the same way, but hesitating to trust +his voice, made no reply. Thus the party separated, the parents +homeward bound and the young people starting east to see more of what +was to them a new world, and possibly to have some adventures thrown +in for good measure. + +Soon after the train started, the three elderly {227} people went +forward to the dining car. As the meal progressed, Kate fell into a +reminiscent mood, and looking out of the window, opened conversation +with Aunt Sarah by asking, "Don't you remember that sand-storm in +this vicinity as we passed through in 185-?" + +"Indeed I do," was the prompt response, although Sarah had been at +the time a child of only seven years. "The sand blown through the +tent into the dough fairly gritted my teeth when eating the bread +made from it. We had no water in the camp that night, and slept with +dirty hands and faces; my hair, ears and eyes were filled with +sand--but let's talk of something else." By the time the first meal +was finished, they had progressed on their return journey about as +far as in a whole day on the early trip. + +As night followed, and while comfortable berths were being made up +for them, Sarah--notwithstanding her admonition to "talk of something +else"--broke into oral expression of the thoughts surging through her +mind. "I guess there will be no 'ticks' in the bed to-night, as we +found them when sleeping on the ground." "Or snakes and other +creeping things," Kate added--"you of course remember the rattler," +to which Sarah simply nodded to indicate that while she understood, +she was not disposed to pursue the subject any farther. Soon all the +three travelers fell into restful slumber and awoke, greatly +refreshed, beyond the eastern boundary of what was once known +indefinitely as the "Oregon Country," {228} out of which the present +States of the Pacific Northwest had been created within their own +recollections of it. + +At breakfast the next morning, while the train was speeding by a +recognized object, Kate exclaimed, "It took us four weeks to travel +over the same ground that we have now passed through in a single +night." Strive as much as they could to banish thoughts of the +hardships encountered on the early trip, the memories of it would not +leave them. Within three days they had covered as much distance as +in the same number of months on the first overland journey. + +Alighting from the automobile into which they transferred at the +station nearest their home, Pelton held open the gate for his +"sweetheart" (as he often spoke of Kate); and she paused just long +enough while passing in to say, "God bless you, Isaac; you did the +same when I first came fifty years ago." "And God bless you, Kate," +he replied as they re-entered their happy home--lovers as in the +early days; and here we must leave them to the enjoyment of +well-spent lives. + + + +CLOSING SCENES + +Adam and Sarah continued their travels over the eastern half of the +grand old and historic route which their parents had traversed with +ox-teams more than a half century before. Then the tracks of the +Oregon Trail passed through an Indian country for more than a +thousand miles from the west bank of the {229} Missouri River, where +the last vestige of civilized life except a few widely scattered +trading posts or Government forts, were left behind. Various tribes +of red men possessed whatever claim there was to that vast region; +millions of buffalo roamed in great herds without restriction over +the Plains, while the grizzly bear was a source of danger to man and +of terror to wild beasts in the higher altitudes of the Rocky +Mountains. + +From certain points of vantage deer, elk and antelope could be seen +in large numbers. Except for the wild animals, and an occasional +passing throng of emigrants, the country was a solitude, generally +considered unfit for habitation by a civilized race. But on this +motor trip the young people saw evidences of changes and developments +which their parents in the slow, westward moving column of the early +50s, would have considered beyond the range of possibilities. + +Soon after leaving the Sweetwater River, traveling east, they passed +through pretentious cities and prosperous villages with church spires +and schools, trading centers, paved streets and large numbers of +comfortable residences--civilization personified in western +enterprise along or near-by the old Trail. Coal, oil, gas and other +natural resources--unknown either to the passing throng of pioneers, +or for many years afterward to the outside world--came gradually to +the knowledge of adventurers and enterprising business men who laid +the foundations for a great {230} commercial prosperity in addition +to the returns from the soil and ranges; and through subsequent +developments on a large scale have made that region a very important +national asset. + +The waters of the various streams gathered, controlled and drawn upon +as needed by agriculture, wrought the great miracle of irrigation by +which land formerly believed sterile had been transformed into a +"garden spot" of the United States, many times the area of Lancaster +County, Pennsylvania, or the State of New Jersey, to both of which +that term has been generally applied. Even the rich Valley of the +Mississippi and its tributaries does not exceed in fertility that +once thought to be barren and worthless Plains, when supplied with +water and placed under scientific cultivation. + +Adam and Sarah saw vast areas of grain, immense beet fields with +towering sugar factories, extensive orchards and alfalfa lands +unexcelled in the entire country. The world seemed larger and the +nation greater as our young adventurers continued along the valley of +the Platte River on an excellent modern highway of imperceptible +downgrade toward the Missouri River. Toward evening of the fifth day +after parting from their parents in the Sweetwater Valley, they +entered the suburbs of Omaha, Nebraska, and soon reached the center +of its business activities, surrounded by skyscrapers of many stories. + +Sarah, who had never been in a city of that size, {231} was amazed +and thoroughly enjoyed the sights. After an evening walk through the +brilliantly lighted streets, and a couple of hours at the theatre, +both were ready to rest in the luxurious apartments of the hotel, and +slept until late the following morning. At breakfast, the question +of their future movements was discussed, for they were then at the +eastern end of the Oregon Trail[5]--or would be as soon as they +reached the great river now in sight about two miles ahead. + +Adam again fell into a reminiscent mood, talking as much to himself +as to Sarah, "When grandfather passed through here half a century ago +on the way to Oregon, all on this side of the Missouri was Indian +country; there was no city--not even a cabin." + +"But they didn't cross the river here," Sarah responded. "Mother +said it was several miles farther down; and I would like to see the +place where she was thrown into the water when the scow upset." "And +Ben Hardy saved her life," Adam continued, but added, "it's no use +going there; last evening a man told me that the channel of the river +is now more than a mile away from where it was when grandfather +crossed." + +So they concluded to drive over the Missouri to the site of the old +Mormon camp of Kanesville, which they did on a fine modern bridge to +Council Bluffs, Iowa, occupying the location of the log cabin {232} +town that their grandparents saw. "We must stay here to-night," said +Sarah, to which Adam readily assented, though they had traveled only +four miles during the day. + +A two-mile walk brought them to a short portion--then still +visible--of the trail over which their grandparents passed when +coming into Kanesville a half century before, though all vestiges of +it within the city had been eliminated. Sarah was reluctant to leave +the spot, and followed along the abandoned track as far as it could +be identified. + +Talking more to herself than to Adam, Sarah said, "Oh, if grandfather +could only have come with us"--apparently forgetting that, as the +reader knows, Squire Mulhall had long since been called to his +reward; and then said, "Adam, I want to go on to the old homestead +where mother was born." To this Adam replied, "We will go there if +you want to." So they planned an early start on the morrow for the +old cabin site in Missouri. + +Two days sufficed for the trip, which was part of the time over +hard-surfaced highways, and some dirt roads a little rough, but all +the way through a fine agricultural region with evidences of great +crops and abounding prosperity. As they rode along, both wondered +why their grandparents should have left such a country and traveled +two thousand miles over dusty plains and rough mountains to Oregon. + +On the morning of the second day out from the "Bluffs," it became +reasonably sure that they would {233} reach the old homestead before +nightfall. Try as much as he could, Adam failed to interest Sarah in +further conversation, for she was in a mood to commune only with +herself. + +"Yes, suh, I knows where the Squire's cabin stood; it's all gone now. +The well is there, but the sweep is gone too. Yes, suh, I played the +banjo at the farewell party the Squire gave before he started for +Oregon. Me? Well, they called me 'Stinson's man' then, because I +was a slave; but when Massa Lincoln made us all free, I stayed with +Massa Stinson till he died, and never took another name." + +Adam had been advised that this negro, whose hair was white as snow +and who was reputed to be a hundred years of age, could show them the +old cabin site. He lived in a near-by village, was yet able to do +light chores for the white people of the neighborhood, and thus +continued to earn his own living. + +"Stinson's man" was regarded the sole survivor of the old slaves of +La Fayette County; in fact no one else, white or black, could be +found who knew David Mulhall. The generation living when the Squire +left his home for Oregon had passed away, except for this aged old +negro who still enjoyed good health and played the banjo for parties, +or for his own amusement. + +"Right here was the front door; I knows it for I often stepped it +from the well. Yes, the water is good yet, and there's the +fire-place." + +"Here's a piece of broken plate," exclaimed Sarah, {234} as she +picked up a precious relic, which she believed had once belonged to +their grandmother. + +The old barn site was located, and the barn-yard where her mother had +climbed the fence when "gentle" old Star, with the yoke on for the +first time, broke away from them and ran about with tongue out, +bellowing like a mad bull. Sarah's mother had often told the story +with a hearty laugh, which brought merriment as the incident was +recalled fifty years later, on the spot where it occurred. Adam +believed that he had located the old barbecue pit in a depression +near the spot his mother had described. Both were reluctant to leave +the grounds, and did not until approaching darkness warned them to +seek accommodations for the night. + +"Adam!" "What is it, Sarah?" Adam asked, thinking that his sister +had something on her mind she hesitated to mention. Gathering +courage, she exclaimed, "Adam, I don't want to go any farther, for I +ought to be at home taking care of mother. You know as well as I do +that she is not strong as even last summer; and I should be with her." + +"God bless you, my dear! We will start for home to-morrow if you say +so," he replied, throwing his arms around her and imprinting a kiss +upon her cheek in love of his sister, and of the revered parents in +the far West. So our story closes with the sacrifice of a trip they +had expected to extend to Washington City and the Atlantic Coast for +the greater pleasure of returning home sooner as a filial duty. + + + +[1] Along the Burnt River in northeastern Oregon--the subject of +"Westward Ho!" the painting by Emanuel Leutze in the Capitol, +Washington, D.C. While somewhat exaggerated in details, it is a fair +representation of the difficulties encountered by the pioneers on +that part of the overland trip in the early 60s. E.M. + +[2] One of the little twins in the early chapters of this story. + +[3] Those four parallel wagon tracks, worn nearly hub deep across a +ledge of rock on the Oregon Trail, may be seen to this day in the +Sweetwater Valley near Split Rock, Fremont County, Wyoming; see +photograph opposite page 217. E.M. + +[4] Which they did at from thirty to forty miles an hour, almost +continuously day and night, over substantially the same ground they +had traversed half a century before by ox-teams at two miles an hour +for an average of about eight hours a day, with frequent stops to +rest the stock, or on account of bad roads, river crossings or other +hazards of early emigration. E.M. + +[5] The beginning of the old Trail to the west-bound traveler +crossing from the Iowa side into the "Indian Country" of the +60s.--E.M. + + + + +{235} + +APPENDIX + +THE MISSIONARY'S STORY + +THE LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION; FOUR INDIANS FROM THE NORTHWEST +JOURNEY TO ST. LOUIS IN SEARCH OF THE WHITE MAN'S RELIGION; OPENING +AND SETTLEMENT OF THE OREGON COUNTRY; HISTORIC CHARACTERS--JASON LEE, +NATHANIEL J. WYETH, MARCUS AND NARCISSA WHITMAN, AND OTHERS; +WHITMAN'S RIDE; MASSACRE AT THE WHITMAN MISSION; NOTABLE INCIDENTS OF +THE EARLY MIGRATION TO OREGON. + + +A little before sundown a few days after the neighborhood party +described in the first chapter, a stranger rode leisurely up the road +toward the Mulhall farmhouse. Seeing the owner of the place doing +some chores in front of the barn, he accosted him and asked if it +were possible to secure accommodations for himself and mount for the +night. The Squire answered, "Well, stranger, you can see for +yourself that our accommodations are none too good; but if you are +willing to put up with such as they are, you are entirely welcome. +We will do the best we can under the circumstances." + +"It is not necessary to put yourself to any extra trouble on my +account," said the stranger, "for I have led a wayfaring life and am +accustomed to roughing it in the broadest meaning of that word." +{236} Mulhall suggested that he dismount, go to the cabin and rest +while he would unsaddle the horse and take it to the barn. + +The stranger replied, "My good friend, I truly appreciate your +courtesy; but I have always made it a point to bestow the first care +and attention upon the beast that carries me. Now if you will show +me where to stable him, I will do the rest myself. This faithful +animal has borne me many a long mile upon his back, and it is only +right that I should repay him by devoting a little time to his +comfort." + +After hanging up the saddle and bridle, he took from the saddle-bags +a currycomb and brush, which he said he never failed to take along, +and gave the noble animal a thorough cleaning. Then after seeing +that the horse had plenty of hay and grain for the night, he +accompanied Mulhall to the house. + +By this time the owner of the place had surmised that his guest was a +clergyman; his language was too precise and his delivery too easy and +natural for the ordinary man found in that part of the world. This +conclusion was verified beyond question when, just before leaving the +barn, he took a well worn Testament from his saddle-bags. + +It did not take Catherine and Kate long to prepare a good and +appetizing meal to which the reverend stranger, after asking the +blessing, did ample justice. During the supper Mulhall informed the +guest that he and the family were about to leave their little farm +for the Oregon Country, where conditions {237} were said to be much +more favorable for getting along in the world than in Missouri. + +At the mention of Oregon the stranger's face brightened, plainly +indicating that the news was pleasing to him; and said, "You are +doing a wise thing, for that is a grand country with a wonderful +future. The journey ahead of you is long, difficult and more or less +dangerous; but if you get safely through--as I hope and trust you +will--you will be amply repaid for all the hardships and sacrifices +endured. I tell you this advisedly, for I have spent many years in +that favored region, being among the first of our nation to cross the +Continent for the purpose of carrying the light of the gospel to the +benighted savages who dwelt there." + +After hearing this statement, every member of the Mulhall family +exhibited the greatest surprise and pleasure at having under their +roof one able to give them first-hand information of the distant +region where they intended to cast their lot; and begged him to tell +them all about it. Heretofore all the knowledge they had of Oregon +was through one or two letters received from parties who had gone out +there a year or two before; and these contained very little +information except that it was a good country for industrious people, +with a mild climate and good market for farm produce. + +That was more than they had in Missouri; so they had already +determined to make the venture. But with an unexpected opportunity +to acquire full {238} and accurate information regarding it, they +wished--if he would be kind enough to take the trouble--to hear from +his lips everything of consequence concerning what was to them a +practically unknown country. + +The clergyman replied, "My good friends, nothing except expounding +the word of God gives me greater satisfaction and keener pleasure +than to talk about Oregon, and recount the difficulties, tribulations +and heroic actions of those who were in the vanguard of its +settlement; it is a subject of surpassing interest, and has had a +remarkable influence upon the rapid development and material welfare +of our country. The narrative will take considerable time, and +perhaps tire your patience before I am through; but I deem it to your +advantage to have a correct outline of the principal historical +incidents relating to its exploration and settlement. + +"It certainly affords me greater satisfaction to go into the subject +thoroughly than to give merely a short summary of those very +important events. If you are willing, when the meal is ended and +everything put away, we will gather around your cheerful and cozy +fireplace; and I will do my best to both entertain and enlighten you." + +Soon after supper, the younger children climbed the ladder to their +sleeping quarters while David Mulhall, Catherine and Kate arranged +seats in a semi-circle before the glowing fireplace where the large +backlog furnished sufficient heat and light for {239} the little +cabin. There is no place where a good story can be as effectively +told as before a blazing fireplace on a chilly evening in the mellow +light of the crackling logs, with eager and attentive listeners. In +such a pleasant atmosphere the itinerant missionary now began his +recital: + + +Half a century ago[1] that vast region known as the "Oregon Country" +had never, as far as any one knows, been penetrated by a white man. +It is true that Captain Robert Gray of Boston, in the good ship +"Columbia" entered the mouth of the great river in 1792, crossed the +dangerous bar and sailed upstream about a dozen miles, naming it +Columbia's River after his vessel. + +A few months afterwards Lieutenant W. R. Broughton, of the British +Navy, also entered and proceeded up the mighty river about 100 miles. +But nothing more was known of the "Far Northwest" until the +celebrated exploring expedition of Lewis and Clark crossed the +Continent in 1804-5, arriving at the mouth of the Columbia in +November of the latter year. + +While it would be impossible in this recital to give a detailed +account of that memorable expedition, or do justice to the dauntless +courage and perseverance of the remarkable men who conducted it, one +surpassing incident that happened on the journey was primarily the +cause of bringing all that extensive territory under the American +flag. I must crave your patience for devoting some extra time to +describing this most interesting event. + +That exploring expedition, as you doubtless know, was conceived by +one of our greatest presidents years before he came to that high +office; but the opportunity for carrying it out did not exist until +he became President. The men chosen to organize and lead the +expedition were selected with fine discrimination for the stupendous +task {240} assigned them, and proved worthy of the trust and +confidence reposed in them by Thomas Jefferson. + +After their departure from near St. Louis in the spring of 1804, they +spent about a year and a half ascending the Missouri River, crossing +the mighty "Stony Mountain" range and later the yet more rugged and +precipitous "Bitter Root" Mountains, before reaching the beautiful +open and undulating country on the Clearwater River. It was a joyful +experience for the tired, half famished explorers, descending from +the rugged and inhospitable mountains where game was scarce and +pasturage scant, to find ahead of them as far as the eye could see, +rolling hills carpeted with an abundant growth of bunch-grass, and +watercourses with groves of cottonwood and quaking asp along the +river bottoms. They also found game quite plentiful, and excellent +trout and salmon fishing in the streams. + +Before proceeding very far in this region, they suddenly came upon a +few native women and children picking berries. Observing the party +of strange looking beings garbed in unusual attire and carrying +weapons never seen before, the simple-minded natives were terrified. +The women ran, and the children sought refuge under bunch-grass and +bushes, from what they imagined to be supernatural intruders. + +In a short time the men caught up with a couple of the squaws, who +expected nothing else than swift and sure death at the hands of these +fierce looking strangers, and bowed their heads in anticipation of +the fatal stroke. By signs and kind words they soon dispelled the +fears of these women of the Nez Perces tribe, which then occupied all +that part of the country. They were dismissed with many presents, +and told by signs to have some of their head men come out to the camp +for an interview. + +In a few hours a party of Indians garbed in native finery and armed +with bows and arrows, arrived; but they made no hostile +demonstrations, and were evidently in a friendly mood. Cordial +relations were soon established {241} between the explorers and the +Indians, the latter inviting the white men to their village to +partake of their crude hospitalities. + +The explorers were fortunate in having with them as the wife of +Toussaint Chaboneau, their French-Canadian guide, a young and +handsome Indian woman of the Snake tribe--Sahcajahweah, meaning +"bird-woman," commonly known in later history by the shortened and +simplified name "Sacajawea." By her courage, fidelity, tact and +intimate knowledge of aboriginal habits, this remarkable girl wife +assisted materially in extricating the explorers from the many almost +insurmountable difficulties that beset the journey over the Rocky +Mountains and Bitter Root range. It is no exaggeration to say that +but for her, Lewis and Clark might never have reached the shores of +the Pacific. + +At the present juncture she was of great assistance. Though not +understanding the Nez Perces tongue, her familiarity with the native +sign language enabled her to make known to the Indians whatever the +white leaders wished to communicate, and explain to her companions +what the former were desirous of expressing. She completely removed +from the minds of the red men any lurking suspicions they might +otherwise have entertained as to the motives and purposes that +brought the white men hither. + +The explorers learned from these Indians that the big Chief of the +tribe was encamped about two days' travel down the river, and that a +messenger had already been dispatched to notify him of the arrival of +these strange men in his country. On the following morning the +party, accompanied by a Nez Perces guide, set out to visit the Chief +of this seemingly very friendly tribe. The commanders issued orders +that the men should polish up their accoutrements and make the best +possible appearance; and that their behavior while sojourning in the +country of this tribe should be above reproach, as it was essential +for the success of the expedition to have the friendly cooperation of +these Indians. + +{242} + +On the evening of the second day the cavalcade of thirty-odd +travelers descending from a rolling plateau, beheld the many lodges +forming the main camp of the Nez Perces tribe situated on a willow +creek bottom, a short distance above where the stream entered the +beautiful Clearwater River, along whose banks were many small groves +of cottonwood, interspersed with clumps of large willows. The camp +presented a picturesque appearance of probably two hundred lodges, +scattered up and down along the little valley for perhaps a mile with +very little regularity in formation. On this occasion it presented a +very animated appearance, for the occupants of each tepee were on the +outside anxiously awaiting the arrival of the wonderful strangers +with bearded faces and carrying loud-noise weapons. + +In about the center of the string of lodges was one a little larger +than the rest, in which dwelt the great Chief of the little nation, +who was now standing in front of the lodge entrance arrayed in an +elaborate costume of Indian finery surmounted by an immense +head-dress of eagle feather plumage. He wore a doublet of tanned +deerskin, fringed and decorated with elk teeth and agate stones, and +leggings of the same material; his feet were encased in moccasins +inwrought with the finest embroidery done by Indian women. The +Chief, probably fifty years old, was a well proportioned man of +medium size with regular features and well shaped head; he stood +motionless, with his eyes intently fixed on the approaching column of +white men riding in single file down the gently sloping hillside +towards the row of lodges--a sight never before witnessed by any of +them. + +The Indian guide pointed out the lodge of the Chief to Lewis and +Clark, who halted the column; and dismounting a little distance off, +approached it on foot. The Chief did not move a muscle until Captain +Lewis held out his hand with the evident gesture of a friendly +purpose, whereupon he reached out, grasped the extended hand of +Captain Lewis and held it firmly for a little while, muttering +something in a guttural voice which, {243} though not understood, was +evidently intended as a pledge of friendship. + +Each one of the party was then presented to the big Chief, who gave +every one a friendly greeting even to the last, the negro man servant +of Captain Lewis, though the stoical Indian could not suppress a look +of wonder as he gazed from head to foot upon the gigantic black man. +The Indians were all filled with strong curiosity at these strange +men with bearded faces and wonderful firearms that sent a leaden +messenger of death faster and more accurate than their most expert +bowman; but neither the white men nor their guns, strange and almost +incomprehensible as they seemed, created anything like the +astonishment aroused at beholding the African, who was a continual +object of their awe and admiration. Little attention was paid to +Sacajawea, for she was of their own race and a member of a tribe with +which they were not too friendly. + +The whole assembled concourse of savage tribesmen vied with one +another in offering hospitality to the newcomers, and exhibited +unfeigned pleasure when any of them entered their lodges and partook +of refreshments. Friendly relations between the Americans and Nez +Perces established so long ago under these peculiar conditions, have +continued without a break up to the present time; and let us hope may +never be impaired. + +Lewis and Clark acquired much useful information during their sojourn +with this tribe. They were informed that it was yet a long distance +to the "Big Water"--the goal of the expedition; and also learned that +almost insurmountable obstacles would prevent continuing all the way +to their destination on horseback. It would be possible, however, to +reach it by waters all flowing in that direction, finally uniting in +one mighty river which was swallowed up by the "Big Water" near the +setting sun. + +Thereupon the explorers set their men to building boats on the banks +of the Clearwater; and it was determined to complete the passage in +that manner. They also made {244} arrangements to leave their horses +with the Indians until their return the following spring, when the +journey towards the "rising sun"--the land of the white man--would be +resumed. + +While the Lewis and Clark expedition remained on the Clearwater, the +Indians held their annual rites to placate the wrath of their false +deity, lest he visit upon them dire misfortunes in the form of famine +and pestilence, which at times fell upon their people with serious +consequences. The white men refrained from making any comment upon +these absurd and pagan ceremonies until they were ended. Then having +a council with several of the leading men of the tribe, they +endeavored in the kindest and most inoffensive manner--through the +medium of Sacajawea, who by this time had acquired a considerable +knowledge of the Nez Perces tongue--to point out to the Indians that +the white people were in possession of a much better method of +worshipping the Supreme Being who created the heavens, the earth and +all things therein; and it would be a great blessing if they would +learn to do likewise. + +This kindly advice found deep lodgment in the minds of those +untutored children of the wilderness, and was made still more +effective by the earnestness and sincerity of the "bird woman," who +since becoming the wife of Chaboneau had already received +considerable instruction in, the tenets of the Christian religion. +Thus the seed that bore such rich fruit a quarter of a century later, +and actually led to all that vast region becoming a part of the +United States, was planted in what is now our far Northwest. + +When the boats were finished the little band prepared to continue its +journey by water. Many presents were distributed to the friendly +Indians before leaving their hospitable village; though trifling in +value, these were highly prized by the natives, and helped to cement +firmly the friendship already started between the two races. In +return the white men received a liberal supply of dried venison and +roots to sustain them during the arduous {245} undertaking still +ahead of them. The Nez Perces also furnished two guides to accompany +the expedition; these proved of invaluable assistance to Lewis and +Clark, particularly in their perilous descent of the Columbia. + +That historic journey down the river to the Pacific Ocean was +successfully accomplished; and in the following spring the party +returned to the Indian encampment on the Clearwater, finding all the +horses that had been left with the Indians in fine condition to +re-cross the mountain ranges over which they had come the preceding +summer. While stopping at the Indian village on this homeward-bound +route, the subject of the white man's religion was again broached by +the natives; and once more the leaders of the expedition impressed +upon them the spiritual and temporal advantages of acquiring a +knowledge of the revealed word of God. + +This good and salutary advice sank deep into the hearts of the +simple-minded red men, who realized that in many ways the white +strangers were superior to them. They had more effective weapons, +their utensils and implements were beyond the power of any Indian to +make, they could find knowledge in books and talk on paper; they had +far better saddles and bridles, and could kill a deer or a bear with +their smoke-fire guns. Surely then, it was more than probable that +they possessed a better knowledge of worshipping the Supreme Being +than the poor and ignorant Indians--thoughts about which continued to +agitate the minds of this truth-seeking tribe long after the +departure of their good friends, Lewis and Clark. + +After the lapse of many years the subject was again brought into +prominence by the arrival in that part of the country of a small +party of full-blooded Iroquois and half-breed employes of the +Northwestern Fur Company from eastern Canada. All of these had +acquired a knowledge of the Christian religion, and lost no +opportunity to impress upon the pagan members of their race its +superiority over the crude and senseless forms still practiced by the +native Indians. + +{246} + +Coming from people of their own stock, this corroborative testimony +of what Lewis and Clark had told them carried great weight, and +aroused an intense desire for instruction in the white man's faith; +but they could see no possible way to gratify it. How could the +poor, benighted Indians come into contact with the white people, and +acquire their way of worship, when there were none in any region with +which they were familiar? The prospect was indeed gloomy for Indians +seeking the light. + +But conditions soon began to change. The Hudson's Bay Company was +securing a firm hold upon the country, bringing in white men, +half-breeds and Indians from Canada to carry on its extensive +fur-hunting business. Trading posts were established throughout the +vast region west of the Rocky Mountains and north of the Spanish +possessions. The Indians welcomed this great commercial enterprise +into their country, for it gave them a market for what they had to +sell, and opportunities to acquire by trade many useful articles +which had never before been within their reach. + +Some of these new trading posts were established close to the Nez +Perces country, and the tribesmen soon became frequent visitors to +them. Here again they were told how superior the white man's +religion was to their outlandish and foolish ceremonies. They also +learned that one of the two leaders of the explorers who visited +their country many years before was still living and occupying a high +position, in that department of the Government having the management +and care of Indian affairs. His home was in St. Louis, a city many +miles beyond the great mountains, a distance that would take many +moons to traverse. + +These Indians pondered long and seriously what to do under the +circumstances; but no matter how great the distance, formidable the +obstacles or how threatening the dangers of traveling through a vast +region--peopled, indeed, by men of their own dusky race but known to +be fierce, warlike and no respecters of persons--they were {247} +determined to make the attempt. The desire to gain a knowledge of +the white man's religion had taken complete possession of their +minds, and they would not be content until that object should be +attained. + +At a joint council of the Nez Perces and Flatheads, one Indian of +advanced age and a young brave of each tribe were selected to go in +search of the explorer they had remembered during the quarter century +since he had been among them, and ascertain the truth of the reported +better religion than their own. During the summer and early fall of +1831, these four delegates traversed more than half of the Continent +from the far Northwest to the junction of the Mississippi and +Missouri rivers. + +Arriving at St. Louis after a long, difficult and perilous trip of +which no account was ever made, they were directed to the home of +Gen.[2] William Clark, who received them cordially and during their +stay there often entertained them in his own house. As may well be +imagined, the General was astonished when he learned the purpose that +brought them from such a distance; and although outside his line of +duty, he determined to do everything possible to assist them. + +Clark spent considerable time showing them the town and its +attractions; to those children of the wilderness, St. Louis was of +course a strange and wonderful place. It was at that time the +largest settlement in the middle West, and the principal outfitting +point for travel, explorations or hunting expeditions to the Rocky +Mountains or beyond. But the greatest obstacle to the progress of +their mission was the inability of the Indians to speak or understand +our language. + +{248} + +Before they had been very long in St. Louis, one of the old men +became ill, doubtless from the fatigue of the long journey, change of +diet and impure water of the Mississippi; he soon passed away, and +was buried there. In about two weeks the other old Indian followed +him in death, neither living to know the result of their mission. +The two younger men remained there during the winter, and in the +spring started up the river on their way back to the far Northwest. +One of them died in the Yellowstone region, and the other proceeded +to cross the Great + Mountains alone, finally succeeding, after a long absence, +in reaching his home and kindred. + +While they were at St. Louis an Indian agent, William Walker, en +route to the Osage and other tribes beyond the Mississippi, arrived +there with a letter from the Secretary of War, and called upon Clark +for special instructions regarding the Indians he was about to visit. +The General informed him of the Nez Perces and Flatheads under his +roof at the time. + +Anxious to see those aborigines from beyond the Rocky Mountains, Mr. +Walker interviewed them and gives an interesting account of their +appearance and the reason for their coming. This was published after +his return from the trip already mentioned; and although he does not +give dates, it has been established from contemporary records that +the Indian delegation was in St. Louis during the winter of 1831-32. + +Mr. Walker's letter in the _Christian Advocate_ of March 1, 1833, at +once aroused the greatest interest and religious fervor throughout +the length and breadth of the land. Missionary enthusiasm quickly +arose to fever heat, due to the fact that a party of Indians had +voluntarily come more than two thousand miles over mountain and +desert from near the waters of the Pacific, calling for Christian +enlightenment. + +It aroused the apostolic spirit among the churches to a height not +seen in a generation; meetings were held, subscriptions to defray the +expenses came pouring in, and devoted men offered their services to +answer the call. The {249} first in the field were the Methodists, +animated by the evangelical spirit of John Wesley, founder of that +great denomination. Funds were raised, the personnel of the party +decided upon, and all preparations completed for the journey to the +far West in the spring of 1834. + +Rev. Jason Lee was placed in charge of the expedition; and I had +abundant opportunity to personally observe how well fitted he was +mentally, physically and spiritually for the serious task. +Arrangements were made for the missionaries to accompany Nathaniel J. +Wyeth, of Boston, who had organized a fur company to carry on that +business in the Oregon Country; and had some forty or fifty men in +his party. + +The journey across the Continent was full of exciting +adventures--fording or swimming turbulent and treacherous rivers, +eluding or repelling small bands of predatory Indians, fleeing for +safety from the thunderous charges of stampeding buffalo, and many +incidents of lesser import. But while neither my time nor your +patience will admit of giving a detailed recital of them, one event +which happened on that trip deserves more than passing mention. +After crossing the Rocky Mountain divide, their course was northwest +until they came to the Snake River. While on an exploring trip the +previous year, Mr. Wyeth had decided to erect a trading post at a +point on that stream near where a considerable tributary, the +Portneuf River, enters it and in the midst of a good fur-producing +territory, well adapted for his purpose. + +The party camped at this place and remained there a few days. +Besides the men Wyeth had brought from the eastern States, who by +this time had become genuine frontiersmen at least in appearance, he +had taken quite a number of mountain men and independent trappers +into his employ at the Rendezvous on Green River, near the site where +Fort Bridger was located by James Bridger in 1843, about nine years +later. There were also some nondescript characters with no visible +occupation--altogether a motley and extremely picturesque throng. + +Many of the men had buckskin suits, embellished with {250} fringes +and decorated with beads; others wore untanned deer and bearskin +garments of almost every conceivable design. A few had coats and +trousers of buffalo hide, and one a complete suit of wildcat skins. +All had beards, some reaching to the belt line, while others were +clipped until they resembled bristles; but there was no evidence that +any man among them possessed a razor. + +Though it was midsummer, many wore fur caps and some went bareheaded. +Various kinds and patterns of rifles and muskets were in evidence, +while a few carried Spanish musketoons. Physically they were +somewhat above the average stature of men in "the States." While +encamped there the men spent most of the time playing cards, shooting +at targets or swapping yarns. + +It was not the kind of a crowd you would expect to see occupying +church pews or attending Sunday School; but Jason Lee made an +announcement that he would hold services on the Sabbath, and desired +every one to be on hand. They evidently thought it a good joke for +any one to attempt to preach Christianity to such a lawless crowd of +semi-wild and godless men; however, it was a diversion, and all +promised to be there and hear the reverend visitor's message. + +Jason Lee was six feet or more in height and slightly stooped; his +head was large and well-shaped, with an undeniable expression of +determination and courage. Yet there was a kindly look in his eye; +and when he smiled, you instinctively knew that beneath his rugged +outward appearance was a genial spirit tempered with seriousness. + +Shortly after breakfast he took his Bible and went some distance from +the camp to the shade of large trees, and spent a couple of hours +walking back and forth in serious meditation. About 10 o'clock--the +hour announced for the services--he returned to the camp where the +throng had assembled. + +Some were lolling on the grass, others squatting on blankets, a few +listlessly leaning against the trees and others standing by the tent +openings. There were no benches, nor any roof to protect the +audience from the {251} fierce rays of the summer sun; but that did +not matter to men who had lived for years in the open, and were +accustomed to sleep under the canopy of heaven. + +[Illustration: REV. JASON LEE'S GREAT SERMON IN THE SNAKE RIVER +COUNTRY, 1834; SEE OPPOSITE PAGE] + +Lee took a stand where all might be within range of his voice, cast +his eyes over the unusual assemblage, opened the Bible and read in a +clear and penetrating voice a text from the gospels about the +crucifixion and death of Christ. Then he requested all to join with +him in prayer. Some who had not entirely forgotten their early +training, did so as best they could, while the more hardened sinners +nudged each other in the ribs and smiled--as if to say, "What +nonsense!" + +The clergyman was not an eloquent speaker, but forceful and +impressive; and his subject was well suited to call forth all the +earnestness of his nature and the sincerity of his faith. He spoke +for an hour, and before half through had the complete attention of +every one in the audience; those who were at first inclined to scoff +soon lost their indifference and listened with profound attention to +every word. When at the close of his sermon, he quoted dramatically +the words, "Socrates died like a philosopher but Jesus Christ died +like a God," there was such a stillness as if all within hearing were +spellbound; and they were. + +I have listened to great orators in the political arena, and on +various occasions to brilliant ministers of the gospel; but have +never known one to so thoroughly magnetize his hearers as Jason Lee +did the trappers, hunters and mountain men who composed that audience +away off in the wilds of the Snake River Country in 1834. It was the +first sermon ever preached west of the Rocky Mountains; and has +probably not been excelled to this day. + +Wyeth put his full force at work erecting the rectangular trading +post, more generally known as Fort Hall, for his contemplated +fur-dealing activities. Although it remained only a short time in +the control of that enterprising American, and passed into the hands +of the Hudson's Bay Company upon the collapse of Wyeth's original +enterprise the following year, that frontier {252} establishment was +a very important factor in the great emigration to the Oregon Country. + +A day or so after the Jason Lee sermon, the missionary company +departed for its intended destination, the Columbia River, where a +favorable location for a Mission was to be selected. The journey on +horseback for several hundred miles through rugged and broken country +was fraught with many difficulties and dangers, all successfully +overcome. + +In September the tired and travel-stained little party arrived at +Fort Walla Walla on the Columbia, the chief trading post and +outfitting headquarters of the Hudson's Bay Company east of the +Cascade Mountains, where they were kindly received and hospitably +entertained by Mr. C. P. Pambrun, the official in charge. Here it +was decided to leave the horses and complete the remainder of the +journey by water; and fortunately a party of fur-hunters returning +with a cargo of pelts taken along the waters of the upper Columbia, +was then on the way to Fort Vancouver. + +With these the missionaries were given passage, and floated down the +great river in their batteaux. The French-Canadian crew were expert +boatmen and a happy lot to travel with, joking and singing almost +without intermission; their care-free and mercurial natures never +seemed to be ruffled, no matter what obstacles interfered with their +progress. The annual fur-hunting expedition had been very +successful; and they were looking forward to a genuine celebration +upon their arrival at Fort Vancouver, a privilege given to them once +a year. + +I shall never forget the mingled feelings of wonder and admiration as +our little party approached the mighty break in the upper levels of +the Cascade Mountains made by the river when, in prehistoric time, it +forced a passage through that gigantic range. The scenery was +superb--nothing grander can well be imagined--magnificent snow-capped +mountains, primeval forests clothed with foliage of various hues +reaching down to the water's edge, and numerous sparkling waterfalls +leaping over the sides of {253} perpendicular bluffs from elevations +of two to six hundred feet. + +Occasionally immense basaltic pillars, rising from the bank of the +river to a great height, and some of most grotesque outlines, would +be encountered. There is nothing of the kind in the United States to +compare with that scenery of the Columbia. + +Upon reaching Fort Vancouver we met with a truly cordial reception. +That grand old autocrat Dr. John McLoughlin had word of our arrival, +came out to meet us and in the most courtly manner but with +unaffected ease and dignity, ushered us into his private apartments +where he said we were to be his guests during our stay. We greatly +enjoyed the hospitality of the Doctor, especially after our long and +tiresome journey; and have always looked back with sincere pleasure +to the whole-hearted welcome given us by the representative of +another nation, when we might reasonably have been considered in the +guise of intruders. + +A day or so after our arrival, Jason Lee unfolded to Dr. McLoughlin +his plans for establishing a Mission among the Flathead Indians. The +Doctor listened patiently as Rev. Mr. Lee related the details +connected with the project; and then while expressing the +satisfaction he felt at having a Mission located somewhere in the +country, he pointed out the stupendous task of conducting it so far +from a base of supplies. + +Everything for the Mission must come by water around the Horn, be +unloaded somewhere on the lower Columbia, and then carried by +batteaux and pack animals a distance of five hundred miles +up-country--a very serious handicap. Jason Lee saw it in the same +light, but did not know what else to do. + +Dr. McLoughlin suggested founding a Mission in the Willamette Valley +near French Prairie, where a small settlement of French-Canadians +already existed and there were Indians in the vicinity needing +spiritual as well as temporal enlightenment. Such a point would also +be reasonably accessible for receiving supplies by water. + +{254} + +So convincing were the facts presented by Dr. McLoughlin in support +of the Willamette Valley as compared with the Flathead country for a +Mission location, that Jason Lee decided to accept his views and +followed his counsel. The Doctor also promised to assist it by every +means in his power compatible with his duties as Chief Factor of the +Hudson's Bay Company; and kept his word. + +The Mission established in the Willamette Valley was conducted +successfully until measles and other epidemic diseases introduced by +the whites almost completely annihilated the native population, so +that in ten or twelve years after its founding there were no Indian +children to attend its school. During that time, however, the white +population increased rapidly by accessions to the missionary force, +many newcomers brought from "the States" by glowing descriptions sent +back by earlier arrivals, and the even stronger corroboration of the +surpassing advantages of the new country by men returning east for +missionary reinforcements. + +In this again, my friends, I cannot but see the interposition of +Divine Providence. Had our Mission been established among the +Flatheads as originally intended, there would have been no such +influx of American citizens as afterwards followed into the disputed +territory to offset the prestige of the British claim, because that +remote interior region offered no such opportunities for settlement +as the salubrious climate and fertile valleys west of the Cascade +Mountains. So I may well say again, "God moves in a mysterious way +His wonders to perform." + +While I have told you, and truthfully, that the Methodists were the +first to answer the call from the Indians beyond the Rocky Mountains, +the Presbyterians and Congregationalists soon followed. In 1835 Rev. +Samuel Parker of Massachusetts, and Dr. Marcus Whitman of New York +State, were sent out by the Missionary Board of that church to +examine into the character and disposition of the tribes residing in +the region from which the {255} four Indians made the long journey to +St. Louis in search of the white man's religion, and report as to the +desirability of establishing a Mission among them. + +With that purpose in view, Rev. Mr. Parker and Dr. Whitman crossed +the plains, and in the summer of 1835 arrived at a point in the Rocky +Mountains known as the "Rendezvous," a famous place for trappers and +Indiana to congregate for trading in furs and pelts. They found +encamped there several hundred Nez Perces and Flatheads just returned +from a successful buffalo hunt; and through an interpreter learned +that they were very anxious to have white religious instructors sent +out to them. + +This convinced Rev. Mr. Parker that the field was a very promising +one. It was therefore agreed that he should accompany the Indians to +their homes and select a suitable location for a Mission site, while +Whitman would return east and arrange for a missionary party to go +out there under his charge the following spring. + +Parker impressed upon Whitman the necessity of having the company +well equipped with everything essential for such an arduous +undertaking, and above all else to provide himself with a good wife. +The Doctor laughed and replied, "That is easier said than done; +however, I may make the attempt." + +By their genial manners and evident sincerity of purpose, these two +advance missionary agents while at the Rendezvous won the confidence +of the assembled Indians to such an extent that they permitted +Whitman to select two or three young boys to return with him to "the +States," remain there for the winter, and accompany him back. The +Doctor knew that their presence would have the effect of stimulating +the Board to organize and equip a missionary party with the least +possible delay; and would be tangible proof that the Indians were +earnestly seeking religious instruction. Whitman also realized that +the boys would be of great assistance to the missionaries in crossing +the plains and mountains in the spring. + +The Doctor and his wards experienced no serious difficulties on the +journey back to civilization, and arrived {256} at his home in +Rushville, Yates County, New York State, early in the winter. He was +dressed in the picturesque garb of the mountain men--buckskin coat +and trousers decorated with fringes on the arms and legs, moccasins +and bearskin cap, and had not been shaved for several months. + +Reaching there late on a Saturday, Whitman did not go all the way +into the village or make his presence known until Sunday, when he +proceeded just as he was, and accompanied by the young Indians, to +the church where services were being held; entered, walked up the +aisle, and became the cynosure of all eyes in the congregation. At +first everyone wondered where the uncouth and wild looking individual +came from, and why he should interrupt the services. After gazing +intently at him for a moment or two his mother, who was in the +audience at the time, exclaimed, "Why if there isn't Marcus." + +Services were immediately suspended, and all gathered around to +welcome the intrepid Doctor back from the wilderness, where he had +gone as a soldier of the Lord. He was the hero of the hour, and +every community in that part of the State made an effort to honor him. + +But there was one locality where he seemed to relish the attentions +paid him more than in any other, and a house to which he made the +most frequent visits. It was not because of the genial hospitality +of the host--which was proverbial in the vicinity; nor altogether the +fascination of his conversation, though he was a man of culture and +refinement, to whom it was a treat to listen. + +The admonition of Rev. Mr. Parker was uppermost in the Doctor's mind, +and beneath that roof dwelt the charming daughter of the household he +had known and admired for a long time, and who he hoped entertained +more than a passing regard for him. He now determined to press his +suit with all the energy of his forceful nature. But before telling +you the results of his efforts in that direction, I should give a +brief sketch of the early life of Narcissa Prentiss, a noble +character whose life and deeds will always occupy a very prominent +place among {257} the pioneers of the Oregon Country--more so, +indeed, than any other woman. + +She was the daughter of Judge Stephen Prentiss, a highly respected +and well-to-do citizen of the Lake Region in New York State. Careful +attention was bestowed upon her early education and training, and +every possible advantage given her within reach of people in moderate +circumstances in that part of the country at the time. + +In her early teens she is described as about the average in height, +the possessor of an unusually fine and well-rounded form, with blonde +hair and blue eyes. She had winning manners and a remarkably sweet, +well trained voice which naturally made her a popular leader in the +church choir and singing circles. + +A romantic incident in her early life greatly impaired her happiness +in after years, as will subsequently appear. While attending the +village school one of the pupils, a boy her senior by a few years, +became enamored of her beauty and sprightly manners. He sang in the +same church choir, was a diligent scholar, had a good voice and was +generally acceptable; thrown together in this way, they became very +good friends. On her part this meant nothing more than congenial +companionship, but with him it ripened into a master passion. + +In this frame of mind, he asked her to make a solemn promise to +become his wife as soon as circumstances would permit him to assume +the responsibility of providing suitably for her. She laughed +heartily at his boyish assurance, and said that she was entirely too +young to even think of such a thing; besides, when she did, he would +not appeal to her in that light. Even after this rebuff, he still +hoped that by making no further advances for the present, and abiding +his time, she would gradually come to look more favorably upon him. + +A few years later Narcissa Prentiss had become one of the most +attractive young women in that portion of the State--not only +beautiful in person, but with a sweet and lovable disposition that +endeared her to all. She also had a serious turn of mind, and was +foremost in every {258} activity connected with the church of which +her family were members. + +Narcissa had almost forgotten the school boy proposal when most +unexpectedly the young man, then about to be ordained for the +ministry, again appeared upon the scene. When he called at the +Prentiss home, she received him in the usual friendly manner and +treated him with the greatest cordiality, for they had been +pleasantly associated in the choir, Sunday School and religious +activities of various kinds, never having had any serious +disagreement--unless the incident already mentioned might be so +considered. + +After conversing pleasantly for some time on general topics, he said, +"Narcissa, I have called upon you at this time for a special purpose. +You know that I am now about to become a minister of the gospel, may +be sent to distant parts and separated from all my friends of boyhood +days. This is not a pleasant prospect; but I could bear up under all +those things, sustained by the knowledge that it is in the service of +the Master, were it not that I would be leaving behind to me the most +precious thing on this earth--you, Narcissa, the idol of my +affections. Won't you accept the offer of my hand and heart, and be +my helpmate through life?" + +Narcissa, who thought she had firmly squelched the earlier fancy, and +that he had long forgotten to think seriously of ever winning her +hand, was dumfounded. But now in far more earnestness than ever, he +had renewed the effort, apparently under the delusion that he might +be successful. In an instant her mind was made up what to say and +how to act; she must let him know once for all that such a proposal +was unwarranted and repugnant to her. + +Arising and standing before him in all the dignity of her womanhood, +she asked, "Have I ever acted toward you in a way you might construe +that I entertained any affection for you, or given any grounds for +you to hope that I might have anything more than just a friendly +feeling towards you? If I have so acted, I'm not aware of {259} it. +Now bear this in mind--never under any circumstances would you be +considered in the light of a lover or husband for me!" + +A cloud passed over the brow of the young man as he felt the sting of +her reply, and it is generally believed that a vow of eternal +animosity against what he deemed a haughty and insolent young woman +who had repelled his well-intentioned proposal was made by him. +"Some time you may regret this," he remarked, or words to that +effect, and took his departure. + +Narcissa, kind hearted and reluctant to hurt the feelings of anyone, +regretted having wounded his vanity and pride so deeply; but thought +that was the only way his persistent suit could be stopped for all +time. This happened some four years before the return of Dr. Whitman +from the Oregon Country to his home in New York State. About a year +after his rejection by Narcissa Prentiss, Rev. Mr. Spalding was +married to Miss Eliza Hart, a very estimable young woman, and sent +west to engage in missionary work. + +Marcus Whitman, although making frequent visits to the Prentiss home, +and received on every occasion by the Judge and his family as a +welcome guest and intimate friend, did not attempt as yet to play the +role of suitor for the hand of Narcissa. He must first know that all +arrangements for the projected missionary expedition were +satisfactorily completed before committing himself in any personal +way that might later prove embarrassing. + +It was a matter of considerable importance for the Missionary Board +to assemble and outfit a sufficient number of persons for such an +undertaking; and many investigations and calculations had to be made +before a complete organization was effected. It was considered +necessary to have an ordained minister, and difficult to find one +willing to go. But in the early spring the personnel of the party +was decided upon, and the animals, wagons and supplies purchased so +that the westward movement could begin as soon as the season was far +enough advanced. + +{260} + +Whitman now decided that the auspicious moment had arrived to take +the important step that had been uppermost in his mind since his +return from the Rocky Mountains. He was of a sanguine temperament +and optimistic by nature, with supreme confidence in his ability to +overcome obstacles; in the vital matter now in hand he felt confident +of success, but was anxious to know what the result would be. + +With this purpose in view he mounted his horse and rode hurriedly to +the Prentiss home, finding the Judge out but Narcissa there. +Entering the sitting room, he took a seat and without any +preliminaries remarked, "Well, Narcissa, everything is arranged and +the party will start for the great undertaking in just one month from +now. I said the party was complete, which is not quite correct; +there is yet one vacancy and I have come, Narcissa, to ask you to +fill it by becoming the wife of Marcus Whitman, leader of the party. + +"I need not tell you that you hold a higher place in my estimation +than any other living mortal; your womanly intuition has long ago +made you aware of that. I also believe that you entertain for me a +feeling of uncommon friendship, at least--if not more. Am I right or +wrong? Answer me, Narcissa." + +"Marcus, this is so abrupt you almost take my breath away, but I will +be just as frank," she replied. "I will go with you." + +Taking her hands in his and gazing into the depths of her beaming +blue eyes he exclaimed, "I felt in my soul that you would." Drawing +her nearer and enfolding her in his arms, he imprinted a seal of +affection on her lips. + +* * * + +Both were naturally well fitted for the task of bringing the light of +the gospel and the advantages of civilization to the Indians. Marcus +Whitman was strong and rugged, with an unlimited capacity for work; +and although a physician, the missionary life appealed to him much +more than the practice of his profession, due {261} probably to +natural inclination and his early training. A knowledge of medicine +was a valuable aid in a region without professional men. + +Narcissa Prentiss was in full health and vigor, capable of enduring +the privations and hardships incident to such a life, and of an +intensely religious temperament. She left home, friends and every +association dear to the majority of womankind, and set forth on a +tremendous journey across deserts and over mountain ranges--the way +beset by difficulties and dangers--in order to lend a helping hand in +carrying the "tidings of great joy" to the natives of the far +Northwest. + +A great deal of spoken and written eulogy has been bestowed upon the +devotion to duty, courage and fortitude of Marcus +Whitman--unquestionably in great part well merited. So far, little +has been said in praise of the noble qualities of head and heart +possessed by his wife and coworker in the Lord's vineyard. But as +time goes on I have no doubt that historians and poets will exalt her +virtues and sing her praises. + +The marriage ceremony in the Presbyterian Church at Angelica, N.Y., +in February, 1836, was very quiet and simple, as both were opposed to +any undue publicity. But when the members of the congregation became +aware that the missionary party was about to start, it was arranged +to have a farewell party and services on the eve of its departure. +The little church was crowded to capacity; not only was nearly every +member present, but many who were not affiliated came to bid farewell +and Godspeed to this universally beloved member of the community, +which had been the home of the Prentiss family since 1834. + +She took her usual place as leader of the choir, while the eyes of +all were riveted upon the pleasing countenance and attractive form of +the one who was about to leave them--perhaps forever. After the +services and singing of appropriate hymns, a time for greetings was +announced; and the whole congregation surged forward, each anxious to +grasp the hand and say a personal word {262} to her whom they loved +so well and were reluctant to let go. Before being dismissed, all +were asked to join in a parting hymn selected for the occasion. + +Narcissa led the singing, and when the last verse--beginning with the +words, "Yes, my native land, I love thee"--was begun, audible sobs +were heard through the audience. Before it was finished the pent-up +feelings of the assemblage were unloosed, and the genuine feeling of +sorrow became contagious; handkerchiefs were pulled out, and there +was scarcely a dry eye in the audience. Only the voice of Narcissa +carried the words all the way through; but she never faltered until +it was finished, when she also gave way to the prevailing emotion. + +Rev. Henry H. Spalding and his wife were selected by the American +Board of Home Missions to accompany Dr. and Mrs. Whitman. For some +time past the Spaldings had been engaged in missionary work in the +State of Ohio from where, upon the arrival of the Whitmans from New +York State, the four proceeded to Liberty, Missouri, the point at +which final arrangements for the western journey were to be completed. + +The Board of Commissioners probably did not take the precaution of +consulting Dr. Whitman as to his choice of companions for the great +task they were entering upon; could Narcissa have had any voice in +the matter, the Spaldings would certainly not have gone with them. +It is to be regretted, for the good of the cause, that such an +appointment was made, as subsequent events will explain. W. H. Gray, +a mechanic, was also designated by the Board to accompany the +missionaries. + +Rev. Mr. Spalding was a stockily built man of medium height, with a +large head and rather high forehead; and was a voracious reader, +especially of books on religious and controversial topics. Although +rated, even by his admirers, as a "peculiar" man, he accomplished +commendable results in the mission field for nearly 40 years. Mr. +Spalding died August 3, 1874, in his 71st year, and is buried in the +Nez Perces country a few miles from Lewiston, Idaho. + +{263} + +His wife, Eliza Hart Spalding, was rather tall and angular, and +though not possessing regular features, had a kindly and intelligent +expression that won many friends. She had the gift of knowing how to +gain the respect and confidence of the Indians, and was conspicuously +successful as a teacher among them. Gray was a self-important +person, with quite a smattering of learning, but inclined to be +self-willed and even insubordinate. + +These men and women established the first Indian Missions in the vast +region between the Rocky Mountains and the Cascade Range, nearest the +tribes who had sent the delegation to St. Louis in 1831, seeking a +knowledge of the Christian faith. About the time the missionaries +arrived at Liberty, a number of hunters and trappers in the employ of +the American Fur Company, under the leadership of two experienced +frontiersmen, Milton G. Sublette and Thomas Fitzpatrick, were +assembled there preparing to leave for the Rocky Mountain region on a +trading and fur-hunting expedition. + +By this good fortune, the missionaries were able to travel in the +company of a well-equipped outfit, without fear of molestation by +roving bands of Indians on the way. But not everything required for +the long journey had been secured in time to start with the larger +party, which set out two days in advance. Whitman determined to +catch up with the fur hunters before reaching the most dangerous part +of the route, which he did. + +Many days were consumed in traversing the bad roads of western +Missouri, which in the spring in those pioneer days were full of ruts +and mud-holes; and the Doctor was the only one of the party with any +previous experiences in that kind of travel. Early in May they were +on the west side of the Missouri River with their wagons, horses and +cattle all in fairly good shape, but on the south side of the Platte +near its mouth. The latter was nearly a mile wide, and the crossing +of it a very formidable undertaking; but it had to be done, for the +Trail continued westward on the north side. + +That might be termed the real starting point on the {264} expedition, +as there every vestige of civilization was left behind, and immense +plains and great mountain ranges inhabited only by Indians and wild +animals, extended far out before them. It was a perilous trip in +those days, even for men fond of adventure and thoroughly accustomed +to hardships. + +But in the company were two refined and educated women leaving +friends, kindred and the comforts of civilized life to undergo the +discomforts and face the hazards of the long journey. It was a noble +courage, and heroism of the rarest type. Their names should be held +in high veneration by the Christian people of this land for all time +to come; and I believe they will be. + +The crossing of the Platte was difficult and wearing; and the burden +of it fell upon Dr. Whitman, as Rev. Mr. Spalding was ill and unable +to help. Mrs. Whitman and Mrs. Spalding were taken over in a "bull +boat," a contrivance made by stretching a buffalo hide over small +willow growths. In the process of making, the larger ends were stuck +in the ground, and the smaller ones interlapped, after which a fresh +hide was fastened over them and allowed to dry. Then the ends of the +willows were pulled out of the ground, it was turned upside down--and +called a "boat." + +Though a very risky affair in which to cross a wide river, there was +no other available conveyance; so they entered it, at least with a +show of confidence, and were carried safely over. An entire day was +required to get the outfit to the other side; Whitman was obliged to +swim back and forth several times, and by evening was completely +exhausted. + +Early the next morning a start was made and the animals were urged +forward at the utmost speed under the circumstances, to overtake the +fur-hunters before the Pawnee villages were passed, as unfriendly +Indians might be encountered beyond. I will not enter into a +detailed account of the many events of interest on their way over the +great plains, but cannot refrain from mentioning a few outstanding +features of the journey. + +{265} + +When they came within sight of the Elkhorn, a tributary of the +Platte, it presented a very menacing appearance at the height of the +flood-water season. Arriving first at the river, the Indian boys +Whitman had taken back with him the preceding winter saw a skin canoe +on the farther side; completely stripping, they wound their shirts +around their heads and swam over, returning with the canoe by the +time the rest of the party came up to the bank. A rope was then +stretched across, and the goods hauled over in the canoe without much +difficulty. + +Those Indian boys were very useful to the missionary party in driving +the loose stock, herding, guarding at night and in many other ways. +They seemed more than willing to render assistance whenever the +occasion called for it; and in initiative were equal if not superior +to white youth of the same age. + +About a hundred miles east of the "Rendezvous," the party fell in +with a large number of Indians belonging to tribes west of the +Rockies who came over the mountains every year to hunt buffalo. Some +of them had met the Doctor on his previous trip, and remembered his +intention of bringing missionaries to instruct them in the white +man's way of worshipping; now they manifested great pleasure at +meeting the little party on the way to fulfill the promise made the +year before. + +The ladies especially aroused the curiosity and wonder of the +savages, who now for the first time beheld a white woman. No sooner +had Mrs. Whitman alighted from her horse than a number of the native +matrons came forward to welcome her; each one of them shook hands +with her, and at the same time placing the left hand affectionately +upon her shoulder, gave her a hearty kiss. Mrs. Spalding was greeted +in a similar manner. + +Both were deeply moved by the cordiality and sincerity of their +welcome by those Indian women, and greatly surprised to learn from +this experience that they have about the same manner of salutation as +their civilized white sisters. It goes to show that regardless of +climate or color, human nature is about the same the world over. + +{266} + +One of the chiefs present when the ladies arrived soon took his +departure, and returning in a short time with his wife, introduced +her to both of them--with a wave of the right hand towards his squaw +and the left towards the white women, at the same time bowing +politely. When the tents were pitched and occupied by Mrs. Whitman +and Mrs. Spalding after the fatigue of the horseback ride, some of +the Indians, with unabated curiosity, remained in the vicinity and +were occasionally bold enough to peep in and then grin with +astonishment. + +Arriving at the "Rendezvous," a long-to-be-remembered sight was +presented to their eyes. There were assembled hundreds of trappers, +hunters, traders and packers--in fact all kinds of mountain men--some +of whom had not seen a white woman in more than twenty years; and +there must also have been some fifteen hundred or two thousand +Indians who had traveled there to trade with the American Fur +Company. All of them, white men and Indians alike, were intent upon +having a good look at the first two white women who had ever +penetrated that far into the wilderness, and were to traverse another +thousand miles or so of rough country before reaching their +destination. + +Mrs. Whitman thoroughly enjoyed the novelty and excitement of the +strange situation. Some of the mountain men ventured to approach her +and offer some kind of a compliment, which amused her exceedingly; +but she always answered them with gracious and cordial bearing, and +thus became very popular with these semi-wild and reckless +frontiersmen. + +Mrs. Spalding was more interested in the appearance of the natives +among whom she had come to teach, and anxious to acquire a knowledge +of the Nez Perces language. Somewhat from anxiety to see how she +would act, the Indians gathered around her while she tried as best +she could to converse with them. + +Before the departure of the missionary company for the Columbia +River, a grand reception and display was planned in its honor. On +the appointed day, the Indian {267} warriors formed a procession in +gala dress at one end of the plain, each of the four tribes being +represented by a company in fighting costume--which was breech-clout, +with plenty of paint and feathers. All were mounted on well-shaped +Indian horses, which though not large were spirited and active. + +These fighting braves carried their weapons, and in addition many had +drums, horns and other noise-making instruments. When everything was +in readiness the command was given, and there burst forth from every +painted warrior such a wild and terrifying yell as only aborigines +can utter; then, joining in a mighty chorus of barbarous song, the +cavalcade charged down the valley at frantic speed, brandishing their +weapons and beating drums. + +Reaching the farther end of the valley, they whirled around and +dashed back with equal impetuosity, afterwards performing skilful +evolutions in front of the missionary tents. The whole maneuver was +conducted like a preconcerted military movement, the force of six or +seven hundred Indians obeying the signals of the leaders with +machine-like precision. + +All members of the missionary party had assembled in front of their +tents before this torrent of furious savages approached and swept by +them with wild gesticulations. Their bronze bodies glistened in the +summer sun and quivered with the great excitement under which they +labored in this mimic attack upon an imaginary foe. + +In front of the rushing columns rode a huge warrior of the Snake +tribe, known as "Big Foot," more than six feet tall and well +proportioned. His horse was much larger than the ponies of the other +Indians (most of whom rode bareback); and he had a saddle of the +Mexican pattern, probably secured during a foray into the settlements +of New Mexico Territory. + +He raised in his stirrups, whirling a Spanish musketoon and yelling +like a demon, his voice being heard above all the din and uproar. +The whole performance was so realistic that before it ended the +nerves of the women {268} were severely tried; and at its conclusion +the Indians crowded around the tents to further gratify their +curiosity. + +The missionaries rested for a few days at the Rendezvous on Green +River and then set out for Fort Hall with only one wagon, the other +having been abandoned by necessity farther east. At the fort, then +owned by the Hudson's Bay Company, they were very kindly received, +but told that it would be virtually impossible to travel any farther +with the wagon. However, on account of Mrs. Spalding's delicate +health, Whitman determined not to give it up until absolutely +necessary. + +Owing to the deep sand and large sage-brush about twenty miles below +American Falls on the Snake River, and the extremely rocky surface of +the hills, he was obliged to leave the box and rear wheels there, +converting the remainder into a cart which he managed to take as far +as Fort Boise, where that also was abandoned. With the wagon-box was +left something far more valuable to Narcissa Whitman--a little trunk +which she dearly prized as a present from her sister Harriet. Here +is the way she laments the loss of it: + + +Friday evening + +Dear Harriet: + +The little trunk you gave me has come with me so far, and now I must +leave it alone. Poor little trunk! I am sorry to leave you. Twenty +miles below the Falls on Snake River shall be thy place of rest, x x +x x. Narcissa. + + +My good friends, before proceeding farther with my story I must tell +you that about three years ago I visited the home of Judge Prentiss +in New York State; and the fine old gentleman accorded me the great +privilege of copying the voluminous correspondence written by his +daughter on the journey across the Continent and during the years +spent at the Mission station until her unhappy death. I will at +times quote her exact words describing events intimately connected +with her missionary labors. + +She possessed the rare gift of expressing in the most lucid language +the condition of her feelings regarding the {269} many trials and +afflictions it was her lot to bear during their life at Waiilatpu. I +have with me copies of all these letters; and will now read her +description of the crossing of Snake River, as must be done more than +once in your own journey to the "Promised Land": + + +Preparing to cross Snake River. The river is divided by two islands +into three branches, and is fordable. The packs are placed on the +tallest horses, and in this way we crossed without wetting. Husband +had difficulty with the cart, which was turned upside down in the +river, and the mules entangled with the harness. The mules would +have been drowned but for a desperate struggle to get them ashore. +Then after putting two of the horses before the cart, and two men +swimming behind to steady it, they succeeded in getting it over. + +I once thought crossing streams would be the worst part of the +journey. I now do so without fear. There is one manner of +crossing--take an elk skin and stretch it over you, spreading +yourself out as much as possible. Let the Indian women put you on +the water, and with a cord in the mouth they swim and draw you to the +other side. + + +In four or five days more of travel they arrived at Fort Boise, where +the Snake River had to be recrossed. Again I will quote Mrs. Whitman: + + +22nd. + +Left the Fort yesterday, came a short distance to Snake River; +crossed and encamped for the night. The river has three branches +divided by islands. The first and second places were deep but we had +no difficulty in crossing on horseback. The third was deeper still. + +This being a fishing post of the Indians, we found a canoe made of +rushes and willows. Mrs. Spalding and myself placed ourselves and +our saddles in it, and two Indians on horseback with a rope towed us +over. The canoe is made of bunches of rushes tied together and +attached to a frame made of a few sticks of small willows. It was +large enough to hold us and our saddles. + + +The cart which had been brought from the Falls of Snake River +especially for the accommodation of Mrs. Spalding was abandoned here +and the remainder of the trip to Fort Walla Walla made on horseback. +No serious mishaps befell the little party on this part of the +journey, although it was an exceedingly rugged and difficult region +{270} to traverse. They were tendered a very kindly reception at the +fort by the employees of the Hudson's Bay Company, and a boat was +secured to convey them down the magnificent river to Fort Vancouver. + +At forts Hall, Walla Walla and Vancouver, where the missionaries were +guests of the great fur company, all were greatly interested in the +two refined and educated American women who had the pluck and +hardihood to undertake such a long and hazardous journey. Upon +reaching the head of the rapids above The Dalles of the Columbia, +Mrs. Whitman gives an interesting account of what had to be done to +pass safely that formidable obstacle to their progress. She says: + + +8th. + +Came last night to the Chute (above The Dalles), a fall in the river +not navigable. There we slept, and this morning made the portage. +All were obliged to land, unload, carry our baggage and even the boat +for half a mile. + +I had frequently seen a picture of Indians carrying a canoe, but now +saw the reality. We found plenty of Indians here to assist in making +the portage. After loading several with our baggage and sending them +on, the boat was turned over and placed upon the heads of about +twenty of them, who easily marched off with it. + +September 9th. + +We came to The Dalles just before noon. Here our boat was stopped by +two rocks of immense size and height, all the water of the river +passing with great rapidity between them in a very narrow channel. +We were obliged to land and make a portage of two and a half miles, +carrying the boat again. + +The Dalles is a great fishing resort for Indians of several tribes; +we did not see many, however, for they had just left. + + +[Illustration: DR. JOHN McLOUGHLIN, CHIEF FACTOR OF THE HUDSON'S BAY +COMPANY, WELCOMING MRS. MARCUS WHITMAN AND MRS. HENRY H. SPALDING AT +FORT VANCOUVER ON THE COLUMBIA RIVER, IN THE FALL OF 1836: SEE +OPPOSITE PAGE] + + +At Vancouver they were also cordially received and hospitably +entertained by that grand old man, Dr. John McLoughlin. It was a +never to be forgotten sight for me to observe this representative of +the all-powerful English fur company, of towering stature and +knightly dignity, standing with hat in hand at the portal of the fort +graciously bending to salute and welcome the two first white women to +set foot upon the immense territory over which he then held +undisputed sway. It was not a mere formal {271} greeting, but a +genuine expression of satisfaction to see devoted men and women +coming into the territory to improve both the spiritual and temporal +condition of his Indian wards, in whose welfare he was deeply +interested--for McLoughlin was by nature benevolent. + +In consultation with Whitman, he advised the latter to establish his +Mission somewhere east of the Cascade Mountains, for the reason that +the Indians of the interior were mentally and physically superior to +those near the coast, as well as more likely to adopt the rudiments +of civilization and accept Christianity from the missionaries. +Thereupon Whitman, Spalding and Gray returned up the Columbia to the +vicinity of Fort Walla Walla for the purpose of selecting a site, +while the women remained at Fort Vancouver as Dr. McLoughlin's guests +until a Mission House could be erected. + +After looking over the country for several days they decided that a +point called Waiilatpu, on the Walla Walla River about thirty miles +from its mouth, would be a desirable location for a Mission, as it +was convenient to the habitat of the Cayuse and Walla Walla tribes +and reasonably near the headquarters of the Hudson's Bay Company for +that vicinity, in case trouble should arise. Work was immediately +begun upon the construction of a comfortable log dwelling roofed with +poles covered with straw and dirt thrown upon the top, which very +well suited the purpose for which it was intended. + +A site for another Mission to be in charge of Rev. Mr. Spalding was +located among the Nez Perces on the Clearwater River about 100 miles +northeast of Waiilatpu. Mr. Spalding then returned to Fort Vancouver +for the ladies, while Dr. Whitman continued work on the dwelling. In +about three weeks Mrs. Whitman arrived at Waiilatpu, and the +Spaldings went on to the Clearwater. + +At this isolated and unattractive Mission in the midst of uncivilized +and unappreciative aborigines, practically shut off from people of +her own race and tongue, Narcissa Whitman spent eleven long weary +years in the prime of her young womanhood, endeavoring to enlighten +the {272} minds and improve and elevate the morals of the savages, +with no hope or prospect of being rewarded in this life, except by +the consciousness of doing the utmost for her fellow mortals, and +that her work might be pleasing in the eyes of God. The sacrifice of +her own life was her only visible reward. + +In 1839 a great sorrow fell upon the Whitman household. They had a +beautiful little girl, an only child who was suddenly snatched away +from her loving parents, without the slightest inkling of approaching +danger or cause for apprehension. The poignancy of Mrs. Whitman's +grief was intensified by the peculiar circumstances surrounding them +at the time. + +She was in a wilderness inhabited by cruel and treacherous Indians, +cut off by nearly three thousand miles from the old home and her own +family, with only Dr. Whitman to lend a helping hand or console her +with a loving voice; and he was overwhelmed with pressing duties. +Her anguish was beyond description, but with true Christian courage +and exalted faith she bowed to the Divine will. What sublime +resignation! + +I have a copy of the characteristic letter she wrote to her father on +that sorrowful occasion, from which I will now read: + + +Waiilatpu, Sept. 30, 1839. + +MY DEAREST FATHER: + +Doubtless before this you have heard through the Board of the +melancholy death of our most precious and only child, Alice Clarissa. +That we loved her most ardently is true, and we feel keenly the +severe pangs of a separation from her. Yet it is the Lord that hath +done it, and He has dealt with us as a tender parent deals with the +children He loves. O, how often have I felt and thought what a +privilege it would be, if I could see and unburden to my dear parents +the sorrows of my broken and bleeding heart since we have been bereft +of our dear, sweet babe. + +Although deprived of this inestimable consolation yet, dearest +father, I desire to ask you to unite with us in praise and gratitude +to God who has so mercifully sustained me, and that when crushed to +the earth because His hand lay heavily upon me, His grace was +manifest to preserve and sustain my soul from murmuring or repining +at His dealings with us. + +{273} + +This unspeakable consolation is ours, that our daughter is at rest in +the bosom of Him who said, "Suffer the little children to come unto +me, for of such in the kingdom of heaven." Young as she was, we +could plainly see a manifest relish and enjoyment in singing and +worship; the last month of her life she commenced learning to read, +and improved rapidly. + +I would describe to you if I could her bright, lively appearance on +Sabbath morning, the day of her death. She had always slept with me +until just a week before then, and that night she proposed, of her +own accord, to sleep on the mat on the floor. This gave me a very +strange and singular feeling, for I never before could persuade her +to lie away from me, not even in her father's arms * * *. It being +very warm, and because she preferred it, I let her sleep on the floor +all night--but did not sleep much myself. Ever after this I made a +bed for her by the side of mine, where I could lay my hand upon her. + +Her appearance at worship in the family was deeply interesting. For +some time she had been in the habit of selecting the hymn she wished +us to sing, and that morning her choice was "Rock of Ages Cleft for +Me." Oh, if dear father and mother could have seen with what +animation she sang, and how her sweet voice soared above ours! + +* * * * * * * * * * * + +Dear father, when you sing this hymn think of me, for my thoughts do +not recur to it without almost overcoming me and bringing fresh to my +mind how she appeared when she last sang it. + +NARCISSA. + + +That letter bears the impress of having been written by a superior +woman suffering the keenest pangs of a mother's grief, yet bearing it +with all the fortitude and resignation of the early Christian martyrs. + +The tragedy happened on a Sabbath morning, while Dr. and Mrs. Whitman +were reading the scriptures. Alice Clarissa went to bring some water +from the river which flowed near-by the Mission House, as she had +done many times before. She went from the house with a cup in each +hand, bounding down to the river bank to fulfill her errand, and +returned no more. + +How it happened is simply conjecture, as there was no witness when +the cold waters of the Walla Walla River fanned out the precious life +of this first white American {274} child born west of the Rocky +Mountains. The little mound that marked her grave not far from the +house was kept green and bedecked with flowers until the day of the +massacre and destruction of the Mission. + +The missionaries--particularly Rev. Mr. Spalding and Dr. +Whitman--never worked in harmony after their arrival in the Indian +country. It is said that the bitterness of Mr. Spalding against Mrs. +Whitman continued from the time he was a suitor for her hand; and +that the rankling of it led at least to a lack of co-operation on his +part with his successful rival, the Doctor, in carrying on the +Mission work. I will read a letter of Mrs. Whitman to her father, +which throws a flood of light upon the subject: + + + Waiilatpu, Walla Walla River, + Oregon Territory, Oct. 10, 1810. + +MY DEAR FATHER: + +The missionaries' greatest trials are but little known to the +churches. I have never ventured to write about them for fear it +might hurt. The man who came with us ought never to have come. My +dear husband has suffered more in consequence of his wicked jealousy +and great pique towards me than can be known in this world. Not he +alone but the whole Mission suffers, which is most to be deplored. +It has nearly broken up the Mission. + +The pretended settlement with father before we started was only an +excuse; and from all we have seen and heard, both during the journey +and since we have been here, the same bitter feeling exists. * * *. +I never did anything before I left home to injure him, and nothing +since; and my husband is cautious in speaking and thinking evil of +him or treating him unkindly; yet he does not, nor has he received +the same kindness from him since we have been missionaries together. + +Every mind in the Mission that he has had access to he has tried to +prejudice against us, and did succeed for awhile, which was the cause +of our being voted to remove and form a new station. This was too +much for my husband's feelings to bear, and so many arrayed against +him for no good reason. He felt as if he must leave the Mission, and +no doubt would have done it had not the Lord removed from us our +beloved child. This affliction softened his feelings and made him +willing to submit to the will of the Lord, although we felt that we +were suffering wrongfully. + +The death of our babe had a great effect upon all in the {275} +Mission; it softened their hearts towards us, even Mr. S's for a +season. * * * The Lord in His providence has brought things around in +such a way that all see and feel where the evil lies. Some of them +are writing to the Board; and it may require his removal or return to +effect it, not so much for his treatment towards us as some others +also. + +* * *. I have long desired to have some few judicious friends know +our trials, so that they may understand better how to pray for us. +If this Mission fails, it will be because peace and harmony does not +dwell among its members. Our ardent desire and prayer is that it may +not fail. It is this state of things among us that discourage us. +When we look at the people and the providence of God, we are more and +more encouraged every year. + +As ever, I remain, your affectionate daughter, + +NARCISSA WHITMAN. + + +During the early days of the Mission the Whitmans devoted themselves +almost exclusively to the difficult task of inducing the Indians to +receive instruction in both spiritual and temporal matters. The +Doctor was rough and ready in his manner, outspoken in his opinions +and, particularly, vigorous in his actions; when the Indians did not +do exactly as he thought they should, he openly showed his +disapproval and scolded them. + +This helps to explain why the Mission was not as successful as it +might have been; but Whitman was nevertheless a thoroughly sincere +and honest man, always prompted by high motives. Due somewhat to the +lack of harmony in the establishment there, the Board finally +concluded that Waiilatpu should be abandoned. + +Very different indeed was the disposition of the lovable and +sweet-tempered woman, Narcissa Whitman, his helpmate in the work. By +kindly manner and tactful methods she endeared herself to those in +her special charge, and was eminently successful in the care and +management of children. + + + +WHITMAN'S RIDE AND THE MASSACRE + +Having learned that the Board had ordered the abandonment of two +stations, including the one at Waiilatpu, Whitman asked the +missionaries to convene at that place {276} for consideration of what +steps should be taken to have the order rescinded. Upon arrival of +some of them, he called the meeting without awaiting the arrival of +those coming from a greater distance, as he deemed the matter too +urgent to be postponed even a day. It was decided to have the Doctor +proceed immediately to the East to lay the whole matter before the +Board. + +Accordingly Whitman, accompanied by A. L. Lovejoy, left Waiilatpu +October 3, 1842, on the long and afterward famous horseback ride over +the Rocky Mountains and through the vast prairie country during the +winter. He was the kind of man no dangers or difficulties could +deter; and although he underwent great privations, successfully +completed the trip. + +His reception by the Board was by no means cordial; but in a forceful +way he showed the serious consequences that would follow the +abandonment of the Missions. Finally convinced by his logic, the +Board rescinded the order, which action was the object for which the +ride was undertaken. After that he visited his old home in New York +State. + +Westbound during May of the following year, Whitman overtook the 1843 +emigrants somewhere along the Platte River and traveled with them as +far as Fort Boise on the Snake River. Worried about affairs at +Waiilatpu after so long absence, he then went on ahead. + +From that time on the affairs of the Mission were still more +unsatisfactory; and the Indians gradually became alarmed at the +number of immigrants arriving in the country, bringing the measles +and other diseases generally fatal to the natives. Whitman was very +successful in treating his own people, but the great majority of +affected Indians succumbed to the diseases contracted from the whites. + +The more superstitious ones began to imagine that the Doctor was +using "bad medicine" to kill them off so that his white brothers +could have their lands, an idea which became an obsession with them. +It did not bear fruit for awhile; but as time went on and conditions +showed no {277} signs of change, the foolish natives determined to +destroy the station and kill the missionaries. The latter had been +forewarned more than once by friendly Indians to be on their guard, +as something desperate might happen; but they did not take it +seriously. + +On Monday, November 29th, the first of the fatal blows fell. Whitman +was in the sitting room talking with Mrs. Osborne who lived in an +adjoining room. An Indian came to the door, knocked and asked to see +the Doctor about some medicine; he stepped into the outer room where +several were assembled, and talked with them about their sick. While +thus engaged one of them suddenly drew a tomahawk from beneath his +blanket and delivered a crushing blow upon Whitman's head. + +Then pandemonium broke loose, and with frightful yells the savages +began the slaughter of the defenseless inmates. In only one instance +was any resistance offered; when attacked by an Indian with a knife, +the school-teacher grappled with his assailant and struggled for his +life until dispatched by another of the natives. + +Mrs. Whitman was shot through the breast by a renegade half-breed, +Joe Lewis, and afterwards beaten over the head and face with clubs +until life was extinct. She was the only woman slain, the others +being made captive and confined in one of the Mission houses. The +reign of terror continued through Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, +with several other murders of the white people. Two seriously ill +men were dragged out of their beds and clubbed in a most barbarous +manner until they expired. + +It is surprising that, wrought up to such a high state of frenzy +against the Mission and its inmates, the Indians did not also +massacre the fifty or more women and children who fell into their +hands. Through the untiring efforts of Peter Skene Ogden, Chief +Factor of the Hudson's Bay Company, the latter were ransomed after a +few weeks' captivity. + +The Whitman Massacre was one of the saddest and most revolting +episodes in the annals of missionary effort in North America. It +cast a shadow over the land, and {278} caused those who were active +in the movement for the regeneration of the red men to almost abandon +it in despair. + +No doubt you think it strange that in telling you about the Oregon +Country, its exploration and early settlement, I should have devoted +so much time to the expeditions, labors and sufferings of the +missionaries. But it was owing primarily to the initiative from +those sources that the Pacific Northwest, with all of its wonderful +resources and possibilities, became known to the people of "the +States"; large numbers were thus encouraged to emigrate to it, aiding +materially in bringing all of that vast region under the flag and +within the dominion of our beloved country. + +Otherwise the choicest portion of that territory would in all +probability have passed into the possession of a foreign power. Is +not that a good reason for occupying so much time in recounting their +efforts and exploits? I will now give briefly a few of the +outstanding incidents since the migration to the Oregon Country began +in the wake of the missionaries. + + + +THE PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT + +In the spring of 1843, a kind of Provisional Government for the +Oregon Country was organized at a meeting of settlers held at +Champoeg in the Willamette Valley. Previous attempts had been made +for that purpose, but owing to divergent views, they had ended in +failure. + +Now, however, at a gathering in March, 1843, called ostensibly for +the purpose of taking steps to protect the settlement from predatory +animals and known as the "Wolf Organization," a resolution was +introduced and carried to appoint a committee of twelve to formulate +a plan. At the meeting held on May 2nd attended by both British and +American partisans, the vote was very close, the advocates of a +Provisional Government winning by a slight margin. + +It was so close that there was difficulty in determining {279} which +side had the majority; so after one or two unsuccessful attempts to +decide by a _viva voce_ vote, an agreement was reached to have a +division and count--those in favor of the proposal going to the +right, while those opposed went to the left. Joseph L. Meek, a man +of splendid physique and the hero of many adventures in the Rockies, +clad in the garb of the mountaineers, with sparkling eyes, a voice of +command and the air of a Major General, stepped to a niche in history +as he strode to his position crying out, "Who's for a divide! All in +favor of the report and organization follow me." + +The hunters and trappers who were present followed his lead, and so +carried the day for the proponents of the measure. More than half +the Americans present voted against it, because they (wrongfully) +believed it a scheme of the Mission party to secure control of the +organization. Were it not that quite a number of French-Canadians +favorable to self-government voted in the affirmative, it would have +lost. + +On the following day, May 3rd, the Provisional Government was duly +organized--a date and event long to be remembered. That government +was ably and wisely carried on for a term of six years, until the +United States assumed jurisdiction in 1849. + +Dr. John McLoughlin recognized it, as he never would have done were +it not worthy of respect. It demonstrated that the Oregon pioneers +were capable, resourceful and not mere imitators of other men. Their +deeds should be admired and their names venerated. + +I might add that the entire white population of the Oregon Country at +that time was only a little more than two hundred. But the tide had +set in, and nearly five times that number were already assembled at +different points on the Missouri River preparing to start overland. + + + +THE 1843 MIGRATION + +This was in many respects the most remarkable and important migration +that ever left the Missouri River {280} for the far Northwest. +Although numerically far below those of the following years, it was +the first company regularly organized to go out to that territory +with the sole object of making permanent settlements, and growing up +with it. + +The people composing it were not influenced to any considerable +extent by the evangelical movement, but mostly farmers, tradesmen and +mechanics determined to find and make the best of opportunities for +improving their material condition. It was the first migration to +succeed in taking wagons beyond Fort Hall to the banks of the +Columbia and down along the south side of that river to The Dalles, +thence by batteaux or rafts to Fort Vancouver and the Willamette +Valley, thus blazing a trail for future thousands to follow. + +Among those emigrants were several men of unusual ability and +forceful character, who were subsequently very successful and +attracted wide attention. Peter H. Burnett--keen, alert and +ambitious, the possessor of an almost inexhaustible fund of +information and anecdote--became the first Governor of California, +1849-51. + +Another one was J. W. Nesmith, witty and brilliant, later United +States Senator from Oregon. Jesse Applegate, one of the men who came +over the Oregon Trail in 1843, was a versatile writer, forceful +speaker and a leading worker in the ranks of every progressive +movement in the Pacific Northwest during his long and useful life +there. + +These men had the hardihood to attempt a feat considered utterly +impracticable by those who had passed and repassed over that route on +horseback for many years. When asked for his opinion as to the +feasibility of taking the wagons to the Columbia, Richard Grant, the +Chief Factor of the Hudson's Bay Company at Fort Hall, made this +characteristic and undoubtedly honest reply, "I will not say that +Americans cannot do it, but for myself I cannot see how it would be +possible." + +The news that a large company of home seekers had succeeded in +driving their teams and four-wheeled vehicles {281} all the way +through by that route caused widespread rejoicing throughout "the +States," and virtually settled the question as to which nation the +region should belong. + + + +THE UNFORTUNATE SAGER FAMILY + +Of the many tragic and pathetic incidents along the Trail during the +early migration to Oregon, none surpasses that of this most bereaved +and sorely afflicted family. Mr. Sager, a blacksmith, went in 1838 +from Ohio to Missouri; in the fall of 1843 he moved to St. Joseph in +that State, and in the spring of 1844 joined the Gillman party bound +for the Oregon Country. He was accompanied by his wife and six +children, the eldest a boy of fourteen (a seventh was born on the +road), making five girls and two boys. + +While crossing the Platte River one of his wagons in which Mrs. Sager +was riding, overturned and so seriously injured her that she never +entirely recovered from it. Near Fort Laramie the oldest girl fell +under the wheels of the wagon and was rendered helpless during the +remainder of the journey. At Green River, Mr. Sager died leaving an +invalid wife, a crippled daughter and six children, the youngest a +baby only a few weeks old. + +In the party was an unmarried German doctor of a benevolent +disposition who, seeing the straits to which the family was reduced, +volunteered to drive and care for the oxen and assist the +unfortunates to their destination. Mrs. Shaw, a kind hearted woman +of the train, took the infant in charge. At Fort Bridger the greater +part of the property brought that far by the emigrants, among them +the Sagers, had to be abandoned, making their lot still harder, for +henceforth they must travel in a cart. + +Notwithstanding all that could be done to alleviate the sufferings of +the ill and weak mother, she could no longer endure the hardships of +the journey; and gave up her spirit in the wild and forbidding region +of the Snake River. Delirious at the time, she called upon her dead +husband to take good care of their little ones. + +{282} + +Mr. Shaw went to the Whitman Mission to see if Dr. and Mrs. Whitman +could be prevailed upon to assume the care and custody of the +orphans. Though prompted by their natural inclinations to do so, the +Whitmans hesitated to assume the additional responsibility. + +While in this uncertain frame of mind, the two-wheeled vehicle with +its cargo of six ragged and travel-stained children appeared upon the +scene. It was utterly impossible for those kind-hearted people to +resist that appeal. When the question of the infant came up, the +Doctor could not see how it could be managed; but Mrs. Whitman turned +to him and said, "I would like to have the baby most of all." + +[Illustration: ARRIVAL OF THE SAGER ORPHANS AT WAIILATPU, THE WHITMAN +MISSION IN THE OREGON COUNTRY, FALL OF 1844: SEE OPPOSITE PAGE] + +The arrival of the cart load of orphans at Waiilatpu presented a +sight worthy of the brush of some great artist to transfer it to +canvas, for such a combination of circumstances seldom occurs in real +life. All that then remained of their once complete outfit was in +the foreground; and the emaciated, nearly exhausted oxen dropped down +to rest as soon as they were unyoked. John, the oldest boy, was +seated in the front end of the cart, his ragged garments covered with +a heavy coating of grey dust from the sagebrush plains, while his +woe-begone countenance and tear-stained cheeks clearly indicated his +supreme anguish. + +Francis, the younger boy, was leaning on one wheel of the cart, his +head resting on his arm and sobbing audibly. On the near side, the +three little girls were huddled together bareheaded and barefooted, +looking at the boys and then at the house, dreading whatever might +happen. Close to the oxen stood the German doctor with his whip in +hand and kindly eyes viewing the scene with suppressed emotion. + +The baby member of the family was in the care and custody of Mrs. +Shaw, whose husband somewhat thoughtlessly asked Mrs. Whitman if she +had any children of her own. Stopping at the threshold, the good +woman pointed to the little grave on the side of a small mound easily +seen from that point, and replied, "The only child {283} I ever had +sleeps yonder." In the tone of her voice and the expression of her +face there was unspeakable sadness. Only a few years later John and +Francis were brutally murdered at the same Mission House by +infuriated Indians, and all the girls taken into captivity. That +family certainly was tried in the crucible; and never in my +experience have I found a parallel to it. + +* * * + +Up to the present time fully nine-tenths of the emigrants going to +the Oregon Country have settled in the Willamette Valley--a very +large and fertile valley, probably seventy or eighty miles long by +some ten or twelve in width. It is flanked on either side by ranges +of heavily timbered hills, and traversed by the large Willamette +River, which is fed by numerous streams issuing from the adjacent +mountains on its course northward to join the mighty Columbia. The +climate is remarkably mild and entirely free from extremes of +temperature; and its very fertile soil produces small grains such as +wheat, oats and barley, in great abundance. Vegetables of every kind +grown in the temperate zone do remarkably well, while fruits such as +apples, pears, plums and cherries are not only raised in great +quantities, but are generally superior to the same varieties in the +Atlantic States. Fish and game are also quite plentiful. Since the +discovery of gold in California, that region has been an excellent +market for everything raised at fancy prices; if this condition +continues, the Oregon farmers will soon be more prosperous than the +California gold miners. + +There is also a vast region north of the Columbia, heavily timbered +but interspersed here and there with numerous fertile valleys, which +in recent years have been receiving many immigrants who claim to see +a great future ahead. Even in the eastern portion of the territory, +which is still occupied almost exclusively by Indians, shrewd men see +possibilities of large settlements springing up within the next few +years. + +It is a wonderful country to which you are going, and you will +probably never have cause to regret the decision. + + + +[1] As this narrative was told in the early 1850s, "half a century +ago" refers to the period shortly after 1800.--E.M. + +[2] Companion of Capt. Meriwether Lewis on the Lewis & Clark +Expedition of 1804-6; 1st Lieut. U.S.A., Jan. 31, 1806 (resigned Feb. +27, 1807); appointed Brig.-Gen. of Militia by Thomas Jefferson, March +13, 1807; Governor of Missouri Territory 1813-21, and afterward, +including the time of the visit of these Indians, Superintendent of +Indian Affairs at St. Louis until his death in 1838. Brother of Gen. +George Rogers Clark. + + + + +{284} + +THE WORK BEGUN AND CARRIED ON FOR TWO DECADES BY EZRA MEEKER TO BE +CONTINUED ON A LARGER SCALE BY THE OREGON TRAIL MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION, +INC. OBJECTS: PLAN: MEMBERSHIPS: + + +More than twenty years have elapsed since the author started, January +29, 1906, on a return trip over the Oregon Trail, which he had +traversed with an ox-team when just past 21 years of age, accompanied +by a brave young wife and a babe, nearly fifty-four years before. +The first journey was in search of a home in the Oregon Country, of +which he has now been a resident for over seventy-three years; and +the second one to rescue from impending oblivion the memories of the +Pioneers by rediscovering the Trail they followed, and erecting +permanent monuments to honor their heroic achievements. + +A third trip was made with the ox-team in 1910 to continue and +enlarge the effort; a fourth one with an automobile in 1915 to enlist +the co-operation of the motoring public in the great work, and +finally a fifth by aeroplane in October, 1924, when he looked down +from the air at a speed of 100 miles per hour upon the route +previously followed at an average of about two miles an hour by a +migration of at least three hundred thousand, of whom not less than +twenty thousand gave up their lives on the way. Although a total of +nearly two hundred monuments and markers have been {285} placed along +or nearby the old tracks, the plan as a whole is still incomplete; +and the desirability of carrying it forward beyond the limitations of +a single life, unquestionable. + +On January 9, 1926, the OREGON TRAIL MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION, INC. was +organized under the laws of the State of New York, for the following +specific purposes: + + +1. To search out, identify, suitably and permanently mark the line +of the Oregon Trail, in so far as possible at this time, with or +without visible marks of the old tracks. + +2. To erect suitable monuments or memorials on or nearby the sites +of historical forts, trading posts or other important landmarks along +the Trail, such as Fort Kearney, Fort Laramie, Fort Hall, Fort +Bridger and others of distinct historical interest. + +3. To restore the Whitman Mission in the County of Walla Walla, +State of Washington, as the same existed at the date of the Massacre, +November 29, 1847; to establish, or promote the establishment of, a +park or other memorial to appropriately commemorate the sacrifice of +Marcus and Narcissa Whitman, and the other victims of that historic +tragedy; also to identify other localities where massacres are known +to have taken place, and to suitably mark them. + +4. To promote, encourage or portray in moving pictures, vividly +recording the historic scenes on the great emigration over the Oregon +Trail, with a reproduction of the characteristic scenery along the +route, for use in the schools of the Nation, teaching exact and +truthful history by such methods. + +5. To collect and preserve written accounts, objects of interest and +other things pertaining to the history of the winning of the Pacific +Northwest; to deposit same with the historical societies, preferably +in the States where found, or to designate a Museum or {286} museums +to preserve such records, relics or objects of interest as may be +donated or otherwise acquired; and erect a suitable memorial to the +Pioneers, most appropriately in the City of Washington. + +Membership consists of two classes--Annual and Life. Any citizen of +the United States, of adult age, shall be eligible for membership by +the payment, annually, of two dollars ($2); or for a Life Membership +by one payment of fifty dollars ($50). No assessment of members +shall be made; nor shall membership involve any financial obligations +beyond the stated fees or dues to the Corporation. + + +The considerable number of men and women who have already become +identified with the organization are devoting their time and money to +perpetuate the memory of the Pioneers, all but a few of whom have +gone to their reward, and to preserve the history of the great +overland migration which was the principal factor in advancing the +northwestern boundary of the United States to the Pacific Coast. +Work will be started in the field as soon as sufficient funds are +secured to enable it to be carried forward on the high standard +outlined. Success in accomplishing these objects depends upon public +confidence and support; and the reader of this volume is invited to +become a member. + + + OREGON TRAIL MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION, INC. + Ezra Meeker, Rev. David G. Wylie, D.D., LL.D. + President Secretary + 18 Old Slip, New York City + + + + +{287} + +WORKS BY EZRA MEEKER + +LOVED BEFORE SEEN (1874), a Story of Pioneer Life. + +WASHINGTON TERRITORY WEST OF THE CASCADE MOUNTAINS (1870), a +descriptive pamphlet, out of print and rare; as high as $100 has been +paid for single copies. + +FARM AND HOME, an editorial series of 52 numbers, 1884-6; newspaper +publication only. + +HOP CULTURE IN THE UNITED STATES (1883); rare and out of print. + +PIONEER REMINISCENCES OF PUGET SOUND, AND THE TRAGEDY OF LESCHI +(1905); 550 pages in two volumes under one cover, silk cloth binding, +$15.00. + +SHORT STORIES FOR CHILDREN, each with a moral. + +THE LOST TRAIL (1911-12-15), a booklet of 32 pages, of which several +editions totaling a hundred thousand copies, have been issued. + +THE OREGON TRAIL, VENTURES AND ADVENTURES, revised and republished +under title of THE BUSY LIFE OF EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS (1916); 400 pages, +$1.65, postpaid. + +FIFTY YEARS OF PROGRESS IN WASHINGTON (1915); 400 pages, $5.00 +postpaid. + +KATE MULHALL, a Romance of the Oregon Trail (1926); this volume, $2 +postpaid, with the usual discounts to the trade. + +In active preparation (1926): A CENTURY OF BUSY LIFE--the biography, +varied experiences as pioneer, farmer, author and traveler, including +four years in Europe, and the "homespun" philosophy of Ezra Meeker, +1830-1930 (borrowing a few years from the future, through which the +author confidently expects to live, and thus justify the title chosen +for this work), amplifying and carrying forward THE BUSY LIFE OF +EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS in more definite historical retrospect. + + + + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78040 *** diff --git a/78040-h/78040-h.htm b/78040-h/78040-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d63c770 --- /dev/null +++ b/78040-h/78040-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,13592 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang="en"> + +<head> + +<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> + +<link rel="icon" href="images/img-cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> + +<meta charset="utf-8"> + +<title> +The Project Gutenberg eBook of Kate Mulhall, by Ezra Meeker +</title> + +<style> +body { color: black; + background: white; + margin-right: 10%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; + text-align: justify } + +p {text-indent: 1.4em } + +p.noindent {text-indent: 0% } + +p.t1 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 200%; + text-align: center } + +p.t2 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 150%; + text-align: center } + +p.t2b {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 150%; + font-weight: bold; + text-align: center } + +p.t3 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 100%; + text-align: center } + +p.t3b {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 100%; + font-weight: bold; + text-align: center } + +p.t4 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 80%; + text-align: center } + +p.t4b {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 80%; + font-weight: bold; + text-align: center } + +p.t5 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 60%; + text-align: center } + +h1 { text-align: center } +h2 { text-align: center } +h3 { text-align: center } +h4 { text-align: center } +h5 { text-align: center } + +p.poem {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10%; } + +p.thought {text-indent: 0% ; + letter-spacing: 2em ; + text-align: center } + +p.hang {text-indent: -5%; + margin-left: 5% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +p.hang2 {text-indent: -5%; + margin-left: 5% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +p.letter {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10% ; + margin-right: 10% } + +p.footnote {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 85%; + margin-left: 5% ; + margin-right: 5% } + +.smcap { font-variant: small-caps } + +p.transnote {text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 10% ; + margin-right: 10% } + +p.quote {text-indent: 1.5em ; + font-size: 85%; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +p.quote2 {text-indent: 0 ; + font-size: 85%; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + + +p.finis { font-size: larger ; + text-align: center ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +p.capcenter { margin-left: 0; + margin-right: 0 ; + margin-bottom: .5% ; + margin-top: 0; + font-weight: normal; + float: none ; + clear: both ; + text-indent: 0%; + text-align: center } + +img.imgcenter { margin-left: auto; + margin-bottom: 0; + margin-top: 1%; + margin-right: auto; } + +.pagenum { position: absolute; + left: 1%; + font-size: 95%; + text-align: left; + text-indent: 0; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal; } + +</style> + +</head> + +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78040 ***</div> + +<p><br><br></p> + +<p class="capcenter"> +<a id="img-cover"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-cover.jpg" alt="Cover art"> +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<hr> + +<p class="capcenter"> +<a id="img-front1"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-front1.jpg" alt="PRESIDENT AND OLD PIONEER"> +</p> + +<p class="quote2"> + Signature of President Coolidge<br> + from the White House,<br> + March 25, 1926.<br> +</p> + +<p class="t3"> +PRESIDENT AND OLD PIONEER +</p> + +<p class="quote"> +Calvin Coolidge and Ezra Meeker, two stalwart Americans—the President +a New Englander, and Mr. Meeker a native of Ohio, though for +nearly all his adult life a resident of the Pacific Northwest. Mr. Meeker +was a youth past fourteen when the late John C. Coolidge, father of the +President, was born. Photograph taken on the White House grounds, +near the Executive Offices, in October 1924, just after Mr. Meeker had +flown in an aeroplane from Washington State to the City of Washington: +and the old gentleman took advantage of the opportunity to say to the +President—as he had to President Theodore Roosevelt near the same +spot on November 29, 1907—that the memory of the Pioneers should be +preserved, and the route of the Oregon Trail suitably and permanently +marked. +</p> + +<hr> + +<p><br><br></p> + +<hr> + +<p class="capcenter"> +<a id="img-front2"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-front2.jpg" alt="EZRA MEEKER"> +<br> +</p> + +<p class="t3"> +EZRA MEEKER +</p> + +<p class="quote"> +Born December 29, 1830. Only survivor (1926) +among the adults who passed over the Oregon Trail +in their own outfits at the height of the migration of +1852. Founder and President of the Oregon Trail +Memorial Association, Inc. +</p> + +<hr> + +<h1> +<br><br> + KATE MULHALL<br> +</h1> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="t3"> + A Romance of the<br> + OREGON TRAIL<br> +</p> + +<p class="t3"> + By<br> + EZRA MEEKER<br> +</p> + +<p class="t4"> + Author of: Ox-Team Days, Pioneer Reminiscences,<br> + The Busy Life of 85 Years, Pioneer Stories for<br> + Children, Story of the Lost Trail to Oregon<br> +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="t4"> + Drawings by Margaret Landers Sanford, Rudolf A. Kauach<br> + and Oscar W. Lyons<br> + Map of the Oregon Trail, and photographs<br> +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="capcenter"> +<a id="img-title"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-title.jpg" alt="(oxen and wagon)"> +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="t3"> + Published by<br> + EZRA MEEKER<br> + 18 OLD SLIP, NEW YORK CITY<br> +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p class="t3"> + THIS VOLUME IS INSCRIBED AS A TRIBUTE OF DEVOTION TO<br> + THE MEMORIES OF<br> +<br> + PHOEBE BAKER MEEKER<br> +<br> + MY MOTHER<br> +<br> + ELIZA SUMNER MEEKER<br> +<br> + MY WIFE<br> +<br> + WHO CROSSED THE OREGON TRAIL AS A YOUNG MOTHER IN 1852,<br> + AND WAS AFTERWARD THE COMPANION OF MANY YEARS OF MY LIFE<br> +<br> + THE HEROINES OF THE PLAINS<br> + AND 20,000 PIONEERS<br> +<br> + MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN—BURIED IN UNMARKED GRAVES,<br> + ALONG THAT GREAT HIGHWAY OF HISTORY TO THE FAR NORTHWEST<br> +</p> + +<p><br><br></p> + +<p class="t4"> + Copyrighted 1926<br> + By EZRA MEEKER<br> +</p> + +<p class="t4"> + All rights reserved<br> +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p class="t3b"> +CONTENTS +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="hang"> +<a href="#chap00b">FOREWORD</a>: Ezra Meeker, the Author + By Robert Bruce.<br> +</p> + +<p class="t3"> +<a href="#chap01">CHAPTER I</a> +</p> + +<p class="hang"> +Early Life in Missouri; A Farewell Party; Kate's Suitors +</p> + +<p class="t3"> +<a href="#chap02">CHAPTER II</a> +</p> + +<p class="hang"> +Off for Oregon; Crossing the Missouri; Encountering the +Buffalo; Troubles with the Indians +</p> + +<p class="t3"> +<a href="#chap03">CHAPTER III</a> +</p> + +<p class="hang"> +Trials of the Long Trail; Dangerous River Crossings; the +Death of Catherine; West of the Rockies; Separation +of the Party; New Homes in the Oregon Country +</p> + +<p class="t3"> +<a href="#chap04">CHAPTER IV</a> +</p> + +<p class="hang"> +A Massacre and a War; Kate Mulhall, Deputy Sheriff; A +Race for a Wife; The Wedding and Charvaree; A +Delayed and Adventurous Honeymoon on Puget Sound +</p> + +<p class="t3"> +<a href="#chap05">CHAPTER V</a> +</p> + +<p class="hang"> +An Encounter with Pirates, and a Fortunate Deliverance; +Ben Found; His prompt start for Missouri and +unexpected arrival; a Son born to the Peltons +</p> + +<p class="t3"> +<a href="#chap06">CHAPTER VI</a> +</p> + +<p class="hang"> +The Wedding of Ben and Linda; A second Overland Trip; +Massacre of nearly all the Company; Binding up the +Wounds; The Trip resumed; Survivors reach the +Oregon Country +</p> + +<p class="t3"> +<a href="#chap07">CHAPTER VII</a> +</p> + +<p class="hang"> +Linda's hope never realized; Death of David Mulhall; +Craig's promise remembered; Lessons from a +Trail-marking Outfit; Decision to make the trip +</p> + +<p class="t3"> +<a href="#chap08">CHAPTER VIII</a> +</p> + +<p class="hang"> +The Start for the Rockies; Re-discovery of the Old Trail; +Recollections of Burnt River; All signs of Ben's grave +obliterated; A granite Monument erected near the +Lone Pine and wagon tire at the grave of Catherine +Mulhall: Closing Scenes +</p> + +<p class="t3"> +<a href="#chap09">APPENDIX</a> +</p> + +<p class="hang"> +The Missionary's Story—The Lewis and Clark Expedition; +Outline History of the Oregon Missions; Jason Lee's +great sermon; Massacre of Marcus and Narcissa +Whitman; Destruction of the Mission, &c +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p class="t3b"> +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="noindent"> +<a href="#img-front1">President and Old Pioneer</a> ...... Frontispiece +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +<a href="#img-front2">Ezra Meeker, the author</a> ...... Frontispiece +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +<a href="#img-008">Condensed map of the Oregon Trail and National Road</a> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +<a href="#img-027">Farewell Party at the Mulhall Homestead in Missouri</a> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +<a href="#img-052">A near catastrophe in crossing the Missouri</a> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +<a href="#img-053">Typical emigrant outfit on the Oregon Trail</a> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +<a href="#img-057">Using a wagon-box as a "boat"</a> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +<a href="#img-066">Under the Yoke for the first time</a> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +<a href="#img-074">A Corral at an overnight stop on the Trail through the +Indian Country</a> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +<a href="#img-075">Almost "Down and Out"</a> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +<a href="#img-088">Monument along the Clover Creek Highway, near Tacoma, +Washington</a> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +<a href="#img-102">Reduced to a Hand Cart</a> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +<a href="#img-125">The honeymoon party on Puget Sound</a> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +<a href="#img-136">"Help Yourself</a> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +<a href="#img-159">"Babe in the Woods"</a> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +<a href="#img-175">Scene after the Massacre</a> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +<a href="#img-217">Tracks on the Oregon Trail made nearly a century ago</a> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +<a href="#img-223">The lone pine</a> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +<a href="#img-251">Jason Lee's great sermon</a> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +<a href="#img-270">Dr. John McLoughlin welcoming Mrs. Whitman and +Mrs. Spalding to Fort Vancouver</a> +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +<a href="#img-282">Arrival of the Sager orphans at the Whitman Mission</a> +</p> + +<p class="t3"> +—————— +</p> + +<p> +The front cover design combines a distant view of the +majestic mountain of the Pacific Northwest with a pictorial +representation of one of the great falls on the western slope +of the Rocky Mountains—both landmarks enshrined in the +memories of the few surviving Pioneers over the Oregon Trail. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap00b"></a></p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P5"></a>5}</span> +</p> + +<h2> +FOREWORD +</h2> + +<p class="t2"> +EZRA MEEKER, THE AUTHOR +</p> + +<p class="t3"> + A LIFE SPAN OF MORE THAN NINETY-FIVE YEARS FROM THE<br> + ADMINISTRATION OF ANDREW JACKSON TO THE<br> + PRESIDENCY OF CALVIN COOLIDGE<br> +</p> + +<p class="t3"> +By ROBERT BRUCE +</p> + +<p> +Ezra Meeker was born December 29, 1830, about ten +miles east of Hamilton, Butler County, Ohio, while +Andrew Jackson was President of the United States, John +C. Calhoun, Vice President, and Martin Van Buren, +Secretary of State. There had been only six +Presidents—Washington, John Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe +and John Quincy Adams; and the last three were still +living. Considerable numbers could remember listening +to the Declaration of Independence at Philadelphia or +elsewhere; a trifle less than half a century had elapsed +since the decisive victory at Yorktown, and survivors +among men who served in the armies of the Revolution +were younger than the average of Civil War veterans in +1926. +</p> + +<p> +Although we are accustomed to think, read and speak +of the Oregon Trail as "old," the route to which that +name has since been given did not come into existence +until several years after Mr. Meeker was born. So the +shadow thrown upon the screen of time by the living +figure of this remarkable man is longer than we may +say figuratively is cast by the highway itself; and while +the latter has been gradually passing into the background +of history and romance, he is still carrying forward with +singleness of purpose and unabated energy what will +probably be left to posterity as the most important work of +his whole busy life. +</p> + +<p> +Prior to 1830, neither the people east of the Mississippi +nor the Government at Washington had adequate +conceptions of the geographical, political or future +commercial importance of the Pacific Northwest; and the +wonderful developments there in the last seven decades +have grown out of the overland migration of the 40s and +50s, or at least owe much to it, historically and practically. +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P6"></a>6}</span> +</p> + +<p> +A most appropriate symbol of the "Course of Empire" +from the valleys of the Mississippi and Missouri to the +Columbia River and Puget Sound country would be +a miniature wagon—sometimes idealized as a "prairie +schooner"—carrying many thousands of home seekers into +what now comprises all of Oregon, Washington and +Idaho, with contiguous parts of Wyoming and Montana. +Except for that great human movement, of which the +author of this Romance is the only survivor among the +men who went over the Trail with their own outfits in +1852, that region would have continued primarily a +fur-hunting territory for many years later than was actually +the case, and then in all probability have become a part +of the British Dominions in America. +</p> + +<p> +As a youth, Ezra Meeker saw recruits somewhat older +than himself leave for the Mexican War; he was intensely +interested in reports about the far-away and then +almost legendary Oregon Country before there was any +established travel to it, and heard echoes of the discovery +of gold in California—though he was not, as frequently +stated, a "Forty-Niner." Accounts of opening the Panama +Railroad in 1855, with its considerable effect upon the +subsequent emigration to the Pacific Coast, and of the +Crimean War, reached the family cabin built with his own +hands in "Old" Oregon. Mr. Meeker is now the only one +left from the adults residing in Washington Territory +when it was created in 1853. +</p> + +<p> +For more than fifty years he was a farmer and hop +grower in the Puget Sound region, meanwhile spending +four winters introducing hops from Washington and +Oregon in the European market; and was also at one time a +prospector and miner in the Yukon. Within the span of +his life the population of the United States has increased +from less than Thirteen Millions, then living mostly along +the Atlantic seaboard, to about a Hundred and Fifteen +Millions occupying the whole country to the western +ocean. So far as we have been able to ascertain, +Mr. Meeker is the only person who ever undertook an +important work of fiction in his 95th year; and this has been +done to revive and preserve the experiences and memories +of his youth, in connection with the efforts of two decades +to mark the Trail and honor the Pioneers. +</p> + +<p><br><br></p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P7"></a>7}</span> +</p> + +<p class="t3"> +PREFACE +</p> + +<p> +Having thrice crossed the Oregon Trail by +ox-team, first during the year 1852 accompanied by a +courageous young wife, the second and third times +during the years 1906-10, erecting monuments to +mark the Trail and perpetuate the memory of the +pioneers who traversed it, again in an automobile in +1915, and finally over 1,300 miles of it in an +aeroplane in October, 1924, presumably none will +question that the author can write from his own +experiences. +</p> + +<p> +One hundred and seventy-one granite monuments +have already been erected on or near-by the general +route of the Oregon Trail, along which twenty +thousand died. An effort is now being made to portray +the scenes and experiences of these pioneers in +moving pictures with fidelity to historical accuracy, that +present and future generations may know what +happened in the winning of the great Farther West. +</p> + +<p> +The names of the actors in this romance are +fictitious; but the characters are as the writer knew +them. The incidents are based on occurrences in real +pioneer life, many of which the author saw, some +of which he experienced, and all he knows to be in +accordance with the truth. +</p> + +<p> +[Signature of Ezra Meeker] +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +New York City, January 1926. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P8"></a>8}</span> +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="capcenter quote"> +<a id="img-008"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-008.jpg" alt="Condensed map of the National Road and Oregon Trail, the first transcontinental route, which did more than any other to "bind the nation together in a common brotherhood, and thus perpetuate and preserve the Union." The journeys described in this volume were made over these two great lines of travel."> +<br> +Condensed map of the National Road and Oregon Trail, the first transcontinental route, which did more than <br> +any other to "bind the nation together in a common brotherhood, and thus perpetuate and preserve the Union." <br> +The journeys described in this volume were made over these two great lines of travel. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap01"></a></p> + +<h2> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P9"></a>9}</span> +</h2> + +<h2> +CHAPTER I +</h2> + +<p class="t3"> + EARLY LIFE IN MISSOURI; A FAREWELL PARTY;<br> + KATE'S SUITORS +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p> +Kate Mulhall was just twenty when her +father crossed the Missouri River and the +Great Plains on their way to the "Oregon +Country." Prior to the day of their departure for +that far-away region of mystery and romance, she +had never been outside the restricted neighborhood +where she was born—in La Fayette County, Missouri, +whose every third inhabitant was a slave; had never +seen a railroad, and until a short time before, not +even a cook-stove. All of her life had been in a real +pioneer environment; but she grew up strong, hearty +and self-reliant upon the plain and wholesome food, +the pure air and active outdoor life of what was then +the frontier. +</p> + +<p> +She was of the brunette type, with dark hair and +lustrous eyes that fairly sparkled with the delight +of being interested in the fields and flowers, grand +old woods full of wild life, birds, animals and +everything about the home or farm. Of more than the +average height, her movement was lithe and free; her +form an excellent subject for an artist's brush. +Outdoor life appealed to her nature, and she took a +joyful satisfaction in all of its activities. +</p> + +<p> +Kate was an expert horsewoman and a crack shot +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P10"></a>10}</span> +with the rifle, often picking a wild turkey off the +lower limb of a forest tree at one or two hundred +yards. In addition to that splendid game bird, +timorous water-fowl were abundant on the rivers and +in ponds; deer, grouse and pheasants in the wood and +brakes; rabbits and squirrels almost everywhere; and +the "razor-back" hog, wild and ferocious, roamed +the forests and dense thickets of Missouri in those +pioneer days. Many a litter of pigs, sprung from +domesticated ancestors, lived by digging out edible +roots under the surface, or hunted beneath the heavy +fall of autumnal leaves for the more nutritious +acorns, beechnuts and walnuts. +</p> + +<p> +The constant search for food developed an +independent life which soon relapsed into the state of +nature; so wild hogs became, like the deer and turkey, +common property for the hunter's rifle. From these +various kinds of game Kate kept the Mulhall family +table well supplied with substantial and seasonable +food. Missouri also harbored among its inhabitants +not a few wild men, contact with whom sometimes +involved taking desperate chances. +</p> + +<p> +David Mulhall, Kate's father, was a typical +non-slaveholding farmer of that period in Missouri—honest +but not "progressive" in the present general +understanding of that word. He was intensely +prejudiced against the negroes, but bitterly opposed +to the institution of slavery. Because of these +well-known views, he was regarded with suspicion by a +majority of his slaveholding neighbors; and, in fact, +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P11"></a>11}</span> +looked down upon as belonging to the "poor white +trash" of the South who worked with their hands. +</p> + +<p> +Many others like him migrated from Missouri because +of their hatred of slavery, though usually carrying +with them a prejudice against the black man. +Others left that region for "free territory" because of +the bitter class prejudice existing between those who +owned negroes and those who did not; and the latter +particularly to save their children from the necessity +of competing with slave labor. +</p> + +<p> +Mulhall was by nature and training an easy-going +person, who believed in "letting well enough alone"; +and was, therefore, averse to going out upon a world +of uncertainties, or taking unnecessary chances for +bettering his condition. He was born before the +advent of railroads in the United States, when oxen +supplied the principal means of transportation, and +"hog and hominy" comprised the basic food supply +for a majority of the people. +</p> + +<p> +The sickle cut his grain, which was thrashed by +the flail; and the wind separated it from the chaff. +Boiled wheat frequently took the place of white +bread, as it was a long distance to a mill and usually +a tiresome wait for the "turn" to have the grist +ground; hominy was often substituted for johnny-cake +or corn pone when the meal was all gone. It is +difficult for a generation accustomed to an abundance +of every kind of food, including luxuries, to +realize how the American farmer lived in the early +part of the nineteenth century. +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P12"></a>12}</span> +</p> + +<p> +A rather large one-room cabin was the home of the +Mulhalls—with a loft overhead, the fireplace in one +end and the bedroom, curtained off for the parents, +in the other. Kate's room was in the loft with the +younger children—all girls—reached only by a ladder +fastened to the wall; the patter of rain on the roof +often lulled the youngsters to sleep, whether they +willed it or not. +</p> + +<p> +Kate was not one of those who constantly chafe +for things they cannot have and lament over their +fate. She was too healthy in mind and body to give +way to discontent—was satisfied with her lot, and +proud of the class to which she belonged. Nor would +she willingly exchange places with anyone who lived +in idleness and comparative affluence upon the +involuntary labor of fellow mortals of a different color. +</p> + +<p> +Fine qualities of head and heart combined with +an exceptionally attractive personality to make her +very popular with the young men of marriageable +age and inclinations in all the country around. Nor +were all of her admirers of her own circle; at least +one belonged to those prone to consider themselves +superior to white families who owned no servants. +But at the time this story begins, Kate had no +serious intention of taking any step that would abridge +her personal freedom; there was plenty of time for +that. +</p> + +<p> +But whenever there were any "doings" in the +neighborhood—dances, spelling bees, sociables or +camp-meetings—she was sure to be on hand, and +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P13"></a>13}</span> +never lacked for an escort home. Sometimes it +would be Ben Hardy, at other times James Price or +one of the Shaeffer boys. She had never gone +anywhere with Isaac Pelton, although she always treated +him in a friendly way at such places, and actually +admired him more than any of the other young men +of her acquaintance. +</p> + +<p> +He was a fine looking young man, sensible and +well-behaved; but when the thought that he belonged +to the slave-holding class—most of whom either +sneered at her kind of people, or acted patronizingly +towards them—came vividly into her mind she said +to herself, in effect, "Banish the thought! Never +will I come to terms of intimacy with one of those +would-be aristocrats, however nice he may be personally." +</p> + +<p> +Isaac was really a victim of circumstances. Born +of a slaveholding family, he had a good education +and bore himself like a gentleman, never assuming +any airs of superiority over his neighbors, whatever +their station in life. As a matter of fact, he +deplored the conditions that separated him from those +with whom he felt he had more in common than +with his own people. There were many like him in +those days. +</p> + +<p> +Standing six feet in his stockings, he was erect +in bearing and rather slender in frame, though no +weakling when it came to physical prowess; "of +stature tall and slender frame, but firmly knit" would +apply to Isaac Pelton. His hair was brown and his +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P14"></a>14}</span> +eyes grey, indicating mental alertness; a slightly +prominent chin and firm-set lips stamped him as one +not easily swayed from his course. +</p> + +<p> +At a neighborhood gathering just prior to the +beginning of this story, Isaac noticed that Kate had no +escort; so, availing himself of a favorable opportunity, +he approached her and in a very gentlemanly +way offered to see her home. It was the first time +Pelton had ever done anything of the kind; Kate +seemed embarrassed for a moment, and blushed perceptibly. +</p> + +<p> +If only her feelings were to guide her actions, +she would have cheerfully accepted the offer, for she +really liked Isaac and admired his many good qualities; +but again that class barrier arose in her mind, +and she courteously declined. He knew it would be +useless to try to press his suit further just then; so +retired, defeated for the moment but not discouraged. +</p> + +<p> +Pelton had been studying Kate for quite a while, +and as time went on, the more interested he became; +her sterling qualities appeared to greater advantage +every time he had an opportunity to observe her. +He felt that she was the one woman he could love and +cherish throughout his life; and no matter how great +the obstacles in his path, he would win her. +</p> + +<p> +Notwithstanding the rebuff, he felt sure that she +had no personal objection to him, but was actuated +by what she deemed a principle. Were he not the +owner of human chattels, he believed his advances +would have been more favorably received; that +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P15"></a>15}</span> +barrier must somehow or other be removed before he +could hope to be successful. He was right, but that +was a wakeful night for Kate. The more she thought +about it the worse she felt; she regretted wounding +Pelton's feelings, but it would have strained her +principles to have accepted his offer. +</p> + +<p> +As she lay awake pondering over recent events, +Kate began to realize that Pelton was more to her +than she had imagined; and remembered the many +small courtesies extended by him when they met at +the frequent neighborhood gatherings. Both were +fond of flowers, and she now recalled the many new +bouquets slipped into her hand with a list of their +names and classifications. She remembered, too, that +unlike so many of the neighborhood boys Isaac always +had something sensible to say, and was an attentive +listener; that at times he seemed reserved, almost +timid, in her presence. +</p> + +<p> +An almost forgotten incident of two or three years +before now came vividly to her mind; how when the +matter came to his attention, Pelton hunted up and +soundly thrashed a ruffian who had used insulting +language to her. These and other incidents helped to +banish sleep. As her mind was absorbed with +thoughts relating to Isaac, in a dreamy sort of way +Kate began to realize for the first time in her life +that a strange feeling of more than friendship, +admiration or simply respect possessed her. She loved +Pelton in spite of herself. +</p> + +<p> +Then the hateful words "slave" and "slaveholder" +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P16"></a>16}</span> +stole into her mind to break the reverie, causing her +to again exclaim half aloud to herself, "Banish the +thought!" The present generation can scarcely +realize the virulence and intensity of the feeling +generally held by the slaveholding class against anyone +who condemned that system. Kate was well aware of +this, and naturally inferred that Pelton was imbued +with the same sentiments. +</p> + +<p> +Her attitude was due to some definite facts within +her personal observation or knowledge, of which a +single instance will suffice here. One James Smith, +of Pike County, had recently published in a local +paper the following advertisement: "For Sale: six +yoke of oxen; two nigger wenches; four buck niggers; +three nigger boys, one barrel pickled cabbage +and various other articles of merchandise," stating +as his reason for selling, "I'm g'wine to Californy." This +gave assurance that the sale was genuine and +conveyed the intimation that bargains in slaves might +be picked up there. +</p> + +<p> +After Kate had recovered somewhat from the excitement +incident to refusing Pelton's offer to accompany +her home, the mother reminded her that Isaac +did work with his own hands and was shunned by +many of his class because of it. "But, mother," she +replied, "you know I have no thought of marrying +anyway!" Nevertheless she could not help being +vexed for allowing herself to be influenced by such +a prejudice. +</p> + +<p> +Kate had known Pelton, or rather of him, almost +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P17"></a>17}</span> +her whole life, having often seen him at the meeting-house +and upon other public occasions. She was conscious +of some admiration for him; but had no +thought of betraying her secret by act or manner, +although she may unconsciously have done so. One +thing Kate was sure of—she never would place herself +in a position for others to look patronizingly +upon her; nor would she ever become the wife of a +man who held slaves. Perhaps Kate had never +thought about this as a rule of life; it was an +expression of her nature. +</p> + +<p> +According to common gossip in the neighborhood, +she had two or three suitors, but there was nothing +to warrant such an assumption. James Price had +been known to spend a Sunday evening or two at +the Mulhall cabin, and Ben Hardy had twice gone +home with Kate from singing school. Coming to +Kate's ears, this gossip annoyed her. "Couldn't a +body be civil without being talked about?" she asked +herself. Then her mother would say, "Well, what's +the difference? Some people do get married, you +know, and there's no harm in talking about it. +Father and I were married once upon a time, and it +didn't hurt us even if people did talk." +</p> + +<p> +Kate couldn't fathom what was running in her +mother's mind, for she had said time and again that +she was not going to marry and leave home. But +when alone, she was troubled by the thought that she +did feel just a little jealous when she heard that +Isaac Pelton had gone home with Linda Shaeffer two +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P18"></a>18}</span> +Sundays ago, and that James Price had also paid +attentions to her. +</p> + +<p> +"Fudge," she said to herself, "what's the matter +with me?" and pinched her arm until it hurt for having +such a thought. She should really be glad of it, +for Linda was her friend. But, in spite of her effort +to banish it, the idea would come back when thinking +of Pelton as Linda's beau. +</p> + +<p> +James Price was of a good family, but several +years older than either of the girls; in fact, as thought +in those days, bordering on bachelordom. He was +of good address, but not ambitious to make his mark +in the world, aside from mingling with the petty +politicians of the county; and might have passed for one +of them. Price called twice at the Mulhall cabin +and stayed unusually late; there was nothing to +indicate that he had come to "see" Kate, but the sharp +eyes of the mother easily detected the object of his +visit, and later she told Kate so. +</p> + +<p> +The Hardys lived on a rented farm not far from +the Mulhalls and they had been neighbors for several +years. Kate and Ben attended school together, had +pulled on the long grapevine in the tug-of-war on +the same team or on opposite sides; had been to +candy pullings in the sugar making season, and +twice were the last "spelled down" as captains of the +two opposing camps of spellers. But that they were +old enough to marry seemingly never occurred to +either of them. +</p> + +<p> +Ben was the opposite of Kate in complexion, figure +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P19"></a>19}</span> +and general appearance. While Kate was very dark, +Ben was fair—almost pale—with deep blue eyes; +Kate's eyes were almost coal black and her face was +full, while Ben's was spare. Ben stuttered just a +little, but enough to be noticed and occasionally to +amuse those with whom he was not well acquainted. +Ira Hardy, Ben's father, was not thrifty in worldly +matters. Some would say he was shiftless or indolent; +whatever the cause, the elder Hardy suffered +by the imputation, and his son Ben with him. +</p> + +<p> +One day Kate came home from a visit to her Uncle +Tim's with the news that he was going to Oregon. +Her cousin Jacob had written of mountains miles +high where you could see snow all summer, and yet +it would be warm in the valley; and the grass +remained green all winter. Potatoes were selling +there for three dollars a bushel, eggs sixty cents a +dozen and butter for seventy-five cents a pound; +daisies bloomed in December and apple trees would +bear in three years from the graft. Jacob also wrote +that there were no wild turkeys or bees in all that +region; if his father could bring a swarm of honey +bees he would be able to sell them for a thousand +dollars spot cash. He added a statement about there +being no slavery in Oregon. +</p> + +<p> +What most impressed father Mulhall was the report +of no slavery there, and that the grass remained +green all winter. They all knew that what Jake +wrote would be found true; but he had neglected to +describe the difficulties of a trip to Oregon—the +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P20"></a>20}</span> +danger, fatigue, intolerable dust, alkali water and a +thousand other things which would not fit into such +a fine picture. +</p> + +<p> +"I tell you, Catherine, if you will agree to it and +Kate will go along, I've a notion to go to Oregon this +very next year." "But what will you do with the +farm?" the good wife inquired by way of response. +"What's the use of a farm if we can't make any +money on it? Sam Kemper sold nearly a full steam-boat +load of hogs for a hundred dollars, and just went +off leaving his farm to be sold for taxes." "I'm in +favor of going, and that's all I have to say," was +Kate's comment as she climbed the ladder to the +loft. +</p> + +<p> +That night again Kate was wakeful; try as best +she could to sleep, her eyes would remain open. +Gradually the vision of Oregon faded from her mind, +but that jealous thought of Linda would not down. +Nevertheless, what was Isaac Pelton to her? Didn't +she scorn the very thought; and hadn't she erected +a lasting barrier between them? +</p> + +<p> +It soon became known that Squire Mulhall was +going to Oregon the next spring, and an unexpected +buyer came for the farm; it went at a low price, but +that was better than leaving it to be eaten up with +taxes. Preparations now began in earnest for the +great journey. +</p> + +<p> +Kate wanted the mare Nell to ride, and when she +thought about the side-saddle, remarked to her +mother, "I'm going to have a saddle I can ride with +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P21"></a>21}</span> +comfort and safety, and they may say what they +please. You and the children must have Dick and +Ned and a carriage like Sam McCoy's," Kate +continued; "they'll take you through all right." +</p> + +<p> +Squire Mulhall was a quiet man, of few words and +meant whatever he said. He did not hesitate to +condemn slavery, though not from the housetop; but +would not conceal his real sentiments, thereby +incurring the displeasure of his neighboring slaveholders +without forfeiting their respect. Some other +subjects, one of which was the use of whisky—upon +which he held positive opinions—developed real +enemies; he said as little as possible about them, and +went the even tenor of his way. +</p> + +<p> +That was before the time of temperance societies +or of saloons as known in later days, when the +school-master, or even the parson, would take a "wee +drop"—sometimes more. Whisky, obtainable in almost all +retail stores at twenty-five cents or less a gallon, was +usually in evidence at social gatherings and often +in the harvest fields. +</p> + +<p> +"Catherine"—-the Squire speaking to his wife—"I've +a notion to invite in the neighbors before we +go, and include all. Maybe some won't come, but I +want them to know I bear no ill will to any of them; +what do you say?" +</p> + +<p> +"Such a crowd—you wouldn't know what to do +with them," was Catherine's cautious response. +</p> + +<p> +Kate suggested, "Send them to the barn and let +them dance on the thrashing floor." +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P22"></a>22}</span> +</p> + +<p> +"That's the thing," continued Mulhall, "the +women folks put off their extra duds in the cabin, +and the men go to the barn—plenty of room there." +</p> + +<p> +"Anything to please you and Kate; I'll do the best +I can, but you're undertaking a big job," Catherine +said. +</p> + +<p> +And so plans were laid for a farewell party during +the months before the start was to be made for Oregon. +</p> + +<p> +"Let me see," asked the Squire, "how will we go +about inviting 'em; post up notices, would you say?" +</p> + +<p> +"You wouldn't want that man Tracer, who treated +you so last year and said so many mean things, +would you?" inquired Kate. +</p> + +<p> +"Why not? It didn't hurt me a bit; it did him. +Let 'em all come and wipe the slate clean," Mulhall +responded. +</p> + +<p> +"It would be better to write the invitations and +send them around," Kate said. +</p> + +<p> +"Well, well, have your way," answered the Squire, +"but I'd like to invite everybody." +</p> + +<p> +"How'd you expect to light the barn? Candles +would blow out or run down so fast they wouldn't last +long," Catherine asked without receiving an answer. +</p> + +<p> +Next morning Kate went over to see Ben Hardy—called +"Bennie" by everybody—to ask his help in +making ready for the party. Although just past +nineteen, Ben hardly looked like a grown-up. As a +boy he had been a regular "towhead," and his hair +hadn't darkened much yet which, with a light +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P23"></a>23}</span> +complexion, made him look very young for his age. Kate +and Ben had always been good schoolmate friends, +and she thought no more of asking a favor of him +than she would of a younger brother old enough to +help her. +</p> + +<p> +"I golly, you bet I'll help you," Ben said; and at +once the two began the planning. +</p> + +<p> +Squire Mulhall's barn was large, with a capacious +thrashing floor between the two mows, one for grain +and the other for hay. A wide door on either side +opened the way for a team to drive in one way and +out the other. +</p> + +<p> +"I've got it," Ben exclaimed after talking about +how to light the barn; "we'll take two or three barrels, +knock out the ends, fill them with dirt and stick +torches in the dirt. You just leave it to me, Kate, +and I'll make that barn floor so light you can see to +read. Besides," he added, "it's full moon that +night." +</p> + +<p> +Any reader who may have had the experience of +cutting down a "coon tree" by the light of a hickory +bark torch will readily understand the origin of +Ben's idea. Coons were plentiful in the Missouri +bottom lands; a story is told that during the Civil +War some people were compelled to adopt a diet of +elm bark fried in coon grease as a substitute for +bread and butter. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile Squire Mulhall was busy cleaning up +things about the barn, fixing a long table where the +women folks could put their knickknacks, and bought +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P24"></a>24}</span> +a half dozen tin cups, which he said would be enough +to go around with the "gourds" they had. These +were to be placed by the cider barrel that would stand +just outside the barn where all could help themselves. +</p> + +<p> +Mulhall rode over to see if Pelton would let Andrew +come and play for the dancers, and Jennie help +Catherine in the house; and added, "Of course they +can bring Margie along." Pelton had already +received an invitation from Kate, and wondered if it +was written in her own hand; it was real neat and +Ben Hardy had delivered it. Pelton didn't dream +of being jealous of Ben, thinking of him as a mere +boy, not realizing there was but a year's difference in +age between Ben and Kate. +</p> + +<p> +"Why, yes," Pelton said, "you can call on me to +help in any way I can; and I will bring over a barrel +of cider." +</p> + +<p> +Mulhall said he had already provided for a barrel, +but Pelton thought one wouldn't be enough and +said he would bring another. One of the neighbors +provided a bushel of hickory nuts; another some +walnuts, and the like. Still another, not to be +outdone, brought a good supply of leaf tobacco he had +raised, and a great number of cob pipes; many +women smoked in that day.[<a id="chap01fn1text"></a><a href="#chap01fn1">1</a>] +</p> + +<p> +Mother Hardy said it would never do to leave +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P25"></a>25}</span> +Catherine all the work of providing for so large a +crowd, and the other women thought the same; so +word came to her not to bother about the table at the +barn, for they would bring their own dishes and +enough of everything all the people could eat. The +fact was, when the word passed around that Squire +Mulhall was going to give a farewell party, with +everybody invited, class prejudice broke down. Or +at least it was suspended; apparently everyone was +pleased, and ready to join to make it a great success. +</p> + +<p> +A few days before the party, a man rode up to +the door of the Mulhall cabin. +</p> + +<p> +"Won't you come in?" was the Squire's greeting. +Without seeming to notice the invitation, the +stranger asked, "Is this Squire Mulhall?" +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, won't you come in?" was the renewed invitation. +</p> + +<p> +"I jest come to tell ye," the stranger continued, "I +live down in Jackson Township where that feller last +year came and talked so mean about ye. We believed +him and talked about as mean as he did; but +it was all a lie. So we got together yesterday and +signed this paper to let you know afore you go to +Oregon that we now know it was all a lie, and don't +want you to hold anything against us. If ye will +let us, we want to bring up a nice fat critter and +barbecue it for your friends; ye needn't turn yer +hand over to pay a cent, and we will bring a lot +of things to go with it." +</p> + +<p> +The man's manner was proof of his sincerity. +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P26"></a>26}</span> +After the Squire had assured him that he and his +friends would be welcome without bringing +anything, but that they might bring whatever they +wanted to, the stranger rode off without going into +the cabin. +</p> + +<p> +Hearing what had been said, Kate came near, +threw her arms around her father's neck and kissed +him for teaching her by this example to be kind to +one's enemies. She kissed him again and again, +while her tears wetted his cheek as well as her own, +saying "I shall never forget it"; and she never did. +</p> + +<p> +At last the day of the party arrived and with it, +true to promise, a large delegation of men and women +from Jackson Township, with two wagon-loads of +lumber and the "critter"—a fine fat beef—in another +wagon to be barbecued. In an incredibly short time +the lumber was unloaded and a dozen willing hands +were laying a floor just outside the barn for dancing, +while some were erecting tables and others digging +a pit for the barbecue. +</p> + +<p> +This is no overdrawn picture; the pioneers were +accustomed to do for themselves, and not stand by +to be waited on. Thereby hangs a big story of +pioneer life, full of self-reliance and independence, +the simple life that developed manhood and joy in +the household and on the farm. +</p> + +<p> +For the time being, Ben's usual occupation was +gone; the older men fairly drove him away, and +told him to be ready to take part in the dance. The +women in the cabin did the same for Kate, who +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P27"></a>27}</span> +then started up the ladder to dress for the great +occasion. +</p> + +<p> +Andrew and Stinson's colored man Sam often +spent happy hours singing and playing together; and +Sam was asked to come along with his banjo. When +the music began every elderly dame remembered her +younger days; soon the cabin was full of dancers as +in the long ago, and the songs were of the kind that +bring rapturous joy. Nothing moves the emotions +more than the pathetic melody in the old folklore +songs of the negro race; in this case the souls of the +two experts were in the music. +</p> + +<hr> + +<p class="capcenter quote"> +<a id="img-027"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-027.jpg" alt="FAREWELL PARTY AT THE MULHALL HOMESTEAD IN MISSOURI, BEFORE LEAVING FOR THE OREGON COUNTRY, AS DESCRIBED ON THE OPPOSITE PAGE."> +<br> +FAREWELL PARTY AT THE MULHALL HOMESTEAD IN MISSOURI, BEFORE LEAVING FOR THE OREGON <br> +COUNTRY, AS DESCRIBED ON THE OPPOSITE PAGE. +</p> + +<hr> + +<p> +The visitors from Jackson Township had also +brought fiddlers; dancing was going on in the barn +and on the improvised floor near-by, as well as in the +cabin. For hours the tables were full of happy +partakers of the barbecue and the abundant viands with +which they were loaded. +</p> + +<p> +Ben and Kate had planned to have their first dance +of the evening together; so when James Price asked +her for it, she told him that he should have the next. +Ben was on hand for the engagement, and from that +moment Price was jealous of him; as the evening +wore on Ben and Kate again danced together, and +then Price was sure he had a rival. Finally Pelton +offered and was accepted; to Kate's own surprise she +was dancing with a slaveholder, but justified herself +by Squire Mulhall's lesson of forgiveness, though +somehow there was more to it than she could explain +to herself. +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P28"></a>28}</span> +</p> + +<p> +Probably disturbed by the noise and unusual light, +the cock crowed at midnight, but nobody paid any +attention to it. At near daybreak the elderly folk +began to leave; but the younger ones said they +wouldn't go home till morning, and didn't. By +daylight the hay mow was full of sleeping men, Andrew +and Sam were on their way home nodding, and the +Jackson Township folks were loading their wagons; +the big event passed into history, but the memory +of it remained for many years. +</p> + +<p> +During the night word came to the cabin that +some of the men were acting in an unseemly manner. +Catherine said to herself she'd bet the grocer had +slipped some whisky into the barrel of cider he sent; +in fact, was sure of it, as what she had tasted seemed +unusually strong. Going out to the barn and biding +her time, she threw her apron over it and opened +the faucet; the barrel was soon empty, and what +had been left soaked the ground. +</p> + +<p> +Kate and her father were the last to leave the +barn. A bright shining sun spread over the scene; +the symphony of song birds so dear to Kate's ears +had nearly ceased, and the dew on the grass was +fast disappearing, though some of it still glistened +in the bright sunshine. Nell, the favorite mare, +whinnied to remind the Squire that she missed the +usual early breakfast; Brindle and Star, though +quietly and contentedly chewing their cuds, looked +wistfully at Kate for her deft hands to relieve their +full udders of milk. +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P29"></a>29}</span> +</p> + +<p> +After attending to the wants of Nell and Ned, the +Squire hurried to the cabin where Catherine, who +had returned some time before from the night's +activities, lay in peaceful slumber. Kate soon finished +her task, and as usual took the milk to the cabin. +The cock of the yard had ceased to crow, and silence +reigned over the scene so recently one of boisterous +joviality. +</p> + +<p> +Throwing herself upon the bed without undressing, +face resting upon her arm, Kate's mind was full +of visions as well as of serious thoughts, particularly +of the night just ended. The memory of Pelton's +breath upon her cheek as they participated in the +dance became uppermost in her thoughts; in spite of +herself, tears mingling joy, despair and contrition +came involuntarily and wet the pillow. +</p> + +<p> +After what seemed to be hours in this mood, Kate +fell into a troubled sleep which lasted until long +after midday, when she was awakened by the gentle +touch of her mother's hand accompanied by words +of affection. "Don't you think you had better have a +bite? It's long after dinner hour; father is up and +it would be nice to eat together." +</p> + +<p> +Catherine had arisen a little after the usual hour, +and given the children their breakfast, followed by +permission for them to visit the children of a neighbor +for the day, that the sleepers in the cabin might +not be disturbed. Mulhall arose with a slight +headache, which he couldn't account for, unless it was +drinking a little too much "cider"; Catherine kept +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P30"></a>30}</span> +her own counsel, but of course knew what was the +matter with the Squire's head. +</p> + +<p> +Other influences were at work upon Mulhall; the +excitement incident to the warm greetings of his +neighbors, and the general expression of genuine +regret that the community was about to lose so +valuable a member, had their natural reaction. The +Squire's thoughts also turned to the stern responsibilities +confronting him, and how he was qualified to +meet them. Had he fully informed himself as to +the obstacles to be encountered; was he personally +fitted to safely make the long trip and not endanger +the lives of his family? +</p> + +<p> +In a word, Mulhall awoke in a mood of anxiety, +dissatisfied with himself and in fact with a stroke +of the blues, so often fatal to true happiness. The +dinner passed moodily; the Squire had nothing to +say, and Kate very little. Strive as best she might, +Catherine could not arouse the usual cheerfulness, +and gave up in despair. +</p> + +<p> +We think of discontent as synonymous with pessimism, +unhappiness, misery and many other ills of +life; on the other hand it leads to enterprise, +boldness and progress. Had the pioneers been content +with their lot, they would never have crossed the +Missouri River; there might have been no long +western trails, and the Oregon Country would probably +not have been secured to the American Government. +Civilization itself rests upon the spirit of adventurous +discontent; so when Squire Mulhall arose from +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P31"></a>31}</span> +the table in that frame of mind, he simply followed +in the footsteps of many others, realizing, however, +that he had not taken care to acquaint himself +definitely with what lay ahead of them on the proposed +trip. +</p> + +<p> +One day Pelton rode up in front of the cabin, +hitched his horse and came to the door. Kate, not +knowing who was there, went to answer the call. +</p> + +<p> +"Is the Squire at home?" inquired the visitor. +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, he is at the barn," was her reply, as she invited +him in while the little sister ran to call father. +Pelton disarmed all embarrassment by at once making +inquiries about Oregon; and Kate could hardly +do otherwise than to take a seat beside him to +answer his questions—and more too—about Oregon and +the proposed trip. +</p> + +<p> +Bess returned to say that, "Father will be in as +soon as he puts the team away." Neither Kate nor +Pelton showed any signs of impatience at being left +alone; she enjoyed talking about Oregon as much +as he liked to hear her, and so they forgot everything +except the topic of the great trip. +</p> + +<p> +Stamping his feet repeatedly to shake off the mud +and partially clean his boots, father Mulhall's +presence was announced; and at once in true pioneer +spirit, he asked Isaac to have his horse put up and +stay to supper. Preparations for a frugal repast +were well under way when Pelton arrived; but it +would never do, the mother said, to sit a neighbor +caller to such a picked-up meal. So while the two +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P32"></a>32}</span> +men went to the barn to care for the horses, Kate +and her mother took counsel together. +</p> + +<p> +Only a few days before she had picked off a young +turkey with her father's rifle; but the mother said +the "leavings would at best make a mussed-up meal." Just +at dusk Kate went off to the barn for a chicken; +she had no trouble securing a desirable fowl and +quickly returned to the house. They had plenty of +"sassafras" bark for tea, and a small portion of last +spring's run of maple sugar. +</p> + +<p> +One of the neighbors had found a bee tree and +brought over a dish of honey that the mother had +saved for special occasions. Thirty years before, +Daniel Boone discovered bee trees lower down the +river; but the dry plain and lack of timber had +served as a barrier to invasions farther west extending, +as we have seen by Jake's letter, to the Oregon +Country—and as we later know, to the whole of the +Pacific coast. +</p> + +<p> +The children had an early supper and were out of +the way, leaving only the four people to partake of +the meal and join in the conversation, most of which +was naturally about the proposed journey. During +the evening it developed that Pelton knew more about +the Oregon Country than the Mulhalls; so Kate +couldn't help but surmise that his early inquiry about +Oregon thinly veiled the real object of his visit. +</p> + +<p> +She was puzzled to know how anyone of spirit +could come back after the rebuff she had administered +to him; but could not help acknowledging to +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P33"></a>33}</span> +herself that she had really enjoyed the visit, and +wondered if she had in any way revealed her inmost +feelings. Long before bedtime she climbed the ladder +to the loft determined not to "make a fool of +myself"; but as before, she couldn't go to sleep until +long after their visitor had left. +</p> + +<p> +As Pelton rode home from the Mulhalls, he berated +himself for not carrying out the design that +prompted the visit, and let Kate know that he +intended to free his slaves; then his pride would again +rise up to justify hesitation. Would Kate assume +that this resolution was either a subterfuge, or +simply to win her hand? Could she respect a man who +would sacrifice a principle, as Kate would assume +that all slaveholders believed that slavery was right? +No, he must convince her by deed to prove the +sincerity of his purpose, not by words of promise +actuated by the motive to gain favor in her sight. +</p> + +<p> +Then came the question, could he free all of them? +Margie was a minor and if "free" could, under the +laws of Missouri, be taken before the County Court +and bound out to servile employment until of legal +age; this was virtual slavery, and it would +unquestionably be done upon motion by some one of the +slaveholding class who might make application to the +court to enforce the law. The secret "Blue Lodges"—night +riders in fact—law or no law, in conjunction +with other organizations of similar aim, virtually +ruled the State. When Pelton arrived home and in +accordance with life-long custom called Andrew, in +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P34"></a>34}</span> +a fit of absent-mindedness he told him to take care +of "Kate" instead of naming his saddle horse, "med." +</p> + +<p> +"Massa, what's you mean?" asked the servant. +</p> + +<p> +"Oh, I mean Ned, of course," was Pelton's reply. +</p> + +<p> +Andrew chuckled to himself and told Jennie he'd +bet Massa had been off to see Kate Mulhall, bringing +a response that she hoped he might "ketch her." Pelton +was vexed at himself, but now recalling the +slip of the tongue, awoke to the consciousness of +how completely the one name had taken possession +of his mind. He did not know that another was +awake in the Mulhall cabin loft revolving his own +name in her mind. +</p> + +<p> +The spark of hope to win Kate's hand was almost +extinguished; yet he felt sure that only the slavery +question prevented the successful prosecution of his +suit. Pelton thought he knew, and actually did +know, her real feeling toward him, while Kate +imagined that she might have given some manifestation +during Pelton's visit—a possible unguarded +word, a tone of the voice that spoke louder than +words, or an expression of the eye that revealed her +secret. All these haunted her wakeful hours, and +followed into the dreams of restless slumber. +</p> + +<p> +Who can fathom the essence of pure love, that +flows from the heart like the fragrance of the flowers +of the field, that knows no bounds, breaks all +barriers; and, if disappointed, leaves a sting in +memory through life? Such was Isaac's love of Kate. +He had known her independent character and unselfish +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P35"></a>35}</span> +devotion to her father, and last though not least, +her altruistic actions on many occasions. He was +but two years older than Kate, and in health her +equal; why should he not claim her and establish a +happy home? Then that monster slavery would +arise to dispel his dreams. +</p> + +<p> +Pelton had inherited a part of his father's estate, +including two slaves, Andrew and his wife Jennie. +Both were older than he; in fact, Jennie looked after +his clothes when he was a boy, and he thought almost +as much of her as of his own mother. Pelton +maintained his own household and "Mamma" Jennie took +scrupulous care of it. +</p> + +<p> +She had a five-year-old girl that Isaac thought the +cutest little thing he had ever seen—fat, chubby and +always in good humor; and of course Jennie thought +there never was another such a cute girl as her +Margie. Sometimes a cloud came over her face as +she thought what might happen if "Massa" died, or +got in debt and couldn't pay; but as yet little Margie +had no forebodings, and her mother was careful not +to open any way for such thoughts. +</p> + +<p> +Pelton had long contemplated setting free all three +of them; but if he did, what could Andrew do for +himself? He might apportion enough land to make +a home for them; but a black man was forbidden by +law to own land, and in fact had no protection for +property of any kind. At one time he had seriously +thought of going to Oregon himself, taking Andrew +and Jennie with him to set them free there; but +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P36"></a>36}</span> +word came that the pioneers had passed a law[<a id="chap01fn2text"></a><a href="#chap01fn2">2</a>] +forbidding negroes living in Oregon under penalty of +the whipping post, if they did not leave after due +warning. Kate, in entire ignorance of Pelton's +troubles and intentions, looked upon him as one of +the class she could never treat with forbearance. +</p> + +<p> +Up to this time Isaac had kept his own counsel as +to his plans; to let them be known would serve no +good purpose and bring upon him a storm of obloquy +and reproach from other slaveholders for endangering +their property rights. Within his recollection, +the like had been done only once in the neighborhood, +when Squire Young manumitted eleven slaves, +and finally moved away to escape continual insult +because of his act. Pelton knew, or thought he knew, +that Kate's impulsive action was because of her +intense hatred of slavery and aversion to slaveholders; +but anticipated the taunt that he had freed his +negroes as the price of winning a wife. +</p> + +<p> +He had made the fateful visit in an undecided +frame of mind—just drifting, though intending if +the opportunity occurred to make a clean breast of +his whole plan. But soon after Kate left the room, +he started for home while she lay sleepless on her bed +in the loft. Here we leave them, each with a +troubled mind, to take up another thread of the story. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a id="chap01fn1"></a> +[<a href="#chap01fn1text">1</a>] The author remembers lighting his mother's pipe with a +coal of fire nearly ninety years ago, before matches had come +into general use. +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a id="chap01fn2"></a> +[<a href="#chap01fn2text">2</a>] This law, passed by the Provisional Government in 1843, +was never enforced and soon repealed; but it served to +illustrate the intense prejudice against the black man by +pioneer settlers who nevertheless voted resolutely against making +Oregon a slave State. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap02"></a></p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P37"></a>37}</span> +</p> + +<h2> +CHAPTER II +</h2> + +<p class="hang2"> +OFF FOR OREGON; CROSSING THE MISSOURI; +ENCOUNTERING THE BUFFALO; TROUBLES WITH THE +INDIANS. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p> +Ben Hardy was employed to help break in +the team and for other necessary preparations; +also, if his father would consent, to +make the entire trip with them. Neither Ben, the +Squire nor Kate knew anything about oxen; but all +realized that they must have a team. +</p> + +<p> +A few days after the party at the Mulhall cabin, +the trio experimented in breaking in some cows to +the yoke. Kate thought Brindle and Star would +make a capital team, and at the first attempt +succeeded in getting the yoke on Star—except that she +broke away from them and circled around the yard +with her tongue out, bucking and fiercely bellowing. +Kate quickly climbed the fence in dismay, wondering +why gentle old Star should object to be yoked. +</p> + +<p> +Finally getting both cows under the yoke just +before dinner call, Kate and her father went to the +cabin while Ben started home for lunch. Kate, the +first one out after dinner, could hardly believe her +eyes. Star, yoked by them on the off side, stood on +the near side, while Brindle had changed places with +her, and was on the off side. Kate knew perfectly +well that she had been yoked up last and on the near +side. +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P38"></a>38}</span> +</p> + +<p> +In her astonishment she at first overlooked the +yoke hanging under the necks of the cows instead of +resting on top; they had turned the yoke, and as a +sailor might report such an incident—"the starboard +ox was on the larboard side, the larboard ox on the +starboard side, and the ox-yoke had left the hurricane +deck and gone below." Squire Mulhall could see +the humor of the incident, but realized a very serious +side to it, as illustrating how little they knew about +outfitting for the great journey. +</p> + +<p> +He ordered the attempt to break in a team +discontinued for the time being; and the next morning +mounted Nell and rode off, ostensibly in search +of a team, though, as he afterwards said, with a +notion to look at the country north of the Iowa line. +"But what's the use of raising corn to burn in the +stove to keep from freezing, or bacon as fuel for +racing steamboats?" While in Iowa he was asked if he +knew a man by the name of Pelton reported to live +in the county from which he had just come. +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, but what of it?" was the Squire's laconic +reply. +</p> + +<p> +"Nothing," the stranger continued, "except he has +been looking for land to settle free negroes on, and +the neighbors didn't like it." +</p> + +<p> +Now for once in his life he had something to keep +from Catherine, who had told him what she had +surmised—and in fact knew—Kate's secret, although +only through her motherly instinct to read signs often +plainer than words. Again Mulhall wavered; to tell +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P39"></a>39}</span> +Catherine what he had heard would be equivalent to +telling Kate, the apple of his eye. He could not +bear the thought of losing her; in fact had resolved +never to go to Oregon unless Kate went along. +</p> + +<p> +During the Squire's search for a trained team +(labor lost, for there were only here and there old, +slow, broken-down or ill-matched oxen), he heard of +a missionary or itinerant preacher who represented +that he had been in Oregon. Mulhall eagerly took +the track of this man and followed it for days +before overtaking him; but was well rewarded by +finding his new acquaintance a very intelligent, +well-read man with large experience in the Oregon +Country—just the one he was seeking. +</p> + +<p> +But he had already been gone a week, was nearly +a hundred and fifty miles from home, and Catherine +would soon become very uneasy about him. The +minister would probably also talk more about +missionary work than topics Mulhall was eager to +discuss. So on the second day arrangements were +made for the two to go to the Mulhall home where +the missionary could rest from his labors, recuperate +his worn-down horse and confer at more length about +outfitting for the trip to Oregon.[<a id="chap02fn1text"></a><a href="#chap02fn1">1</a>] +</p> + +<p> +This was done, and following the counsel of the +visitor, preparations for the trip went on apace. The +Squire purchased ten trim, well developed five-year-old +steers, not off the range but farm raised, with +two extras as a relief for lame or other temporarily +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P40"></a>40}</span> +unfit ones in the teams. In other matters the +missionary's advice was adopted, with the result that +when completed Mulhall's outfit was equal to any he +afterwards saw on the plains, and far superior to the +vast majority of them. +</p> + +<p> +Ben Hardy, whose mother hesitated but finally +gave way to his pleadings, was engaged to take +charge of one of the teams. Mulhall offered such +liberal compensation that Ben's father also +consented, although the lad was still under age. The +Squire knew that Ben would be true to his interests, +and thought of him not as the hired man, but as one +of the family; in fact, he promised Ben one of the +teams for his own when they arrived in Oregon. +</p> + +<p> +Ben had a secret of his own about which Mulhall +knew nothing. He and the Shaeffer boys were +friends, and no one suspected that Ben's frequent +visits to their home had any other attraction than a +good time with the boys; nor did they dream that +"Bennie," as they called him, had any thoughts about +their sister. But mother Shaeffer had detected more +than mere friendship between Ben and Linda; and +under the circumstances developments were not +likely to be long delayed. +</p> + +<p> +Ben resolved to make a clean breast of it and +know from Linda's spoken words that she loved him +and would await his return, or possibly come to him; +and firmly concluded not to go unless Linda would +consent. In this mood Ben boldly declared himself +to Linda in a scene that need not be described here. +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P41"></a>41}</span> +Linda was a dutiful girl and would have no secret +from her mother. "I will go with you now if mother +will consent," she said between smiles and tears; +"or I'll wait until I can come to you." The thought +of having Linda go with him now had never entered +Ben's mind until she suggested it, subject to her +mother's consent. +</p> + +<p> +"I'll be true to you, Ben, to the end," she said +and submitted willingly to the sealing of the promise +by a responsive kiss. "Come tomorrow night, Ben, +and we'll talk it over with mother;" and so they +parted. +</p> + +<p> +Ben went home living in a new world, with +increased confidence in the future and a happiness +never before experienced. This scene was enacted +a week before the start was to be made; and +meanwhile Ben was busy at the Mulhalls' from dawn to +twilight. Two ox-teams, each with two yoke of +oxen, and a yoke of cows were used to haul fuel from +a distant woodland for the new owner of the farm, +training the teams and drivers to the road, as well as +a token of good will. +</p> + +<p> +Kate and her mother were busy preparing and +cooking various articles of food, while the Squire +was laying in a stock of provisions, water containers, +tents and other necessities for a journey of more +than two thousand miles extending over a probable +period of six months. Mulhall had been warned +that once across the Missouri River, he would be +in the Indian Country and unable to renew his +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P42"></a>42}</span> +equipment except from overloaded outfits, abandoned +property, or by dealing with the sharpers of the +so-called trading posts, some of them regular dens of +thieves, often kept by renegade white men. +</p> + +<p> +A mishap to one of the teams on the road detained +Ben until long after dark; and when he reached the +Mulhall barn, the teams and all the loose stock had +still to be cared for. So he could not keep his +appointment with Linda; and it was near midnight +when he crawled into the hay mow to snatch a few +hours of sleep before daybreak. +</p> + +<p> +"I wonder why Ben didn't come to-night as he +said he would?"; and in spite of all efforts, Linda's +voice betrayed her deep solicitude. +</p> + +<p> +"I'll warrant he had good reasons," the mother +responded; but Linda could not be satisfied in her own +mind. The great journey was to begin the following +Monday, and it was only seven days before the start. +Upon awaking Tuesday morning, Ben resolved that +at all hazards he would go to see Linda that day. +</p> + +<p> +On his way to the Shaeffer home, conflicting +thoughts ran through Ben's mind. What would +Mulhall say? What would his own mother and, +particularly Linda's mother, say? If she could go along, it +would enable them to make an earlier start in life; +and each would be entitled to a hundred and sixty +acres of land from the Government free, whereas in +a year or two at most, neither could secure any +without purchase. +</p> + +<p> +It was late Tuesday night when Ben left the Shaeffer +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P43"></a>43}</span> +home after a long visit with Linda. The mother +did not positively forbid her going now, but strongly +advised against it; upon second thought Linda herself +began to doubt the advisability of such a move, +though willing to go and share the hardships with +Ben if he thought best. +</p> + +<p> +With tears that could not be restrained by either, +they decided that Ben had better go alone. Who can +fathom the sacrifice of such a decision or decide as +to the wisdom of it? Once made, cheerfulness +returned, plans for the future were laid and sacred +vows renewed; and life opened to them anew. +</p> + +<p> +The wagons were loaded and the tent set up well +in advance, so the start could be made early on the +following Monday. When the time came, Kate had +saddled Nell, and Dick and Ned had been hitched +to the carriage for an hour; but the start was +delayed, and Squire Mulhall remained in the cabin. +At length, after consulting with Ben, the conclusion +was reached that the ox-teams should go ahead and +the carriage would follow later. +</p> + +<p> +Catherine assumed a bold, cheerful attitude while +the preparations were being made, and concealed her +pent-up grief at leaving. Several of her children +were born in the cabin, and one of them had died +in it. She had passed many happy hours within +its humble walls, and tender memories came vividly +to mind. Even Mulhall was moved with emotion as +never before, and determined to wait quietly until +Catherine recovered her composure. +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P44"></a>44}</span> +</p> + +<p> +No one without the experience of parting with +one can realize the deep feeling of affection for the +home, even if it is only a cabin. The love of a lowly +dwelling is often more intense than that of a princely +palace, for a cabin becomes a part of one's self. No +wonder that the good housewife should shed tears of +regret upon parting with the home she had loved so +well and so long. +</p> + +<p> +After all the neighbors who came to bid Godspeed +to the Mulhalls had left, Catherine quietly came out +of the cabin, entered the carriage and drove in the +track of the ox-teams without looking back, shedding +a tear or making any sign of distress. The struggle +was ended and the die cast, although the sacrifice +required supreme courage. +</p> + +<p> +In spite of all their efforts, Kate and the two +younger sisters were unable to drive the loose stock +fast enough to keep up with the ox-team, and finally +lost one cow in the brush. Riding forward to +overtake Ben and have him make an early camp, Kate +had a foretaste of what was ahead of them on the +journey. +</p> + +<p> +Ben found a convenient barnyard and plenty of +feed for the cattle, and a cheerful grass plat for the +camp. He quickly had the tent up, fire in the stove +and the oxen fed when the carriage and Kate arrived +with the loose stock. Whoever has had the experience +of a good camp under favorable conditions will +realize the cheerful atmosphere that enlivens the +spirits of all; the bracing air, the novelty and keen +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P45"></a>45}</span> +appetites due to the exertion of the journey, +combined to bring joy and contentment. +</p> + +<p> +They were only eight miles from the old home; but +the start had been made, and all considered it a good +distance for the first day. Early in the calm, warm +mid-April evening, the sharp notes of the bob white +quail rang in the ears of the campers, soon followed +by the shrill whistle of the whippoorwill in the +near-by meadow. Millions of fireflies, with their +mysterious alternating of light and darkness, were +floating in the air. Contentment reigned supreme in the +camp, and care for the morrow was soon forgotten +in peaceful slumber. +</p> + +<p> +Difficulties and trials beset the early part of every +trip like the Mulhalls'. In the deep, sticky Missouri +mud, a well trained team drawing a light load could +flounder through with great exertions; but with +half-trained oxen and a heavy load it was frequently +necessary to double the teams, or lighten the loads +and make a second trip. +</p> + +<p> +Walking alongside his wagon or prying up a wheel +deeply sunk in the mire, Ben became bespattered +with mud from head to foot, but did not lose patience. +The cows would not keep in the road, often +compelling Kate to dismount and go after them on foot. +Neither would swear, though both at times felt like +doing so; but when night came, they laughed off +their troubles in the camp. +</p> + +<p> +They had been acquainted for years, but neither +had fully measured the other until now. "I golly, +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P46"></a>46}</span> +Kate, it's rough driving the cows, isn't it?" "Yes; +but what about the teams? I think you catch it worse +than I do." Their mutual trials drew them closer +together; and each had unlimited faith in the other. +</p> + +<p> +Squire Mulhall had great confidence in Ben when +he engaged him for the trip, but every day his +admiration for the lad increased as better acquaintance +brought out his sterling character. Thoughts +of Ben for a son-in-law flitted across his mind, and +would involuntarily return; but he kept it to +himself—the second secret from Catherine. +</p> + +<p> +Finally, after a long struggle encountering mud, +rain, wind-storms and quicksand, the Mulhall outfit +arrived on the high bluffs overlooking the Missouri +and the great encampment of emigrants. Hundreds +of tents near the ferry landing and extending back +from the river revealed the magnitude of the great +western movement of the 50's. Squire Mulhall could +not do otherwise than camp with the motley throng, +and turned the ox-teams out to graze with several +thousands of other stock in the river bottoms. +</p> + +<p> +Looking around to size up the situation, he found +people there from several States, of all conditions in +life and with nearly as varied outfits as there were +camps—scarcely any two alike. Here was one bound, +like himself, for Oregon; right alongside, another +emigrating to California; next a group of Mormons +going to Salt Lake—all waiting their turn to be +crossed over the Missouri by the two scows called +a ferry. +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P47"></a>47}</span> +</p> + +<p> +The throng consisted of all ages from the very old +to the infant in arms, and were in various moods. +Near-by would be a religious meeting with singing, +praying and preaching; others were engaged in pitching +quoits, card playing or foot racing—anything to +dispel the tedium incident to the long delay on the +Iowa side of the river. Some of these people had +been camping there fully two weeks, waiting for their +numbers to be called, and might be obliged to remain +several days more. A brisk trade in "turns" naturally +resulted; in one case fifty dollars was paid to +entitle the purchaser to immediate crossing. +</p> + +<p> +Open gambling was seen in many places, and a +great crowd congregated around a race-track. In a +stroll of a couple of hours Mulhall noticed a number +of intoxicated men, though not many were boisterous; +the intoxicants evidently came from the camps. +Here, as back in Missouri, whisky was pure but cheap +(averaging 25c a gallon), and no regulation as to +sale or disposal. +</p> + +<p> +One corner of the encampment was particularly +clean and orderly; no litter of papers or cast-off +articles of any kind were in sight, and there was an +entire absence of gambling, card playing or other +amusements. Two of the emigrants in peculiar garb +were digging a pit in which to bury rubbish. The +men were usually either reading well-worn Bibles, +writing or amusing the children, while the women +were generally caring for the camp, sewing or +knitting; one was weaving cloth on a hand-loom, and +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P48"></a>48}</span> +another spinning yarn on an old-time wheel, the sharp +tones of the spindle vibrating in the air. +</p> + +<p> +It was like part of a long established and law-abiding +eastern community transplanted to the edge +of civilization. A brief conversation disclosed that +these campers were from a Methodist settlement in +central Indiana, and that their pastor, though +temporarily holding service at a near-by village, was +traveling with them. Mulhall thanked them for the +invitation to attend the evening meeting and continued +his stroll, intending to do so if Catherine and +Kate would accompany him. +</p> + +<p> +The next group of camps visited presented a very +different appearance. More than half of the party, +which was bound for the Mormon settlement at Salt +Lake City, had recently arrived from Europe. There +were very few men; the greater part were women +who huddled in tents almost devoid of camp +conveniences, while a number of their ragged and +dirty-faced children were playing in the vicinity. +</p> + +<p> +Men and women alike showed a sober mien; here +and there a man would be reading a Bible, and +Mulhall noticed one reading the Book of Mormon. +Like the Methodists, they held religious services +every evening. There were very few wagons for +so large a party, making the problem of their +transportation unusually difficult. In a corner of the +encampment were a number of hand-carts which a +portion of those belonging to this camp intended to +use in crossing the plains; and one man with a +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P49"></a>49}</span> +wheelbarrow completed the picturesque assemblage. +</p> + +<p> +With the invitation in mind, the Squire and Catherine +prepared to attend the Methodist meeting that +same evening. Kate said, "Ben, let's go, too." +</p> + +<p> +"I golly, Kate, that's just what I was going to +say," Ben replied. So all dressed in their best and +walked toward the Methodist camp, for which they +had started, along a path which led near the Mormon +part of the encampment. +</p> + +<p> +Seeing the people gathering for religious services +Mulhall, more out of curiosity than otherwise, +suggested that they stop and listen for awhile. +Catherine had only a faint idea of what "Mormon" +meant; but held a deep prejudice against them, and +said that she preferred to attend what she considered +a real religious meeting. But as the rest of the party +desired to hear the Mormons, Catherine consented, +and all took seats among those provided for strangers. +</p> + +<p> +The minister, a burly figure somewhat uncouth +but evidently sincere, opened the meeting by reading +a chapter from the Old Testament; he took his text +from the chapter read, and to their surprise preached +a real orthodox sermon, differing little from what +they had often heard from itinerant Methodist +preachers passing through their neighborhood. On +the way back to their camp Mulhall berated himself +for not attending the Methodist meeting as originally +intended; he resolved to do so the next evening, and +all the others said they would accompany him. +</p> + +<p> +True to the resolution, preparations were made to +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P50"></a>50}</span> +go as the next evening approached. Ben had left +early in the morning to look after their cattle +running at large in the Missouri bottoms with +thousands of others belonging to the numerous camps, +and at dusk had not returned. Three of the oxen +could not be found; whether they had strayed off on +their own account or had been stolen he could not +tell, but strongly suspected the latter. He did not +return until dark and then was tired and hungry; +Kate said she wouldn't go until Ben had dinner, and +her mother was of the same mind. +</p> + +<p> +Mulhall lost interest in the meeting when Ben +came with the news; the loss of three of his best oxen +would be very serious, and he was then in no mood +to think of anything else. Early the next morning +Kate saddled Nell and Ben borrowed a saddle for +Ned; after an early breakfast the two mounted and +started down the wide river bottom to look for the +strays. Toward the end of nearly an all-day search +they were found about seven miles from camp; but +from that time on either Ben or the new hired man +always stayed out with the herd. +</p> + +<p> +A few mornings after the night watch had been +inaugurated Ben, having had Dick for a bedfellow +the night before, remarked, "I golly, I snuggled up +close to his back and slept as warm as wool." That +was the beginning, for him, of an experience shared +by many pioneers, including the author; and is the +origin of the term "bedfellow of the ox." +</p> + +<p> +A few evenings later, when everything was still and +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P51"></a>51}</span> +calm, and not a breath of air stirring, Mulhall, +while sitting in front of his camp, heard a number of +voices in the distance. The sound came from the +direction of the Methodist camp; he thought he +caught a word or two, but was not sure. +</p> + +<p> +Just then a gentleman passing by asked, "Do you +hear the Methodists?" "Is that noise of voices we +hear the Methodists?" Mulhall asked. "Yes, they +have been going on that way for an hour," answered +the stranger, who passed on and disappeared from +sight. +</p> + +<p> +Kate and Catherine had both retired for the night, +but Mulhall resolved to go and hear what they were +saying and see what they were doing. He walked +briskly in the direction of the sound, sure enough, +it was a "Methodist awakening," as the participants +expressed it. +</p> + +<p> +The reader would not doubt this part of the narrative +if he had ever attended a meeting of the "shouting +Methodists" of Indiana in early days, particularly +after a sermon where endless punishment was +preached for unbelievers. Now the Squire saw some +of the men and women who a few days before were +sedate in their industrious camp, shouting and +violently gesticulating; some were fairly dancing in an +ecstasy of joy, others praying or lying down as if +in a trance or stupor. +</p> + +<p> +When, after waiting three weeks, Mulhall's turn +came to cross the river, he concluded to send one team +and wagon ahead with the tent and cooking outfit; +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P52"></a>52}</span> +Ben and Kate went along with it to establish and +prepare the camp for the remainder of the party. About +mid-stream the boat upset. The heavy running-gear +of the wagon immediately sank out of sight; but the +bed, though partly submerged, and with Ben and +Kate in it, continued to float, though it was being +carried away from the scene of the mishap by the +strong current. +</p> + +<p> +Sometimes the outfit would sink to near the top of +the cover, and in another moment the whirl of the +turbulent current would leave the greater part of +it visible again. Ben managed to remove the cover +that had entrapped them, so they were not in +immediate danger of drowning; he at once began throwing +heavy things overboard, the stove first and then +whatever else could be found to lighten the load. +</p> + +<p> +At a bend of the river in sight from the crossing, +the bed grounded on a sand-bar projecting upstream +from the head of an island, and swung around broadside, +affording the imprisoned occupants a safe landing. +Seeing their peril, two Indians plunged fearlessly +into the Missouri, and swam out to the rescue; +others immediately followed in canoes, and soon +landed both of them safely on the west side of the +great river. Yet we sometimes hear thoughtless +people say, "there are no good Indians but dead Indians!" +</p> + +<p> +Kate returned to the Iowa side by the next boat, +but Ben remained awhile longer on the west side to +care for the team that had swam across. One wagon, +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P53"></a>53}</span> +the yokes, chains and a considerable part of the outfit +had been lost. After arranging for the care of the +team, Ben crossed back about dark to rejoin the +remainder of the party still waiting there, and to +consult with the Squire. +</p> + +<hr> + +<p class="capcenter quote"> +<a id="img-052"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-052.jpg" alt="NEAR CATASTROPHE IN CROSSING THE MISSOURI"> +<br> +NEAR CATASTROPHE IN CROSSING THE MISSOURI +</p> + +<p class="quote"> +Illustrating a scene witnessed by the author and many +other Pioneers to the Oregon Country. The sinking of the wagon, +endangering the life of Kate Mulhall, the heroine of this story, +and her rescue by Ben Hardy, as described on the opposite page, +make a stirring incident of overland travel in the early 50s. +An interesting reference to this "near catastrophe" a half century +later, will be found on page <a href="#P231">231</a>. +</p> + +<hr> + +<p class="capcenter quote"> +<a id="img-053"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-053.jpg" alt="TYPICAL EMIGRANT OUTFIT ON THE OREGON TRAIL"> +<br> +TYPICAL EMIGRANT OUTFIT ON THE OREGON TRAIL +</p> + +<p class="quote"> +"Prairie schooner" unit of a line made up of vehicles drawn +by horses, mules, oxen or cows, with three yoke of oxen (driven +by a man walking along the left-hand side of the farther yoke), +followed by the captain of the train and protected by an armed +guard at the rear. Many an outfit like this one starting out +in good condition was reduced to the situation illustrated +in the drawing on page <a href="#P75">75</a> before the end of the long journey. +</p> + +<hr> + +<p> +At the time of the accident, Catherine was at the +camp and knew nothing about it until told by Kate +herself; then she fell upon her knees to offer thanks +for the rescue of her daughter. When told that Kate +had been saved by Ben's courage and cool-headed +action, she gave way to tears of joy and gratitude, +and exclaimed, "Where is he? Where is he, the dear, +dear boy?" When he arrived, mother Mulhall kissed +him again and again; even the Squire had difficulty +in controlling his emotions, while Kate seemed dazed +and said little. Of course the deep gloom in the +camp was accompanied by rejoicing that there had +been no loss of life. +</p> + +<p> +The emigrants flocked around to praise Ben's act +of bravery; but he made light of it, saying anybody +but a coward would have done the same, and he +wasn't entitled to any special praise. That evening +an elderly Quaker with his wife and daughter came +to Mulhall's camp. +</p> + +<p> +"We came to see thee," he said, "to join in praise +to God for his mercy in restoring thy son and daughter +to thee; and further to tell thee the Spirit moves +us to proffer aid to enable thee to repair thy +loss." The Squire was deeply impressed with the evident +sincerity of the man, and felt to some extent relieved +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P54"></a>54}</span> +from the feeling of depression he had been striving +to dispel. +</p> + +<p> +Catherine was unable to conceal her emotion or +control herself; the shock upon the poor woman's +nerves had been too great. Kate arose from a cot to +assure her mother that she would be all right again in +a little while, but seemingly without effect until the +Quaker lady's sympathetic words wrought a change +of promised relief. +</p> + +<p> +One of the ferrymen came into the camp and witnessed +the scene of the Quakers striving to alleviate +Catherine's anguish. The two women were about +the same age; and the daughter of the Quaker family +had been a great comfort to Kate in her distress. +Grasping the situation, and seeing that he could do +nothing at the moment, the ferryman soon withdrew, +beckoning Mulhall to follow him outside. +</p> + +<p> +"I come," he said, "to tell you we think we ought +to replace your wagon and outfit, and will do so +to-morrow. A number of parties who have concluded +not to go any farther will sell their wagons and +outfits at a reasonable price. Come and see us in the +morning." +</p> + +<p> +At the moment Mulhall was more concerned about +his wife than over the loss of a part of the outfit; +but the calls of the Quaker and the ferryman were +appreciated more for the sympathy manifested than +for the offer of material aid. The Quakers stayed +until long after midnight. Catherine had been +induced to lie down; and with the hand of the good +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P55"></a>55}</span> +Samaritan on her brow, had fallen asleep and +peacefully rested. +</p> + +<p> +Kate's companion had exercised much the same +influence upon her as the Quaker mother had upon +Mrs. Mulhall; and shortly after midnight she also +passed from consciousness to sweet slumber. The +three visitors then noiselessly withdrew, and deep +silence fell upon the camp. Catherine slept late and +awakened calm, and reassured when she found that +Kate was up and preparing breakfast. +</p> + +<p> +True to promise, on the following day the ferryman +gave the Squire his choice of three wagons and +outfits; and before night he was ready to cross the +Missouri to the Indian Country, then extending +across the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean. +Mulhall was confronted with a perplexing situation—one +team was now on the west side of the river, +and the other on the east or Iowa side. The hired +man, who shall be nameless, seemed to delight in +using his long whip-lash on the oxen, and goaded +them to unnecessary exertion; and had proven very +unsatisfactory in other ways. His language was +also offensive; and when the Squire found that he +had been indulging immoderately in liquor, +summarily discharged him. +</p> + +<p> +Fortunately for Mulhall, at this juncture Douglas +Craig, the young man with the outfit presented to +him by the ferryman, came highly recommended and +expressed a desire to continue on the trip; the Squire +immediately engaged him, and never had cause to +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P56"></a>56}</span> +regret it. As soon as Mulhall could move his camp +to the landing, he crossed over without much +difficulty, leaving Ben to follow when he could get the +cattle up from the bottoms. +</p> + +<p> +That night the campers heard the shrill whistle +of a steamer from down the river, and soon saw the +lights of the "Ajax" as it moved slowly up to the +landing. A great throng greeted the captain as he +came ashore, and vociferously clamored to be ferried +across the river, with the promise of extra compensation +if done that night. So the occupation of the +open-scow ferryman was gone, and the steamer took +its place; after that a hundred wagons with their +teams were crossed by day and nearly as many at +night. +</p> + +<p> +One can scarcely imagine the confusion that +followed the congestion on the one road leading, out +from the landing place on the western side of the +river. Outfits had been separated and cattle gone +astray, children were separated from their parents, +and thieving Indians mingled with the throng. +Mulhall soon brought together his outfit (small as +compared with some trains of fifty wagons) and drew +off to a nearby camping place. +</p> + +<p> +He had been cautioned by the missionary not to +join in the rush to drive furiously forward, as others +would certainly be doing. Kate became very impatient +at the delay of a day that her father considered +necessary to have everything in readiness. On +the fourth day they were confronted with a narrow +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P57"></a>57}</span> +but deep river; and there was another struggle to +get across. +</p> + +<hr> + +<p class="capcenter quote"> +<a id="img-057"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-057.jpg" alt="USING A WAGON-BOX AS A "BOAT""> +<br> +USING A WAGON-BOX AS A "BOAT" +</p> + +<p class="quote"> +Many of the Pioneers crossed the rivers on the Oregon Trail +with all of their outfits, except the oxen, in the manner shown +by the illustration. At best it was a hazardous adventure; +at one place on the North Platte nine men were drowned in making +the attempt. The author crossed the Snake River twice by this +method and swam his oxen; this photograph, taken in 1912 +on the "Loup Fork," a tributary of the Platte River in Nebraska, +shows his improvised craft in the middle of that great +stream, and will convey some idea of the dangers encountered +by the emigration of which he was a part. See pages <a href="#P57">57</a>, <a href="#P69">69-70</a> +and <a href="#P213">213</a>. +</p> + +<hr> + +<p> +The confusion was increased by many coming into +camp every hour day and night. Some were using +a scow ferry entirely inadequate to accommodate the +great numbers suddenly brought upon the scene; +others were crossing on rafts, and still others in their +boat-shaped wagon-boxes. A few had constructed +"bull boats" (a light form of willow twigs, with a +buffalo hide bottom). +</p> + +<p> +Douglas Craig, the new man of the Mulhall outfit, +proved to be an expert horseman and an all-around +stockman; he soon managed to get the cattle +over, while Ben crossed the wagons. An account of +the experiences and daily incidents of even one such +outfit as Mulhall's in its slow progress westward +would fill a larger volume than this. So we will +attempt only to briefly sketch the trials confronting +the bold pioneers who passed over the Oregon Trail +in the early days before the rivers were bridged, +supply depots established or protection from the Indians +given by the Government. +</p> + +<p> +"What's that dark shade on the land?" Kate asked +her father as she rode up to his carriage. Mulhall +turned his glass in the direction indicated for a +moment and replied, "Why as I live, that's buffalo." In +the clear atmosphere of the plains an object many +miles away often seems near-by. Kate was ready in +an instant to go and bag some big game, but knew +her mother would not consent; so she called to Ben, +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P58"></a>58}</span> +"Take my rifle and Nell, and get one. I'll drive +your team." +</p> + +<p> +By this time the whole line on the road had +discovered the herd, and nearly all the men were making +preparations to join in the big hunt. Just ahead +there seemed to be a great commotion, teams turning +out of the road and horsemen riding furiously back +and forth. One, racing down the line, shouted in a +loud voice, "Unhitch, unhitch; form corrals with +your wagons; a buffalo stampede is coming. Quick, +quick; don't shoot, don't shoot;" and like Paul +Revere, he passed on to repeat the warning. +</p> + +<p> +Mulhall had fallen in with several independent +outfits and in the evenings the group had been forming +a circle of wagons to guard against the loss of +stock and lighten the burden of the night-watch. In +a very short time the wagons were arranged and the +loose stock placed inside the circle; but the buffalo +were all traveling in one direction on their annual +migration, not a stampede. Nothing but some +insurmountable obstacle could turn the herd from the +course that its almost incredible numbers were +pursuing. +</p> + +<p> +In their migratory movements buffalo are, as one +might say, controlled by instinct like birds of the +air. Here was a living mass, to all appearances one +vast unit, passing over many miles of the trail, each +animal traveling in the same direction as if guided +by a compass or the North Star. The emigrants +could do no more than guard their own stock and let +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P59"></a>59}</span> +the buffalo continue their majestic procession for +hours. +</p> + +<p> +After the mass had gone on and only stragglers +remained in sight, the ban against shooting was +removed and an exciting buffalo hunt was on. Ben +followed Kate's suggestion by taking Nell and trying +with his rifle to bring down a fat buffalo cow. Not +being either an expert horseman or a crack shot, he +had a rather prolonged and exciting race; but finally +succeeded in securing a fine heifer. He could have +more easily shot an old buffalo, as many did; but was +out more to add to their depleted larder than for the +excitement of the chase. +</p> + +<p> +When Ben returned to camp it was evident that +he was in virtual collapse, his strength nearly gone +and his pulse weak. Thoroughly alarmed, mother +Mulhall did everything she could to arouse him from +the stupor into which he had fallen, but all to no +purpose. Kate fairly ran over to the near-by camp +for a doctor, who partially revived him but cautioned +him to be careful and patient for several days. When +questioned, the physician answered evasively as to +a possible fatal result. +</p> + +<p> +An epidemic of cholera was ravaging the camps +and taking a fearful toll; only the day before the +Squire and Catherine halted the carriage before a +newly made burying-ground and counted forty-four +graves, none more than three days old. Only those in +the best of health seemed immune from the scourge. +Mother Mulhall reproached herself for consenting to +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P60"></a>60}</span> +let Ben go on the hunt, and retired to pray in secret +for his recovery. +</p> + +<p> +Kate showed unmistakable evidences of deep grief, +and also blamed herself for having encouraged Ben +to go; she remained by his bedside throughout the +night, and was reluctant to leave when morning +came. As the day wore on there were signs of +recovery, and by the third day he had sufficiently +improved to warrant resuming their journey. +Meantime more than a thousand wagons had passed on, +leaving many detained in stricken camps to bury +their dead. +</p> + +<p> +Mulhall had been a witness to the great epidemic +that lined the trail for a thousand miles with +uncounted graves of dead pioneers. He had lost +considerable weight on the way; how much he did not +know, but realized the fact by the fit of his clothes. +Catherine said the difference in food had wrought +the change, to which the Squire responded that in +such case he would probably lose in strength, while +he felt stronger than for many years before. The +fact gradually dawned upon him that the regular +exercise taken on the trip had increased his strength +while reducing his weight. +</p> + +<p> +Under the hot sun Kate became tanned, but lost +none of the fire in her eye nor her cheerfulness of +spirit, although her patience was often tried by the +wilful ways of the loose stock. The two little sisters +helped her part of the time, until the sand became too +hot for their bare feet; but were always welcomed +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P61"></a>61}</span> +in the carriage driven by their mother. When Ben +was transferred to the carriage, their place of refuge +was gone; after that one at a time would ride behind +Kate, or she would often trudge along afoot while +the two little ones rode Nell. +</p> + +<p> +All the past glamour of the trip had now gone out +of Kate's mind; but she could not admit to herself +any regret that they were on the way to Oregon. +At least they were free from the hated question of +slavery! Then her mind would revert to Pelton, with +the thought that she might have been too rash in her +manner of rejecting his advances; had she known +what her father knew—that Isaac intended at all +hazards to free his slaves—grief would have seized +her in spite of all efforts to restrain it. +</p> + +<p> +Kate had intuitively come to discern what was +in her father's mind with reference to Ben, and +believed that her mother felt the same way as her +father. When such thought came into her own mind, +the vision of Pelton rose above them all. Love Ben? +Yes—as a brother; and then she would try to think +of something else. +</p> + +<p> +"What's this?" Squire Mulhall asked aloud +rather excitedly to himself, stopping his team in the +middle of the road. Soon both wagons were driven +to the outside, opening a passage for other teams +pressing on from behind. "What's happened, +stranger that you are here by the roadside with no +team?" It needed only a short time to explain that +the family had started across the plains with a +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P62"></a>62}</span> +neighbor who owned a team; but after some altercation, +the neighbor became abusive, stopped and hurriedly +pitched the bedding and clothing of the others out of +the wagon, driving on with all the provisions. +</p> + +<p> +"How long since?" the Squire asked. "About two +hours ago," the stranger answered. "Put your things +in my other wagon and let your wife and children +get in here until we reach camp tonight," said the +Squire, thoroughly aroused and with indignation +manifest in his voice. "Perhaps we will overtake the +brute by nightfall." +</p> + +<p> +The family consisted of husband and wife, both +apparently honest and intelligent, and three small +children, the oldest about eight. Leaving his team +in charge of the stranger as soon as they were back on +the road (which was literally filled with passing +wagons and loose stock), he soon found Kate; and +taking Nell, rode on ahead as rapidly as possible. +</p> + +<p> +He soon encountered a train of a dozen wagons +which had no sooner been passed than another one +of thirty was overtaken; each vehicle closely followed +the one in front, and to make headway it was necessary +to ride alongside the road, often obstructed by +sage-brush. That evening the Squire said he believed +that he had been obliged to go around at least +five hundred wagons to gain five miles on the moving +trains, all the while keeping a sharp lookout for the +outfit which abandoned the family now traveling +with him. +</p> + +<p> +It was learned that the culprit, who had been +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P63"></a>63}</span> +recognized by the description, passed on just before dark +and would probably travel all night. Three armed +men were mounted and given instructions to continue +on far enough during the night to be sure they +were ahead of the outfit, and then to stop and wait +for it. Just at daylight they overtook the guilty +party and soon convinced him that resistance was +useless and submission to arrest his only safe course. +</p> + +<p> +The "unwritten law" of the plains was a tacit consent +that all grievances, misdemeanors or accusations +of crime must be laid before a jury of elderly men; +and no one should take the law into his own hands—in +a word, no mob violence. Squire Mulhall soon +succeeded in bringing together several of the older +pioneers, who resolved to take immediate action; +swift and adequate justice was administered, and +the incident was almost immediately closed. This +code of action prevailed all along the line; no one +was punished without a hearing, but there were no +delays on technicalities, or any appeals. +</p> + +<p> +Mulhall's trail followed the track that Marcus +Whitman had made from the west bank of the +Missouri River nearly two decades before, when that +famous missionary was on the way to overtake the +expedition of the American Fur Company before it +reached the Indian tribe reported as hostile to white +men passing through their country. It will be +recalled how Dr. Whitman swam the Platte where it +was a mile wide, and re-crossed with the cattle until +nearly exhausted, while Mrs. Whitman and +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P64"></a>64}</span> +Mrs. Spalding were towed over in a frail bullboat by two +Indian women swimming, accompanied by Indian +boys who assisted them heroically. +</p> + +<p> +On the sixth day out from this river, definite +information was received that a camp of thirty Indian +lodges was disputing the right of the emigrants to +proceed farther without payment of toll for each +wagon. A number of outfits which had already +refused to pay were encamped there; Mulhall considered +this a wise move until he could reconnoiter and +find out just how serious the situation was. +</p> + +<p> +After the rumor of the obstruction had been confirmed +the evening before, the firing of a rifle startled +the camp. Unobserved, Kate had slipped out of the +camp with her rifle; if there was going to be trouble +with the Indians, she would have a fresh load in it. +The next day, when her father had concluded to go +ahead and ascertain the facts about the detention, +Kate said she would go along. +</p> + +<p> +Mulhall had not thought of taking arms with him; +but Kate noticed that a number had gone forward +carrying their guns, and said it was better to be +prepared. Catherine firmly approved the move, and +added that they would put the camp in best shape +possible for defense. Experienced pioneers all agree +that the most retiring and apparently timid women +usually were the most courageous in times of +danger on the plains, whether from Indians or other +causes. +</p> + +<p> +Kate mounted Ned, bareback, while her father +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P65"></a>65}</span> +rode Nell. It was a ride of six miles past several +camps and many teams standing in the road; and +hundreds of excited men were found at the point of +detention. The place chosen by the Indians was a +small ravine where a recent washout had been bridged +by a train of emigrants that had passed on sometime +previous. +</p> + +<p> +On the farther side the Indians were camped; +most of the men were mounted, but had not put on +their war paint. They were intending to dispute the +crossing until payment was made for passing through +their country—a plausible claim, as the white man's +government had made no treaties with them. +</p> + +<p> +Here the dilemma—whether to pay toll or force +their way through—confronted the responsible men +of the emigrant column. Was it just to force their +way across the country if the Indians owned it? +What right had the white man to pass through it, +kill their buffalo, turn his oxen out on their range +to eat off the grass, or to burn the scant supply of +fuel? +</p> + +<p> +Many of the pioneers had never thought about this +and were puzzled; but when the Chief said, "One +cow, one wagon," all saw instantly that to submit +meant the disintegration or even stopping of the +whole emigration. As that tribe did not claim to +own the country farther than to the next river +crossing, a similar demand might be made again and +again. +</p> + +<p> +While the improvised council was discussing this +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P66"></a>66}</span> +question, there was a great commotion. Many who +did not go near the council had driven their teams +close to the disputed bridge-head, when one bold +pioneer spoke in a loud voice, "You fellows get +ready to follow; I'm going across that bridge if I +have to run right over an Injun!" and he did. The +Indian narrowly escaped; other teams followed in +quick succession; the blockade was broken, and for +the next twenty-four hours, day or night, scarce a +moment passed without a wagon on that bridge. +</p> + +<hr> + +<p class="capcenter quote"> +<a id="img-066"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-066.jpg" alt="UNDER THE YOKE FOR THE FIRST TIME"> +<br> +UNDER THE YOKE FOR THE FIRST TIME +</p> + +<p class="quote"> +In their struggles to shake it off, Brindle and Star +had reversed the yoke, as +described on page <a href="#P38">38</a>. Large numbers of cows were +"broken" like oxen, and +in many instances helped to make up a "team." This +incident is recalled, half +a century later, by the visit to the old homestead +in Missouri described on +page <a href="#P234">234</a>. +</p> + +<hr> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a id="chap02fn1"></a> +[<a href="#chap02fn1text">1</a>] See "The Missionary's Story," pages <a href="#P235">235-283</a>. E.M. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap03"></a></p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P67"></a>67}</span> +</p> + +<h2> +CHAPTER III +</h2> + +<p class="hang2"> +TRIALS OF THE LONG TRAIL; DANGEROUS RIVER +CROSSINGS; THE DEATH OF CATHERINE; WEST OF +THE ROCKIES; SEPARATION OF THE PARTY; NEW +HOMES IN THE OREGON COUNTRY. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p> +The Dust—clouds of which were so dense +that oftentimes the leaders of a team could +not be seen—became almost intolerable. +Kate adopted the sensible practice of starting early +in the morning with the carriage and loose cattle so +that her mother might escape as much of it as +possible. One day Mulhall saw her riding hastily back +to the team. +</p> + +<p> +"Father," she exclaimed, "Ned has dropped dead +in the harness and the carriage can't go any farther." Craig +had been ill for several days and Mulhall was +driving the team. Leaving it to Kate, he rode ahead +to find Catherine in distress and his favorite, trusty +horse lying stiff beside the carriage. Unsaddling +Nell and harnessing her alongside Dick, the Squire +started the outfit on the road, advising Catherine to +camp as soon as a suitable place could be found. +</p> + +<p> +The little twin girls had forgotten their loose +stock, which by this time was widely scattered; part +of it had gone on with the other herds, and some was +on either side of the road. One old lame cow, +Beckey, had laid down where the carriage stopped +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P68"></a>68}</span> +and was unwilling to resume the journey. It was +late in the evening when all came together at the +camp; three head of stock were missing; water could +be procured only from a deep ravine half a mile +distant; no fuel was in sight for a camp fire, and +"buffalo chips" had disappeared from near camping +grounds. +</p> + +<p> +With Ben's assistance, Kate unyoked both teams +and started the oxen, whose tongues were out from +thirst, and such of the loose stock as could be found, +to the ravine for water. The entire party had been +without water for several hours before reaching camp; +and how could they prepare food without it, or fuel +or Kate's help? Anyhow the oxen must have the +first attention, and water procured for the camp; and +it was a question whether or not they could get all +the oxen out of the ravine after their thirst had been +slacked. It was past midnight when Kate lay down +to rest, and for the first time on the trip she gave +way to grief. Her mother had gone to bed supperless; +Kate had seen for some time that Catherine's +strength was failing, and realized that the strain was +likely to become too heavy for her to bear—a thought +which fairly stunned and even terrified her. Blaming +herself for favoring abandonment of the Missouri +borne and undertaking the long trip, nature finally +relieved her by deep and restful sleep. +</p> + +<p> +Mulhall and his fellow travelers had come to dread +river crossings without bridges or established ferries +more than the Indians, dust, the fatigue, lack of +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P69"></a>69}</span> +grass for the oxen or anything else on the trail. All +were rejoiced to be safely across one, and hopeful that +the next would be less dangerous; but in this they +were often doomed to disappointment. +</p> + +<p> +As they left the sluggish current of the main +Platte River to ascend its chief tributary the North +Platte, the current was found to be swifter as the +trail led gradually up the east slope of the Rocky +Mountains. An account of the crossing of one of +these, written upon the spot at the time by W. P. Woods +and preserved in his diary, will illustrate the +difficulty and dangers to be surmounted: +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="quote"> +Thursday, June 21, 1849—We made an early start and drove +12 miles to the mouth of Deer Creek, where we found teams +crossing the Platte. Four boats, each consisting of two +dug-outs fastened together, had been made by emigrants who had +crossed before and gone on, others buying their rights and +continuing the work. We paid $3 per wagon for the use of +the boats, and swam the oxen. +</p> + +<p class="quote"> +Just before reaching here the accidental discharge of a +gun by a member of the Pittsburg Company, who was +unloading a wagon to make the crossing, killed a man from +Illinois, the ball passing through the body just above the +heart. A man was drowned here yesterday; and just 12 +miles above seven men have been lost in two days while +rafting their wagons across. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="quote"> +Friday, June 22, 1849—We were roused early, and in good +season commenced crossing our wagons. The line for two +miles along the river bank presented as busy an aspect as it +ordinarily does in St. Louis, or any other small town in the +States. Wagons in pieces, boxes and chattels of all kinds made +a scene of extraordinary activity far out in this uninhabited +western country. +</p> + +<p class="quote"> +Our "boat" was called the "Two Follies and Betsy," from +their being two dugouts, with a log between them. Joining +forces with the twelve Cincinnati mule trains, the "boat" +started off in style with 30 men to cordelle it against the +current. The men were obliged to work in the water, which +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P70"></a>70}</span> +rendered it quite unpleasant; but by 4 o'clock P.M. we were +across, and then drove the oxen down to swim. +</p> + +<p class="quote"> +With all of our efforts, swimming and wading from that +time until dark, we could only get three of them across; +so had at last to let them return to the shore, and were +obliged to keep watch of them until morning. The water +is remarkably swift and cold, the low temperature probably +due to our proximity to the snows of the mountains. To the +south of us, about four miles from the Platte, there arises +a range of very high pine-clad hills, which appears to +terminate in the Laramie Mountains. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="quote"> +Saturday, June 23, 1849—Again resumed our labors by +recrossing the river for the purpose of crossing our ox-teams, +but at first with no better success than the day before. Here +we witnessed scenes far surpassing anything the imagination +ever conceived—the long to be remembered crossing of the +Platte. No pencil can portray or pen depict the scene as it +really was. +</p> + +<p class="quote"> +Fancy for one moment our feelings on observing the vast +aggregation of oxen, mules, horses and wagons mixed +indiscriminately with men clothed, half-clad and even almost +naked, encountering the elements that were temporarily +stopping our progress. By about noon we succeeded in +crossing; but both men and teams were extremely exhausted. +</p> + +<p class="quote"> +The onlookers witnessed sights ranging from the laughable +to the alarming. In one place six men were assisted ashore +by hanging to the tail of a mule, with a rider on him at that, +while in another case extreme efforts were being made to +save a man from drowning. A boat, with a wagon containing +women and children, sank but was saved by striking a bar. +</p> + +<p class="quote"> +I was carried by the swift current outside the jam of +cattle, and saved myself by catching hold of the tail of an +ox as I passed him, and letting him tow me to shore. Those +scenes are over, though we shall long remember them. We +yoked our teams and drove on over a very rough sand road +for about four miles, where we encamped on the river hank +to feed our oxen and rest ourselves. Many a man here wishes +himself back in the States.[<a id="chap03fn1text"></a><a href="#chap03fn1">1</a>] +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p> +For a considerable sum, Mulhall secured a means +of crossing by a train which had been provided for +the emergency; and though not detained or endangered, +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P71"></a>71}</span> +was much relieved when safely landed on the +opposite shore. He knew, however, there were two +more crossings of a mighty river on the western slope +of the Rocky Mountains about a thousand miles +ahead of them. +</p> + +<p> +Catherine's strength had rapidly declined, and +soon after the crossing just described it became +evident that the day of her long rest was near at hand. +Mulhall's first impulse was to stop and camp until +she recovered her strength; but if he dropped out of +the passing throng and was left alone, the peril of +Indians would be greatly increased. He was in the +mountains with no permanent settlements—in fact +none on the whole length of the trail beyond the +Missouri; during the winter which would be coming +on with heavy falls of snow, his teams would +undoubtedly perish, and his party suffer for lack of +food and shelter. +</p> + +<p> +Taking charge of the carriage himself and driving +carefully, he fancied that Catherine's strength was +gaining; but alas, was doomed to disappointment. +The sorrowful end was not long delayed. Among the +fleeting clouds well up on the eastern slope of the +Rockies, nearly a mile and a half in altitude above +the home they had left in old Missouri, they buried +her in the shifting sands of the Sweetwater River +Valley. Her last words to Kate, "Take good care +of father," rang in her ears ever afterward; and she +did—loyally and faithfully—until the last day of +his life. +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P72"></a>72}</span> +</p> + +<p> +Nearly prostrated by the calamity that had +befallen them, Kate felt that she did not want to go +any farther; but gradually recovered her sense of +duty to the little orphaned sisters, her father and +herself. The anguish in leaving the lone grave can +only be known to those who have been through some +such experience; and the thought that the little +mound of sand would soon be leveled by the fierce +winds of the mountain slope added poignance to the +already overwhelming grief. +</p> + +<p> +Craig deeply sympathized with the stricken family. +Little Sarah, one of the twins, who was of an +age to realize her great loss and yet not old enough +to be resigned—if that age ever arrives—would not +be calmed when the hour of burial came. She clung +to the rough box containing her mother's body, and +with pitiable outcries pleaded with her father, "don't +leave her here; <i>don't; don't!</i>" +</p> + +<p> +"Child, do you see the rift in yonder mountains?" +Craig asked. Between deep sobs she answered, "Yes." +</p> + +<p> +"That's Split Mountain, two thousand feet high," +Craig continued, "none other like it anywhere in +sight of the trail. The two mountains stand so close +together the space between them seems from here +like a black ribbon, although, we know they are many +rods apart." +</p> + +<p> +The child fixed her gaze intently on the mountain +while Craig continued, "That is almost exactly north +of where your mother's grave will be; I saw the +North Star last evening just above it." +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P73"></a>73}</span> +</p> + +<p> +Craig had arrested the child's attention for the +moment, and in a tone of sympathy asked, "Did you +notice those tracks in the stone made by the wagon +wheels just where we turned off the trail to this +camp? They are so deep they will last forever." +</p> + +<p> +Craig had drawn the child's attention away from +the bereavement, but had not arrested her deep grief; +and added, "Those tracks will tell you where to stop +to look for your mother's grave, if you ever come +out to search for it when you grow up to be a +woman—no others like them." +</p> + +<p> +This thought impressed the little girl as no other +words Craig had ever spoken. Between the long +infrequent, tremulous sighs that could not be +suppressed, she looked imploringly and trustfully into +Craig's eyes while he continued, "You remember that +grave we passed marked by a wagon tire half sunk +in the ground?" +</p> + +<p> +"Yes," answered Sarah, hesitating a moment, "I +remember the name, 'Rebecca' inscribed on the tire, +but have forgotten the other." +</p> + +<p> +"Winters," Craig thought to himself, and then +said, "that's it, Rebecca Winters. Now my little +friend, I'll mark your mother's grave the same way, +so you can find it the longest day you live;" and his +own tears dropped on the hand of his little friend, +which he held in his. +</p> + +<p> +The scene was enough to melt a heart of stone; +the faltering voice, the Scotch brogue, the deep +sympathy with the distressed child, and Sarah's +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P74"></a>74}</span> +trustfulness somewhat relieved the feelings of all, and the +burial was completed in silence. Craig immediately +afterwards disappeared from the camp, and returned +after dark with a wagon tire noticed a few hours +before they had camped. It was from one of the +several wagons that had been burned—mute evidence +of a massacre where none were left to tell the story. +</p> + +<p> +Douglas Craig was an all-around, handy man; +in his native country he had worked as a smithy, +and was an expert with metals. Early the next +morning echoes of his work could be heard; he was +inscribing the name, "Catherine Mulhall, died 185-; +aged fifty-seven." +</p> + +<p> +All day long this labor of love went on with +scarcely long enough intermission for a hasty dinner. +Kate and the little girls went out in search of +flowers to decorate the grave, and were rewarded +by finding an abundance of wild roses and several +other varieties of the flora in that region. +</p> + +<p> +Kate noticed a very small but well formed pine +tree that seemed likely to grow into a suitable +landmark. The thought came to her mind that they +might transplant it to grow on the grave; and Ben +said they could, without disturbing the roots. +</p> + +<p> +Both busied themselves nearly all day changing +the beautiful little tree to its new home and planted +it, with roots undisturbed, at the head of the grave, +with a vigorous wild rose bush. The girls gathered +leaves and decaying wood to mulch the ground. Before +nightfall, the little mound built over the sacred +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P75"></a>75}</span> +spot was partially leveled down, covered with flowers +and the inscribed wagon tire set in place. +</p> + +<hr> + +<p class="capcenter quote"> +<a id="img-074"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-074.jpg" alt="A CORRAL AT AN OVERNIGHT STOP ON THE TRAIL THROUGH THE INDIAN COUNTRY; SEE PAGES 58 and 169"> +<br> +A CORRAL AT AN OVERNIGHT STOP ON THE TRAIL THROUGH <br> +THE INDIAN COUNTRY; SEE PAGES <a href="#P58">58</a> and <a href="#P169">169</a> +</p> + +<p class="quote"> +The illustration shows the nature of the precautions adopted +for defense—soon abandoned when trains began to disintegrate +and break into smaller units, making it easier for the +Indiana to attack and sometimes massacre a company, +with a result like that +shown in the illustration opposite page <a href="#P175">175</a>. +</p> + +<hr> + +<p><br></p> + +<hr> + +<p class="capcenter quote"> +<a id="img-075"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-075.jpg" alt="ALMOST "DOWN AND OUT""> +<br> +ALMOST "DOWN AND OUT" +</p> + +<p class="quote"> +Scenes like this were frequent on the Oregon Trail in the 50s, +and are vividly remembered by a few survivors, including the +author of this volume. Many suffered from thirst, hunger and +exhaustion, particularly on long drives through the desert regions; +sickness and death often disrupted or even annihilated families. +When wagons were worn out or broken beyond repair, they +were sometimes cut down to carts or abandoned, and members +of the party continued along on foot, driving their live stock. Most +of those who passed through experiences like this survived +the hardships of the overland journey, and some of them became +leading citizens of the Pacific Coast and Rocky Mountain States. +</p> + +<hr> + +<p> +The throng of moving teams could be traced for +miles by the clouds of dust floating in the air; and +the wagons were seen on the trail, which passed +within a half mile of the grave. Both horses lost +flesh until they appeared like skeletons; and it was +decided to leave the carriage there. +</p> + +<p> +Nearly all the horses of the emigrants had died +for want of food and overwork, or both; and Mulhall +feared he would soon lose his if conditions did +not improve. He had lost one ox by straying; +another, lamed, was sold to a trader, and now a second +one had gone lame. It became necessary to reduce +one team to two yoke, or yoke up an unbroken cow +with the odd ox; the Squire chose the latter +alternative, with one team weakened. +</p> + +<p> +Though at the eastern line of the Oregon Country +when the summit of the Rocky Mountains was +crossed, they were not yet half way on the long +journey. Reaching the crest of the Continent at the +South Pass, they camped a short distance off the +Trail; and when morning came found banks of snow +in the hollows and on the northern slopes, and thin +ice in the camp bucket. +</p> + +<p> +A month later the party was struggling along +the banks of the Snake River, which had to be +crossed twice; and they were still confronted by the +Blue and Cascade Mountain ranges. Apparently it +was only a question of time when Mulhall would be +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P76"></a>76}</span> +compelled to leave one of the wagons; this he did at +the lower crossing of the Snake River, where two +young pioneers[<a id="chap03fn2text"></a><a href="#chap03fn2">2</a>] had lashed two wagon-boxes together, +and constructed a platform to enable them to run a +wagon onto it and cross the river without unloading. +</p> + +<p> +Mulhall soon arranged to send over the wagons by +this improvised ferry, swimming the oxen and +horses. Ben mounted one of the horses and rode +ahead as a decoy, while Craig and friendly helpers +urged the oxen into the river until deep water was +reached, when all followed Ben's lead and crossed +safely. While this was being done, a woman died +from exhaustion, leaving three little orphaned +children to the care of the stricken husband and +father—a pathetic incident which revived Kate's grief. +</p> + +<p> +Men were never more loyal to one another than +Ben and Craig were to Mulhall. From all appearances, +they might have been his own sons; Kate had +treated them as brothers and the whole outfit +including the little twins, were like one family. +</p> + +<p> +For several weeks Ben and Craig counseled between +themselves as to the advisability, or possible +necessity, of leaving father Mulhall after the last +crossing of the Snake River, and going ahead on foot. +Craig had carefully ascertained the amount of food +on hand and calculated the quantity used each day +to supply six persons constituting the party; and +demonstrated to his own mind there was an insufficient +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P77"></a>77}</span> +supply for the remainder of the trip, probably +at least another three weeks. +</p> + +<p> +"We ought to go ahead, Ben," Craig said in his +broad Scotch brogue, particularly when considering +grave subjects. "The two of us are consuming +one-third of the daily food," he continued; "and, Ben, +did you ever think of what an appalling calamity +of famine would have overtaken us all had it not +been for so many[<a id="chap03fn3text"></a><a href="#chap03fn3">3</a>] dying on the way?" +</p> + +<p> +"Won't you speak to father Mulhall about it?" +Ben hesitated to approach the Squire on the subject +lest he might think of the suggestion as a proposal +of desertion. "Well, I'll talk to him," Craig said, +seeing that Ben was reluctant to do so. +</p> + +<p> +When broached on the subject by Craig, the Squire +would not agree to it at all. The sacrifice and danger +to Craig and Ben was too great; better go upon short +rations and all keep together; leave one wagon and +kill one ox—"Anything rather than to have 'the +boys' take the risks and endure such hardships," he +said to Kate. +</p> + +<p> +That very morning Kate had given breakfast to +two "tramps," who had been without food for forty +hours, "Except a few grasshoppers, but not many," +as one of them, a lad of twelve,[<a id="chap03fn4text"></a><a href="#chap03fn4">4</a>] naively said, "they +were too hard to catch." +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P78"></a>78}</span> +</p> + +<p> +A near famine now confronted the whole of the +emigration; and finally all agreed that it was best +for the two to go ahead on foot as they had discussed, +for the young men could travel farther in one day +than the ox-team could in two. Before reaching a +final conclusion Ben and Kate consulted together, +keeping their own counsel as to what passed between +them. Ben and Craig had great respect for the +Squire—if indeed affection would not be the more +appropriate word; and it was with genuine feelings +of regret that they parted from him. +</p> + +<p> +On the fifth day, when it was estimated that they +were a hundred miles ahead of "father Mulhall," as +they now called him, the young men met the relief +train coming out from Portland to the rescue, and +arranged to have him supplied with such articles of +food as they knew Kate and he needed most. Mulhall +received the letter Ben had written and the +provisions with tears of affection for "my boys," as he +was fond of referring to them. +</p> + +<p> +The supplies sent out to relieve the pressing wants +of the incoming pioneers were not for sale, but for +relief. If a man could pay, all right—the money +received would be used to purchase more; but the +majority who were unable to do so, were supplied +without obligation as to future payment. Ben and +Craig soon felt their strength failing from reduced +rations; so when they heard of supply trains ahead, +they resumed their usual allowance, and soon +regained normal condition. +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P79"></a>79}</span> +</p> + +<p> +Knowing that she must be uneasy about him, Ben +wrote to his mother at the end of his journey, and +even before he slept under a roof. The trip had +taken nearly two months longer than expected; and +now he learned that another month would be +required to send a letter back to Missouri. Under +present circumstances he could not encourage Linda +to think of coming to him, or expect that he could +soon return to her. +</p> + +<p> +Would she conclude that his love for her had +declined, or lose faith in him if he wrote of the most +insuperable barrier that now lay between them? At the +time it occurred, he had written to Linda the facts of +Kate's and his adventure in crossing the Missouri. +The gossips had wagged their tongues and surmised +that because he had rescued Kate, she would feel +under obligations to marry him; and Squire Mulhall +ardently wished that that, or something else, would +bring about such a result. +</p> + +<p> +Ben and Kate were both annoyed, but could do +nothing to silence the busybodies; to deny it would +only whet their zeal. So much talk going the rounds +of the camp set Ben to wondering if the same gossip +prevailed in his old neighborhood; and if so whether +or not it had come to Linda's ears. +</p> + +<p> +In this perplexing mood Ben went to bed inside +a dwelling for the first time in more than half a year, +and woke up in the morning with the memory of +pleasant dreams of home and Linda. His anxiety to +secure a home in the new country had not abated +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P80"></a>80}</span> +one jot or tittle from the time he parted with her +on the memorable Sunday evening before starting +with Squire Mulhall for Oregon. The last words +from Linda, "I'll be true to you to the end, Ben," +still rang in his ears as if spoken but yesterday, and +had followed him across the greater part of the +continent. +</p> + +<p> +At the parting with Kate he had given up his +secret, reluctantly but prompted by intense loyalty to +the girl of his choice. If anything should happen +to him, he wanted Linda to know from Kate of his +undying love for her to the last; and from Kate's +own lips, or by letter from her, the senseless nature +of the gossip concerning them. +</p> + +<p> +Another matter he wished to confide to Kate—he +was going to Oregon to secure a home for Linda and +himself; and desired to make provision that Linda +should fall heir to it in the event that he should die +before they married. Ben was prompted to these +serious thoughts by the experience of being close to +death's door twice on the trip—once in the near +catastrophe while crossing the Missouri, and again at +the buffalo hunt, from both of which he had emerged +without serious consequences. +</p> + +<p> +He regretted to be parted from his mother for her +sake and from Linda for her sake, but took very little +thought for himself. The tenets of endless punishment +after death, widely taught in his boyhood days, +never found lodgment in his brain. He believed in +a God of love, not of vengeance; and while clinging +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P81"></a>81}</span> +to the present for the sake of those he loved, was +resigned at any time to pass to the future life. +</p> + +<p> +Douglas Craig and Benjamin Hardy had become +fast friends; their mutual trials and duties had +drawn them closer together as the journey progressed. +"There isn't a lazy bone in Craig's body," the Squire +said to Kate one day, to which she responded that +the same could be said of Ben. Mulhall readily +assented, saying that he had been blessed with "two of +the best boys God Almighty ever made;" and added, +"your mother thought the same, God bless her +memory." Kate made no response, but the tears that +came to her eyes at the mention of her mother's name +expressed a deep and abiding sorrow. +</p> + +<p> +In the morning Ben learned that it would be eight +days before the next mail to "the States," as the +pioneers were accustomed to speak of all the country +east of the Missouri River; and so did not write to +Linda as planned. +</p> + +<p> +"Ben, I've a notion to go with you to hunt a +claim," Craig said when he noticed the preparations +Ben was making for the trip. "I don't like the idea +of parting with you just now," he continued; "besides, +maybe it's best for me to take a claim anyway, +and not depend altogether upon working at my trade." +</p> + +<p> +And so the two "boys," who had come down the +Columbia River and to the southern part of the great +territory, started off in search of a home for each. +Mulhall had determined to go into the northern +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P82"></a>82}</span> +district of the Puget Sound; so they did not expect to +meet him until such time as they learned where he had +located. After many days of searching, the spot that +suited them was found, and a line agreed upon +between the two adjoining claims. +</p> + +<p> +"I golly," Ben said, "why can't we build one cabin +and locate it for the line to cut through the middle? +You can have your bed in one end, on your claim, +and I can have mine in the other end on my claim;" +and then he added, "if you want to work at your +trade a part of the time you would not lose your +residence; and if I"—. But Ben stopped there, for he +was near to revealing his secret, if he had not already +done so by his manner and confusion. +</p> + +<p> +The pact was sealed and the cabin built; and here +for the present we must leave our young friends to +trace the fortunes or misfortunes of Squire Mulhall +and his three girls. In due time also we shall learn +whether or not Ben could leave his claim before the +four years' residence required by the law to secure +a title; and whether Linda remained true to him +through all that time. +</p> + +<p> +When Ben and Craig passed out of sight over the +crest of the hill ahead, following the trail with packs +on their backs, Mulhall could control his emotion no +longer: and tears coursed down his cheeks as he +spoke in a tremulous voice to Kate of their noble +character and self sacrifices. Kate, more demonstrative +than her father, gave way without restraint to +manifestation of distress in voice and weeping. +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P83"></a>83}</span> +Observing the unusual scene, little Sarah joined with +childish soothing words to Kate and her father; but +the more she said the deeper their distress, until all +restraint was abandoned and the three were relieved +by tears and words of praise for the two "boys." +</p> + +<p> +David Mulhall, even though mild-mannered and +gentle, was a man with a stout heart, and fully +realized the gravity of the situation confronting him. It +was a race with famine and lingering starvation or +death. If he undertook to increase the speed of +travel as some had done, his oxen would probably +fail and leave him without a team; having noticed +several such instances, he resolved to pursue the even +tenor of his way. +</p> + +<p> +The first formidable barrier to be met was the +Blue Mountain ranges, which must be crossed at an +altitude of about 4,200 feet; that steep ascent could +not be avoided, and many outfits were stranded along +the slope of the mountain. To lighten the load in the +wagon, some clothing was packed on the horse Ned, +while the girls and the Squire walked. +</p> + +<p> +By a succession of short drives and long rests, +the summit was reached, though a long stretch of +rough roads and steep hills was still ahead. While +not hazardous, the descent into the plains extending +to the west and north was tiresome and tedious; it +presented a scene of enchantment seldom equaled—the +whole covered by a carpet of luxurious grass, +dotted here and there with bands of Indian ponies +and tepees of Indian villages. +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P84"></a>84}</span> +</p> + +<p> +Mulhall was now about twenty-five miles from +the site of the Whitman Missionary Station, where +help was given to all in need until the fateful day +of the massacre, November 29, 1847. Here, at the +foot of the mountain, Mulhall left the trail of Ben +and Craig, who had followed the Columbia route +down the river leading to Portland, and joined the +gathering hosts of the migration along the new trail +northward to Puget Sound. +</p> + +<p> +It was a daring and momentous decision. Two +formidable barriers were in the track—the mighty +Columbia, the second river in length and volume of +water on the Continent, and the Cascade Range, +which proved to be the most formidable mountain +obstruction of the whole trip, far greater than that of +the Rockies. +</p> + +<p> +As they passed the site of the former Whitman +Mission, Mulhall tarried to view the locality which +had witnessed the activities of Dr. Marcus Whitman +and his gifted wife, Narcissa Prentiss Whitman, in +their efforts to implant the Christian religion in the +breasts of the Indians, and where they had relieved +the suffering of many pioneer emigrants during +eleven years of heroic struggle to maintain their +mission. The day of the supreme sacrifice came +unheralded, as recalled by the grass-grown graves of the +thirteen victims, which Mulhall viewed with bared +head in the presence of the three daughters, who +had so recently witnessed the closing of the earth +over the precious remains of their mother. When +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P85"></a>85}</span> +shown the small grave and told the story of the +drowning of the only child of the lonesome mother, +Narcissa Whitman, Sarah's grief again became +inconsolable, and only with great difficulty was she +persuaded to leave the sacred grounds. +</p> + +<p> +The Columbia River, more than a mile wide and +with a swift current, was directly in their path some +thirty miles away. How they were to cross was not +yet definitely known, but it was the general belief +that at the Hudson's Bay Company's fort, situated +on the bank of the river, there would be some means +of getting over it. +</p> + +<p> +After two more days of driving, Mulhall drew up +to the camp of more than two hundred detained +emigrants. The first train to arrive, consisting of 148 +people with thirty wagons, finding no means of crossing, +undertook to build a boat large enough to carry +a loaded wagon or several oxen. +</p> + +<p> +Driftwood lodged on a sand-bar above the fort +furnished the material, and a whip-saw was set to work +cutting the lumber; it ran day and night, and in +eleven days the boat was launched. Then the first +crossing was made, and in four more days all were +safely across, after the loss of fifteen days of precious +time. +</p> + +<p> +Whether or not snow in the mountains would block +the trail, weighed heavily upon the minds of the +whole company. The abundant grass in that locality +had greatly strengthened the oxen and enabled them +to make good progress, though as no wagons had +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P86"></a>86}</span> +gone on ahead, it was necessary at times to stop and +open the way. Measured by the current of the river +they must follow, there were still about 200 miles +between the crossing of the Columbia and the +settlements on Puget Sound, about 100 of the whole +following mountain streams. +</p> + +<p> +Evidences of that drive through the gorges had +been left, sometimes on sand-bars with rounded +boulders imbedded in the sand, and then in the shallow +streams. Other marks had been made on slippery +boulders, until deep water compelled the emigrants[<a id="chap03fn5text"></a><a href="#chap03fn5">5</a>] +to cross the river or open a road through the timber +and underbrush—one alternative and then another, +until 62 crossings of the river were thus crudely +recorded. +</p> + +<p> +Just beyond the summit, a rim of almost perpendicular +rock was encountered, so steep that it was +impossible to drive the wagons down the declivity. +Three steers were killed, and their hides cut into +strips to lengthen the ropes assembled from the +train; in that way thirty wagons were let down the +mountain with the loss of only one of them. The +tree used as a snubbing post was deeply encircled by +the wear of the ropes and finally killed; but it stood +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P87"></a>87}</span> +sentinel over the scene for another quarter of a +century. +</p> + +<p> +When Mulhall emerged from the deep forests of +the foothills west of the Cascade Mountain range, he +was fairly dazed at the sight that confronted him; +and could scarcely believe his eyes. The evergreen +trees were so tall and dense that they obscured the +light and made it difficult to read common print at +the noon hour, while the bright shining sun spread +light and warmth over the tops of the forest giants. +All through the mountains, the eyes of the pioneers +had become accustomed to a lesser light than they +had encountered in the open country. +</p> + +<p> +That forest is one of the greatest and most notable +on the Continent or in the world. Giant firs grow +to a height of three hundred feet; large numbers of +them measure six feet, with here and there one eight +and in rare cases even twelve feet, in diameter. A +monster tree fifteen and a half feet through at the +base, and probably a thousand years old, could be +seen as one laboriously followed the trail. +</p> + +<p> +The mind of the Squire was affected in just about +the same way as if he had suddenly emerged from a +dark room into bright sunlight, with his eyes dimmed +by the glare; it required time to recover and grasp +the change. He had arrived at what is locally known +as "Elk Plains" on the eastern margin of the famed +Nisqually Plains, a wide extent of prairie country +extending to the Nisqually River, twenty miles away +to the south and nearly that distance to Puget Sound +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P88"></a>88}</span> +on the west. The whole intervening space was +interspersed with numerous small, clear lakes with pebbly +bottoms into which the creeks emptied their limpid +waters. +</p> + +<p> +Occasionally a creek would issue from a lake fed +by springs in the bottom; in other cases there was +no inlet or outlet, and yet the water was as pure and +sparkling as that running in the creeks. Here and +there were small groves of evergreen timber surrounded +by the prairies to lend enchantment to the +landscape, a veritable fairy-land in the eyes of the +wearied pioneers. Unexpectedly, off to the east, a +large number of sheep were seen quietly grazing on +the stunted grass that covered the soil. +</p> + +<p> +Starting to drive toward one of the lakes, Mulhall +suddenly came upon a herd of cattle that fled at the +sight of his wagon and took refuge in a near-by grove. +Kate was sure she saw three deer fleeing with the +cattle—the latter now as wild as any creature that +roamed the plains. At about the same time, a band +of Indian ponies was suddenly encountered, as the +outfit rounded a point of timber; the wild scene was +then re-enacted as the ponies, with heads and tails +in the air, snorted and ran. +</p> + +<p> +The sight of the deer fired Kate's imagination; she +thought of the rifle in the wagon, but could not stop +to try her hand on the game of that region. She +thought of Ben, who had saved her life—and Pelton +too. No flowers could grow in the deep forests; but +here on the prairies and margins of the lakes and +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P89"></a>89}</span> +creeks many species, the wild rose predominating, +grew to perfection. The little sisters eagerly picked +some of the first flowers they had found for many +weeks, and brought them to Kate as they had +formerly done to their mother. +</p> + +<hr> + +<p class="t4"> +Photograph from Washington Historical Society, Tacoma +</p> + +<p class="capcenter quote"> +<a id="img-088"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-088.jpg" alt="MONUMENT TO BE SEEN ALONG THE CLOVER CREEK HIGHWAY, ABOUT TEN MILES SOUTH OF TACOMA, WASHINGTON"> +<br> +MONUMENT TO BE SEEN ALONG THE CLOVER CREEK <br> +HIGHWAY, ABOUT TEN MILES SOUTH OF <br> +TACOMA, WASHINGTON +</p> + +<p class="quote"> +Here, in Mr. Meeker's story, Kate Mulhall unyoked her +oxen for the last +time: see page <a href="#P89">89</a>. The inscription on the monument +will be found on the +reverse of this leaf. +</p> + +<p class="t3 quote"> +[Over] +</p> + +<hr> + +<p class="t3"> + Fac-simile of inscription upon the monument shown on the reverse<br> + of this leaf:<br> +</p> + +<p class="t3"> + OCTOBER<br> + 1853 1913<br> +</p> + +<p class="t3"> + COMMEMORATING<br> + THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY<br> + OF THE ARRIVAL OF THE<br> + FIRST EMIGRANT TRAIN<br> + COMING DIRECT TO THE<br> + PUGET SOUND VIA THE<br> + NATCHESS PASS. THEY<br> + MADE THEIR LAST CAMP<br> + OCT. 8TH 1853 ON THE<br> + BANK OF CLOVER CREEK<br> + THREE FOURTHS OF<br> + A MILE SOUTH OF THIS<br> + MONUMENT<br> + ERECTED BY<br> + WASHINGTON STATE HIST-<br> + ORICAL SOCIETY—PIERCE COUNTY<br> + PIONEER SOCIETY MEMBERS—DE-<br> + SCENDANTS AND FRIENDS OF<br> + THE NATCHESS EMIGRANT TRAIN<br> +</p> + +<p class="t3 quote"> +[Over] +</p> + +<hr> + +<p> +The Squire soon came to the camp[<a id="chap03fn6text"></a><a href="#chap03fn6">6</a>] on the margin +of a creek, where he found more than half of the +pioneers who had gone on ahead; and here, about +twelve miles from Puget Sound, Kate unyoked her +oxen for the last time. A fine carcass of beef had +been sent there for them by the Chief Factor of the +Hudson's Bay Company with the message, "divide +this among yourselves;" and a near-by farmer +brought a wagon-load of vegetables to give out "free +for everybody." Just then a team arrived from the +fort with sugar, salt and other provisions, of which +they were greatly in need, and told the pioneers to +help themselves. +</p> + +<p> +All day and well into the night stragglers came in, +some with teams and others with packs on their +backs—all tired and hungry. Fearing that their teams +might be unable to climb the hill out of the valley, a +few had stopped at the last river crossing, and early +next morning an expedition was sent to assist them. +</p> + +<p> +As evening fell, all were safely camped together, +with the consolation that not one life had been lost +in the struggle over the mountain range. All of the +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P90"></a>90}</span> +148 attended a prayer-meeting held by the light of +the camp-fires; the pent-up feelings of emotion were +usually accompanied by silent tears of joy, though +some gave way to boisterous manifestations of thankfulness +for deliverance from the hazards of the trail. +</p> + +<p> +Kate's spirits had risen; but not so with her father, +who had made the perilous trip to secure a home and +a farm. This charming region was suitable only for +grazing, and besides was in possession of a foreign +corporation. He was now in a strange land, without +shelter for his family of girls or ready money, and +so far as he knew without credit; with winter +approaching, he could not stay in camp very long, and +as he said afterwards, "I was stumped to know +what to do." +</p> + +<p> +A large majority of those who crossed the mountains +with him were in the same state of perplexity. +"I do not believe in that old saying, 'misery loves +company.' To be sure, I did love that company of +noble men and women, but not because they faced +the trials that confronted me," was spoken many +years later in a reminiscent mood. Mulhall could +not help being relieved at the happiness of the girls, +especially the twins or "little buds," as he fondly +called them. +</p> + +<p> +Sarah had recovered from the shock that so +depressed her upon the death of her mother, and would +often refer to her with tears of affection. Not being +old enough to enter deeply into or think seriously of +the cares of life, the girls often joyfully roamed the +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P91"></a>91}</span> +byways of the trail in search of flowers or anything +new. +</p> + +<p> +"Mamma, what kind of a bird is this?" both asked +at once. They had now become accustomed to calling +Kate "mamma," and she had not discouraged them +in doing so. +</p> + +<p> +"That's a young robin," Kate answered, as she +held the little bird in the palm of her hand; "where +did you get it?" "Mayn't we keep it as a pet?" +Sarah anxiously inquired. +</p> + +<p> +"Yes," Kate answered, "but not as a prisoner;" +and added, "it would be better off with its mother, +don't you think?" +</p> + +<p> +"But its mother wasn't there; we found it on the +grass and it couldn't fly," both again spoke at once. +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, but I am sure the mother was taking watchful +care of her little one," said Kate. The girls had +set their hearts on having a pet, but agreed that it +was not right to take the young bird away, and +cheerfully returned it to the spot where they found +it; after watching awhile they saw the mother bird +come and feed the little one. +</p> + +<p> +The same evening the girls fairly raced to see +who should first tell the story of an apron full of +nuts they had found, and now exhibited them to +"mam-ma." "Where did you find them, girls?" Kate +asked. "In a hollow tree, the cutest little place you +ever saw," Bess answered. +</p> + +<p> +"But that was the winter store of a squirrel; would +it be right to rob the treasure of the squirrel, which +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P92"></a>92}</span> +might starve before winter ended?" The girls +hadn't thought of it in that light; next morning +without any further word from "mamma," they returned +the nuts to the "cute squirrel's nest," and then started +off for new adventures and discoveries. All of them +were greatly benefited by the vigorous outdoor life; +the father was delighted to see the rosy cheeks of the +little girls and the returned sparkle in Kate's eyes. +</p> + +<p> +"I have in my pocket a document that would be +worth thousands of dollars back in Missouri; but +here, where there are no banks, it is not worth the +paper it is written on. What is the good of it if one +can't get the money the writing calls for? No more +than a pile of gold two thousand miles away from +anything to eat," he said ruefully to Kate. +</p> + +<p> +He was not going to be idle; but the more Mulhall +looked over the near-by country, the less he liked +it. Passing nearby the Hudson's Bay Company's +fort he decided to go in and thank the Chief Factor +for the beef sent to the pioneers; and to his surprise +found a large stock of well assorted merchandise on +the shelves of the store and numerous customers, +principally Indians, buying or bartering furs for +goods. +</p> + +<p> +Asked if he wanted to purchase anything, he +answered that he had no money, whereupon the clerk, +Edward Huggins, surmising that he had something +to barter, suggested that he see the Chief Factor. The +Squire hadn't the least thought of buying anything +when he went into the fort; but he did want to see +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P93"></a>93}</span> +the head official and thank him for the beef. He +met Dr. William F. Tolmie, a slightly corpulent man +with flowing locks and an almost florid complexion, +who spoke with a Scotch brogue and had the bearing +of a kindly gentleman. +</p> + +<p> +"Oh, that's nothing at all," he said in response to +Mulhall's expression of thanks; "you could have had +much more than that if you needed it." As the +thought of the paper in his pocket and the possibility +of using it to establish a credit flashed through his +mind, he produced the precious document and handed +it to the Factor. +</p> + +<p> +A look of surprise followed the examination, for +it represented a large sum for that time and place. +"Do you want the money on this?" the head official +quietly asked, to which Mulhall—fairly stunned and +for once off his guard—replied, "Not all of it now, +but I do urgently need some immediate supplies." "You +can have either supplies or cash as may best +suit your convenience—all of it, or part as you may +wish, though we would be perfectly willing that you +take all of it." +</p> + +<p> +After a dinner with the Factor while dressed in his +well-worn plainsman's garb, which the host appeared +not to notice, the business was consummated; and +Mulhall received from the great Company a +certificate of deposit payable on demand. A cart was +loaded with supplies and dispatched to his camp, and +a servant was directed to take him to it. Mulhall +arrived there first, and found Kate a little dejected, as +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P94"></a>94}</span> +the flour was all gone and only vegetables were in +sight for the coming meal. +</p> + +<p> +She was surprised when the Squire leaned over +her and imparted a kiss of joy at having rescued his +little family from want, while the girls stood near-by +in silent wonder. The pressing situation had been +carefully concealed from the children, who were now +accustomed to being limited in the variety of food; +and when told that they could not have bread for +supper, thought nothing of it. They were always +associated with the memory of the cherished wife +and mother now peacefully sleeping in the sands of +the Sweetwater Valley near the summit of the Rocky +Mountains; and "let them be happy" ran in the +minds of both their father and Kate. +</p> + +<p> +Within two years after Mulhall had completed this +to him important arrangement, a very different scene +was enacted a few miles distant. The American +Government at that time began dealing with the +Indians in the country west of the Cascade Mountains +as tribes by making a treaty[<a id="chap03fn7text"></a><a href="#chap03fn7">7</a>] with them; and a sorry +mess was made of it by adopting the policy of driving +the hardest possible bargains regardless of the future +welfare of the Indian or the white race. Before +another year elapsed a small war followed, with +massacres of whites and Indians alike, a situation in +which Mulhall became deeply involved. +</p> + +<p> +The great Hudson's Bay Company that so long +ruled the Oregon Country was an English corporation, +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P95"></a>95}</span> +with headquarters in London; it was incorporated +May 2, 1670, for the purpose of trading with +the Indians of North America. Owing its origin +and growth primarily to the fur business, it did +not undertake to develop the agricultural possibilities +of the country, a policy which had a far-reaching +effect upon the history of that region. +</p> + +<p> +Had the Company encouraged settlement, as the +Americans did when they arrived from the eastern +and central western States, the final solution of the +question as to which Government would come into +final ownership of the Pacific Northwest might, and +probably would, have been different. It is generally +believed that the firm hold of the American home +builders influenced the minds of the English statesmen +to yield in the final negotiations; they could not +very well displace the large numbers of Americans +who came to stay and build up the country. +</p> + +<p> +Wishing to avoid legal complications in the region +where Mulhall and his comrades had landed, the +management of the Company had organized a subsidiary +under the name of the Puget Sound Agricultural +Company; and thus thinly disguised, occupied the +Nisqually Plains with their sheep, cattle and horses, +plowed the fields and erected cabins, but for +occupancy by employes instead of independent home +builders. The Factors (managers) of the Corporation +were cultured gentlemen, known for their fair +dealings alike with Indians and white people, following +the policy of the parent organization; and it was +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P96"></a>96}</span> +with the head official in that district that the Squire +had dealt. +</p> + +<p> +After the arrival of the cart loaded with supplies +from the fort, Kate sent part of them to several +pioneer families that yet remained in camp, and then +revised the plan for their own dinner. Most of the +big company had scattered, some to the timber camps, +others to the shores of the Sound where shell fish +abounded and a few to claims, already chosen, upon +which they proposed to make their future homes. +</p> + +<p> +The first and most urgent problem was that of +shelter for so many new arrivals. In one notable +instance a large hollow cedar stump served as "home" +for a family of six until the husband and father was +killed by the Indians. The pathos of that story, with +many a parallel in American history, is mentioned +here to illustrate the difficulties and dangers +encountered by the emigration of which the Squire and +his family were a part. +</p> + +<p> +After dinner Mulhall and Kate took counsel far +into the night, while the little girls were sleeping on +their beds of boughs as peacefully as in a palace. +The faint yelping of a pack of coyotes in the distance +could be heard; and the cougar (closely allied to the +American panther) that infested the country, was +abroad seeking his prey. But Kate and her father +paid no heed except to the all important subject as to +their future; and it was midnight before a final +conclusion was reached. +</p> + +<p> +The opening of a farm under the varied and often +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P97"></a>97}</span> +trying conditions prevailing in that region was very +different from what they had been accustomed to in +Missouri; and Mulhall was past the meridian of life. +Why should he undergo a long period of toil to secure +a competence, when he was possessed of sufficient +means to live without the sacrifices incident to pioneer +life on a new homestead? +</p> + +<p> +Kate said, "Let's go to the county town where the +girls can attend school and there are neighbors;" her +father was of the same mind and that question was +speedily settled. Then they thought of Ben Hardy, +to whom Mulhall had promised one of the teams upon +their arrival in Oregon as extra compensation for +his services in crossing over the trail. Not a word +had passed between them about that understanding +at the parting of the Snake River, after which the +Squire was reduced to one team, and it was doubtful +whether or not he could complete the long journey +with the one that was left. +</p> + +<p> +"If I only knew where to reach him, I would send +him enough money to buy a team," said Mulhall. +Ben had gone into southern Oregon while the Squire +had moved into the northern part, several hundred +miles away; they might be five hundred or even a +thousand miles apart, for Oregon was a big country +without roads or the means of speedy communication. +Where Ben had settled, or whither he had gone, was +a problem difficult to solve. +</p> + +<p> +Kate said, "I hear there is a newspaper in Oregon; +let's advertise." Mulhall thought a better plan +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P98"></a>98}</span> +would be to secure a list of post offices and address +a letter for Ben to all of them; "Anyway," the +Squire said, "we must not leave a stone unturned +till we find the boy." Both retired to sleep and +forgot their fortunes or misfortunes, but with a firm +resolution to find Ben if they could. +</p> + +<p> +Following the decision to remove to the county +town, Mulhall soon purchased a nearly finished house +at the county seat. The thriving village, built upon +a slope facing west and fronting on a wide bay of +Puget Sound, presented a charming view of the +distant range of mountains bordering on the sea with +perpetual snow-mantled peaks; the landscape of dark +evergreen forest covered the islands and mainland in +the nearer view. +</p> + +<p> +The wide bay was dotted with Indian canoes floating +on the tide twice each day; and at intervals a +ship would pass or drop anchor in front of the village +to discharge freight or barter for a cargo of timber. +The fort, a group of log cabins situated a short +distance back from the water-front and out of sight +of it, commanded a splendid view of the landscape. +</p> + +<p> +In the farther background, west of the Cascade +Range, was Mount Rainier, completely encircled with +a wonderland of timber and flowers—once seen never +forgotten, and always cherished as the sight of a +life-time. That majestic mountain of the American +Continent, "kingly and alone," a great dome separated +from the mountain range, standing nearly three miles +high and covered with perpetual snow, is the father +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P99"></a>99}</span> +of seven rivers and twenty-eight glaciers, and has a +base of several hundred square miles. The alpine +flower beds are simply wonderful to contemplate; +according to John Muir, there are two hundred square +miles between the timber and the summer snow-line +circling the dome, with literally several thousand +varieties of flowers, some of which force themselves +up through the receding snow. +</p> + +<p> +Kate at once took up the task of searching for +Ben. Writing the first two words, "Dear Ben," she +stopped to ask herself might he not think she penned +them with a deeper meaning than merely a friendly +beginning of a letter? However, Ben was dear to +her; he had saved her life, had been loyal to her +father, was always kind to all, industrious and +truthful. +</p> + +<p> +Before she had time to fully analyze what was +passing in her mind, Kate began to realize that she +was thinking of Ben more than as a brother. Her +pen hovered over the paper; but she finally laid it +down with nothing more than the two words already +written. That evening at supper Kate asked her +father if it would not be best for him to write to +Ben. +</p> + +<p> +"Oh, no! You know I scarcely ever write a letter; +besides I am very busy on the house," replied +Mulhall. "You write, Kate, it's just as well." The +Squire did not have the least suspicion of why she +should want him to write to Ben instead of doing so +herself. If he had, the more he would have preferred +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P100"></a>100}</span> +that Kate write, for he sincerely wished that she +should marry the "dear boy," as he always thought +of him. +</p> + +<p> +Kate did not undertake to write to Ben that night, +and the paper with the two words on it remained on +her table untouched. The idea that Ben might +interpret them in a different way from what she intended +would not down, while she half realized that they +meant more to her than she was willing to acknowledge. +Not for mountains of gold would she betray +the secret Ben had confided to her, and stand between +his love for her very dear friend, Linda Shaeffer. +</p> + +<p> +But Linda was more than two thousand miles +away, with what Kate thought an insuperable +barrier between them. The paper with the words "Dear +Ben," was kept for several days without another word +being added to it; and in fact the letter was never +written. Kate hesitated to trust herself. +</p> + +<p> +Hadn't she now abandoned all hope for the fruition +of her first love, with a pang of regret and +bitterness as she thought of Pelton? She would resolve +never to marry, but hereafter devote her life to +altruistic work for young girls. Kate had no knowledge +of Isaac's resolution, while at that very moment he, +with the one absorbing purpose in his mind, was +feverishly carrying out plans to make the trip to +Oregon and win her for his wife. +</p> + +<p> +A few days later an advertisement appeared in +the two Oregon newspapers asking Benjamin Hardy +to communicate with David Mulhall at a certain post +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P101"></a>101}</span> +office, and learn something of interest to him. As +weeks passed without response, the Squire and Kate +were greatly worried, and wondered if some accident +had befallen him. She then began writing to +postmasters with no better results. +</p> + +<p> +Kate was almost in despair. Might it not be +possible that he had found a good location, taken up +a claim and then started back to Missouri for Linda? +More weeks passed, then months; and yet not a word +came. There was ever a warm corner in her heart +for the playmate and companion of bygone school +days; and she would never relax her efforts to +unravel the mystery of his strange disappearance. +</p> + +<p> +Ben was hard at work, in ignorance of the search +for him; but often wondered what had befallen father +Mulhall, as he always thought of the Squire, Kate +and the little girls after their separation on the Snake +River. He had written to Linda, but months elapsed +and no answer had come. Though often alone in his +cabin with only one neighbor in sight, he was too busy +to be lonesome; Craig was off working at his trade +most of the time while Ben was making improvements +on both of their claims. +</p> + +<p> +Once a month Craig would bring supplies to the +cabin, stay over Sunday and then be off again. They +sorely needed a team; and Craig was gradually saving +so that they might be able to buy one by planting +time in the spring. Ben gave no thought to the +understanding by which he was to get a team from +Mulhall; he would have rejoiced to hear of the safe +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P102"></a>102}</span> +arrival and good fortune of the kind-hearted family +which had treated him so tenderly in his sickness +and, as he believed, saved his life. +</p> + +<p> +Ben had written a second letter to Linda, receiving +no reply; but attributed the delay to the slow and +uncertain mail service. He was now in vigorous +health, gaining in weight to surprise even himself; +the pale spare face disappeared and a ruddy +complexion took its place. Pure Oregon air, simple diet +and steady work had developed him so that an old-time +acquaintance would hardly have known him. +</p> + +<p> +At last a letter written in a spirit of gloomy +forebodings, came from Linda. She had heard of the +misfortunes of the Mulhalls, and could not see how +she could ever reach Oregon; but remembered her +vow to be ever loyal and true to Ben no matter what +happened. +</p> + +<hr> + +<p class="capcenter"> +<a id="img-102"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-102.jpg" alt="REDUCED TO A HAND CART"> +<br> +REDUCED TO A HAND CART +</p> + +<p class="quote"> +A considerable number of Mormons traveled to +Salt Lake City as shown in +this illustration; described on pages <a href="#P48">48-49</a>. +</p> + +<hr> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a id="chap03fn1"></a> +[<a href="#chap03fn1text">1</a>] While somewhat unusual to insert a quotation +in a work of this character, +no better description of the difficulties and dangers +of crossing the Platte in +pioneer times has been, or is ever likely to be written. E.M. +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a id="chap03fn2"></a> +[<a href="#chap03fn2text">2</a>] Edward J. Allen and Ezra Meeker, the author of this +historical narrative.—Editor. +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a id="chap03fn3"></a> +[<a href="#chap03fn3text">3</a>] It is estimated that fully 5,000 died that year on the +Oregon Trail. +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a id="chap03fn4"></a> +[<a href="#chap03fn4text">4</a>] The author knew the lad who made the remark and of his +experience; he was afterward a successful merchant in +Tacoma, Washington. +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a id="chap03fn5"></a> +[<a href="#chap03fn5text">5</a>] The author personally knew a large majority of the people +in that train, several of whom became prominent in the affairs +of the Territory just founded, among them the actual +personalities represented in this story by David Mulhall and his +daughter Kate. Of the 148 comprising it, not one of the +adults is now left, and only two or three of the younger +members who vividly remember these events; their generation has +nearly passed, but the memories of their deeds fortunately +remain. E.M. +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a id="chap03fn6"></a> +[<a href="#chap03fn6text">6</a>] A granite monument, suitably inscribed, erected by the +State of Washington to perpetuate the memory and location +of this camp, attests the importance of the event. +See illustration and inscription inserted here. E.M. +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a id="chap03fn7"></a> +[<a href="#chap03fn7text">7</a>] The Medicine Creek Treaty, December 26, 1854. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap04"></a></p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P103"></a>103}</span> +</p> + +<h2> +CHAPTER IV +</h2> + +<p class="hang2"> +A MASSACRE AND A WAR; KATE MULHALL, DEPUTY +SHERIFF; A RACE FOR A WIFE; THE WEDDING +AND CHIVAREE; A DELAYED AND ADVENTUROUS +HONEYMOON ON PUGET SOUND. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p> +The great body of pioneers just arrived, like +those who had preceded them, were honest and +earnest Christian people, though as in all +movements of large numbers of men and women, +there were a few mere adventurers. Some left their +former abodes for the good of the country and their +own safety; others had fled from the consequences of +unhappy marriages or acts of indiscretion, and though +seldom criminals, preferred to let the past life fall +into oblivion. +</p> + +<p> +So a "Mr. Smith" one might meet in the new +community may have been Mr. Jones before leaving his +former place of residence. These were not +necessarily bad men in the common meaning of that word, +but were making a new start, generally with the +firm purpose of leading upright lives in the future. +The reason for referring to this phase of pioneer life +will appear later. +</p> + +<p> +Many thousands of Indians roamed through the +country at the time of Mulhall's settlement in the +new land of opportunity. A friendly feeling then +prevailed between the races as such, and instances +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P104"></a>104}</span> +of sincere friendship between individual Indians and +whites were not uncommon. This ought never to +have been disturbed. +</p> + +<p> +The honorable policy of the Hudson's Bay Company +had won the confidence of the Indians by always +keeping promises and giving fair value in trading +with them; and they were inclined to believe in the +rectitude of white people in general. Unfortunately +this good opinion was soon changed to one of distrust +and hatred. +</p> + +<p> +Agents of the American Government came into the +country to make what may, by courtesy, be called +"treaties" with the natives. The simple-minded and +unsuspecting Indians were overreached, inveigled +into surrendering their rights to practically their +entire hunting grounds,[<a id="chap04fn1text"></a><a href="#chap04fn1">1</a>] and otherwise outrageously +wronged. Indeed, when the nature of these transactions +became known at Washington, the Government +made restitution so far as possible, but too late to +avert a cruel conflict. +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P105"></a>105}</span> +</p> + +<p> +That followed a massacre on October 28, 1855, by +infuriated Indians of innocent pioneers—men, +women and children—thirty miles away. A friendly +native brought the appalling news to Mulhall during +the night of the same day the tragedy occurred. +Consternation reigned in the little village, the people +not knowing to what extent the Indians might go in +wreaking vengeance upon the white race. +</p> + +<p> +Measures of defense were immediately taken by +the villagers as best they could but they were not very +effective. A log cabin that sheltered and protected +many others besides the owner and his family was +soon built; and is still preserved in the village where +Mulhall dwelt, seventy years after the event. +</p> + +<p> +A breach which at once occurred between the military +authorities and the civil officials nearly came to +a clash of arms; confusion reigned supreme, and +conditions verged on anarchy. The military, though +now obliged to wage war against the belligerent +Indians, condemned various acts of the civilians which +brought on an unnecessary conflict. Overnight Mulhall, +it might be said by natural selection, became +Sheriff. +</p> + +<p> +By obeying orders from the military headquarters, +which ran counter to those of the civil court, he was +arrested for contempt, carried off to another county +and confined. Before being taken away he slipped a +paper into Kate's hand, saying in a low voice, +"Conceal it quick," which she did. +</p> + +<p> +After her father's departure, when immediate +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P106"></a>106}</span> +danger of further interference had passed, she opened +the letter; and to her surprise found it contained an +appointment as Deputy Sheriff during his absence. +It was a critical situation, in which she held the keys +of the Court House and the jail, and possession of +the premises. +</p> + +<p> +Would the opposition use force? and carry her off +as they had Sheriff Mulhall? The military commander +said they should not, and sent a guard to protect +her at the jail, while a number of citizens rallied +to her support. Before morning the excitement +quieted down, cooler counsels prevailed, and she was +able to safely leave for her home. +</p> + +<p> +Kate found the little sisters terrified, and their +eyes reddened by weeping during most of the night +for father and their "mamma." They did not go to +school the next day, but accompanied her back to the +jail where all had dinner together. By her tact and +courage, Kate soon became the heroine of both the +military and civil factions, as well as of the village; +and conducted the office without opposition until the +release of her father. This brief reference to a +strange incident of the old frontier throws an +additional light upon the character of Kate Mulhall, and +is at the same time an interesting glimpse of pioneer +life. +</p> + +<p> +The jails of that day were without ventilation, +sanitary conveniences or pretense of decency; all +prisoners, civil and criminal alike, were usually +huddled together in one room like sheep in a pen. Under +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P107"></a>107}</span> +these conditions it is not strange that the Squire's +incarceration soon began to tell upon his health and +strength. +</p> + +<p class="thought"> +* * * +</p> + +<p> +Kate and her father were about a thousand miles +out on the Oregon Trail when Isaac Pelton, still in +Missouri, adopted a definite plan of action. He had +discreetly kept his own counsel, planted the crops as +usual and pursued the even tenor of his way as if +no changes were impending. +</p> + +<p> +One Saturday evening he mounted Ned and left +home without informing any one where he was going, +or how long he would be gone; and traveled all +night to the county seat of Harrison County, +adjoining the State of Iowa on the North. His mission +was to buy a few acres to give him legal standing +as a landholder in that county; this done, he +returned as mysteriously as he had gone. +</p> + +<p> +In its next issue, the <i>Gazette</i>, the local county +paper, published an item to the effect that Isaac Pelton +had bought land in Harrison County, Missouri, and +was about to remove to his new home. In the same +issue appeared an advertisement offering for sale all +his holdings of real or personal property, but not +including his slaves and teams. +</p> + +<p> +Midsummer had just passed and harvest begun +when Pelton and his three negroes left La Fayette +County, in which he had lived so long; there was no +molestation, or even a faint suspicion of what had +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P108"></a>108}</span> +prompted the move. Harrison County contained over +ten thousand white inhabitants and only twenty-five +slaves; upon arrival there, he filed his manumitting +paper for record freeing the three, and came out of +the Court House to receive congratulations wherever +he went. +</p> + +<p> +Andrew and Jennie were in blissful ignorance of +their master's intention to liberate them; and Pelton +had been very careful not to drop a hint of it, acting +on the principle that the only sure way to keep a +secret is to say nothing about it to any one. So now, +when the long resolution was an accomplished fact, +he felt a heavy burden lifted from his shoulders, and +was in a mood of exultation for having performed a +duty and accomplishing what he had so long +contemplated. +</p> + +<p> +The first thing to do, however, was to break the +news to Andrew and Jennie. He was curious to see +how they would take it, but was not prepared for +the surprise that followed. +</p> + +<p> +"My Gawd-amighty, Massa, what'll I do?" exclaimed +Andrew. "You turn me out on the world to +take care of myself and Jennie and Margie? I hain't +got no sense; I hain't got no nothin. Jennie, honey, +what'll we do? Massa, I love you; I dun want to go +way." +</p> + +<p> +Pelton had anticipated a joyous scene to follow the +news of their freedom, but there was nothing but +outcries and lamentations. That was an exceptional +case, though one like it occurred in the present State +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P109"></a>109}</span> +of Washington, where a slave refused to leave his +master; after a lapse of years, during which the +infamous law debarring the negro from holding land +was repealed, he was finally rewarded by inheriting +the property. +</p> + +<p> +After the first outburst of grief, and upon Pelton's +assurance that he could stay with him as long as he +lived and that no one could take Jennie or Margie +from him, Andrew shouted with joy and threw his +arms around his old master to express his ecstasy. +A new light had shone upon him. +</p> + +<p> +Just before the falling of the leaves in the autumn +after the departure of Squire Mulhall for Oregon, +Isaac wrote to Kate a frank declaration of his love, +and enclosed a certified copy of the court record +confirming the manumission of the three slaves as stated +in his letter. He was restless in the new environment, +at best only temporary; and counted with impatience +the days and weeks, and finally the months, +awaiting a response from Kate. +</p> + +<p> +None came. After investigating the reported +wreck of a mail steamer, he became convinced that +the letter had been lost; and late in the midwinter +following her departure for Oregon, wrote a second +one. +</p> + +<p> +"Kate, come here," Squire Mulhall said one day +soon after receiving mail by the semi-monthly +steamer and pointing to an article in the local paper +from his old neighborhood in Missouri, "Do you see +that?" It read, "Isaac Pelton has set his three +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P110"></a>110}</span> +slaves free and removed to Harrison County, near +the border of Iowa." +</p> + +<p> +Mulhall was surprised when his daughter at once +left his presence without making any comment or +showing interest in the item he had just read. Kate +knew that she could not control her emotions, and in +the solitude of her room gave way to self denunciation +for her attitude when Isaac visited their cabin +before they left for the Oregon Country. +</p> + +<p> +During all the trials of the long journey over the +Oregon Trail and the anxieties afterward in their +new home, the thought of Pelton would become upper-most +in her mind in spite of all efforts to banish it. +Now that he was no longer a slaveholder, she could +cherish a sentiment for him even though unaccompanied +with hope that they would ever meet again. +</p> + +<p> +Finally, after nearly a year from their parting in +the Missouri cabin, Pelton's second letter arrived. +Kate's emotions can better be imagined than +described. Her hopes had been all but extinguished; +and now to have them suddenly revived came almost +as a shock of pain, though mingled with joy. +</p> + +<p> +Kate did not answer at once; anyhow it would be +nearly a fortnight before another mail would be +dispatched to "the States." A momentous question +involving the future of her own life was to be decided; +and as the days passed the task became more difficult. +</p> + +<p> +While in this state of mind, one of the little sisters +fell seriously ill, calling for her almost undivided +care; and she felt an increased responsibility for her +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P111"></a>111}</span> +father and the two orphans. Finally the letter was +written and dispatched; but Pelton left for Oregon +before it was delivered in Missouri, and never +received it. The contents remained a secret in her +own breast, and as time passed brought regret that it +had been written. +</p> + +<p> +James Price was an undisguised admirer of Kate, +but fearing rejection of his suit, had never made +formal advances, although nothing had transpired to +either encourage or discourage him. He was well +aware that Kate would go to Oregon at all hazards if +her father did, but rather shrank from the thought +of accompanying them as a son-in-law in a +subordinate position. +</p> + +<p> +After the Mulhall outfit left, Price berated himself +for being such a laggard and entertaining a false +pride; and resolved that he would go to Oregon the +following year. Price did not, like Pelton, disguise +his intention to make the trip or his admiration for +Kate; so it became common talk in the neighborhood +that Price intended to go to Oregon to win her +hand. +</p> + +<p> +A year after the Squire had left his home in +Missouri, the <i>Gazette</i> published the information that +James Price had started for Oregon with an ox-team, +over the route followed by David Mulhall the +previous year. It expressed the hope that he might +succeed in securing a home in the new country; and +the people of the neighborhood interpreted this by +adding, in their own minds—"and what is of equal +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P112"></a>112}</span> +importance, a wife." Pelton and in fact the whole +neighborhood, knew of Price's admiration for Kate; +and when the item appeared tongues were set to +wagging that he was "going there to marry Kate." +</p> + +<p> +Price was well out on the way before Pelton became +aware of it, and the fact that his rival had +gone considerably disturbed his peace of mind. He +believed that the gossip as to what prompted Price +to make the journey was true, but hardly thought he +could have any assurance from Kate that would +warrant the trip. +</p> + +<p> +"But suppose Price arrived and should renew his +suit, what then?" he asked himself. He knew that +Kate respected Price, and when convinced that his +first letter had been lost, was not sure that she would +receive the second one. The more he thought of it, +the more agitated he became. +</p> + +<p> +"I'll go myself," he said one day; "I can go by +the Isthmus and beat him there yet, and I'll do it." +</p> + +<p> +That night he was troubled with the thought of an +unexpected obstacle. When he freed Margie, Pelton +had himself appointed as guardian to safeguard her +liberty and prevent other parties from depriving her +of it under the obnoxious law to which reference has +been made. Who that he could trust would now +accept the responsibility? Any number would be +eager to secure her services while under age; but +would shrink from the obloquy that would be +attached to such a transaction. +</p> + +<p> +Besides, there was real danger from the "night +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P113"></a>113}</span> +riders" that infested the county. The slavery +question was in the minds of everybody; only a small +minority believed it was possible to abolish the +system, and very few had the courage to freely express +themselves. It was before the passage of the +Fugitive Slave Law of 1850, but the "underground +railroad" was in full operation. While not talking much +openly, the Quakers usually supplied the "stations" +for the escape of fugitive slaves. +</p> + +<p> +Eli Sumner, a staunch "Friend" residing not far +from the Iowa line, had a large and commodious +barn, as was the Quaker custom, but lived in an +unpretentious house. It was generally believed that +he maintained an "underground station" on his +premises, and that escaping slaves could trust him. +Nothing had been proven, but he had the name of +being a Free-soiler; and was therefore under +suspicion by the slaveholding class. +</p> + +<p> +Pelton realized how little time there was to spare +if he would beat Price to Oregon; but he had fully +made up his mind to undertake the long race. Price +couldn't average more than fifteen miles a day with +his oxen; and by estimating the distance, Isaac +believed he had an advantage of about three weeks. +But he might not make close connections; and +furthermore, had a journey of nearly a thousand miles +before reaching New York, a considerable part of it +by stage-coach. +</p> + +<p> +"I'll trust Sumner," Pelton said to himself and +next morning started off to see him. +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P114"></a>114}</span> +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, thee can bring them up here and I will do +the best I can for them," the Quaker said after Isaac +had explained his mission; "but I do not see why I +should be appointed her guardian (referring to +Margie), as Iowa is a free State." +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, but suppose the night riders should once get +her across the line; might she not be helpless?" +Pelton responded. +</p> + +<p> +"Well, just as thee thinks; they can have that little +house, and I will give the man employment, or he +can work where he wills." +</p> + +<p> +A load was lifted from Isaac's mind when he saw +Andrew and Jennie safely in their new temporary +home, and Margie under the guardianship of the +good Quaker. Depositing a considerable sum of +money with Sumner for emergencies, and bidding +farewell to them all, he left with a light heart, +determined to send for them some day if he secured a +home in the Oregon Country and won Kate for a +wife. +</p> + +<p> +As the weeks passed, the great race was progressing +slowly and even painfully for both participants, +Price continued steadily on with pleasant anticipations +of a hearty greeting from his old-time acquaintance, +Squire Mulhall, and at least a cordial reception +by Kate. He knew nothing of Pelton's intentions or +movements; if he had, it would not have hastened +his arrival, for his average progress of two miles an +hour could not be increased. +</p> + +<p> +Price had met and overcome the usual difficulties +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P115"></a>115}</span> +of a trip over the long trail. Unincumbered with +dependents or loose stock, and with only one +comrade selected from among his acquaintances for +dependable character and aptitude for such an +undertaking, the cares of the journey were much less than +with those accompanied by their families. +</p> + +<p> +He had a light-weight covered wagon, in which +they could sleep, and did not a carry a tent. The +team consisted of four trim five-year-old steers +broken during the winter to work under the yoke, +and two extras trained to be led behind the wagon. +One day's experiences represented nearly all the +trip across the Plains. +</p> + +<p> +Camp was usually made early; one of them would +at once take the oxen to water and grass, while the +other would prepare the evening meal. Then one +soon went to bed and the other out with the oxen; +the next morning an early start was made with the +night-watcher in the wagon asleep. Sound and +refreshing sleep was possible under the circumstances +and practiced by many, seldom disturbed by the slow +movement of the ox-wagon. +</p> + +<p> +Pelton did not find his journey to Oregon by the +Isthmus route an agreeable one; quite the opposite, +with some hardships and a great deal of discomfort. +Three days were lost in New York waiting for a +steamer, followed by nine or ten days on the water, +which passed quite pleasantly, then a crossing of the +Isthmus—a difficult matter in those days, with the +ever-present risk of tropical fever. Emerging on the +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P116"></a>116}</span> +Pacific side, a second wait of three days ensued before +another—and inferior—steamer could be taken to +San Francisco, where Isaac arrived after heavy seas +had blown the ship two hundred miles out of its +course and added considerably to the delay. +</p> + +<p> +Five days were spent at the Golden Gate before +an old and clumsy looking hulk left for the northern +ports; the trip was slow and beset with dangers, and +the boat narrowly escaped destruction while crossing +the treacherous bar of the Columbia River. But at +last Portland, then a little village of probably not +more than a thousand inhabitants, was reached; and +as there was then no regular service to the Puget +Sound country, Pelton was obliged to take a steamer +plying on the Columbia River to the Cowlitz River, +where a stage line operated over wretchedly bad +roads a considerable part of the way to Olympia, at +the head of Puget Sound; and from Olympia he +employed an Indian with a canoe to take him to the +little village where the Mulhalls had established a +residence. +</p> + +<p> +Up to the last moment his mind was tormented +with visions of Price. Had he arrived, and if so, +how many weeks before? How had he been received +by Kate? The time that Price could have +arrived had passed by several weeks; and Pelton +himself had been delayed long after the date he had +expected to reach his destination. +</p> + +<p> +He soon found the house and walked boldly up to +it with mingled emotions. Kate was in the kitchen +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P117"></a>117}</span> +preparing the evening meal with no thought that +Pelton was any nearer than 2,000 miles; and when +she opened the door in response to the knock outside, +the two stood face to face. One word from each +other sufficed, "Isaac!" "Kate!" They fell into +each other's arms; the long suspense was over, the +race won, the goal attained—and the prize at last +secured. +</p> + +<p> +James Price, whom Pelton had feared, was in +reality no rival at all, so far as Kate was concerned. +No matter what aspirations he may have entertained, +she had never thought of being anything more to +him than an old-time acquaintance. But the poor +fellow never reached the end of the journey on which +he started in the early spring. +</p> + +<p> +While plodding slowly along with his ox-teams, he +was overtaken on the sage-brush plains of the Snake +River by cholera, the dread scourge that proved fatal +to many emigrants in those days; and he was buried +in the sands of that desert region. Both Pelton and +Kate felt a genuine pang of grief at the untimely +fate of the unfortunate young man. +</p> + +<p class="thought"> +* * * +</p> + +<p> +Kate said, "Let's have a quiet wedding and invite +three or four of the near-by neighbors." +</p> + +<p> +"That will never do," Squire Mulhall replied; +"let's go to the church where everybody that wants +to can come." Isaac was neutral, only remarking, +"you folks settle it between yourselves." +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P118"></a>118}</span> +</p> + +<p> +Kate hesitated to differ with her father, but she +wanted a quiet wedding; finally the argument ended +and all agreed to go to the only church in the village, +and one with a history. That was the first place of +worship in the new Territory where now, more than +seventy years after the events here recorded, stands a +granite monument to perpetuate a part of its +interesting record. +</p> + +<p> +It was near the holidays when the eventful Sunday +for the wedding arrived. The Indian conflict +was over, but many of the settlers still remained near +the fort; the village was full of people and the +saloons were all open. The clouds hung low, patches +of fog just lifting in sight. When the wedding party +arrived, the church was so filled that the principals +had difficulty in entering. +</p> + +<p> +Squire Mulhall had insisted that Kate have a +dress to suitably commemorate the occasion, which +had been the principal subject of talk among the +dames of the villages, and the church was crowded +with them at an early hour. Many who had seen +Kate as Deputy Sheriff booted and spurred, with +pistol strapped to her person, could scarcely believe +their eyes when they saw the happy, modest and well +dressed young woman soon to become a bride. +</p> + +<p> +All attending the ceremony had donned their best, +and some had supplemented their wardrobe especially +for the occasion. The church was profusely decorated +with evergreens so abundant in the recesses of +the forests, and numerous varieties of beautiful ferns, +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P119"></a>119}</span> +to which were added many flowers still in bloom, +although it was near midwinter. +</p> + +<p> +Pelton had made one request of the clergyman—to +omit the word "obey;" under existing law the +phrase was not mere form, but literally interpreted. +When, immediately after the ceremony, Pelton +handed the bride a sealed envelope, no one in the +assembly who saw the incident was more surprised +than Kate herself. "Don't open it until tomorrow," +he said in a low voice; and the incident remained a +mystery. +</p> + +<p> +The Peltons had planned a quiet evening at home +with only a very few selected guests; father Mulhall +had apparently acquiesced, but there were others with +plans of their own. Mrs. Pelton—let us continue +to call her Kate, which sounds so much better—wondered +why her father had bought a barrel of apples +and some candies, nuts and other delicacies she +found in the pantry. +</p> + +<p> +She suddenly clasped her husband's arm with a +tight grip as an unearthly noise, such as she had +never heard before, broke out nearby. It was no +longer the Deputy Sheriff, but the timid bride +looking for protection. Drums beating, horns tooting, +guns firing, beating on tin pans—even the oldtime +horse fiddle with its unearthly tones to make night +hideous—to which was added yells and shouting, all +combined to startle. Kate was off her guard for once, +and fairly trembled with excitement until she +realized that it meant a charivaree. +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P120"></a>120}</span> +</p> + +<p> +"Come in, boys," the Squire said, as he opened +the door. +</p> + +<p> +"No, we want to see the bride and groom," the +spokesman answered. +</p> + +<p> +At first Kate shrank from going out, but after +each parley the noise would resume, as it seemed +automatically; and still the bride would not, as she +afterwards said, show herself. Finally a torch-bearing +party was seen approaching, and sweet singing +voices were heard—as much of a surprise to the noisy +party outside the residence as to those inside the +house. +</p> + +<p> +It was the church choir giving a serenade. The +old Scotch tailor with his bagpipe was there; the +glee club of the village rendered its best song; the +violin and flute added to the music, and with it +dancing began on the sod. "Let's go," said Pelton. "All +right," answered the bride; and before they could +realize it, they were dancing with the joyous crowd. +</p> + +<p> +It was near midwinter; the falling of the leaves had +stripped the deciduous timber growth of the valley +bare, but the evergreens of the tablelands retained +their color as in the summer time. The sheltered +ferns in the deep recesses of the forests were +preserved in all their delicate beauty, while here and +there a modest flower peeped from a sheltered nook. +Grass was green in favored places on the common +and in the gardens of the village. +</p> + +<p> +Pelton could scarcely believe his eyes as he viewed +the scene, particularly when it included a ship +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P121"></a>121}</span> +sailing by; the square rigged sails of the three-mast +schooner was to him a thing of exquisite beauty, +moved by some invisible power. Everything looked +bright, and he was happy; the girl he had sought +and won, now his beloved wife, never before looked +so lovely to him. +</p> + +<p> +Kate, no less happy than her husband, pictured to +herself a quiet home where she could live as her +mother had done amid the joys of a pioneer life. +Now, more than ever, she realized her deep love for +Isaac, and wondered what life would have been to +her without him. +</p> + +<p> +But there was one disturbing element; Bess and +Sarah were unmistakably jealous of Pelton. They +had been accustomed to the undivided love of +"mamma," as they continued to call Kate, and were not +easily reconciled to sharing that affection with +another. Kate consulted with Isaac, then with her +father, and finally all three conferred together as to +how best to convince the little girls that her love for +them was just as intense as ever. +</p> + +<p> +The Squire suggested that he take the girls on a +visit to Ben; they would enjoy it, and besides he +wanted to see the "dear boy" himself. Pelton +thought it would be better not to disturb them until +the close of school, adding that he intended to make +a trip to see the country and wanted Kate to go +along if "father" would not be too much inconvenienced +during their absence. +</p> + +<p> +Mulhall cordially seconded the suggestion, saying +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P122"></a>122}</span> +that he and the girls could get along splendidly; he +would have Clara Laighton, Kate's dearest friend, +come to prepare the dinners in the evening, while he +and the girls could get breakfast, and they take their +lunch to school. The Squire's evident sincerity, +bordering on enthusiasm, relieved Pelton and Kate from +any uneasiness regarding his willingness that the trip +should be made, and how the little girls would get +along while they were absent. +</p> + +<p> +So the question came up as to where they should +go, how and the length of time they would probably +be gone. The conclusion was finally reached to take +a cruise on Puget Sound; "We can always get plenty +of clams," Kate said, "when the tide is out." She +had utilized clams to feed prisoners in the jail, and +knew their value; besides it would be jolly to dig +them and bake them as the Indians did. +</p> + +<p> +Pelton was in doubt whether to take a boat or +canoe; Kate said by all means a canoe, and explained +their pattern for speed and safety, as exemplified +by the clipper ships[<a id="chap04fn2text"></a><a href="#chap04fn2">2</a>] which carried the Stars and +Stripes to all parts of the world. The marvel of +shaping these canoes from the body of a large tree, +guided by the eye alone, remains a mystery to this +day; the Indians did so, but it is difficult to fully +understand how. +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P123"></a>123}</span> +</p> + +<p> +First, the exterior parts are cut down to a solid +trunk of wood the size and shape of the finished +canoe. Then follows the more intricate labor of +removing the center, either by chipping off pieces +with rude tools or burning out the excess. Coming +down to what is left for the framework of the canoe, +the problem is how deep to cut without penetrating +the outside shell, which seems to be determined more +by instinct than by measurement. They are made +in various dimensions, from the one-man canoe up to +a size in which thirty Indians go boldly out to sea on +their fishing excursions. +</p> + +<p> +Pelton secured the service of the native Steicca +and his Indian "klootchman" (wife), who were +recommended by the Chief Factor of the near-by +Hudson's Bay Company fort; and hired their five-man size +canoe. Steicca was a person of note among his people, +and had gained the confidence of the men at the +fort. He was above the average stature for his tribe, +popularly designated as the "Fish" Indians, because +they depended almost entirely upon sea food; his +klootchman was a comely native from the over-mountain +tribe known as the "Horse Indians." +</p> + +<p> +She kept herself and clothing clean, in contrast +with the carelessness or uncleanliness generally seen +among the women of the tribe to which her husband +belonged. Their four-year old boy was likewise +always neat and tidy; and Kate thought he was one of +the most likable urchins she had ever seen. +</p> + +<p> +Pelton had procured a closed tent with complete +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P124"></a>124}</span> +camping outfit, which included a mirror for Kate +and a bootjack for himself. Nothing seemed to be +overlooked to make her feel at home on their bridal +trip—a honeymoon in a Garden of Eden to them. +</p> + +<p> +They embarked in the early morning observed by +many friends and acquaintances, both men and +women, the latter representing nearly every household +of the village. Children were there with handsful +of rice to shower good will upon the heads of +their departing friends; Sarah and Bess looked on, +but could not understand what the throwing of rice +meant. +</p> + +<hr> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P125"></a>125}</span> +</p> + +<p class="capcenter quote"> +<a id="img-125"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-125.jpg" alt="THE HONEYMOON PARTY IN AN INDIAN CANOE ON PUGET SOUND, AND SUDDEN APPEARANCE OF THE HAIR SEAL; DESCRIPTION ON PAGE FOLLOWING"> +<br> +THE HONEYMOON PARTY IN AN INDIAN CANOE ON PUGET SOUND, AND SUDDEN APPEARANCE <br> +OF THE HAIR SEAL; DESCRIPTION ON PAGE FOLLOWING +</p> + +<hr> + +<p> +Just as Kate and Isaac were settled comfortably +side by side in the capacious canoe, Mrs. Steicca—"Sally" +let us call her, instead of <i>klootchman</i>, sat at +the post of honor as both captain and pilot, with +paddle in hand ready for the start whenever the +word was given. This was the usual custom among +the Indians, who skillfully guided the canoe in rough +waters and boisterous winds, as well as in the placid +waters usually prevailing on the bays of Puget +Sound. +</p> + +<p> +As Steicca pushed off the bow of the canoe both +paddles were dipped vigorously into the water, and +the handles struck the sides with resounding thumps, +while each hummed in harmonious minor key an +Indian ditty common to the tribe. The dull sound of +the paddles knocking against the side of the canoe, +and the voices in unison, could be heard long after +the view of the slowly disappearing craft had +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P126"></a>126}</span> +become dimmed to the assembled villagers, who then +reluctantly returned to their homes. +</p> + +<p> +Propelled by the combined strength of both experts, +the canoe passed rapidly through the water, +accelerated by the swift current of an ebb tide. The +morning haze had not cleared away and the water +was of a glassy smoothness—not a ripple on the +surface near-by—though not far away there were slightly +disturbed patches, when Kate caught sight of what +appeared to be a human head rising out of the deep +water in the wake of the rapidly passing canoe. +</p> + +<p> +"What in the world is that?" she exclaimed as she +gazed for a moment at the seeming apparition, which +now quickly disappeared from sight, and excitedly +grasped the arm of her husband. Pelton jocosely +suggested it was a mermaid. +</p> + +<p> +"Do you believe in that stuff?" Kate asked, to +which Isaac replied that at least it looked like the +picture of one; and she admitted it did. In her +childhood Kate had read the old-time legends about +mermaids; and knew that all down the ages, the +belief in creatures half human and half fish had +existed among thousands. And now, was it possible +that she had a glimpse of one? Kate was not +superstitious, but the sight startled and puzzled her; +and the reader will doubtless also wonder what it +could have been. +</p> + +<p> +An old record describing the mermaid states that +"they have a way of lifting their round heads and +shoulders from the water with a queer look of almost +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P127"></a>127}</span> +human intelligence upon their faces;" and that is +exactly what Kate had seen. The head that had +come above the surface only a few rods in the wake +of the canoe, as if to investigate what had disturbed +the repose of its abode, was about the size of a +half-grown girl, with a suggestion of languid eyes and a +plaintive countenance. +</p> + +<p> +Only the face could be seen, and that but for a +moment—long enough to indelibly fix the features in +Kate's mind. It was the head of a hair-seal, common +at that time in the waters of Puget Sound. The +sudden appearance of these strange creatures has +startled and puzzled many travelers; and led large +numbers of people to believe in the existence of a +real mermaid. +</p> + +<p> +As the canoe sped on its way, the hills on the east +shut off the sun, the channel became narrow and +crooked, and the view of waters ahead vanished, +leaving only the high elevations, covered with dense +forests of evergreen fir, in sight on either side. The +outlook ahead seemed as if the party had come to the +end of the waters, with a bold elevation—almost a +mountain—directly in front. Just then the canoe +lurched to the eastward, and despite the utmost efforts +of the Indians, shot off the line of travel; then +it started as suddenly in the opposite direction, as if +possessed by an evil spirit. +</p> + +<p> +The shadows of the hills bordering the narrow +passage and a fleeting cloud darkened the view as if +night was approaching. A dull, subdued roar +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P128"></a>128}</span> +comparable to an indistinct echo of a distant sound, +reached the ears of the party. Just ahead, the +waters apparently swelled up above the common level +and then broke away to form again either to the right +or left, or both to spread currents running in circles. +</p> + +<p> +Now the sound became louder from the choppy sea +of broken waves, forming small conical volumes of +water mounting in the air and falling back to the +surface. To make matters worse, the whirlpools +drew in short bits of driftwood; and some of the +larger pieces thumped against the sides of the canoe, +interfering with the paddles. The canoe had +encountered a tide-rip—water roughened by conflicting +tides or currents, a phenomenon of which neither had +ever heard. +</p> + +<p> +Kate spoke first; "I wish we were landed, Isaac, +don't you?" Pelton felt about the same, but made +an effort to speak encouragingly. +</p> + +<p> +It was a battle of the tides in a narrow channel +of the Sound with a swift current due to the tide +receding toward the sea. The whirling waters +extended from shore to shore, while whirlpools of +varying extent suddenly formed and as quickly vanished, +all moving rapidly in one direction—a grand sight +to the beholder from a safe point of vantage, but to +Kate an object of terror. +</p> + +<p> +"<i>Tenas alia copet</i>" (it will soon quiet) Sally said, +more to herself than otherwise, perceiving Kate's +perturbed state of mind; and pointed the canoe +toward the eastern shore-line. A few minutes +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P129"></a>129}</span> +sufficed to reach an eddy outside the disturbed waters, +and to shove the nose of the canoe obliquely and +gently over to a pebbly beach. +</p> + +<p> +Sally's boy, named Pete after the great humanitarian, +Peter Skene Ogden, a courageous and trusted +Factor of the Hudson's Bay Company, was the first +one out of the canoe. He jumped into the water, +waist deep, and began his pranks in a salt water +bath, while the mother laughingly scolded him for +his rashness. +</p> + +<p> +Kate and Pelton were glad of relief from their +cramped position in the canoe, independent of the +anxiety of their experience with the tide-rips. +"<i>Tenas in-e-ti sitcum sum Skookum chuck copet</i>" (just +after noon the current will quiet), Steicca said; and +suggested that they remain where they were until the +tide turned. Kate had learned enough of the +mongrel Chinook jargon to understand what the Indians +said; so she and Pelton readily assented. +</p> + +<p> +A steep bluff prevented exploring the nearby +woods, and there were no trees until near the top of +the hill. Steicca at once began preparations for a +brisk fire with the abundant material in sight. A +great mass of driftwood obstructed the shore-line just +above their landing, some half imbedded in the sand +and gravel of the beach, and other debris evidently +having been driven beyond the reach of the highest +tide by storms of wind and wave. The dead limbs +of these derelicts supplied excellent fuel to speedily +make a roaring fire. +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P130"></a>130}</span> +</p> + +<p> +Kate noticed the Indian gathering and piling small +rocks on the fire while Sally dug a small pit, lined it +with loose rock, and built another fire in preparation +for a clambake. As it was near low tide, the clam +beds were exposed and an abundance of the bivalves +easily secured for a bounteous meal. Clams are +found on the conveniently located sloping beaches, +and in enormous quantities along the fifteen hundred +miles of the shore-line of Puget Sound waters; so +the saying, "dinner is always ready when the tide is +out," was literally true. +</p> + +<p> +Kate forgot the apparition of the head and the +whirls of the tide-rips that had so startled and +alarmed her when their attention was attracted to +the picturesque beach, with its many shells and +pebbles of various sizes, shapes and beautiful colors. +She at once began to make a collection of them, +without noticing that Pelton had withdrawn from +sight. He had quietly taken his fowling piece and +clambered along the beach to a nearby lagoon, where +he soon bagged a couple of fat mallard ducks. +</p> + +<p> +No one visiting that region now can have any +adequate idea of the vast number of ducks there in the +early days. The air was fairly black with these +game birds; he could easily have taken a dozen, but +hastened back with the two for dinner. +</p> + +<p> +"<i>Nika mamook</i>," Sally said, when she saw the +birds, meaning that she would cook them; Pelton +readily assented and joined Kate in her search along +the beach. The pit of hot rock was nearly ready for +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P131"></a>131}</span> +the clams; and Sally soon had the ducks prepared +for it. Now the rocks were smoothed off, the pit +enlarged and the whole covered with a layer of small +branches of fir twig ends. +</p> + +<p> +The ducks were placed in the middle of the pit and +the remaining space filled with clams. As a sudden +dash of water produced an abundant supply of steam, +the whole was quickly covered with boughs and ferns, +upon which a thin layer of earth was laid and topped +by hot rocks from the larger fire. +</p> + +<p> +It was a clambake by experts. Before that time +Kate and Pelton did not know what the term meant, +but they lived to see it become synonymous with a +feast. The "clambake" here supplanted the barbecue +in Missouri, where the ox was roasted on a spit. +</p> + +<p> +As years passed they also witnessed the gathering +of a thousand or more people at the annual jubilee, +all partaking of the luscious contents of an immense +clam pit covered with wagon-loads of unhusked green +corn. This institution, the clambake that was for +many years the central attraction for social gatherings, +political conventions and even religious meetings, +is only but a memory. +</p> + +<p> +As the time approached for the turn of the tide, +Steicca became impatient to open the pit. There +came an interim when the battle of the waters +temporarily ceased, as the ebb tide spent its force and +before the oncoming rush of the flood from the ocean. +Steicca knew that when the flood regained mastery, +it would be impossible to stem the force of the +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P132"></a>132}</span> +current in the Narrows and round the point to the large +bay ahead. But Sally was unwilling to interfere +with her well-laid plans for the first dinner served to +her new friends, the admired lady of the village they +had left, and the gentleman who had traveled so far +to win her. +</p> + +<p> +Indian women, though occupying humble and inferior +positions in the life of their tribes, are not +devoid of imagination or true devotion to their +husbands and children. An Indian mother never +chastises her child, and will seldom run counter to the +wishes of her husband. +</p> + +<p> +But to open the pit before the contents were ready +to serve would break her heart. In this dilemma, +woman-like, she appealed to Kate, who had watched +with interest the painstaking preparations for the +feast and sympathized with Sally in her distress. +</p> + +<p> +"Of course," Isaac said when the situation was +explained by Kate, "I'm willing to stay if you are; +it's just as jolly here as around the point in the big +bay." And Sally was soon made happy by the word +they would camp and stop over there until the next +tide. +</p> + +<p> +Pelton desired to make the camp leisurely to try +his hand, and began to move the outfit from the +canoe. Machinery seldom runs smooth on first trial, +and so it is on a camping trip; several things had +been overlooked or mislaid and a number of surplus +articles were found. The folding cot, stools and the +stove came out all right. While Sally was busy with +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P133"></a>133}</span> +the clambake, Kate was arranging the details of the +forthcoming meal, for which she had made ample +provision before leaving home. +</p> + +<p> +Steicca had erected their camp, consisting of mats +fastened to a semi-circle of small poles driven +obliquely into the ground; such was the usual +temporary shelter of nomad Indians even in midwinter, +affording protection from the wind but little from +the rain. Sally seemed as proud of the camp as Kate +was of their new tent and camp equipage. +</p> + +<p> +While waiting the opening of the clam pit, Sally +brought out her knitting for "Siwash" (Indian) +socks, made of coarse thread from wool carded in +her own camp and formed into yarn by manipulating +the crude rolls with the palm of the hand. Indian +women are always busy, and seem at a loss to pass +the time without knitting or weaving mats, making +baskets or moccasins, while the average Indian man +is apparently ill at ease when he has something to do. +</p> + +<p> +Sally had some plain shaped plates made from +the inner bark of the cedar with a shallow rim on +the outer edge, all water-proof; on these, as we shall +see later, she served the clams and ducks. Having +been busy with her camp work, Sally had forgotten +to keep watch of her boy Pete; but now he must be +called in, scrubbed and otherwise prepared for the +meal. Frequent calls, Pete! Pete! brought no +response. +</p> + +<p> +Finally a track was found up a ravine, leading +to the discovery of him perched on the limb of a +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P134"></a>134}</span> +scraggy tree high above the reach of his mother. +Boy-like, white or Indian, young or old, he had +gone, in search of adventure, and while looking for +bird's nests, had ventured too far to easily return. +</p> + +<p> +Did his mother scold him? Not at all. Indian +women do not scold their children or their men, but +sometimes do each other to the point where words +fail, and facial grimaces take their place. +</p> + +<p> +The time had arrived to open the pit, and everything +was in readiness; Sally beckoned to Kate, who +came over to the spot with Pelton, whose curiosity +was aroused. Steicca was on hand to see; and of +course Pete was there, subdued and hungry. The +outer covering of stone, earth and boughs were first +carefully removed, revealing the inner covering +through which the steam had percolated. +</p> + +<p> +"<i>Closhe</i>" (all right), Sally said to herself as she +lifted the inner covering and disclosed the contents +cooked to perfection. Both ducks were handed to +Kate (one of which was promptly returned by +Pelton), and the plates piled high with clams. Kate +divided her own supplies with Sally; and the +banquet was on in both camps. +</p> + +<p> +Such was the experience of Pelton and Kate in +their first camp; her diary briefly tells the story in +these words, "Tuesday ——185-, broke camp early; +encountered tide-rips so strong as to spin the canoe +in a dizzy whirl. Sally lost control for awhile, a +little water spilled over into the canoe; somehow +wasn't frightened much." +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P135"></a>135}</span> +</p> + +<p> +A few hours sufficed to bring them into the calm +waters of a large bay where numerous fishing parties, +trolling for salmon, were in sight. Here and there +glimpses were had of passing canoes, and the thump +of paddles mingled with songs, loud laughter or talk +to distant parties. The beach for miles was lined +with Indian camps, where some of the men were +lounging in listless idleness of mind and body, +seemingly almost too indolent to breathe, while +others—and particularly the women—were industriously +drying the fish, or busily occupied with their crude +handiwork. +</p> + +<p> +The catch of salmon was of medium size; sixty-pound +specimens were taken with nets in shallow +waters, and there seemed to be no limit to the supply. +Little did Pelton then realize the tremendous +commercial value of this product of the sea, amounting +afterwards to hundreds of millions of dollars annually. +</p> + +<p> +In the far distance a white-topped dome reached +above the clouds that hung upon the lower levels, all +reflected in the placid waters of the bay. Steicca and +Sally rested from their labors, and floated with the +tide. A brief entry in Kate's diary describes the +scene, "Beautiful beyond my powers of +description—unbroken evergreen forests in every direction; +snow-capped mountains about as far away as the eye +can see; a thousand Indians in sight on the beach +and in their canoes." +</p> + +<p> +Pelton planned to go direct to the forty beautiful +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P136"></a>136}</span> +islands he had been told could be visited within the +waters of Puget Sound, and to more carefully examine +the country on their return. The day's sailing, +supplemented by four paddles, left the great mountain +dimmed by increased distance, but brought into +the far view another of almost equal grandeur, and +opened to larger channels of waters than any left +behind. +</p> + +<p> +A council held in the morning decided that the +course should lie to the dim outline of a headland +discernible just above the horizon; wind and tide +were favorable, and with the aid of the two Indians +rapid progress could be made. An alternate course +would be to follow the shore-line down to the objective +point, considerably farther and no less dangerous; +and so the direct route was chosen. +</p> + +<hr> + +<p class="capcenter"> +<a id="img-136"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-136.jpg" alt="HELP YOURSELF"> +<br> +HELP YOURSELF +</p> + +<p class="quote"> +Tons of furniture, trunks, provisions and other +things were abandoned along +the Trail, often with a sign like the one shown +in this illustration; +see pages <a href="#P42">42</a> and <a href="#P180">180</a>. +</p> + +<hr> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a id="chap04fn1"></a> +[<a href="#chap04fn1text">1</a>] Over nine hundred square miles of territory were ceded, +reserving only six sections for about nine hundred Indians—and +that high ground, heavily timbered and entirely unsuited +to their needs. A more outrageous "treaty" was never made +between the Government of the United States and its Indian +wards; its terms would be unbelievable were they not +preserved among the records of the Medicine Creek Treaty, +December, 1864, in the Archives at Washington. In less than +a year conflict broke out, and massacres followed, with losses +of life to both the U.S. troops and the Indians. The latter +were defeated in the field, as noted in the text; but they fared +better in the subsequent negotiations, for as soon as the war +ended and the Government was apprised of the wrong inflicted +by that treaty, suitable reservations were provided. +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a id="chap04fn2"></a> +[<a href="#chap04fn2text">2</a>] In 1849, after the discovery of gold in California, it is +said that more than seven hundred cleared from Atlantic +ports to San Francisco; many celebrated clippers made the +trip from the East to the West in the years 1850-51, and very +fast passages were common from 1850 on. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap05"></a></p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P137"></a>137}</span> +</p> + +<h2> +CHAPTER V +</h2> + +<p class="hang2"> +AN ENCOUNTER WITH PIRATES, AND A FORTUNATE +DELIVERANCE; BEN FOUND; HIS PROMPT START +FOR MISSOURI AND UNEXPECTED ARRIVAL; A SON +BORN TO THE PELTONS. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p> +Near the noon hour, with the headland yet in +the distance, Pelton noticed two canoes whose +occupants were paddling as if speed were a +question of life or death with them. Not long +afterward, another was seen going frantically in the same +direction, followed closely by two more. Steicca +observed the racing canoes, but though evidently +disturbed as to the cause, discreetly said nothing. +</p> + +<p> +About the same time Kate saw either a boat or +large canoe coming directly toward them and wondering +what it could mean, called Isaac's attention +to it. Sally had likewise discovered the craft and +showed signs of uneasiness. A friend had told the +story of how, many years ago, her little boy was +taken captive by the northern Indians, carried off +into slavery, and had never been heard from since. +Somehow the appearance of this boat or large +canoe revived the memory of that occurrence and +created a fear for the safety of Pete. Slavery was +once practiced in her own tribe (though at that time +discontinued); but she had been told by other +Indians that the northern tribes were known to still +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P138"></a>138}</span> +follow the practice, which seemed corroborated by +the taking of her friend's boy. As the large craft +approached nearer, Sally hid Pete under the cover +of a mat beside her with fearsome admonitions that +impelled him to lie quiet and not betray his presence. +</p> + +<p> +Pelton's suspicions led him to slip his fowling +piece out of sight, and Kate's trusted rifle was under +the outfit in the bottom of the canoe. Isaac directed +that no sign of fear should be manifested when they +were overtaken, and all intercourse with the +strangers be left to him. +</p> + +<p> +As the pirates came alongside they insolently +threw a line over the bow and stern posts, and then +lashed the two canoes firmly together; being much +longer and wider, theirs loomed high above that of +Pelton's. It was of the pattern of the canoe in which +the northern tribes manned with seventy or more +men went boldly to sea on their whaling excursions; +while not one of the largest, it would easily hold +twenty men. +</p> + +<p> +Seven were on each side, with paddles in their +hands, one at the helm and a lookout in the bow, +sixteen in all stalwart men in size and physical +condition far above the tribes farther south. The same +may be said of their mentality. In the northern +tribes were painters and sculptors of considerable +ability, as evidenced by their totem poles, +inscriptions on rocks and ornaments of their mammoth +canoes. +</p> + +<p> +There were silversmiths in some of the tribes, as +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P139"></a>139}</span> +shown by many specimens offered for sale on occasions +of their peaceful visits to the white settlements. +Nor were the women behind the men in ability for +fine work, abundantly illustrated by baskets, mats and +other articles for ornaments or domestic use. +</p> + +<p> +Ethnologists attribute the superiority of these +northern tribes in part to a mixture of Japanese +blood from castaways in past centuries, perhaps even +in prehistoric days; facial resemblances suggest the +fact, which seems to be confirmed by the remains of +wrecked junks on the northern coast. These were +the people into whose clutches Pelton and Kate had +fallen on their honeymoon trip. +</p> + +<p> +The spokesman for the buccaneers began by saying +that they wanted a tent, one of which was in +sight, to which Pelton firmly responded that he did +not have any to spare. He had noticed a ship beating +up the Sound against the wind that had tacked +toward them, and realized that a parley to gain +time until the ship came nearer would be their best +chance of escape. +</p> + +<p> +Isaac noticed a silver ring on the spokesman's +hand and offered to buy it for his bride; for a +moment the wily savage was thrown off his guard, and +looked Kate over with evident satisfaction. Just +then one of the men said something in a low tone, +and after several articles had been snatched by the +robbers, the lines fastening the two canoes together +were suddenly cast off. +</p> + +<p> +This precipitate action was caused by the near +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P140"></a>140}</span> +approach of the ship then bearing directly upon them; +but unfortunately, it tacked and bore rapidly away +the same moment the lines had been loosened from +the canoe. Instantly all four paddles were +frantically wielded to overtake the ship, until by a +supreme effort Steicca broke his. +</p> + +<p> +The Indians soon discovered their advantage, but +did not give chase until they observed that the space +between their victims and the ship was widening. +Kate then gave her paddle to Steicca and intently +watched the movement of their recent captors. +</p> + +<p> +"As I live, Isaac, they have started to follow us," +she said, as the bow of the robber canoe was turned +toward them, "is your gun loaded?" "It is not," +Pelton answered. "Then load it quick, and be +careful," she cautioned, speaking while reaching down +for her rifle and ammunition so as to be ready for +action at the crucial moment. +</p> + +<p> +Realizing that it was impossible to escape by +racing their few paddles against fourteen, Isaac +loaded his gun and deliberately calmed his nerves for +the contest. The ship was now too far away to +render assistance, and the robbers were rapidly +gaining on them. While yet beyond rifle shot, Pelton +directed Steicca and Sally to cease paddling, not to +make any movement in the canoe other than to +keep it pointed on its course, and for Steicca to lie +down. +</p> + +<p> +"I believe you can reach them now, Kate," Isaac +said. "Wait a minute," came the response in a firm +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P141"></a>141}</span> +voice, while she stood upright in the canoe. We may +well believe the aim was deliberate, for the bullet +lodged in the body of the lookout, who tumbled off +his perch into the water. +</p> + +<p> +It took but a moment to reload the rifle. Pelton +could not reach the buccaneers with his fowling +piece at that distance, and held his fire in reserve. +The robbers stopped to pick up their dead or wounded +comrade. +</p> + +<p> +Sally and Steicca resumed their strenuous +paddling as Kate sat down; but when Isaac saw the +Indians coming toward them a second time, he again +directed to cease paddling so their craft would be +steady for aim at the next victim. Onward came +the great canoe, again Kate reserved her fire and +was successful in hitting her target—this time the +helmsman. As the canoe swung off its course to +within range of Pelton's gun, he disabled two or +more on her broadside. +</p> + +<p> +By this time the ship tacked again and was now +approaching, while a sloop rounded the nearby point +and made directly toward the distressed voyagers. +Seeing these, the marauders drew off toward the +eastern channel, and were soon out of sight. +</p> + +<p> +It is unlikely that they ceased the pursuit because +of their losses, for it is a matter of history +that once this same tribe had 117 warriors in a +combat, besides their women and children. During +the fight 27 were killed and 21 wounded; but they +held out stubbornly for two days, when hunger +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P142"></a>142}</span> +compelled them to yield. Another historic reference +illustrating the ferocity of this tribe, the "Haidahs," +states that "both ships were attacked by northern +Indians when off the upper end of Vashon Island; all +on board, eleven in number, were murdered and the +ships plundered and burned." +</p> + +<p> +When the ship was finally hailed, no explanation +was required, as the pilot had heard the guns; the +captain, with the aid of his glass, knew what had +happened. As the canoe came alongside, he +cordially invited all, including the Indians with the +Peltons, on board; he also took up the canoe, as he +was intending to cast anchor off the village from +whence they came. +</p> + +<p> +Nothing on the ship was too good for his unexpected +guests. The captain had heard of Kate's experience +as Deputy Sheriff, but not of the wedding. +His enthusiasm at that news knew no bounds; by +the time they arrived at the village he insisted that +the bride accept a silver table service which she +treasured to the end of her life as the present from +the big-hearted captain. +</p> + +<p> +Pete had the time of his life with the sailors, who +were surprised to see the bright little fellow, up to +all sorts of pranks as he explored the ship from stem +to stern and from top to bottom. He and his mother +were fairly loaded down with presents; Pete never +forgot his sailor friends, and in fact became a sailor +himself. +</p> + +<p> +The evening after their arrival at the village, +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P143"></a>143}</span> +Kate and Pelton rowed out to the ship, still at +anchor in the harbor, to offer the old tar sincere +thanks and leave with him some token of good will +and appreciation for the opportune way in which he +appeared upon the scene and rescued them from +imminent peril of the northern savages. Capt. +Pierson was past middle age but in perfect health, +and an impulsive jollity pervaded his whole being. +He would not listen to their leaving the ship until +after dinner, nor to their profuse thanks for his act. +</p> + +<p> +"Oh, that's nothing; a man who did not respond +in such an emergency would be a brute. I only wish +I could have chastised the rascals," he said—and +meant it. +</p> + +<p> +The captain belonged to a class of seafaring men +(now almost extinct), which once carried the Stars +and Stripes to the farthermost corners of the +earth—free and easy with comrades, but usually a strict +disciplinarian, though sympathetic with his men. +He was the aristocratic ruler of the little world +within the bounds of the ship, their home and castle; +all were inured to the hardships of long voyages +without complaint, but every one greatly enjoyed the +respite of a few days in port. +</p> + +<p> +From time immemorial the "ships that go down +to the sea" have carried the commerce of the world, +and planted the seeds of civilization in every clime. +It is difficult to realize that all this has been changed +within the range of one span of life. Only a very +small number of sailing ships now leave the ports +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P144"></a>144}</span> +of the United States; and the noble "clippers," the +pride of the nation at that period, very seldom grace +the waters of the two hemispheres any more. And +the rugged, jolly captains, bronzed and weather-beaten, +rough in speech and stern in looks though +usually kind-hearted and generous beneath the +surface, have almost vanished—like their ships. +</p> + +<p> +Seafaring men who navigate the oceans in the immense +vessels of the present time are entirely unlike +the old-time sailors in appearance and actions. The +modern crew appear upon our thoroughfares in fancy +uniforms, the officers resplendent in gold braid and +gilt buttons, and the common sailors in natty uniforms, +usually without anything to mar their dandified +appearance. One can easily tell that reefing a +mainsail or splicing a rope is no longer part of their +duty. +</p> + +<p> +But the old-timers came ashore careless in appearance +and rollicking in manner, out for a good time—ready +for a fight or a frolic—and usually had it. +Now they belong to the things that were, and we see +no more of them. +</p> + +<p> +Captain Pierson believed the reason the Indians +did not return the fire was that their spokesman +wanted to take Kate captive, for they could have +destroyed the little honeymoon party without mercy. +The confusion incident to the loss of their +helmsman, quickly followed by the wounding of several +of their paddlers, and the sudden tacking of the ship +so disconcerted their plans that the marauders barely +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P145"></a>145}</span> +had time to get beyond reach of the howitzers on +its deck. It was late when Pelton and Kate fairly +tore themselves away from the jovial captain and left +the ship, and long past midnight before the council of +Kate, Isaac and Squire Mulhall broke up, after +agreeing upon a plan of action. +</p> + +<p> +Pelton had several times spoken about his former +slaves, Andrew and Jennie, whom he had left in +Iowa; and could not banish from his mind thoughts +of the danger that "night riders" from Missouri +might carry them off into captivity. Besides, Jennie +had cared for him with a mother's solicitude after +the death of his own mother while he was still quite +young; and Andrew had always been kind to him in +his boyhood days, as well as faithful to his interest +in later life. And that unsophisticated little girl, +Margie! Somehow he could not feel easy in his mind +to leave them where they were; now they were +separated, he realized that he remembered, and +appreciated more than ever before, their kind and +considerate acts toward him. +</p> + +<p> +How to bring them on from Iowa to Oregon was +a problem with almost insurmountable obstacles, +which Isaac had thoroughly discussed with Kate, +taking advantage of that favorable opportunity to +let her know that he had abundant means in Missouri +to provide for their trip—and to her surprise a fairly +large sum besides. While Kate had not married for +money, she was nevertheless gratified to know that +Pelton possessed a goodly fortune, and sympathized +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P146"></a>146}</span> +with his laudable desire to expend a part of it to +better the condition of his former slaves. +</p> + +<p> +Kate resolved to share Ben's secret with both her +father and husband, and to suggest that the Squire +should go to see or send for Ben. She would also +have her father and Isaac supply him with enough +money to bring Linda to Oregon with Andrew, +Jennie and the little girl Margie. All instantly +agreed to the plan, and became so enthusiastic that +they forgot all about their recent escape from death, +and the cares of pioneer life still confronting them. +</p> + +<p> +"I will not go until school is out," the Squire +said, "and then will take the girls with me." He +had noticed that they continued to harbor jealous +thoughts toward Pelton. Kate reminded her father +that any considerable delay would make it too late +for Ben to cross the plains the next season. Isaac +advised by all means to avoid the Isthmus route as +being too uncertain, dangerous and withal very +expensive. +</p> + +<p> +Pelton announced that he would start at once, +and search for a claim until he found one that suited +him; then he would immediately proceed to prepare +a home, and be away most of the time until +school closed. In acceding to this suggestion, the +Squire said he would take the girls over to Ben's +claim in the spring, as he intended to care for it +himself while the young man was making the trip; +and was anticipating the opportunity to repay Ben +for his faithful and honest service on the long trail. +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P147"></a>147}</span> +</p> + +<p> +So intent had been the council, that all forgot the +lateness of the hour; the thought of sleep was +banished by the excitement incident to the plans made, +but all felt supremely happy. Father Mulhall +suggested that they celebrate a little by an oyster +supper, even at the unseasonable hour; and Kate, who +the very evening before had secured some Puget +Sound oysters from an Indian, instantly seconded +the suggestion. Oysters, unlike other shell fish of +the Sound, were rare and confined to small areas of +beds. +</p> + +<p> +Kate had learned that though very small—not +larger than one's finger nail—these were very +delicious; and had provided them to celebrate their +wedding a month ago to-morrow. And here it was, +the date already ushered in, though the sun had not +risen! Her celebration was intended as a secret +to be disclosed as a surprise to her husband and +father to demonstrate how supremely happy she was, +not only in the escape from captivity among the +hordes of northern savages, but as the wife of Isaac +Pelton. There was no toastmaster or speeches at the +little banquet that followed; but a spirit of unalloyed +cheerfulness prevailed, and all were very hopeful of +what the near future would bring forth. +</p> + +<p> +Mulhall's search for Ben proved a short one, as +the crude records of the self-surveyed Donation claims +quickly revealed the identity of the nearby +participants, and the Squire was delayed only a day in +reaching the location chosen by his young friend. +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P148"></a>148}</span> +Ben was a short distance from his cabin splitting +rails from a worm fence to protect the crops of the +following season, when the Squire arrived; and, +following the sound of the maul soon came upon Ben +intently engaged at his task, not dreaming of the +presence of anyone behind him. +</p> + +<p> +Mulhall stopped a moment in mute surprise at the +change that had come over the young man. He was +looking at a stalwart frame instead of the slim lad +who had helped to train the team in the Missouri +barn-yard; and stood as if fascinated until Ben by +a change in position became aware that a figure was +standing near him. +</p> + +<p> +"Why, father!" "Why, Ben!" sufficed for the +greeting, but not so the hand-shakes that followed, for +the Squire clasped Ben in his arms, while tears of +joy fell upon his own cheeks. We may well believe +that a pleasant visit followed, but it was soon +interrupted by the important information to be shared +between them. +</p> + +<p> +Ben listened, as if in a dazed condition of mind, +to words that seemed to be too good to be true; but +when he grasped the full meaning of the Squire's +message, it was Ben's turn to display so-called +weakness; he threw his arms around Mulhall's neck and +planted a kiss upon the furrowed cheek of his friend +and benefactor. But the Squire considered that all +he had done, or proposed to do, was only a recompense +in part for a debt that could never be paid in +full. +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P149"></a>149}</span> +</p> + +<p> +"But, father, what am I to do about my claim?" +Ben asked after taking a little time to think over the +proposed trip. "Well, I'm going to stay here until +you come back with that young wife; and you may +be sure there will be some crops growing when you +return," the Squire responded. So preparations +were made almost at once for the proposed trip; and +time began to pass. +</p> + +<p> +No one could tell how long it would take to reach +the old home, though Ben knew that he must go out +to sea over a dangerous bar where recently there had +been a wreck, with the loss of many lives. Thence +on to and across the Isthmus and to New York, +where he would reverse the direction of travel and +turn his face westward toward their former home in +Missouri.[<a id="chap05fn1text"></a><a href="#chap05fn1">1</a>] Parts of the journey would be by railroad, +stage-coach, horseback and steamboat. +</p> + +<p> +We cannot record the incidents of the trip, thrilling +though some of them were; it will suffice here to +say that on a frosty noonday in February, 185-, +Ben clasped his surprised mother to his breast with +the utterance of one word, "Mother." The story of +another overland journey from Missouri to the +Oregon country will be told after we have followed +the fortunes or misfortunes of David Mulhall, Isaac +Pelton and his bride, and the two little twin sisters. +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P150"></a>150}</span> +</p> + +<p> +It will be remembered that when the Squire left +home to find Ben Hardy, Pelton was preparing to +look for a claim where he could establish the home +so long pictured in his mind. In the course of his +wanderings, Isaac had some thrilling experiences +which came near ending in tragedy. The Oregon +Country of almost limitless extent—as one might +say, a thousand miles each way—presented many +and varied conditions to confuse and impel one to +continued search, with something new almost every +day. +</p> + +<p> +In the small corner of the great region which Pelton +examined there were no roads or provision for +crossing rivers, and only a few sparse settlements. +When a cabin was found, he was always assured of a +cordial welcome and the best it afforded; but at +length, after a two days' tramp he was virtually +lost, without blankets or food. That somewhat cooled +his ardor; and as he had already overstayed the set +time, Isaac suddenly abandoned the search and turned +his face homeward. He arrived there safely, to the +great relief of Kate, who had become very uneasy +at his prolonged absence and non-return at the +appointed time. +</p> + +<p> +Pelton's story of what he had seen and experienced—wading +a river nearly waist deep, slipping off a +log into the water and swimming with his boots on, +losing the trail and camping in the deep forest +overnight without fire, blankets or food—cast a shadow +over the bright pictures of a home in the minds of +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P151"></a>151}</span> +both; but he had found a magnificent country, and +intended to go back and try again. At first Pelton +resolved not to tell Kate of the mishaps of the trip, +of the real hardships endured or how he had come +so near to death's door. +</p> + +<p> +He argued to himself that it would only sadden her +and do no good. Then the question as to whether or +not he was justified in having a secret from his +trustful wife would come uppermost in his mind. If he +now began with one, others would surely follow, and +the resolve—a compact with himself—was made that +he would have none; so the full story was told to +her. +</p> + +<p> +A month passed and though several trips were +made, no location was yet found to suit him. Finally, +he received information from a neighbor about some +excellent land not yet taken; and immediately +starting out to examine the tract, found it even better +than represented. After staking his claim, he +returned and informed Kate of his good fortune in +finding a location satisfactory in every essential +respect. +</p> + +<p> +Father Mulhall wrote that Ben had started on his +long trip, and was now well on the way; and that as +soon as school closed, he would come after the girls. +He added that he would plant on Ben's claim and +stay with the crops until he returned; and as a +postscript, Wouldn't Kate like to come over with the +girls, and see Ben's claim and Craig? In reality the +Squire was lonesome and wanted his daughter with +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P152"></a>152}</span> +him for awhile; he also knew that she and the girls +would enjoy the trip—besides he had a surprise in +store for them. +</p> + +<p> +Pelton said, "By all means, go; it will be a nice +jaunt for the girls, though a little rough. I'll give +each of them a pony to make the trip horseback, and +all can have a jolly good time on the way, as well as +while there." He was enthusiastic in urging Kate +to go, while she didn't feel sure of wanting to do so. +</p> + +<p> +The fact was, she was more inclined to move out +on the claim which she had not seen, while Isaac +planned to wait until he could have a surprise for +her in the new house he was contemplating. Kate +suggested building a cabin, where she could be as +happy as in a more commodious residence, to which +Pelton assented with a mental reservation that he +would build one for Andrew and Jennie. And if +Kate persisted, they could live in the cabin while the +house was being built, though that would defeat the +surprise party he had in mind. +</p> + +<p> +"Isaac, I believe you want to get rid of me," Kate +jestingly said one day after making up her mind to +go with the girls; but lovingly added, "you'll feel +sorry after I have gone." However, they understood +each other and were drawn closer together by the +thought of temporary separation. +</p> + +<p> +Pelton's attention was called to two ponies so +nearly alike in build, size and marks that it required +close observation to distinguish "Tom" from "Jerry"—both +beauties, with keen bright eyes, lively yet +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P153"></a>153}</span> +docile, and safe for the girls to ride. He did not let +the extra price asked stand in the way of his +becoming the owner of them; and purchased two new +saddles and bridles to set them off handsomely. A +small riding whip, though not needed in riding, was +attached to each saddle. +</p> + +<p> +On the afternoon of the last day of school, the +ponies were brought by Pelton's direction into the +front yard before the girls came home. Their manes +and foretops were plaited with red, white and blue +ribbons; and they held up their heads as if proud of +the decorations. Before Isaac rode off to the +homestead to be gone overnight, Kate was enjoined not to +tell them from whom the ponies came—only to say +they were presents, and "lots" might be drawn to +determine which one of the girls should own "Tom," +and which one should have "Jerry." +</p> + +<p> +"Who brought these here, Mamma? Where is +he? Tell him to take them away!" was spoken in +such quick succession as to preclude the possibility +of an answer until the questions and the exclamation +had been completed. +</p> + +<p> +"The man said they belonged to two little girls that +live in this house; he left them in the front yard, +but went away without any explanation," Kate +replied. All of this was true, though not all that she +knew. Kate and the girls then took hold of the +halters, and led the ponies outside the garden gate. +</p> + +<p> +"What did you mean, Mamma, when you said they +belonged to two little girls that live here?" +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P154"></a>154}</span> +</p> + +<p> +"That's what the man said when he left them and +went away." +</p> + +<p> +"But you don't mean it?" persisted Sarah. +</p> + +<p> +"I only told you what the man said." +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, but you don't believe it, do you?" Sarah +came back in an attitude of cross-questioning. +</p> + +<p> +"Look on the pummel of the saddle and see," +Kate responded; and in doing so displayed evidence +of knowing more about the case than she had +intended to reveal. +</p> + +<p> +"From Santa Claus to Sarah," the girl read as she +held in her hand the paper just taken from the saddle, +unnoticed before. Then she intently re-read the +label, and exclaimed, "Oh, I know—it's from Uncle +Isaac, as sure as I am alive." +</p> + +<p> +For the first time in her life she had called +Pelton "uncle"; before it was either "Mr. Pelton," +"Sir," or some monosyllable to address or make +reply. Sarah had recognized the handwriting on the +note, and then knew instantly where the present came +from. +</p> + +<p> +Now that she was trapped, Kate gave away the +whole plan about the intended trip to see father +and Craig, and have a good time on the trip +besides. Sarah fairly worshiped Craig since the +memorable scene at the lone pine on the Oregon +Trail. His promise, "I will mark your mother's +grave so you can find it the longest day you live," +had sunk deep in her memory and fixed in her youthful +mind the thought that some day she would visit +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P155"></a>155}</span> +the sacred spot and pay homage to her saintly mother—the +germ of a plan that led in later years to a +pilgrimage to the grave, as will subsequently appear. +</p> + +<p> +Next morning the ponies were returned to the +front gate of the garden all ready for a run in the +country, and with a riding mare for "mamma." The +girls had not forgotten their experience of riding +"Nell" on the plains, but were at first shy of the +ponies. Sarah soon plucked up courage to mount +Tom, while the Indian boy held him; but in a spirit +of mischief, the boy suddenly let go of the halter, +whereupon the pony started off on a canter before +the rider was fairly seated, or could grasp the reins. +</p> + +<p> +Up the village street they went on a gallop, Sarah +holding onto the pummel of the saddle, with her feet +dangling in the air outside the stirrups. Tom stopped +of his own accord at the hitching rack in front of +the village store, and Sarah scrambled off the pony's +back as quickly as possible to be out of sight of the +idlers there. Her teacher, happening by and seeing +her predicament, held Tom until she mounted with +both feet in the stirrups and reins firmly in hand; +then with the pony under control, she was soon back +at the starting place by the garden gate. +</p> + +<p> +When all three were mounted, the course taken +led up the hill and at a more moderate gait until the +prairie was reached. A delightful day in the wide, +open spaces, with a visit to the old camping ground +and a canter back home in the evening, ended their +first day of horseback riding in joviality and +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P156"></a>156}</span> +pleasure. A few days of such practice sufficed to +prepare them for their long jaunt on the road or trail +to Ben's cabin beyond the big river, over the prairies +and through dense forests. +</p> + +<p> +Following a narrow road the third day out, Sarah +leaned over to avoid the overhanging brush and fell +sprawling into a sea of mud, the saddle having turned +to Tom's side. Seeing her sister's predicament Bess +laughed, but Sarah rather pettishly said she couldn't +see anything funny about it, to which sister readily +assented, but admitted that somehow or other she +couldn't help it. The incident had a serious side, as +her clothes were now spattered with sticky mud from +head to foot; her shoes were filled with it and even +her hair bedaubed. +</p> + +<p> +It was necessary to stop and clean her clothes, +empty her shoes, gouge the mud out of her ears and +wash it off of her face. A few miles further on, it +became Sarah's turn to laugh when Bess was scraped +off her saddle and tumbled over Jerry's rump, holding +onto his tail to lighten the fall; but Bess couldn't +see anything funny about that! After numerous +mishaps, the party finally reached the river steamer, +where the ponies were comfortably stalled; then all +the party had a general clean-up on the upper deck, +and a good laugh together as the adventures on the +road were recounted. +</p> + +<p> +In two days more of tiresome traveling, with the +glamour of a horseback ride worn off, Ben's cabin +was reached and father Mulhall's welcoming kiss +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P157"></a>157}</span> +bestowed. Notwithstanding the various adventures on +the trip, all enjoyed the experience, and expressed a +desire to return the same way. +</p> + +<p> +The very next day, Craig came, as he did every +other Sunday of the month, to make good a legal +"residence" on his claim. He was a great favorite +with the twins, and the reunion that followed repaid +all the fatigue of their trip. Toward evening he +excused himself to visit a neighbor, and withdrew, +leaving his end of the cabin free to the visitors. +</p> + +<p> +Only a week had passed when, to her father's +surprise, Kate announced that she would start for home +the next day after the morrow. He felt hurt that +the daughter he loved so well should cut her visit +short; but nothing he could say would alter her +resolution. Kate had a reason of her own which she did +not explain to her father—but which he would know +later, and the reader will probably surmise. +</p> + +<p> +Pelton was as much surprised at her sudden return +as the Squire had been upon her hasty departure; +and his plan of introducing Kate into a finished +residence, of which he was certain she would be proud, +was frustrated. He had all the workmen that could +be employed to advantage in hastening completion of +the residence, including hot and cold water under +pressure in the kitchen, a convenience she had never +experienced. +</p> + +<p> +Isaac admitted to himself that he was pleased when +Kate told him she preferred to stay for the present +in their village home. But when he returned from +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P158"></a>158}</span> +the claim on the second Saturday, he found the +drawer of the dresser locked—something that had not +happened before—and his razor, shaving cup and +brush outside. Pelton was becoming conscious that +Kate had a secret she didn't want to disclose, but +said nothing about it. +</p> + +<p> +Work on the residence progressed apace; and every +Saturday Isaac came to spend Sunday in the village. +Somewhat to his relief, Kate had not yet expressed +a desire to visit the new home; but a month later +Pelton was ready, and to his delight Kate, still without +an inkling of the great surprise in store for her, +said that she was willing to go. +</p> + +<p> +One day, after Kate had been at the new home for +a few weeks, enjoying it with indescribable pleasure, +a lady and gentleman drove up to the front door. +Though strangers, she had evidently expected them, +and promptly directed the man where to stable his +horses, and then asked him into the house for lunch, +though it was after the usual hour. The woman went +at once to the kitchen and began helping to prepare +the lunch and to make herself otherwise useful. +</p> + +<p> +Isaac came in later, but expressed no surprise at +their presence, for he was also expecting them. +Without ceremony, the lady took charge of the household +work, while the gentleman sauntered into the library +and became absorbed among the books in the small +but choice selection on the shelves. Thus a week +passed in quiet expectation. +</p> + +<p> +One night a light was left burning in the room +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P159"></a>159}</span> +up-stairs, and neither of the visitors retired at the +usual hour. The nurse remained in the room with +Kate, and the doctor made frequent visits there, +finally remaining a considerable length of time. +Then, in answer to Pelton's anxious inquiry, he said, +"It's a boy, and a rousing little fellow he is." +</p> + +<p> +When father Mulhall heard that he had a grandson, +the mystery of Kate's early departure was +explained; and his slight pique was turned to joy and +exultation, increased by parental pride in the +daughter who had always been so loving and helpful to +him. As soon as they knew about it, the twins were +very anxious to see their nephew, and filled with +childlike pride at the prospect of being called +"aunt." +</p> + +<p class="capcenter quote"> +<a id="img-159"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-159.jpg" alt="BABE IN THE WOODS; SEE ALSO PAGE 188."> +<br> +BABE IN THE WOODS; SEE ALSO PAGE <a href="#P188">188</a>. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a id="chap05fn1"></a> +[<a href="#chap05fn1text">1</a>] The map of the Oregon Trail and the National Road on +page <a href="#P8">8</a> will give the reader some idea of the principal routes +traveled to Missouri, either from the Atlantic Coast or the +Pacific Northwest, during the period covered by this +narrative. E.M. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap06"></a></p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P160"></a>160}</span> +</p> + +<h2> +CHAPTER VI +</h2> + +<p class="hang2"> +THE WEDDING OF BEN AND LINDA; A SECOND +OVERLAND TRIP; MASSACRE OF NEARLY ALL THE +COMPANY; BINDING UP THE WOUNDS; THE +TRIP RESUMED; SURVIVORS REACH THE OREGON +COUNTRY. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p> +Ben's hair had grown long, his beard had +been cropped only with shears, and his face +was tanned by the fierce rays of a tropical +sun. His clothing was begrimed and worn almost +threadbare; in appearance he was very different +from the Ben Hardy who had spent the Sunday +evening with Linda Shaeffer just before starting for +Oregon with the Mulhall outfit. It would take +considerable preparation to call upon Linda in +presentable clothing; and though very anxious to see +her, Ben shrank from the impulse to do so at once. +But his mother said, "Go as you are; Linda will be +rejoiced to see you." +</p> + +<p> +Ben Hardy had traversed, in the opposite direction, +the route that Isaac Pelton took; and for the +same object—to secure the girl of his choice for a +life companion. The departure from his Oregon +cabin had been so sudden that there was no time to +write of the trip; even if he had done so, the letter +would have gone forward by the same steamer on +which he sailed. Although his trials had been less +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P161"></a>161}</span> +severe than Pelton's and the delays not as great, the +journey was one of continuous anxiety and fatigue. +</p> + +<p> +His arrival at the old home in Missouri was +unexpected and a great surprise to all his friends there, +naturally most of all to Linda. Ben's last letter, +received only two weeks before, described his +progress in establishing a home for them; but gave no +intimation as to when he would come after her, or +how she could go to him. So when Linda caught +sight of Ben passing through the gate in front of her +father's residence, she could not at first believe that +she saw aright, but kept gazing in bewildered wonder +and trepidation as he approached the house. +</p> + +<p> +The change in Ben's appearance had been so great +that an acquaintance could easily have been mistaken +in his identity; but Linda, whose quick eye recognized +his familiar movement, rushed from the house +and met him on the walk, half-way between the gate +and the veranda steps. Most readers have known +the thrill of such a surprise, though probably few of +the intensity of this one; nevertheless, out of their +own experience, they will understand and appreciate +Linda's joy. The cordial greetings that followed +from all the household heartened Ben; no one seemed +to notice his clothes—it was Ben, though greatly +changed, they saw and welcomed. +</p> + +<p> +There was one of the household who in her heart +could not rejoice—not that mother Shaeffer thought +Ben unworthy of Linda; but the realization that the +daughter she loved so intensely would be taken from +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P162"></a>162}</span> +her, possibly meet a tragic fate at the hands of the +Indians, and certainly encounter the other hazards +of a trip to Oregon, overwhelmed her. Conscious +that she might be unable to compose herself and +control her emotions, the good lady withdrew as +quietly as possible to her own chamber, where she +gave way to grief that could no longer be restrained. +</p> + +<p> +Mothers who have had similar experiences of +impending separation from beloved and loving +daughters will sympathize with Mrs. Shaeffer; such is +life and the story of each generation! We know +that joy in a steady, overflowing stream often follows +grief, which becomes less poignant with the lapse of +time. +</p> + +<p> +As she left the room, Ben caught the expression +of distress in Mrs. Shaeffer's countenance. Could +it be possible that Linda's mother was opposed to +their marriage? The very thought disturbed and +perplexed Ben. He did not stay late, though long +enough to disclose his plans for the trip, taking +particular care to tell Linda of its difficulties and +dangers. Linda firmly responded, "I am going with +you, Ben;" and with the echo of it in his ears, he +rode back to his mother's home with a light heart, +for the moment forgetting the grave responsibility +now resting upon his shoulders. +</p> + +<p> +With only a small amount left from the current +funds provided for the expenses of the trip, the first +urgent business was to secure enough money to +purchase an outfit and allow for the expenditures and +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P163"></a>163}</span> +any emergencies on the way. Ben had learned by +experience that the popular fallacy, shared by so +many, that currency was not needed on the Trail, +was unfounded; and knew to the contrary. The +funds upon which he depended were in three banks +of three different counties; and one of them had +suspended payment upon large deposits. +</p> + +<p> +A period of great financial depression had +recently swept over the country. Crops were abundant, +but the few existing markets were at considerable +distances, and transportation facilities were +entirely inadequate to move even the portions that +could be sold. No railroads had yet been constructed +in Missouri, and it was also before there +were a sufficient number of steamers to serve the +needs of the narrow margin of settlements bordering +on the two principal rivers. +</p> + +<p> +The whole region was without improved roads, +but had a superabundance of products that could +not be either consumed or sold at a profit. A +wagon-load of corn would hardly bring enough to buy a pair +of boots; a fat two-hundred pound hog could not be +traded for a lady's dress, or five bushels of corn for a +pound of tea or coffee. +</p> + +<p> +Such were the conditions confronting Ben in providing +funds for the purchase of an outfit, with the +possibility of not being able to do so at all. Luckily, +he had some certificates of small amounts which he +turned over to father Shaeffer, and thus avoided +direct dealing with the banks. +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P164"></a>164}</span> +</p> + +<p> +The political turmoil which a few years later +brought on the Civil War then scourged the country, +and added to the distress of commercial depression; +in fact, was considered by many the greater of the +two evils. Advocates of slavery were becoming more +and more aggressive, while the Free-Soil element +grew more firm. The approaching conflict of arms +led many to emigrate as the best way of escaping +from the public and private agitation. +</p> + +<p> +As soon as it became known that Benjamin Hardy +had arrived direct from Oregon, and was intending +to outfit an expedition to return over the Trail the +following summer, he was besieged by numerous parties +desiring to join with him, and by a much greater +throng seeking information. They came two, five or +even ten together, and finally a delegation of forty +from an adjoining county to discuss the trip and +country with him. Some offered to form a new +company under his leadership for the land of mild +climate and great opportunities. +</p> + +<p> +Those importuning strangers became a great burden +to Ben, and much of his time was taken in +imparting information, or declining offers to join his +prospective trip. To all he expressed the intention +of going with only two wagons, or three at the most, +and not more than eight of his friends; but gave a +truthful report of the dangers and privations of the +Trail, and a good description of the Oregon Country. +Father Shaeffer's farm was better equipped for +assembling an outfit than his mother's; besides the +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P165"></a>165}</span> +"Shaeffer boys"—all stalwarts—were eager to help +him train the teams, and another one for Linda's two +brothers who had determined to return with Ben +to Oregon. At first he had no other thought than +to assemble the outfit and train the teams at his +mother's home, for he desired to be with her as much +as possible while preparing for the trip. +</p> + +<p> +At the same time, Ben could but acknowledge to +himself that he wanted to be near Linda; so arrangements +were made for his mother to drive over every +day to help Mrs. Shaeffer prepare for the wedding +and make clothing for the young couple. A part of +the cloth was to be woven on mother Shaeffer's loom +by Mrs. Hardy. +</p> + +<p class="thought"> +* * * * * * * *<br> +</p> + +<p> +The wedding was a very quiet affair, with only +the Shaeffer family, Ben's mother and family, and +a very few friends to witness it. Linda was dressed +in a frock of her own make; she had woven the cloth +for the very occasion while Ben was more than two +thousand miles away, but with an abiding faith that +the time would come for her to wear it. +</p> + +<p> +Ben was dressed in a suit Mrs. Hardy made out +of "boughten store cloth," as she described the +material; while not a "tailor fit," the mother was proud +of it, and all agreed that she did very well. At that +time the women not only made their own dresses but +also the clothes of the men folks; so it was nothing +out of the ordinary for mother Hardy to make Ben's +wedding suit. +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P166"></a>166}</span> +</p> + +<p> +The "boys" all wanted to invite the young folks +of the neighborhood and "have a good time," but +mother Shaeffer pleaded for a quiet wedding; and +in deference to her wishes, all of them gave up the +thought. To her the marriage was a solemn occasion, +and she could scarcely restrain the tears while +preparations were being made for it. Ben had come to +know the real reason and deeply sympathized with +her; he felt almost a twinge of conscience for taking +the dutiful daughter from the companionship of a +loving mother. +</p> + +<p> +Mrs. Shaeffer had great respect for Ben, believed +him worthy of her confidence and a suitable husband +for her daughter; but she wanted Linda to herself. +In calmer moments she realized the selfishness of +such an attitude, and how it might affect Linda's +later life to remain with her; but the premonition +that something dreadful would happen on the trip +could not be dispelled. Ben was not free from the +thought that disaster might overtake them on +the long journey—little dreaming of the source from +which it would come, a peril not encountered in his +former trip with Squire Mulhall. +</p> + +<p> +April, the time set long in advance for their +departure, was near at hand; the teams and outfits had +already been purchased, the animals were thoroughly +reliable and well trained, and everything was about +ready for the start to the far West. Robert and +Abraham Shaeffer had also provided themselves with +a team and outfit, and were equally well prepared; +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P167"></a>167}</span> +two independent outfits satisfactory to Ben with +four stalwart and reliable men, were in readiness +making ten trustworthy adults in the party. There +were also three women and four children, with +Andrew, Jennie and their little girl Margie—in all +twenty persons, five ox-teams, one horse-team and a +matched-mule team for Andrew. +</p> + +<p> +But the banks had not yet responded to the extent +of the full amount needed to defray the expense of +outfitting, and enough to provide for necessary +supplies and incidental expenses on the road. It seemed +as if they might be held back at the last minute by +the difficulties of securing the necessary funds. +</p> + +<p> +When all the other arrangements had been completed, +Ben and father Shaeffer rode over to the nearest +bank; with a determined expression of countenance, +fire in their eyes and resolute tongues, they +soon convinced the cashier that the money should be +furnished to Ben as a matter of right. Thereupon +sufficient for all anticipated needs was handed to +him, and that part of the problem solved. +</p> + +<p> +Ben had secured a light wagon, with half-springs +under the bed to shelter Linda night and day, and +also himself when not called elsewhere during the +day, or kept out on watch at night. He had planned +to take a full share of the duties and responsibilities +of the trip, no matter how arduous or fatiguing they +might be. +</p> + +<p> +Andrew, Jennie and Margie were ready when +Ben and Linda arrived. Eli Sumner, the elderly +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P168"></a>168}</span> +Quaker in whose care Pelton had left his former +slaves, provided a span of matched tan-colored mules +and a complete outfit for them. All three took an +affectionate farewell of their benefactor, for Sumner +had been kind to them—just as good as "massa," +Andrew said; and could not restrain tears of +gratitude with the last shake of the hand. +</p> + +<p> +The ox-teams had been sent several days ahead to +the Missouri River crossing, where Ben was to join +them with Andrew, Jennie and Margie. A great +surprise was in store for Ben upon arrival; all the +teams of his party were awaiting him, but the great +throng seen there on his first trip was conspicuously +absent. Instead of five hundred or more wagons on +the former occasion, there were now not more than +fifty besides his own little party. +</p> + +<p> +In striking contrast to the pressure of two years +before at the ferry landing, where a long line of +emigrants waited their turn to be carried over, now +all were easily crossed about as they arrived. +Stirring memories of his adventure on the previous trip +came vividly to mind. The sand-bar where the +wagon-box had grounded with Kate Mulhall in water +waist deep, was there; likewise the little island in +front of the ferry landing where the scow upset, +though since partially worn away by the swirling +current of the great river. +</p> + +<p> +Grass was abundant near-by the camp site, instead +of being cropped close as he had seen it the first +time. Profiting by Mulhall's experience with the +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P169"></a>169}</span> +horse team, Ben determined to provide grain to last +his horses and mules a long way out on the Trail. +First he planned to take another wagon and abandon +it when unloaded, thus strengthening his teams +with the extra oxen, but under the circumstances, he +concluded it would be practicable for teams to make +the return trip; so two wagons were secured and +loaded with grain. +</p> + +<p> +When fully prepared the crossing was safely made, +and the great trip across the plains started on April +18, 185-, about three weeks earlier in the season +than the previous one. The absence of Indians was +at once noticed by Ben, who caught sight of a few +in the distance the second day out; but they did not +come anywhere near the train. At the crossing of +the second river on the fifth day, some of their tepees +were found on both sides of the Trail, and one +directly across it at the usual landing place. +</p> + +<p> +There were a dozen or more lodges with altogether +probably fifty Indians, of which about twenty were +men. Ben interpreted their obstruction of the Trail +as a sign of hostile intent; and after selecting a +suitable place for defense in case of attack, he at +once gathered all of his people into camp. The +wagons formed a corral, the guns of the party were +carefully examined and an armed guard sent to the +grazing ground with the teams. Every one was +cautioned not to go near the tepees, but to await +developments; and although Ben's camp was only about +fifty yards away, no Indian approached near it. +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P170"></a>170}</span> +</p> + +<p> +Little or nothing would be lost by waiting, as +other teams were expected in a few hours; at nightfall +seven did arrive with eleven armed men. Their +wagons helped materially to enlarge the protecting +circle, while the men increased the strength of the +guard. +</p> + +<p> +At a council that evening it was decided not to +go near the Indian camp for twenty-four hours, +unless the red men first came to them; and to show a +bold front, asking no favor except to be allowed to +cross the river undisturbed—and make no concessions. +The Indians evidently did not want a show +of arms, their immediate object being robbery under +the guise of collecting toll; they had discovered that +only a few wagons were crossing the river, and +thought they could safely intimidate the smaller +numbers. +</p> + +<p> +Realizing the impending danger, Ben at once saw +the necessity of forming a larger company, for there +might be fifty thousand warriors within riding +distance of the Trail, and still greater dangers ahead. +That night couriers were sent back to ascertain how +many men could come up on the morrow; and +definite information was received that thirty more +wagons would reach their camp before the next +night. +</p> + +<p> +When the Indians saw these reinforcements, they +silently decamped and left the crossing unobstructed; +but the incident naturally caused uneasiness in all +the camps, as the sequel will show. By later +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P171"></a>171}</span> +accounts, at least eleven massacres were perpetrated +along the Oregon Trail by Indians during the +overland migrations. +</p> + +<p> +Some of those tragedies were revealed only in part +by the irons of destroyed vehicles, with not a human +being left to tell the dreadful story. Ben concluded +that it would be unsafe for the two grain wagons to +return; so he took them over and employed the drivers +until they could find an opportunity of returning +with others—or else continue all the way with him +to Oregon. +</p> + +<p> +Four days more of travel brought the train to +another river crossing where they saw eleven nude +men, women and children of a party whose three +outfits had been burned, all provisions carried off +and their teams driven away. Why the Indians had +spared the lives of the victims none could tell; they +had not been harmed bodily, but stripped of all their +belongings. Ben gave the unfortunates one of the +grain wagons and a team, while the people of the +train fed and clothed them. +</p> + +<p> +They were now in the buffalo country, and near +where Ben had gone on the hunt that had been almost +fatal to him on the previous trip across. He had no +desire to duplicate the experience, but there were +four more to feed than originally provided for, they +had given the destitute party a month's supplies with +the wagon; and he now realized the necessity of +replenishing their stock of food. +</p> + +<p> +So the camp was put in order and an organized +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P172"></a>172}</span> +hunt arranged; teams were sent to bring in the game +and preparations made to cure it. In five days the +wagons returned fairly loaded down with jerked +buffalo, and the journey was resumed with a bountiful +supply of meat added to the previously diminished +store. +</p> + +<p> +So far Ben's horses and the mule team had felt the +strengthening results of light rations of grain; but +by this time nearly all of it had been fed out. +Fortunately, the grass continued to be plentiful along +stretches where, two years before, it had been eaten +close to the ground by the large numbers of cattle +and horses, with here and there a flock of sheep in +the emigrant column. +</p> + +<p> +The Trail crossed a wide, open country inhabited +by warlike tribes, some of which were off on hunting +expeditions or in forays against other tribes, +and a few had not yet returned from their trapping +expeditions. To the agreeable surprise of the +emigrants, very few Indians were now seen, and those +showed no signs of making trouble. +</p> + +<p> +After this had continued for several weeks, vigilance +was somewhat relaxed and the company began +to fall apart—a repetition of what had transpired +in previous years, often with disastrous results. +Believing that all danger from Indians had passed, +Robert and Abraham Shaeffer concluded to try their +fortune in the California gold mines, and left the +train. +</p> + +<p> +Before he realized what was happening, Ben found +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P173"></a>173}</span> +himself with the original company, except for the +Shaeffer boys; but was not as much disturbed about +it as he would have been a few weeks before. The +grass was good, and the abundant feed in the vicinity +of the camping places relieved the long tedious +night watches, often far removed from them. His +horses, mules and oxen were in good condition; the +cows gave plenty of milk for the company, and the +surplus cream made considerable butter. +</p> + +<p> +Linda was enjoying the trip; if this was "hardship," +she could have endured more of it without +complaint. Andrew, who never tired of entertaining +the little camp with his violin and quaint plantation +songs, was happy with Jennie and Margie. Ben was +comforted by the thought that they would soon be in +the cabin home to which they had looked forward so +long, and began to count the days—each one bringing +them so much nearer their destination. +</p> + +<p> +So far the trip had been a surprise to Ben, and a +marked contrast to the one he had made with Squire +Mulhall only two years before. The seasons had +differed somewhat, but the greatest change consisted in +the overcrowded Trail in 185-, and the much lesser +number now. +</p> + +<p> +He had been traveling several days in a wide and +fertile valley, now the pride of a great State, and +had just crossed the river for the first time to the +right bank. The spot was ideal for a camp, with an +abundance of grass, plenty of fuel and pure water +for all. So enticing was the scene that Ben concluded +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P174"></a>174}</span> +to lay over Sunday to rest the tired teams and the +weary members of his party as well. +</p> + +<p> +A low perpendicular bluff paralleled the river, +with a narrow portion of the main valley, which +promised ample feed for the teams, between them. +The bluff on one side and river on the other +prevented the stock from scattering; and for once no +guard was sent out, as had been customary heretofore. +A strip of wild grass higher than a man's +shoulder bordered a dense growth of brush near the +river. +</p> + +<p> +The women took advantage of the stop-over to do +their washing near the river crossing; and one of +the men was bagging some of the numerous rabbits +in the valley. Andrew spent most of his time +entertaining others, as usual whenever opportunity +offered; two of the horses had left the range and +returned for a bit of bread or lick of salt. Ben was +busily occupied with the cares of the camp, and +planning the next stage of the trip. +</p> + +<p> +On the following day two Indians were seen passing +on horseback along the top of the low bluff; but +nothing was thought of it, as there had been no +trouble with them for several months, or for a thousand +miles along the Trail. A small train of wagons +crossed the river during the day and continued on +to the west; soon afterward an Indian was seen fording +it at the same place and riding furiously toward +the east. About two hours later the same Indian +returned, his pony exhibiting all the signs of +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P175"></a>175}</span> +continued hard riding; after what followed it is certain +that he was a scout sent up the Trail to ascertain +whether or not another train was approaching. +</p> + +<p> +During the afternoon two men from a near-by camp +went out to milk their cows and look after the oxen; +and to their surprise were unable to find either. +Following on up the valley they soon came upon sure +signs of hurried travel, and realized that the cattle +had been stampeded from some cause not then +apparent; after continuing along the Trail until near +dark they were compelled to return slowly to the +camp. +</p> + +<p> +To their amazement they found it in utter +disorder, and without a living soul. Wagons had been +run together and partially burned; remnants of the +outfits were scattered in every direction; remains of +dead bodies were heaped upon the fire and in part +consumed. The dreadful fact dawned upon them +that the camp had been raided by the Indians during +their absence, and their comrades massacred. +</p> + +<p> +Linda, who had found a near-by refuge, remained +in hiding until she heard voices in her own tongue, +and then came out to the desolated camp. It was +too dark to recognize the mutilated bodies, but by a +token on the remains Linda discovered that Ben +was one of the slain, and immediately lost consciousness. +The horrors of that long night are beyond +description, as the fears and alarms of a lifetime +hovered over the heads of the sleepless survivors. +</p> + +<hr> + +<p class="capcenter quote"> +<a id="img-175"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-175.jpg" alt="SCENE AFTER THE MASSACRE, AS DESCRIBED ON THE OPPOSITE PAGE"> +<br> +SCENE AFTER THE MASSACRE, AS DESCRIBED ON THE OPPOSITE PAGE +</p> + +<p class="quote"> +This was part of the price which the overland travel of the +40s and 50s paid that the far Northwest might be settled +by Americans and made a part of the United States. At least +eleven such catastrophes are a matter of record. It is, of +course, impossible at this date to recover the graves of the +marytred Pioneers; but we can—and will—erect suitable +memorials to the Unknown Dead of the Plains. +</p> + +<hr> + +<p> +But the first duty was to look after the living and +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P176"></a>176}</span> +let the dead rest where they were. One of the men +waded the river and started eastward on the Trail +in search of aid, which he fortunately met within a +few miles. Couriers were dispatched east and west +to warn the emigrants and urge volunteers to +assemble and punish the Indians. +</p> + +<p> +In the early morning food and clothing were delivered +to the stricken victims, and soon a train arrived +to supply physical comforts to them. A hundred +miles of the Trail were traversed by couriers, and +before night a large number of armed men had +assembled; time pressed, and none was lost. +</p> + +<p> +During the day the trail of the oxen was anxiously +located, so it could be followed at night. Each rider +carried his rations in his pouch, or in packages +strapped to his saddle; there was no thought of +bedding or camp equipment, as they intended to +march all night in the hope of overtaking the +Indians. It is wonderful what a body of resolute men +can accomplish when all are of one mind. +</p> + +<p> +The trail, which led up the valley for some miles, +was easily and rapidly followed in the night; on the +table-lands it was dim, but recognized without much +difficulty. At break of day a secluded spot was +selected, the horses tethered and silence enjoined upon +every one. A cautious reconnaissance had discovered +signs of Indians; at midnight the march was +resumed, and their camps sighted at daylight. +</p> + +<p> +Each became his own captain as they descended in +fury upon the slumbering Indians, and during the +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P177"></a>177}</span> +mêlée that followed neither age nor sex was spared; +women and children were ruthlessly shot down, and +no prisoners taken. The oxen and all except one of +the cows and two of the horses were recovered, but +Andrew's mules could not be found. Orders were +then given to assemble all the Indian horses possible, +and shoot them on the spot. +</p> + +<p> +The chastisement was swift, severe and long +remembered by the remnant of the band. While this +did not bring the dead to life or heal the wounds of +the living, some reprisal was necessary to deter the +savages from again molesting emigrant trains +following the Trail on peaceful missions of finding +homes for themselves and their families. It was +cruel; but the emergency called for desperate +measures. +</p> + +<p> +After the massacre Andrew, Jennie and Margie +wandered off listlessly on the Trail leading west, and +passing scouts found them later a short distance +from the camp. The Indians were terrified at their +first sight of a negro, evidently believing Andrew +to be an emissary of the evil spirit who could bring +dire disaster upon them for any harm done to him; +so he escaped.[<a id="chap06fn1text"></a><a href="#chap06fn1">1</a>] +</p> + +<p> +As Andrew returned to camp, the shock of the +disaster seemed to awaken him to new duties of +life; and a vision opened up before him. "Massa +Ben" was gone, and only he was now left of the men +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P178"></a>178}</span> +in the original party. Up to this time he had looked +to others for direction, leaning upon them as a child +upon a parent; but now he must act for and depend +upon himself. Without realizing the change, +Andrew became virtual head of the remnant of the +party, and quietly assumed the responsibility. +</p> + +<p> +His first act upon returning to camp was to look +after the comfort of "Missus Linda" and provide a +place where she might rest, while Jennie prepared +some nourishment for her. Others had attempted +the gruesome task of separating and identifying the +dead; but they were so mutilated and in such a +confused mass that all were finally buried in one grave. +</p> + +<p> +Andrew's grief at the funeral was inconsolable; +falling on his knees at the grave, he offered up a +prayer expressing resignation to God's will and +inspiring hopes for the future, that touched the heart +of every one. While a surprise to all, it was +comforting, particularly to Linda; Andrew's thoughts +seemed to be centered mainly on his young mistress, +and he spared no effort to encourage and assist her. +</p> + +<p> +The burial of the victims preceded by only one +day the revenge upon the Indians. Echoes of boasts +from the returning party that none had been spared, +children and mothers slain and the wounded +dispatched without mercy, troubled Linda's gentle +spirit. She could not participate in the elation of +the men, and recalled what Ben had said of the +"irrepressible conflict" between the Indians and the +whites, as well as Andrew's prayer to "look for +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P179"></a>179}</span> +relief from God Almighty," as the fervent negro had +expressed it. +</p> + +<p> +An exact account of the massacre will never be +known, for none were left to tell the story. When +the attack was made Linda and the three other +women of the train were washing at the river, only +a few hundred yards from the camp, though out of +sight from it. Hearing the guns and seeing many +armed Indians near-by, all rushed for the brush and +high grass, hiding as best they could. +</p> + +<p> +Immediately after the interment Linda retired, +supperless and disconsolate, to the temporary camp +Andrew had prepared for her. The situation was +indeed very desperate. Her brothers had gone on +to California, the last hired man had left them +three weeks before, and her husband was dead. +</p> + +<p> +Deep grief, prolonged fatigue and loss of sleep +finally overcame her, and she sank into a slumber +where sorrow was temporarily forgotten. Morning +brought partial relief; and Linda could then fix her +mind on the emergency that confronted them. As +soon as Jennie knew her "missus" was awake she +brought some food, of which Linda partook sparingly, +although it was the first for about thirty-six +hours. +</p> + +<p> +The wagon and yokes had been burned, and the +clothing destroyed or carried off with the remainder +of the outfit; nothing was left but the horses, the +oxen and one cow. Linda had the helpless colored +man, as she still thought of Andrew, as well as his +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P180"></a>180}</span> +wife and child, to consider; but a new courage took +possession of her mind and drove away despair. "I +have yet something to live for," she said to herself. +</p> + +<p> +Summoning Andrew to her bedside, Linda was +surprised to note his confident demeanor. "Yes, +missus, I kin drive the oxen, I knows I kin." "But, +Andrew, we have no wagon." "Yes, missus, there's +a wagon down by the ford; I seen it this mornin." When +reminded that the wagon didn't belong to her, +Andrew responded, "Everybody takes a wagon +standing on the road, if he thinks it better than +hizzen." +</p> + +<p> +Linda remembered the accepted practice of the +Trail that abandoned vehicles, of which there were +a great number, became common property; and +followed Andrew to the ford to see the wagon. "Yuse +jest take that; I kin drive it, I know I kin," Andrew +confidently reiterated. "Yuse kin take my wagon +(which had not been destroyed by the Indians), +Jennie kin ride the mare and take care of the loose +oxen and the cows, and Margin kin ride in this +wagon with me." Evidently Andrew had been +thinking and planning while Linda slept; the new +experience awakened his latent abilities. +</p> + +<p> +Fortunately a considerable part of their money +was sewed in a dress she wore; and some hidden +under a false bottom of the wagon-box was recovered, +much to her relief. Linda and Andrew managed to +put together an outfit enabling them to resume the +journey. He developed as the necessity required, +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P181"></a>181}</span> +Jennie soon became more than a dependent, and +even Margie found incidental ways to be helpful. +</p> + +<p> +Several hundred miles of the Trail were still +ahead of them; but each day brought new experiences +and increased confidence. Linda's strength +gradually returned; and Andrew proved that he +could drive an ox-team as well as play the violin, +which had been laid aside unused since the fatal +Sunday when "Massa Ben" had been killed. His +whole ambition centered in the welfare of his +"missus," and he felt an obligation to see her safely +in the cabin home. As they neared the end of the +journey, Linda became still more self-reliant. She +was surprised at the improvement in Andrew and +Jennie, and finally in herself; and realized in a still +larger measure that she had something more to live +for. +</p> + +<p> +Just seven months and one day after she and Ben +drove out of the Shaeffer door-yard in Missouri, +Linda drew up unannounced in front of the cabin +which he had built on his claim in the Oregon Country. +It was late in the evening, while the Squire +and the girls were at supper. Hearing a noise +outside, Mulhall arose and as he opened the door Linda +was just reaching out to knock for admission; catching +sight of her, the girls screamed with delight and +in their hasty greeting nearly upset the table. +</p> + +<p> +"Where's Ben?" was the first question the Squire +asked; but quickly divining from Linda's countenance +that something had happened, the question +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P182"></a>182}</span> +was not repeated. He then turned to greet Andrew +and Jennie, and after them Margie. Leaving Linda +with the girls, Mulhall accompanied Andrew to care +for the teams, and then learned the dreadful news; +thus he knew there could now be no joyful reunion, +and hastened back as soon as possible. +</p> + +<p> +The sight of the cabin that Ben had built for their +home, and the conveniences he had arranged inside, +revived the dormant grief within Linda's breast until +she sank unconscious and helpless to the cabin floor. +Poor woman! She had fortified herself with a +resolution to be brave; but her emotion would not down, +and relief came only in unconsciousness. When she +awoke the Squire refrained from asking any questions +about the tragedy, but talked about the country +of which she had seen so little, and discussed plans +for the future. +</p> + +<p> +Next morning when Linda's calmness had returned, +she voluntarily told Mulhall the whole story +as they wandered over the extensive and beautiful +Donation claim, a mile in length and half a mile in +width. It was an ideal place for a home, nearly all +fertile prairie with a clump of timber in one corner +some distance from the cabin, while a rivulet of pure +water fed by springs on the claim flowed through +the land. Small wonder that Ben should have +written to her so enthusiastically about their future +home; or that he braved so much to reach it with +her. +</p> + +<p> +He looked forward to a bright future spent in +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P183"></a>183}</span> +developing and embellishing this choice tract of land +in a salubrious climate, with the assistance of the +young wife whom he adored. But the treacherous +savages in the wilds of what is now part of the State +of Idaho put a cruel end to his joys and hopes. +Unfortunate man! But not the only one, for many like +him met a similar fate on the Oregon Trail. +</p> + +<p> +Craig, who had never before seen Linda, came the +following Sunday, and was fairly stunned when told +of the disaster. He loved Ben for the many good +traits of his character, and was drawn closer to him +through their mutual adventures. "My lady," he +said in a broad Scotch brogue, "you shall have the +cabin and all there is in it; and I will move the line +twenty rods away." +</p> + +<p> +He added something about being able to secure a +full claim for himself, as there was still vacant land +adjacent; but made no mention of the fact that the +new boundary would make his own less valuable. It +did not matter very much, for he had long thought +that Ben should come into the ownership of both +claims, a mile square in the great fertile valley. +There were many instances in which the earlier +settlers had taken up that amount of land in their own +right, under the law as at first passed; but later +settlers were restricted to half that area. +</p> + +<p> +Craig at once had a new cabin built to comply +with the legal requirements of his own residence; +and then without either ostentation or Linda's +knowledge, had his will re-drawn in her favor instead of +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P184"></a>184}</span> +Ben's, as the first one read. We are not sure that +Ben knew of the first; both acts were characteristic +of Craig's modesty, forethought and generosity. +</p> + +<p> +Andrew wanted very much to see "Massa Pelton," +but hesitated to leave Linda; he could not tell which +he loved best, his old master or the new missus. Both +had been good to him, which was more than he could +say about some others of the white race. +</p> + +<p> +Great numbers, perhaps a majority, of the early +settlers in the Oregon Country had come from slave +States, bringing prejudices against the black man so +intense that at first no negro could live in their midst +under pain of the whipping post. Unbelievable! the +reader will exclaim—but yet authentic history. The +law had been passed by the Provisional Government +under the stimulus of temporary and unreasonable +excitement, and without due consideration or +deliberation; it was never enforced and soon repealed. +</p> + +<p> +Linda asked the Squire if he thought Pelton +would consent to have Andrew and Jennie stay with +her through the winter; but at the moment Mulhall +considered it unlikely. "Won't I have time to write +him before you go with Andrew?" she asked. "I'll +wait till you do," the Squire answered, as he could +see the necessity of help for the lone widow, though +he didn't yet know the principal reason. +</p> + +<p> +Linda wrote not to Isaac, but to Kate. After +telling her of the tragedy, she explained that she was +looking forward to another one to live for, which +explained why she so much wanted Jennie to be +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P185"></a>185}</span> +with her. When Kate told Pelton of the special +reason he said, "God bless her, yes! I would almost +say you should also go and be with her." But Kate +had her own household and their own little boy to +care for. +</p> + +<p> +Squire Mulhall was reluctant to leave for home, +as he had planned to do on Ben's arrival; in fact +had about made up his mind to stay. But the girls +must be taken back before school opened; and he +did not see how it could be managed unless he made +the trip with them, even if he returned at once to the +Hardy cabin. Imagine his surprise when, two days +after Linda received Kate's letter telling her that +Andrew and Jennie could remain with her, Pelton +knocked at the door and greeted the astonished Squire +in the cabin. +</p> + +<p> +Isaac explained that he wanted to see his former +slaves so badly that, over-night, he concluded to make +the trip; besides Kate had a small package to send +to Linda. He instinctively knew also that the Squire +would want to stay longer with her; so on his return +he would take the girls back in time for school. +Andrew fairly shouted with joy at the sight of his old +master; Jennie was no less jubilant, but had a +different way of showing it; not until sleep overtook +them, could either restrain their long pent-up +feelings. +</p> + +<p> +The two men counselling together that night agreed +upon a course of action—first, that with Linda's +consent an addition would be built to the cabin, and a +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P186"></a>186}</span> +one-room cabin put up for Andrew; second, that +Pelton would return home immediately, taking the +girls to his home until Kate could make suitable +arrangements for them in their own home in the village +near the school; and third, that the Squire should +stay with Linda for an indefinite time, or at least +until after the approaching event that was to mean +so much for her. +</p> + +<p> +It required only one week to have Andrew's one-room +cabin ready to move into, and not much longer +to complete the addition to the main dwelling, more +than doubling its rooming capacity. Meanwhile +Isaac had returned home with the girls ready for +school. The two men wanted to build a more +pretentious residence, but Linda said she preferred to +live in the humble one that Ben had built with his +own hands. +</p> + +<p> +The little conveniences that he had provided +seemed doubly precious in her eyes; every shelf and +cooking utensil, the sheet iron stove and even the +cups he had used all seemed treasures to her. +Having been planned and built to accommodate Craig +as well as Ben, the cabin was commodious and very +comfortable. She did want an open fireplace, that +she might enjoy the cheerful glow of the evening fire +and the pure-health giving air; so a large fireplace +was built in it. +</p> + +<p class="thought"> +* * * * * * * * * +</p> + +<p> +The Squire had been busy during the summer, and +raised a bounteous crop on the fresh plowed virgin +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P187"></a>187}</span> +soil; to protect it during the winter he had erected +a "post-barn" large enough to shelter all the stock +and store the provender. Trunks of beautiful young +timber growths up to a hundred feet in length and +practically any size desired, were easily obtainable. +A post-barn was constructed by planting posts of +this timber deep in the ground to support a roof, +using the ground as a floor; with a shelter on the +windward side, stock would be comfortable in the +open air of the mild Oregon winter. +</p> + +<p> +Andrew was happy in the thought of staying with +Linda, without expecting compensation for his labor; +a wage was something foreign to his mind. He was +denied the privilege of owning a home in his own +right; and what was the use of earning wages, when +he could not enforce collection in courts closed to +him? But these things did not disturb him, as he +lived in an atmosphere of love for his master and +missus, Jennie and Margie, and was happy. +</p> + +<p> +December had come, and still the flowers remained +in bloom and the grass green; Christmas was +approaching, and the Squire said they ought to +celebrate. He hoped to divert Linda's mind from her +great loss; but was puzzled how to do so. His first +thought was to make a present to her, though +uncertain what would be the best selection. +</p> + +<p> +Linda did not enter into the spirit of the suggested +festivities—not that she was brooding over +her affliction, for she had regained her cheerfulness. +When Christmas was only three days away, and +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P188"></a>188}</span> +before the Squire had made up his mind about the +present and the celebration, a boy of nine pounds +appeared in the cabin; and all agreed that his name +should be Benjamin. +</p> + +<p> +Kate—hereafter Mrs. Pelton now that she is a +mother—was delighted when she heard that Linda +also had a boy; no trace of jealousy tinged her +thought. Isaac, her own little son, was the brightest +and cutest baby in all the world; there could be no +rival to him, and nothing would excite the remotest +feeling of envy. Sincere congratulations were sent +by Mr. and Mrs. Pelton to Mrs. Hardy with a substantial +gift for Benjamin, "the future protector of +his mother and a joy forever." +</p> + +<p> +From some unexplained cause, both mothers felt +that the two babes were to be drawn close together +in the experiences of life, as their parents had been. +Mrs. Pelton, whose wishes seemed almost prophetic, +freely communicated these thoughts to Mrs. Hardy—not +Linda any more. Prophecies of later days, +like those of olden times, are often remarkably +fulfilled. +</p> + +<p> +The two "babes in the woods," we might almost +literally say, grew and thrived amazingly under the +best maternal care and in the healthful environment +of pure air and mild climate. Mulhall zealously +guarded the supply of pure milk and food for the +household, and looked after the little one with an +almost paternal affection. After putting it off as +long as possible, he reluctantly informed Mrs. Hardy +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P189"></a>189}</span> +that he must soon leave for his own home, and at +the same time lessened her anxieties by saying that +he would provide for her financial needs. +</p> + +<p> +Pelton had reached his own conclusion that Ben +Hardy's widow needed Andrew more than he; and +wrote that the colored man could remain with her +a year or longer—practically without limit of time. +That was a sacrifice, as Isaac had planned to have +his former slaves near-by, where he could make their +advancing years comfortable and happy; but was +now convinced that Andrew and Jennie would be +about as content where they were as in his own home, +and, realized that they would greatly assist +Mrs. Hardy. A second letter, received soon after father +Mulhall arrived home, so informed Mrs. Hardy, to +her great joy and relief; she often wondered if it +would ever be possible to repay this great kindness, +forgetting that Pelton was already rewarded by the +consciousness of having contributed materially to +the welfare and happiness of others. +</p> + +<p> +It seemed to the parents an incredibly short time +before the "babes" of the two households became +school children. A few years later they were taking +courses in the University, and grew into manhood—the +pride of their elders and an honor to the State +which had been developed out of the region in which +they were born. Gradually, too, the parents in each +family realized that they had passed middle life, and +were approaching old age. +</p> + +<p> +Their eyes were dimmed and hearing somewhat +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P190"></a>190}</span> +dulled, but their minds were still clear and active; +aspirations, hopes and even ambitions remained with +them, while reflections upon past achievements and +some failures (the ripe experience to which there is +no short-cut) brought deeper thought and greater +happiness into their lives. In both the Pelton and +Hardy families, the results of successful endeavor, +intellectual development and independence were +manifest in an unusual degree. +</p> + +<p> +Kate—Mrs. Pelton—had changed into a motherly +stature so attractive to her husband and all friends; +the active, graceful movement and the fire of her +eye were retained, her complexion was still ruddy, +and there was a sprinkling of grey hairs to lighten +the color of the whole. Pelton continued in excellent +health; the active outdoor life on his farm had +developed a sturdy frame, strengthened his muscles +and quickened his mind. Like many other pioneers +with great opportunities before them, he had +prospered beyond expectation, and was in affluent +circumstances. +</p> + +<p> +Ben Hardy had located on a Donation claim of +three hundred and twenty acres of such intrinsic +value that if he had lived, the rise of land values in +a country of ever-increasing population and +prosperity would have made him a wealthy man. When +the Donation Act under which he took up his claim +was passed, the law provided that half of it should be +held by the wife in her own right. +</p> + +<p> +Before that date, and for many years afterward, +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P191"></a>191}</span> +a wife could not legally inherit or hold property in +fee simple except in the Oregon Country, under this +special act. Incredible as it may seem, she was also +denied the right to control her children, sue in the +courts, speak in public or enter schools of higher +education. +</p> + +<p> +So when Linda became Ben's wife, she had no +property rights except insofar as this special law +gave her an equal share in the land upon which they +had settled. Hardy did not live to return to the +claim, but after years of doubt and delay, his widow +came into ownership of half (160 acres) in her own +right; and by descent her son received the other half. +</p> + +<p> +The experiences of these years, and considerable +of what may properly be called semi-litigation, +developed Mrs. Hardy's latent ability to cope with +business problems as they arose; so she prospered and +became known as a woman of executive ability. It +was in memory of the husband and for the welfare +of her boy, the younger Benjamin, that she resolved +that life was worth living; and right well did she +prove the correctness of the resolution. +</p> + +<p> +Things did not run smoothly during the whole of +the long period. Pelton had been compelled to make +one trip to the old home in Missouri to adjust some +business matters. Mrs. Hardy sustained a loss in +consequence of a heavy snowfall, and met some +reverses of minor importance; but the steady development +of the country and consequent increase of land +values, proved of great advantage to them both. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a id="chap06fn1"></a> +[<a href="#chap06fn1text">1</a>] A similar instance is recorded in the case +of York, the slave of +Captain Lewis of the Lewis & Clark Expedition, +upon whom the +Indians looked with superstitious awe mingled with terror. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap07"></a></p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P192"></a>192}</span> +</p> + +<h2> +CHAPTER VII +</h2> + +<p class="hang2"> +LINDA'S HOPE NEVER REALIZED; DEATH OF DAVID +MULHALL; CRAIG'S PROMISE REMEMBERED; +LESSONS FROM A TRAIL-MAKING OUTFIT; +DECISION TO MAKE THE TRIP. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p> +The thread of our story is now resumed at a +later date, and in a new century. Linda +Shaeffer, as we first knew her, for many +years Ben's widow, has now passed the meridian of +life; her only child, Benjamin, has grown into +manhood and assumed the cares of the farm and +home. Meanwhile the Pacific Northwest has made +extraordinary progress, with an increase in +population and improvements in transportation almost +completely changing the old-time pioneer environment. +</p> + +<p> +In the cool evening of a midsummer day, Linda +Hardy was sitting in front of the ivy covered cabin, +whose roof was completely overspread with the +bright green of the beautiful climbing vine. Nearly +half of the front side was likewise covered with +growths from the same vigorous stalk at the corner +of the cottage; and the foliage on the roof had +reached to the farther end of the cabin, two rods or +more from the roots that supported and gave life to +it. The sultry atmosphere was filled with perfume +from a row of sweet peas that lined the front of a +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P193"></a>193}</span> +small but well-kept flower garden, mingled with +aroma from a choice variety of roses in bloom, while +sweet clover and various other flowers added to the +pleasant fragrance afloat in the air. +</p> + +<p> +A young man with a glow of health in his countenance +was leaning against the wall of the cabin, +with his feet on the rung of the chair, and a book +which he had been reading open upon his knees. In +an abstracted mood he suddenly closed the book, +placed his feet upon the ground and for a moment +sat upright, looking out into space as if unconscious +of his surroundings. Recovering himself and looking +straight at the matron sitting nearby, he uttered +one word, "Mother!" +</p> + +<p> +"What is it, Benjamin?" +</p> + +<p> +Only partly aroused from his reverie, he seemed +unprepared to say just what was on his mind; so +made no immediate or direct reply. +</p> + +<p> +For some years, the youthful Benjamin Hardy +had hoped that some day he could visit the spot +where the remains of his father had been left; but +any reference to the tragedy seemed always to +greatly disturb his mother. He had the subject of +a proposed trip to the grave on his mind when, half +abstractedly, he had first spoken to her; now fully +awake, he hesitated to continue. +</p> + +<p> +"What is it, Benjamin?" repeated by his mother +prompted him to go farther than he had attempted +heretofore. +</p> + +<p> +"Do you believe, mother, if you were to go out on +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P194"></a>194}</span> +the Trail you could identify the spot where father +was killed?" he asked rather hesitatingly. +</p> + +<p> +"I know I could—the river crossing, the low bluff +and the narrow strip of valley are all there. I can +see them in my mind as plain as the day it occurred." +</p> + +<p> +"But there are probably several crossings now; +how could you identify the particular one?" +</p> + +<p> +"It was where the Trail crossed and was worn two +or three feet deep on both banks of the river; Ben, +I have seen where it was worn down ten feet deep. +Yes, I could find the crossing, and even the spot +where your father was buried." +</p> + +<p> +"Mother, I have long wanted to go, find the +grave and put a monument on the spot." +</p> + +<p> +There was a long silence during which both +seemed to be pondering the subject. The mother +spoke first, "Kate has several times written that she +would like to visit her mother's grave and wants me +to go along; but that is nearly a thousand miles, I +should judge, beyond where your father was buried." +</p> + +<p> +As had been the case before, the conversation +ended without reaching any conclusion. Years +passed, and from one cause or another, the journey +to visit the grave of Benjamin Hardy, away out on +the sage-brush plains, was not undertaken. +</p> + +<p> +Finally, when the Pelton family and Aunt Sarah +were about ready to make the long-anticipated trip to +the grave of Catherine Mulhall near the summit of +the Rocky Mountains, and sent an invitation to Linda +to join the party, she had to sorrowfully decline. +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P195"></a>195}</span> +For some time her health had not been good; in +fact, she had become a prematurely broken-down +woman without any apparent cause, unless it was +the silent grief gnawing so many years at her heart. +</p> + +<p> +She was never able to revisit the scene of the +tragedy where the young husband whom she adored had +been ruthlessly slain by the bloodthirsty savages; +but could not forget the cruel blow fate had dealt +her, and often thought how the bright prospects and +hopes of her young life had been so irretrievably +shattered. Though absent in the flesh, her spirit was +ever hovering over the grave by the river. +</p> + +<p> +Isaac Pelton enjoyed doing things, and from the +day when he selected a tract for his home until the +final call, he was a busy man. He had a worthy +helpmate in Kate, mistress of the household, who +was as busy in the cabin as he was in the field. After +the birth of their eldest child, a new purpose in +life—a bond of union bringing higher aims and +ambitions—opened before them; both enjoyed excellent +health and were supremely happy and contented. +</p> + +<p> +Their thoughts centered on the baby—Isaac Pelton, +Jr., and heir to their estate. Both lovingly +watched his growth from day to day and were well +repaid, for the boy grew rapidly in health and vigor +inherited from his parents and aided by the healthful +climate and nourishing food of the frontier +farm. +</p> + +<p> +It was before the time of the transcontinental +railroads, and the markets of the world had not yet +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P196"></a>196}</span> +been opened to that region by the steamship lines +that came later; so the country developed slowly. +The mails were tardy in reaching them, but the few +letters were as welcome and interesting as if delivered +the day before or even a fortnight earlier; and +the current literature of the day supplied by the +newspapers of the period, was abundant and +furnished subjects for serious thought. When the +steamers were delayed by storms or accidents, +sometimes missing connections that made letters and +newspapers two or three weeks late, plenty of topics +were open for study that had only a passing reading +before. +</p> + +<p> +The newspapers occupied the field later taken by +the conservative magazines; the common practice of +re-reading articles developed topics for speculative +thinking and deep study as interesting and often +more instructive than when fresh from the mails +with only a light reading. Neither Isaac nor Kate +had received more than a common school education, +which was all that was expected in their childhood +days. Little did they realize how they had acquired +a "higher education" in the broad and thorough +school of active life; but such was the accomplished +fact with many pioneers of their day. +</p> + +<p> +Pelton never tired of taking their little boy on his +knee, and reading aloud while the mother plied the +needle on their garments, or knitted evenings for +companionship as well as to provide them with +comfortable clothing. Another stranger came into their +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P197"></a>197}</span> +household; and to the great joy of the mother, it +was a girl. "Now we're even," said Kate; "and let +us call the little one Catherine." +</p> + +<p> +She never forgot the grave high upon the mountains, +the scene of the burial of her mother Catherine, +or the planting of the little tree upon it; and +always cherished loving thoughts of her. Sarah, +one of the twin sisters, often talked to Kate about it +and recalled Craig's well remembered words, "I'll +mark your mother's grave so you can find it the +longest day you live," which had sunk deep into her +heart and kept alive the desire to revisit the sacred +spot. +</p> + +<p> +Time passed and another child—a boy—came; +Isaac said the name should be Adam to perpetuate +the memory of his own father, Adam Pelton. Next +a girl was born to them; and Kate selected the name +Sarah, after her sister who faithfully administered +to the wants of father David Mulhall to the last days +of his life. +</p> + +<p> +There were now in the Pelton household two boys +and two girls, each in time to share in the intense +love of their parents, and receive as much care and +attention as the first-born. It was in every respect +an ideal family, held in high esteem by all who +dwelt in the neighborhood. +</p> + +<p> +Isaac and Kate had long wanted the Squire to +come and share the comforts and joys of their +household; but he was reluctant to give up his own home, +and hesitated until the unexpected call came. "He +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P198"></a>198}</span> +just went to sleep," said Sarah, who watched by his +bedside, and died without a struggle, beloved by his +children, respected by all who knew him, honored +by his business associates and the church to which +he belonged. Sarah, who had never married, soon +left the village homestead to live with her sister +Kate, and was a welcome addition to the Pelton +household. +</p> + +<p> +As time passed, Sarah's thoughts would revert to +her mother's grave, and the words of Douglas Craig +kept echoing in her ears. Even in her dreams the +fond hope of revisiting that well-remembered spot +kept recurring, and strengthening the resolution that +some day and somehow she would realize the hope of +making the long journey to where the little pine was +planted and the grave marked by a wagon-tire. +</p> + +<p> +Isaac Pelton, Jr. was a precocious child, and in his +father's mind was destined to be a distinguished +citizen of the Republic. He did come to honorable +manhood, married early and made business connections +that called him to a foreign land; but died in +middle age, without returning to America. +</p> + +<p> +His sister Catherine married young, raised a +family of six children and following in her mother's +footsteps, filled an honored place in the community. +While experiencing more of the hardships of pioneer +or rather frontier life, she was uncomplaining and +happy. Adam and Sarah, both unmarried, remained +at home with their parents, Isaac and Kate—now +"the old folks." +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P199"></a>199}</span> +</p> + +<p> +During the lapse of years, while the events +recorded in this volume were passing, a great change +had taken place in nearly all the world's affairs. +From a retrospective view, the transformation in the +facilities and conveniences of life and habits of the +people, the advances in the arts and sciences, and +growth of religion and political freedom in the +period from the burial of Catherine Mulhall on the +high mountains, to the arrival of the pilgrimage at +her grave, was greater than in the preceding +thousand years. +</p> + +<p> +Within that time, a great Civil War had been +fought and the Union preserved; slavery had been +abolished in name, and finally in fact. After the +Emancipation Proclamation, no one could any longer +place men, women and children on the auction block +like cattle, sheep or any other chattel. This was but +one step in the great drama of which it was a part, +though the United States had become known throughout +the world as the land of the free, which it was in +comparison with the majority of other countries. +</p> + +<p> +Lincoln, the Great Emancipator, had been assassinated, +but his noble acts and the cruel manner of +his death had enshrined him in the hearts of the +liberty-loving people of the world. Religious +progress was no less pronounced than political, though +not by legal enactments. In the beginning of the +period here recorded, many orthodox ministers +taught that all who did not believe in the tenets of +their church were doomed to everlasting punishment +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P200"></a>200}</span> +in a lake of fire, portraying a God of vengeance, not +of love—driving people into the church through fear +and not from motives of righteousness. +</p> + +<p> +A great step forward was the establishment of a +uniform common school system, soon to become free; +though crude at the beginning, it contained the germ +of the educational development prevailing at the end +of the period. The marvelous progress in the arts +and sciences is beyond question the most far-reaching +of all, medical discovery increasing the average span +of life from thirty-four to forty-five years by +conquering the plagues or epidemics, preventing the +spread of violent diseases and reducing infant +mortality in amazing proportions. +</p> + +<p> +Applications of electricity for power and light +have advanced civilization in many ways; but we are +too near to that era to see it in correct perspective. +The discovery and rapid improvement of internal +combustion motors brought the automobile to the +state of a practical vehicle during the period just +before the long-anticipated trip to the grave. +</p> + +<p> +Sarah Mulhall, who never forgot the words of +Douglas Craig spoken to her when in deep grief +beside the freshly made grave of her mother, the +little tree, the rose bush and the flowers planted there, +or the inscribed half buried wagon-tire, assured her +sister Kate—Mrs. Pelton—that she could locate the +spot. The North Star, the rift in the mountains and +the marks on the trail would be her guides to it. She +was possessed of a competence, more than needed for +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P201"></a>201}</span> +comfort during a long life; and was willing to expend +any necessary amount to reach the sacred spot and +erect a monument to the memory of their mother. +</p> + +<p class="thought"> +* * * * * * * * * +</p> + +<p> +About this time an elderly man who had been +among the pioneers of 1852, drove slowly over the +old Trail, erecting monuments as he progressed to +preserve its identity, and to perpetuate the memory +of the unknown dead along the way. Upon completion +of the Oregon Short Line R.R., paralleling +much of it, the original track had been abandoned in +some places, and became known to many as the "lost +trail." A national interest had been aroused, and +two or three of the States through which it passes +had taken measures to aid the elderly man's work. +</p> + +<p> +Isaac Pelton and Kate often contemplated the +possibility of visiting the grave of her mother, and like +Sarah, planned to do so. But while their family +was being raised, and afterward when the children +were attending school, circumstances always seemed +to postpone the trip. +</p> + +<p> +Besides, Sarah could not leave her father who +wanted very much to go with them, but was prevented +by the hand of time on his shoulders. If the +automobile had come twenty years earlier, the Squire +and Sarah could and would have done so; but the +long journey with an ox-team, or even with a horse +and carriage was thought too much for his strength, +and he died without undertaking it. +</p> + +<p> +Adam Pelton, the second son, was of an +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P202"></a>202}</span> +adventurous nature and had traveled in foreign lands as +well as extensively in his own; he was in the prime +of life and in good health, a thorough mechanic with +experience in repairing automobiles. Returning to +the old homestead after a long absence, he noticed +his father's whitened locks, and saw that his steps +were no longer firm. His mother had changed +comparatively little, though now approaching three score +years and ten. +</p> + +<p> +After passing some weeks at home, consulting with +his aunt Sarah and observing the health of his father +and mother, he believed they would be benefited by +a trip away from the homestead over the old Trail +to the grave of his grandmother. "It would be nice +to make that trip next summer, father," Adam said +one day while they were strolling over the farm. +"You would not need to turn your hand over to do +a thing; sister Sarah says she could drive one of the +automobiles, if we didn't go too far in a day." +</p> + +<p> +Adam then counselled with his father, mother and +Aunt Sarah, and near the end of the talk the mother +said, "I'm ready to go; and now what do you say, +father?" +</p> + +<p> +"I'll think it over tonight," Pelton responded. +Aunt Sarah spoke up, "I'm ready to go, Adam is +also, and sister—here's three to one; let's make it +unanimous." +</p> + +<p> +For once Pelton wavered; he wanted to go, but +questioned in his own mind whether he was physically +able to stand the trip. "Well, I'll go, unless +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P203"></a>203}</span> +Dr. Marshall advises against it," he replied, which, +they all knew the doctor would not; and so the +momentous decision that the trip would be made in the +spring, when the maple trees were in full leaf, was +reached. +</p> + +<p> +Next morning at the breakfast table everyone was +cheerful, and they began planning the outfit to +convey them, discussing what they would take along, +when they would start and about how long it would +take. Adam said it would require two automobiles +at least, and perhaps three would be better. "What +would you want three automobiles for?" his sister +Sarah asked in a rather derisive tone. +</p> + +<p> +"The third one to carry the camp outfit," Adam +suggested and added, "we have three elderly people +to care for, you know." "Why not build a wagon-box +on the running-gears of an automobile like the +one that went over to mark the Trail?" Sarah +responded in real earnest. She had been reading about +the elderly man's trip in a wagon-box on an +automobile, where he had a cook-stove, ate his frugal +meals, and had room for all his outfit, including a +bed; and thought it a jolly good idea. +</p> + +<p> +"Well, you may laugh if you please," she said to +Adam, who at first was not favorable to the idea, +"but there's more in it than you at first imagine. He +had springs to the seat, which could be removed when +he wanted to make the bed, and slept nice and dry +away from the lizards, ticks and fleas we hear +about." Sarah had read the story how at one place the fleas +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P204"></a>204}</span> +had attacked Mrs. Whitman[<a id="chap07fn1text"></a><a href="#chap07fn1">1</a>] in such numbers as +to blacken her dress and fairly crazed the good lady. +</p> + +<p> +Nevertheless Adam could not refrain from a +hearty laugh at the odd expression, "wagon-box on +the running gear of an automobile," to the +annoyance of his sister, who well knew of the word +"chassis" as applied to motor cars. But an old-time +wagon-box as an automobile top appealed to her +imagination, and she carried the simile further in +her mind to the wagon instead of the automobile. +After a few more sallies of wit, only part in earnest, +mother Pelton spoke half reprovingly, "There now, +children, don't you think you have carried this +far enough?" +</p> + +<p> +Though Kate, as we first knew her, now Mrs. Pelton +a matron of mature age, spoke of them this +way in pleasantry, in her heart she felt and thought +of them as her children, and not as a mature man +and woman. Many a mother carries that feeling +to the end of her life; God bless their memories! +</p> + +<p> +Adam and Sarah had much in common, though +each held opinions which they would stoutly defend +when occasion seemed to require it. They often +roamed the fields together, and penetrated the forests +in search of flowers, ferns or shrubs, or to study +bird and small animal life. Sarah had a creditable +collection, particularly of flowers and ferns, while +Adam mounted his birds and small animals with his +own hands; both collections, jointly cared for and +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P205"></a>205}</span> +equally prized by each, were in one room of the +residence. +</p> + +<p> +Sarah was a pronounced "woman's rights" advocate, +and a staunch admirer of Susan B. Anthony, +while Adam did not hesitate to call her a crank, and +thought a woman's place in the household instead of +the political arena. On various subjects they usually +agreed to disagree; but when it came to the temperance +question or religious opinions, they were of +one mind. +</p> + +<p> +Immediately after breakfast, Adam saddled his +horse and rode off without telling anyone where he +was going. Notwithstanding his jocular attitude +toward Sarah's wagon-box idea, he had been +impressed with it and went direct to the automobile +shop in the city determined to investigate. "Yes, +it's perfectly feasible," they all said when he +explained what was wanted. One mechanic spoke up, +"I saw that old man's outfit with his stovepipe +running through the wagon cover just as if he was in a +house." +</p> + +<p> +Without consulting anyone at home, he ordered +the chassis and other fixtures for two automobiles +without the tops, in due time justifying his +precipitate action by the explanation that neither Aunt +Sarah nor his father, or both together, should bear +all of the expense of the trip, as each had expressed +a willingness to do. Adam said nothing that +evening as to where he had been or what he had done, +but at breakfast the next morning began teasing +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P206"></a>206}</span> +Sarah about her wagon-box on the running gear of +an automobile, to prepare the way for the laugh +that was on him; and then came out with the whole +story to the great merriment of all. He could enjoy +a joke on himself as well as on another, and joined +heartily in the laugh that followed. +</p> + +<p> +Preparations for the great journey progressed +during the winter, three months before they could +cross the first mountain barrier without encountering +snow. Time seemed to pass slowly, for all were +eager to start. Maps were sought, guide-books +searched and all obtainable literature on or about +the Oregon Trail read, re-read and studied. With +the lapse of years the old track had become famous +and revered by millions as a battlefield, which indeed +it was; a traveler who had passed over it wrote a +description and brief history of it as follows: +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="quote"> +Worn deep and wide by the migration of three hundred +thousand people, lined by the graves of twenty thousand +dead, witness of romance and tragedy, the Oregon +Trail is unique in history, and will always be sacred to +the memories of the pioneers. Reaching the summit of +the Rockies upon an evenly distributed grade of eight +feet to the mile, following the watercourse of the River +Platte and tributaries to within two miles of the summit +of the South Pass, through the Rocky Mountain barrier, +descending to the tide-waters of the Pacific through the +valleys of the Snake and Columbia, the route of the +Oregon Trail points the way for a great National Highway +from the Missouri River to Puget Sound—a roadway +of greatest commercial importance, a highway of military +preparedness, a route for a lasting memorial to the +pioneers, thus combining utility and sentiment. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a id="chap07fn1"></a> +[<a href="#chap07fn1text">1</a>] A fragment of history from the life of Marcus Whitman. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap08"></a></p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P207"></a>207}</span> +</p> + +<h2> +CHAPTER VIII +</h2> + +<p class="hang2"> +THE START FOR THE ROCKIES; RE-DISCOVERY OF +THE OLD TRAIL; RECOLLECTIONS OF BURNT +RIVER; ALL SIGNS OF BEN'S GRAVE OBLITERATED; +A GRANITE MONUMENT ERECTED NEAR THE +LONE PINE AND WAGON TIRE AT THE GRAVE OF +CATHERINE MULHALL; CLOSING SCENES. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p> +At last the eventful day for the start arrived +amid auspicious circumstances. The maple +leaves were full size, pastures green and the +grains were coming up with promises of a bounteous +yield. Silver tips of new growth ornamented the +evergreen trees. Many of the hardier varieties of +rose were in bloom, some for more than a month; +the crocus peeped out in March, followed by numerous +other early flowers. Birds had nested, and the +mates were busily occupied in securing food for the +ones that kept the little eggs warm, and for themselves. +</p> + +<p> +The barn on the Pelton homestead reflected the +sunlight from its new coat of paint, but the residence +needed no further attention, as a heavy film of sand +had been blown in with each previous application. +The garden fence was given a fresh cover of +whitewash, and everything was looking in the best of +condition. Catherine, now a widow with a large +family, arrived to care for the residence and garden +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P208"></a>208}</span> +during the absence of the household; and the tenant +for the year had moved into the old dwelling, the +first one built, near-by. +</p> + +<p> +At the hour set for the start, all the travelers were +in their places when Adam said that Sarah, whose +arms were resting on the steering wheel of the +automobile she was to drive, should take the lead. Sarah +replied, "No"—that Adam ought to have the honor. +The neighbors who had gathered into a group along +the roadside to see them off wondered what they +could be waiting for. +</p> + +<p> +Finally mother Pelton asked, "Will you leave it +to me?" Both almost in one breath exclaimed +"Yes." "Go ahead with father, Sarah," was Kate's +quick answer; and the start was made amidst a flutter +of handkerchiefs in the assemblage of neighbors, +the tooting of horns on both automobiles and waving +of small American flags. +</p> + +<p> +Adam had displayed real genius in providing a +convenient outfit. The automobile with large +wagon-size top and high canvas cover was turned into a +living room, with electric lights and a small heater +for the electric iron or to boil water for tea even while +they traveled. Sarah never tired praising Adam for +the very convenient arrangement, and he in turn +gave full credit to her for suggesting the wagon-box +that made it possible. +</p> + +<p> +Pelton soon began to recognize the route traveled +on his first trip to Puget Sound, and also when he +visited Linda Hardy and returned home with little +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P209"></a>209}</span> +Sarah and Bess. Where Sarah had pitched headlong +off the pony's back into the mud, there was now a +thriving village with brick buildings, a fine Court +House, two modest but neat appearing churches and +a commodious hotel. They passed through five such +villages on long stretches of road paved like the main +highways of the eastern States. +</p> + +<p> +On the bank of a large river he found an enterprising +city with thousands of busy inhabitants, +where at the time of his earlier visits there was only +a scattered village with temporary shanties, and +stumps obstructing the streets. Now there were +brick blocks several stories high in the central +business district, and fine residences in the outlying +sections. +</p> + +<p> +No member of the party had ever seen the rift +through which this stream flows between the mountains, +and all were astonished at the wonderful scenery +on both sides of it. There were numerous waterfalls, +one with a perpendicular drop of nearly a +thousand feet, and patches of snow on a background +of green, making a vista of surpassing beauty. +</p> + +<p> +A few days later they came upon the track +followed by the Mulhall outfit half a century before; +and Kate quickly recognized the locality as they +approached a second range of mountains. Where +only roving bands of Indians were seen as they +journeyed slowly toward the west on the first trip, vast +fields of grain were now growing; and instead of a +few tepees, the dwellings of civilized people dotted +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P210"></a>210}</span> +the landscape. A flourishing village with substantial +and well-kept surroundings evidenced the thrift +and comfortable environment of the inhabitants. +</p> + +<p> +The party had just passed through what seemed a +desert land, bordering on and paralleling the great +river. Shifting sands had formed small dunes, +which disappeared and formed elsewhere as the wind +changed in direction or velocity. Not a living thing +was in sight, except here and there a clump of +stunted sage-brush or greasewood. +</p> + +<p> +Following the stream through this cleft in the +mountain range, they were soon overtaken by a +sand-storm driven by the force of the prevailing +winds, occasionally encountered by travelers now +as by the pioneers—at first dimming the rays of the +sun, and soon entirely obscuring it. The haze of +sand and fine dust hung low on the horizon like a +fog, and darkened one's view of objects even in the +near vicinity. Kate called ahead to Sarah to turn +out of the road, which she quickly did and was +followed by Adam. +</p> + +<p> +The two younger members of the party had never +before gone through such an experience, but mother +Pelton said it reminded her of scenes along the +Oregon Trail in 185-. She had forgotten that they were +on the branch of the Trail which follows the river, +instead of the one crossing the mountain range, as +the Mulhalls had done on the first trip. Before +Adam and Sarah could place their automobiles with +the rear ends to windward and close the front covers, +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P211"></a>211}</span> +the sand and dust penetrated their ears and eyes, +covered their faces, filled their hair and as Sarah +remarked afterwards, "left us in a woeful condition." +</p> + +<p> +The electric light was turned on, but the dust +that had worked into the space inside the cover +prevented cleaning up until the storm abated; this it +did late in the afternoon, when the journey was +resumed with the people in the car laughing at the +appearance of each other, and the surprise of a +lifetime before all of them. About sunset a modest +farmhouse was sighted; as they approached nearer +an orchard of thrifty fruit trees was observed, and +soon a large expanse of growing crops spread out +before them in a panorama of living green. +</p> + +<p> +"Neighbor, you have a fine home here so close to +the desert we have just crossed," Pelton said addressing +the middle-aged man who, as soon as he saw the +two automobiles approaching from the west, came +out through the gate of the front yard to offer a +friendly greeting. +</p> + +<p> +"You are still in the 'desert,' if that is what you +call the section you have just passed through," the +stranger responded. "What you see here is the +same, or was when we first came four years ago. +Won't you come in?" The ladies at first objected, +saying they were not presentable. "Oh, that's +nothing," continued the homesteader, "it's clean dirt; +we're used to it here. Jane (referring to his wife) +I know will be delighted to have you come in and +have supper with us." +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P212"></a>212}</span> +</p> + +<p> +By this time the mistress of the house appeared +and seconded her husband's invitation. Observing +the sincerity of the good dame, mother Pelton was +the first to assent, quickly followed by the others; +and in they went—"Dirty faces and all," as Aunt +Sarah said later. +</p> + +<p> +While preparations were being made for the appetizing +meal that followed Pelton expressed surprise +that it was possible to have such a property in the +midst of a desert. "I'll tell you all about that later," +said the homesteader, as he repeated his wife's +invitation, "Come to supper." After a bounteous meal +of fresh vegetables, fruits and other farm products, +accompanied with a bumper of hard cider, the +travelers were anxious to hear the story of how their +host came to make his residence in that locality. +</p> + +<p> +"You see," he began, "I saw a small patch of +reclaimed land with such fine crops that I at once +felt encouraged to try it on a larger scale. So we +bought this tract of 640 acres—a mile square—for +a dollar and a quarter an acre, and in addition took +up a desert claim, making in all nearly a thousand +acres of land—or sand, as you probably think of it. +Fortunately the river comes in from the south with +a strong current; my son and I went up far enough +to tap the water, and dug a ditch from it on our +land—now you see the result." +</p> + +<p> +"Do you mean to say that when you came here, +the land covered by the orchard, and where your +crops are growing was like the desert we've just +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P213"></a>213}</span> +crossed?" mother Pelton asked. "Just that," the +host replied. +</p> + +<p> +"Well, it seems to me like a miracle," Pelton +responded; "and so it does to the others." There +were many other surprises in store for the pilgrims +as they progressed eastward. +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, I remember this place," mother Pelton said +as they descended the second mountain range. +"Father said it seemed like a big hole in the +landscape as we looked down upon it from the other +side; but such a beautiful valley—the Grand Ronde—you +never saw." A few days later, as their automobile +ran along a narrow cut in a hillside parallel +to a small river, she commented, "This was the +worst road[<a id="chap08fn1text"></a><a href="#chap08fn1">1</a>] on all the old Trail—right down in the +stream and half the time over slippery boulders, some +of them as big as a wagon wheel; two of the oxen +were down at one time." +</p> + +<p> +"Oh, I remember this," Aunt Sarah[<a id="chap08fn2text"></a><a href="#chap08fn2">2</a>] said as they +came to a crossing; "here's where we ferried over +on top of two wagon-boxes. I thought every minute +we were going to sink, and to this day cannot see +why we didn't." +</p> + +<p> +"Here's where we left one of the wagons, and Ben +went ahead to get something to eat," mother Pelton +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P214"></a>214}</span> +said with a sigh, as they were approaching the +locality where Hardy was killed by the Indians. Would +they be able to identify the spot where the massacre +occurred; and if they did, could they find his grave? +For some time before that, the tragedy of nearly a +half century before had been crowded out of their +minds by the diverting incidents of the trip; but +now it was their uppermost thought, and the older +members of the party lapsed into silence. +</p> + +<p> +Linda Hardy had so minutely described the river +crossing and the natural objects in the vicinity of it, +that all were sanguine of being able to find and mark +the spot. They were convinced that the crossing +had been located, for the approaches on either side +fitted the description; the unmistakable mark of +the Oregon Trail was there—worn deep on both +sides of the river, as Linda had said. But all the +ground from river to bluff was now covered by a +field of waving grain, without any trace of the +sorrowful interment which took place there at the +height of the overland emigration to Oregon. +</p> + +<p> +Before leaving home, Sarah read a statement to +her mother that the graves of only a few among the +twenty thousand who had died along the Trail could +be identified, and wondered if they would be able +to find her grandmother's burial place if they made +the trip. Mrs. Pelton thought they could; but +looking over the ground beneath which she felt sure that +the remains of Ben Hardy, who had saved her life, +had been placed after the massacre, she continued +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P215"></a>215}</span> +in silence as Adam started across the river to resume +the journey along the old Trail. +</p> + +<p> +They were now traveling up a fertile valley +divided into farms, extensive green alfalfa and grain +fields and highly productive orchards, with evidences +of a happy and thriving people living in peace and +security. Several prosperous villages and the capital +of a State were passed where only sage-brush, grasshoppers +and jack-rabbits (some of the more destitute +emigrants subsisting on the rabbits) were seen on +the first trip of the older people in the party. +</p> + +<p> +Recrossing to the south side of the Snake River, +the travelers were again in a region of shifting sands +and desolation—part of what was once commonly +referred to as the "Great American Desert," and +considered practically worthless by some of the +so-called "statesmen" of two generations before. +Meanwhile vast irrigation projects had been undertaken, +and in part completed, with a sure prospect of +developing many rich agricultural areas extending +as far as the eye can see. All of these scenes were +new but immensely interesting to father Pelton. +</p> + +<p> +Three falls, rivaling Niagara in beauty and +grandeur, were passed in quick succession as they +continued along that great river; and mother Pelton +recognized the place where she had taken the thirsty +oxen down into the canyon and came so near failing +to get them back, as related in an earlier chapter. +Sarah's arms became stronger as she drove the +automobile, and she seemed to be thriving on the dust of +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P216"></a>216}</span> +the plains, the smell of the sage-brush, or both. All +doubts of her ability to extend the trip across the +Continent if need be, were dispelled; and the whole +party was in good health and spirits. +</p> + +<p> +Ascending to a higher altitude and cooler atmosphere, +they left behind the beet fields and sugar factories, +the extensive farms, alfalfa stacks and well-fed +cattle which have taken the place of the now +almost extinct buffalo. Farther up the Rocky Mountain +slope, they entered a region where crops cannot +be profitably grown; farms and buildings gradually +disappeared, and the continuous Trail appeared in +all its primitiveness. Now and then an antelope +would cross the track and turn to scan the stranger +as with a jealous eye, arousing in mother Pelton a +wish for her rifle, forgetting she might not be able +to draw a bead as in her younger days. +</p> + +<p> +So moderate was the upgrade that the drivers of +the two cars scarcely realized that they were +ascending the slope of the Rocky Mountains; and except +for the granite monument in the South Pass, they +would probably not have recognized the actual +crossing of the Great Divide. Another day's run would +bring them to the spot they had come so far to revisit. +Mother Pelton felt confident that they could find it; +and Aunt Sarah, though a little girl when the grave +was made a half century before, was sure of being +able to do so. +</p> + +<p> +Yet the road did not look at all familiar, or seem +natural. Afternoon came, and there was no sign +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P217"></a>217}</span> +by which it could be recognized—nor anything at +sunset. It was then necessary to camp, as darkness +would soon make it impossible to follow the Trail; +and a sleepless night for all followed. +</p> + +<p> +Mother Pelton thought they might have passed the +four tracks worn in the ledge of rocks that was to +be the principal guide in reaching it. Another sign, +the North Star, was obscured; and the third help in +the search, the rift in the mountains so well +remembered and described by Aunt Sarah, was not visible. +In the morning it was considered best to drive back +over part of the Trail they had traversed the +afternoon before. +</p> + +<p> +"Hold on," suddenly exclaimed Aunt Sarah after +a few miles of back tracking; "I know we're wrong +for I remember that rock." She pointed to a conical +pile—almost a mountain—and continued, "See, it +looks almost like a man's head; we passed that the +next day after we buried mother." Then the party +turned right-about, and again started eastward along +the Trail; after traveling a few miles, Sarah drew +off to the side of the road and waited for Adam to +come up. +</p> + +<p> +He arrived a moment later, wondering why she +had stopped, and called out, "What's the matter?" +"Nothing is the matter," Sarah answered; "but, +mother, do you see that old Trail going up the hill? +Maybe that's the one you traveled when you were +here before!" +</p> + +<hr> + +<p class="noindent quote"> +Photograph from J. L. McIntosh, Split Rock, Wyoming +</p> + +<p class="capcenter quote"> +<a id="img-217"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-217.jpg" alt="TRACKS ON THE OREGON TRAIL (SEE PAGES 217 AND 220) MADE NEARLY A CENTURY AGO"> +<br> +TRACKS ON THE OREGON TRAIL (SEE PAGES <a href="#P217">217</a> AND <a href="#P220">220)</a> <br> +MADE NEARLY A CENTURY AGO +</p> + +<p class="quote"> +Over these four parallel tracks (only two of which show +in the photograph), worn nearly hub deep in places, all the +emigrant travel to Oregon, Great Salt Lake and California passed +during the period covered by this story; and they remain to +this day a sight of great historical interest across a sandstone +ledge near Split Rock P. O., in the Sweetwater Valley, Wyoming. +The early trappers, traders, explorers and missionaries—Benjamin +L. E. Bonneville, Nathaniel J. Wyeth, Jason Lee, Marcus +Whitman, John C. Fremont and many others—helped to deepen +these enduring markers in stone, now chiefly interesting as +evidences of the great westward movement over the Oregon +Trail. Inset: a miniature view of the split in the mountain rock +from which the name of the locality is derived; see also +Douglas Craig's promise to little Sarah, pages <a href="#P72">72-73</a>. +</p> + +<hr> + +<p> +The track to which she thus called attention was +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P218"></a>218}</span> +dim, showed no signs of recent travel, and had been +overlooked as they passed it the previous day. At +several places there were parallel trails, one along +the river with frequent crossings of the stream, the +other across table-lands high above it, and either over +or around projecting edges of the adjacent hills. +Neither Aunt Sarah nor mother Pelton was sure +which one they had gone over before, but all agreed +that they should drive out on the abandoned roadway. +</p> + +<p> +This proved not only a tedious but a really dangerous +task, as the elements had destroyed parts of +it and cut deep gullies in and across what was left. +Nevertheless Adam believed they were on the right +track; mother Pelton thought the same, and said +that the trail looked more natural to her than the +one they had traveled the day before. +</p> + +<p> +Father Pelton took off his coat and joined Adam +in some repairs made necessary by the rough going, +and Sarah appeared on the scene ready to help. +Pelton was surprised at how well he was able to do +the unaccustomed work, and greatly relished the +dinner mother Pelton and Aunt Sarah prepared. Hearing +the tinkling of a bell over the near-by ridge during +the early afternoon, he strolled off toward the +sound; and soon came upon the bell-wether of a flock +of sheep, then the flock and herder—each equally +surprised at the presence of the other. +</p> + +<p> +"Where'd ye come from?" the man asked somewhat +abruptly, and yet in a friendly tone; and +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P219"></a>219}</span> +almost at the same instant Pelton remarked, "I +didn't expect to find anyone here." After mutual +explanations and cordial greetings—for each was +glad to see the other—Pelton mentioned that he was +one of an automobile party trying to reach the four +track ruts in the ledge of rock on the old Oregon +Trail. +</p> + +<p> +"I know where it is," the herder responded, +"down the river opposite the lone pine tree." The +reader may well imagine the relief and joy of father +Pelton upon hearing the three magic words "lone +pine tree," as he believed they contained definite +information of the lost grave, which soon afterward +proved true. +</p> + +<p> +"You can see the tree for miles around, as it +stands out by itself; everybody wonders how it came +to be there," continued the stranger. +</p> + +<p> +"Would you come to our camp a short way over +the ridge?" Pelton asked. +</p> + +<p> +"Sure," the man replied and then spoke in a low +tone to his dog, which immediately headed off some +of the flock just starting to cross the ridge. +</p> + +<p> +"Wonderful, isn't it?" asked Pelton, half to +himself. To this the herder made no reply but again +spoke to the dog, which he left on watch while the +two men started off toward the camp. On their +arrival, work ceased and all assembled to listen +eagerly to what the stranger had to say. +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, this runs to the four tracks on the Oregon +Trail," were his first words; "you can reach them +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P220"></a>220}</span> +another way that's open to travel, but can't get +through here in a month's work. Go back about five +miles till you come to the first river crossing," the +herder continued, "turn short around on the river +trail about eight miles till you cross the river twice. +Then turn to the right on the old Trail about half a +mile, I should judge, and you will come to the +tracks."[<a id="chap08fn3text"></a><a href="#chap08fn3">3</a>] +</p> + +<p> +"You can see the lone pine tree from there, and I +think from the last river crossing," the man +responded to an eager question from mother Pelton. +After declining an invitation to stop long enough to +share with them in the meal then almost ready to +serve, but accepting a quarter of the pie Aunt Sarah +had just baked, the stranger started up the slope and +soon disappeared over the ridge to his flock and +faithful dog. +</p> + +<p> +"What a life!" sighed mother Pelton—"with only +his dog for a companion, no comfort but his frugal +meal in a lonely cabin and cold lunch on the range." The +day was too far spent to move their camp, and +although impatient to see the lone pine, which all +believed was the landmark for which they were +searching, every member of the party was anxiously +anticipating what the morrow might bring forth. +</p> + +<p> +Following carefully the directions given by the +herder, they approached the second crossing of the +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P221"></a>221}</span> +river early the next forenoon. At the first point +from which a comprehensive view of the locality +could be had, Sarah unexpectedly held out her hand +as a signal for Adam to stop; and exclaimed in her +excitement, "There it is, mother!" In the far +distance a lone pine tree was sighted; and no one +in the party doubted that it had grown from the +small tree planted by Kate Mulhall, Ben Hardy and +little Sarah half a century before. +</p> + +<p> +A short drive brought the two automobiles to +where the wagon tracks had worn deep in the ledge +of rock on the old Oregon Trail; but the lone pine, +still a half mile or so away, was the center of all +attraction. Coming nearer, it was discovered that they +were on the wrong side of the ravine; and although +not more than a stone's throw from where they +stopped, no road led across to it. +</p> + +<p> +There in lonesome grandeur stood the evergreen +sentinel over the object of their long search, the +grave of Catherine Mulhall, mother of two of the +pilgrims and grandmother of the younger ones who +drove the cars. Now a hundred feet high, rising +above and throwing its shadows over the grave, the +tree was a thing of beauty, observed by all who +passed in the vicinity; and had given the very +appropriate name—Lone Pine—to the surrounding +country. +</p> + +<p> +Retracing their steps to the four tracks and then +traveling another mile or so, they reached the other +side of the ravine. After making several detours and +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P222"></a>222}</span> +removing a number of obstructions, they arrived +quite late in the day within a hundred yards or so +of the spot. As the nature of the ground prevented +the automobiles from going any farther, they were +left in the track, and all proceeded on foot to the +lone pine. +</p> + +<p> +The sun was just sinking behind the horizon in a +halo of glory as the silent and solemn members of +the party reached the hallowed spot. After so long +a period of time, the mound of earth had +disappeared; but wild roses were blooming where Kate +and little Sarah had planted the roots when the grave +was made. Though corroded and rusty, the wagon +tire which kind-hearted Douglas Craig had placed +as a marker was still there, but the lettering he +chiseled upon it had been completely obliterated. +</p> + +<p> +Kate and the older Sarah, both now well past +the meridian of life, stood in mute contemplation of +that which had been uppermost in their minds for +so many long years. Although the poignancy of the +grief then experienced had been mollified by time, +yet as darkness came and they turned to leave the +grave, tears coursed down their furrowed cheeks. +Camp for the night was made on the nearest suitable +ground, while a spirit of sadness mingled with a +feeling of satisfaction that the cherished plan had +at last been realized, pervaded the little company. +</p> + +<hr> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P223"></a>223}</span> +</p> + +<p class="capcenter quote"> +<a id="img-223"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-223.jpg" alt="THE LONE PINE"> +<br> +THE LONE PINE +</p> + +<p class="quote"> +Marking the spot where Catherine Mulhall was buried +a half century before +the scene depicted in the illustration; +see pages <a href="#P73">73-74</a> and <a href="#P119">119-125</a> +</p> + +<hr> + +<p> +Now that the grave had been found, the question +uppermost with all was what should be done about +it. Kate had often expressed a wish that the +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P224"></a>224}</span> +remains be interred alongside her father in the +beautiful cemetery of a village in the Oregon Country; +but Pelton formerly considered this impractical, if +not almost impossible. However, since the railroad +had been built within sixty miles of the burial place +in the mountains, the removal could be made without +much difficulty. +</p> + +<p> +Aunt Sarah said "No"—-the spot where her +mother had died was too sacred to be abandoned; and +what could ever be more appropriate than the one +under the shadow of this beautiful lone pine? Then +tender memories of the planting of the tree, of Ben +Hardy's unselfish life and Craig's consoling words, +came uppermost in her mind. +</p> + +<p> +All agreed that the decision should be made by the +two sisters who had been present at the burial of +their mother on the first trip to Oregon. Adam and +his sister Sarah looked on in silent awe as the +situation was discussed; their father also refrained from +speaking, though he held a definite opinion concerning it. +</p> + +<p> +The fatigue of the day, with its exciting incidents +and long hours, finally prevailed and left the momentous +question unsettled in physical exhaustion and +finally restful slumber. No further decision took +place, as Kate had been convinced that it would not +be advisable to disturb the remains, and joined with +her sister and children in formulating a definite plan +to care for and commemorate the spot. Pelton said +that he would heartily agree to whatever the daughters +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P225"></a>225}</span> +and grandchildren should decide—which was +to leave the grave in its solitary grandeur, but to +mark it in a permanent and appropriate way. +</p> + +<p> +Camp was removed to a more convenient location, +while the work of transporting a large granite +boulder from where Pelton had found it in the course +of a morning walk through the vicinity, to the head +of the grave progressed for several days, as it was +necessary to secure additional men and teams from +a distance. After the huge stone had been set in +place to the satisfaction of all, Adam and the younger +Sarah chiseled upon it in deep sunken letters a brief +record of the revered grandmother, the planting of +a small pine tree and beautiful rose vine that adorned +the last resting place of Catherine Mulhall, the date +of her burial in 185-, and also of this visit. +</p> + +<p> +Two weeks passed from the day the pilgrims first +sighted the lone pine tree in the distance to the +inscription of the last letter on the boulder; every +member of the party felt that the long journey had +been fully justified, and left the spot with an +enduring memory of the occasion. Father and mother +Pelton and Aunt Sarah concluded to return home +by rail[<a id="chap08fn4text"></a><a href="#chap08fn4">4</a>]; and a drive of about sixty miles brought +them all to the nearest railroad station. Meanwhile +Adam and Sarah decided to tour the eastern part of +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P226"></a>226}</span> +the United States, and possibly cross the ocean +before returning to the Pacific Northwest. +</p> + +<p> +One of the automobiles was loaded as freight and +way-billed to a small city that had grown up in what +was once the Oregon Country; and the "old folks" +were comfortably settled in a westbound Pullman. +Adam and Sarah waited in their automobile near-by +the open car window until the train bearing father +and mother Pelton and Aunt Sarah started westward. +All of them waved signals of mutual endearment; +and as the train passed out of sight, the young +people began their journey eastward. +</p> + +<p> +"A fine boy—Adam," Kate murmured half-audibly +to herself; "and a dear girl." Pelton at her side +added, "If ever parents were blessed with dutiful +children, we have been." At the same time Sarah, +speeding east in the automobile which Adam was +driving, could hardly restrain her tears from the +recurrence of many tender memories of her childhood, +and the kindnesses of the parents from whom +they had just parted. +</p> + +<p> +In a tremulous voice she said, "I almost feel that +we ought not to have left them;" Adam felt much the +same way, but hesitating to trust his voice, made +no reply. Thus the party separated, the parents +homeward bound and the young people starting east +to see more of what was to them a new world, and +possibly to have some adventures thrown in for good +measure. +</p> + +<p> +Soon after the train started, the three elderly +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P227"></a>227}</span> +people went forward to the dining car. As the meal +progressed, Kate fell into a reminiscent mood, and +looking out of the window, opened conversation with +Aunt Sarah by asking, "Don't you remember that +sand-storm in this vicinity as we passed through +in 185-?" +</p> + +<p> +"Indeed I do," was the prompt response, although +Sarah had been at the time a child of only seven +years. "The sand blown through the tent into the +dough fairly gritted my teeth when eating the bread +made from it. We had no water in the camp that +night, and slept with dirty hands and faces; my hair, +ears and eyes were filled with sand—but let's talk +of something else." By the time the first meal was +finished, they had progressed on their return journey +about as far as in a whole day on the early trip. +</p> + +<p> +As night followed, and while comfortable berths +were being made up for them, Sarah—notwithstanding +her admonition to "talk of something else"—broke +into oral expression of the thoughts surging +through her mind. "I guess there will be no 'ticks' +in the bed to-night, as we found them when sleeping +on the ground." "Or snakes and other creeping +things," Kate added—"you of course remember the +rattler," to which Sarah simply nodded to indicate +that while she understood, she was not disposed to +pursue the subject any farther. Soon all the three +travelers fell into restful slumber and awoke, greatly +refreshed, beyond the eastern boundary of what was +once known indefinitely as the "Oregon Country," +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P228"></a>228}</span> +out of which the present States of the Pacific Northwest +had been created within their own recollections +of it. +</p> + +<p> +At breakfast the next morning, while the train +was speeding by a recognized object, Kate exclaimed, +"It took us four weeks to travel over the same ground +that we have now passed through in a single night." Strive +as much as they could to banish thoughts of +the hardships encountered on the early trip, the +memories of it would not leave them. Within three +days they had covered as much distance as in the +same number of months on the first overland journey. +</p> + +<p> +Alighting from the automobile into which they +transferred at the station nearest their home, Pelton +held open the gate for his "sweetheart" (as he often +spoke of Kate); and she paused just long enough +while passing in to say, "God bless you, Isaac; you +did the same when I first came fifty years ago." "And +God bless you, Kate," he replied as they +re-entered their happy home—lovers as in the early +days; and here we must leave them to the enjoyment +of well-spent lives. +</p> + +<p><br><br></p> + +<p class="t3"> +CLOSING SCENES +</p> + +<p> +Adam and Sarah continued their travels over the +eastern half of the grand old and historic route which +their parents had traversed with ox-teams more than +a half century before. Then the tracks of the Oregon +Trail passed through an Indian country for more +than a thousand miles from the west bank of the +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P229"></a>229}</span> +Missouri River, where the last vestige of civilized +life except a few widely scattered trading posts or +Government forts, were left behind. Various tribes +of red men possessed whatever claim there was to +that vast region; millions of buffalo roamed in great +herds without restriction over the Plains, while the +grizzly bear was a source of danger to man and of +terror to wild beasts in the higher altitudes of the +Rocky Mountains. +</p> + +<p> +From certain points of vantage deer, elk and antelope +could be seen in large numbers. Except for the +wild animals, and an occasional passing throng of +emigrants, the country was a solitude, generally +considered unfit for habitation by a civilized race. But +on this motor trip the young people saw evidences of +changes and developments which their parents in the +slow, westward moving column of the early 50s, +would have considered beyond the range of possibilities. +</p> + +<p> +Soon after leaving the Sweetwater River, traveling +east, they passed through pretentious cities and +prosperous villages with church spires and schools, +trading centers, paved streets and large numbers of +comfortable residences—civilization personified in +western enterprise along or near-by the old Trail. Coal, +oil, gas and other natural resources—unknown either +to the passing throng of pioneers, or for many years +afterward to the outside world—came gradually to +the knowledge of adventurers and enterprising +business men who laid the foundations for a great +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P230"></a>230}</span> +commercial prosperity in addition to the returns from +the soil and ranges; and through subsequent developments +on a large scale have made that region a +very important national asset. +</p> + +<p> +The waters of the various streams gathered, +controlled and drawn upon as needed by agriculture, +wrought the great miracle of irrigation by which +land formerly believed sterile had been transformed +into a "garden spot" of the United States, many +times the area of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, +or the State of New Jersey, to both of which that +term has been generally applied. Even the rich +Valley of the Mississippi and its tributaries does not +exceed in fertility that once thought to be barren and +worthless Plains, when supplied with water and +placed under scientific cultivation. +</p> + +<p> +Adam and Sarah saw vast areas of grain, immense +beet fields with towering sugar factories, extensive +orchards and alfalfa lands unexcelled in the entire +country. The world seemed larger and the nation +greater as our young adventurers continued along +the valley of the Platte River on an excellent modern +highway of imperceptible downgrade toward the +Missouri River. Toward evening of the fifth day +after parting from their parents in the Sweetwater +Valley, they entered the suburbs of Omaha, +Nebraska, and soon reached the center of its business +activities, surrounded by skyscrapers of many +stories. +</p> + +<p> +Sarah, who had never been in a city of that size, +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P231"></a>231}</span> +was amazed and thoroughly enjoyed the sights. +After an evening walk through the brilliantly lighted +streets, and a couple of hours at the theatre, both +were ready to rest in the luxurious apartments of +the hotel, and slept until late the following morning. +At breakfast, the question of their future movements +was discussed, for they were then at the eastern end +of the Oregon Trail[<a id="chap08fn5text"></a><a href="#chap08fn5">5</a>]—or would be as soon as they +reached the great river now in sight about two miles +ahead. +</p> + +<p> +Adam again fell into a reminiscent mood, talking +as much to himself as to Sarah, "When grandfather +passed through here half a century ago on the way +to Oregon, all on this side of the Missouri was Indian +country; there was no city—not even a cabin." +</p> + +<p> +"But they didn't cross the river here," Sarah +responded. "Mother said it was several miles farther +down; and I would like to see the place where she +was thrown into the water when the scow upset." "And +Ben Hardy saved her life," Adam continued, +but added, "it's no use going there; last evening a +man told me that the channel of the river is now +more than a mile away from where it was when +grandfather crossed." +</p> + +<p> +So they concluded to drive over the Missouri to +the site of the old Mormon camp of Kanesville, +which they did on a fine modern bridge to Council +Bluffs, Iowa, occupying the location of the log cabin +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P232"></a>232}</span> +town that their grandparents saw. "We must stay +here to-night," said Sarah, to which Adam readily +assented, though they had traveled only four miles +during the day. +</p> + +<p> +A two-mile walk brought them to a short portion—then +still visible—of the trail over which their +grandparents passed when coming into Kanesville +a half century before, though all vestiges of it within +the city had been eliminated. Sarah was reluctant +to leave the spot, and followed along the abandoned +track as far as it could be identified. +</p> + +<p> +Talking more to herself than to Adam, Sarah +said, "Oh, if grandfather could only have come with +us"—apparently forgetting that, as the reader +knows, Squire Mulhall had long since been called to +his reward; and then said, "Adam, I want to go on +to the old homestead where mother was born." To +this Adam replied, "We will go there if you want +to." So they planned an early start on the morrow +for the old cabin site in Missouri. +</p> + +<p> +Two days sufficed for the trip, which was part of +the time over hard-surfaced highways, and some dirt +roads a little rough, but all the way through a fine +agricultural region with evidences of great crops and +abounding prosperity. As they rode along, both +wondered why their grandparents should have left +such a country and traveled two thousand miles over +dusty plains and rough mountains to Oregon. +</p> + +<p> +On the morning of the second day out from the +"Bluffs," it became reasonably sure that they would +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P233"></a>233}</span> +reach the old homestead before nightfall. Try as +much as he could, Adam failed to interest Sarah in +further conversation, for she was in a mood to +commune only with herself. +</p> + +<p> +"Yes, suh, I knows where the Squire's cabin stood; +it's all gone now. The well is there, but the sweep +is gone too. Yes, suh, I played the banjo at the +farewell party the Squire gave before he started for +Oregon. Me? Well, they called me 'Stinson's man' +then, because I was a slave; but when Massa Lincoln +made us all free, I stayed with Massa Stinson till +he died, and never took another name." +</p> + +<p> +Adam had been advised that this negro, whose hair +was white as snow and who was reputed to be a +hundred years of age, could show them the old cabin +site. He lived in a near-by village, was yet able to +do light chores for the white people of the +neighborhood, and thus continued to earn his own living. +</p> + +<p> +"Stinson's man" was regarded the sole survivor +of the old slaves of La Fayette County; in fact no +one else, white or black, could be found who knew +David Mulhall. The generation living when the +Squire left his home for Oregon had passed away, +except for this aged old negro who still enjoyed good +health and played the banjo for parties, or for his +own amusement. +</p> + +<p> +"Right here was the front door; I knows it for I +often stepped it from the well. Yes, the water is +good yet, and there's the fire-place." +</p> + +<p> +"Here's a piece of broken plate," exclaimed Sarah, +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P234"></a>234}</span> +as she picked up a precious relic, which she believed +had once belonged to their grandmother. +</p> + +<p> +The old barn site was located, and the barn-yard +where her mother had climbed the fence when "gentle" +old Star, with the yoke on for the first time, +broke away from them and ran about with tongue +out, bellowing like a mad bull. Sarah's mother had +often told the story with a hearty laugh, which +brought merriment as the incident was recalled +fifty years later, on the spot where it occurred. Adam +believed that he had located the old barbecue pit in +a depression near the spot his mother had described. +Both were reluctant to leave the grounds, and did not +until approaching darkness warned them to seek +accommodations for the night. +</p> + +<p> +"Adam!" "What is it, Sarah?" Adam asked, +thinking that his sister had something on her mind +she hesitated to mention. Gathering courage, she +exclaimed, "Adam, I don't want to go any farther, +for I ought to be at home taking care of mother. +You know as well as I do that she is not strong as +even last summer; and I should be with her." +</p> + +<p> +"God bless you, my dear! We will start for home +to-morrow if you say so," he replied, throwing his +arms around her and imprinting a kiss upon her +cheek in love of his sister, and of the revered parents +in the far West. So our story closes with the sacrifice +of a trip they had expected to extend to Washington +City and the Atlantic Coast for the greater pleasure +of returning home sooner as a filial duty. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a id="chap08fn1"></a> +[<a href="#chap08fn1text">1</a>] Along the Burnt River in northeastern Oregon—the subject +of "Westward Ho!" the painting by Emanuel Leutze in the +Capitol, Washington, D.C. While somewhat exaggerated in +details, it is a fair representation of the difficulties encountered +by the pioneers on that part of the overland trip in the early +60s. E.M. +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a id="chap08fn2"></a> +[<a href="#chap08fn2text">2</a>] One of the little twins in the early chapters of this story. +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a id="chap08fn3"></a> +[<a href="#chap08fn3text">3</a>] Those four parallel wagon tracks, worn nearly hub deep +across a ledge of rock on the Oregon Trail, may be seen to +this day in the Sweetwater Valley near Split Rock, Fremont +County, Wyoming; see photograph opposite page <a href="#P217">217</a>. E.M. +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a id="chap08fn4"></a> +[<a href="#chap08fn4text">4</a>] Which they did at from thirty to forty miles an hour, almost +continuously day and night, over substantially the same ground +they had traversed half a century before by ox-teams at two +miles an hour for an average of about eight hours a day, with +frequent stops to rest the stock, or on account of bad roads, +river crossings or other hazards of early emigration. E.M. +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a id="chap08fn5"></a> +[<a href="#chap08fn5text">5</a>] The beginning of the old Trail to the west-bound traveler +crossing from the Iowa side into the "Indian Country" of the +60s.—E.M. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap09"></a></p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P235"></a>235}</span> +</p> + +<h2> +APPENDIX +</h2> + +<p class="t3"> +THE MISSIONARY'S STORY +</p> + +<p class="hang2"> +THE LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION; FOUR INDIANS +FROM THE NORTHWEST JOURNEY TO ST. LOUIS +IN SEARCH OF THE WHITE MAN'S RELIGION; +OPENING AND SETTLEMENT OF THE OREGON +COUNTRY; HISTORIC CHARACTERS—JASON LEE, +NATHANIEL J. WYETH, MARCUS AND NARCISSA +WHITMAN, AND OTHERS; WHITMAN'S RIDE; +MASSACRE AT THE WHITMAN MISSION; NOTABLE +INCIDENTS OF THE EARLY MIGRATION TO OREGON. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p> +A little before sundown a few days after +the neighborhood party described in the first +chapter, a stranger rode leisurely up the road +toward the Mulhall farmhouse. Seeing the owner +of the place doing some chores in front of the barn, +he accosted him and asked if it were possible to +secure accommodations for himself and mount for +the night. The Squire answered, "Well, stranger, +you can see for yourself that our accommodations +are none too good; but if you are willing to put up +with such as they are, you are entirely welcome. We +will do the best we can under the circumstances." +</p> + +<p> +"It is not necessary to put yourself to any extra +trouble on my account," said the stranger, "for I +have led a wayfaring life and am accustomed to +roughing it in the broadest meaning of that word." +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P236"></a>236}</span> +Mulhall suggested that he dismount, go to the cabin +and rest while he would unsaddle the horse and take +it to the barn. +</p> + +<p> +The stranger replied, "My good friend, I truly +appreciate your courtesy; but I have always made it +a point to bestow the first care and attention upon +the beast that carries me. Now if you will show me +where to stable him, I will do the rest myself. This +faithful animal has borne me many a long mile upon +his back, and it is only right that I should repay +him by devoting a little time to his comfort." +</p> + +<p> +After hanging up the saddle and bridle, he took +from the saddle-bags a currycomb and brush, which +he said he never failed to take along, and gave the +noble animal a thorough cleaning. Then after seeing +that the horse had plenty of hay and grain for the +night, he accompanied Mulhall to the house. +</p> + +<p> +By this time the owner of the place had surmised +that his guest was a clergyman; his language was too +precise and his delivery too easy and natural for +the ordinary man found in that part of the world. +This conclusion was verified beyond question when, +just before leaving the barn, he took a well worn +Testament from his saddle-bags. +</p> + +<p> +It did not take Catherine and Kate long to prepare +a good and appetizing meal to which the reverend +stranger, after asking the blessing, did ample +justice. During the supper Mulhall informed the +guest that he and the family were about to leave their +little farm for the Oregon Country, where conditions +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P237"></a>237}</span> +were said to be much more favorable for getting +along in the world than in Missouri. +</p> + +<p> +At the mention of Oregon the stranger's face +brightened, plainly indicating that the news was +pleasing to him; and said, "You are doing a wise +thing, for that is a grand country with a wonderful +future. The journey ahead of you is long, difficult +and more or less dangerous; but if you get safely +through—as I hope and trust you will—you will be +amply repaid for all the hardships and sacrifices +endured. I tell you this advisedly, for I have spent +many years in that favored region, being among the +first of our nation to cross the Continent for the +purpose of carrying the light of the gospel to the +benighted savages who dwelt there." +</p> + +<p> +After hearing this statement, every member of the +Mulhall family exhibited the greatest surprise and +pleasure at having under their roof one able to give +them first-hand information of the distant region +where they intended to cast their lot; and begged +him to tell them all about it. Heretofore all the +knowledge they had of Oregon was through one or +two letters received from parties who had gone out +there a year or two before; and these contained very +little information except that it was a good country +for industrious people, with a mild climate and good +market for farm produce. +</p> + +<p> +That was more than they had in Missouri; so +they had already determined to make the venture. +But with an unexpected opportunity to acquire full +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P238"></a>238}</span> +and accurate information regarding it, they wished—if +he would be kind enough to take the trouble—to +hear from his lips everything of consequence +concerning what was to them a practically unknown +country. +</p> + +<p> +The clergyman replied, "My good friends, nothing +except expounding the word of God gives me greater +satisfaction and keener pleasure than to talk about +Oregon, and recount the difficulties, tribulations and +heroic actions of those who were in the vanguard of +its settlement; it is a subject of surpassing interest, +and has had a remarkable influence upon the rapid +development and material welfare of our country. +The narrative will take considerable time, and +perhaps tire your patience before I am through; but +I deem it to your advantage to have a correct outline +of the principal historical incidents relating to its +exploration and settlement. +</p> + +<p> +"It certainly affords me greater satisfaction to go +into the subject thoroughly than to give merely a +short summary of those very important events. If +you are willing, when the meal is ended and everything +put away, we will gather around your cheerful +and cozy fireplace; and I will do my best to both +entertain and enlighten you." +</p> + +<p> +Soon after supper, the younger children climbed +the ladder to their sleeping quarters while David +Mulhall, Catherine and Kate arranged seats in a +semi-circle before the glowing fireplace where the +large backlog furnished sufficient heat and light for +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P239"></a>239}</span> +the little cabin. There is no place where a good +story can be as effectively told as before a blazing +fireplace on a chilly evening in the mellow light of +the crackling logs, with eager and attentive listeners. +In such a pleasant atmosphere the itinerant +missionary now began his recital: +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p> +Half a century ago[<a id="chap09fn1text"></a><a href="#chap09fn1">1</a>] that vast region known as the +"Oregon Country" had never, as far as any one knows, +been penetrated by a white man. It is true that Captain +Robert Gray of Boston, in the good ship "Columbia" +entered the mouth of the great river in 1792, crossed +the dangerous bar and sailed upstream about a dozen +miles, naming it Columbia's River after his vessel. +</p> + +<p> +A few months afterwards Lieutenant W. R. Broughton, +of the British Navy, also entered and proceeded up +the mighty river about 100 miles. But nothing more +was known of the "Far Northwest" until the celebrated +exploring expedition of Lewis and Clark crossed the +Continent in 1804-5, arriving at the mouth of the +Columbia in November of the latter year. +</p> + +<p> +While it would be impossible in this recital to give +a detailed account of that memorable expedition, or do +justice to the dauntless courage and perseverance of +the remarkable men who conducted it, one surpassing +incident that happened on the journey was primarily the +cause of bringing all that extensive territory under the +American flag. I must crave your patience for devoting +some extra time to describing this most interesting event. +</p> + +<p> +That exploring expedition, as you doubtless know, was +conceived by one of our greatest presidents years before +he came to that high office; but the opportunity for +carrying it out did not exist until he became President. +The men chosen to organize and lead the expedition were +selected with fine discrimination for the stupendous task +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P240"></a>240}</span> +assigned them, and proved worthy of the trust and +confidence reposed in them by Thomas Jefferson. +</p> + +<p> +After their departure from near St. Louis in the spring +of 1804, they spent about a year and a half ascending +the Missouri River, crossing the mighty "Stony Mountain" +range and later the yet more rugged and precipitous +"Bitter Root" Mountains, before reaching the beautiful +open and undulating country on the Clearwater +River. It was a joyful experience for the tired, half +famished explorers, descending from the rugged and +inhospitable mountains where game was scarce and +pasturage scant, to find ahead of them as far as the eye +could see, rolling hills carpeted with an abundant growth +of bunch-grass, and watercourses with groves of cottonwood +and quaking asp along the river bottoms. They +also found game quite plentiful, and excellent trout and +salmon fishing in the streams. +</p> + +<p> +Before proceeding very far in this region, they +suddenly came upon a few native women and children +picking berries. Observing the party of strange looking +beings garbed in unusual attire and carrying weapons +never seen before, the simple-minded natives were +terrified. The women ran, and the children sought refuge +under bunch-grass and bushes, from what they imagined +to be supernatural intruders. +</p> + +<p> +In a short time the men caught up with a couple of +the squaws, who expected nothing else than swift and +sure death at the hands of these fierce looking strangers, +and bowed their heads in anticipation of the fatal stroke. +By signs and kind words they soon dispelled the fears +of these women of the Nez Perces tribe, which then +occupied all that part of the country. They were +dismissed with many presents, and told by signs to have +some of their head men come out to the camp for an +interview. +</p> + +<p> +In a few hours a party of Indians garbed in native +finery and armed with bows and arrows, arrived; but they +made no hostile demonstrations, and were evidently in a +friendly mood. Cordial relations were soon established +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P241"></a>241}</span> +between the explorers and the Indians, the latter inviting +the white men to their village to partake of their crude +hospitalities. +</p> + +<p> +The explorers were fortunate in having with them as +the wife of Toussaint Chaboneau, their French-Canadian +guide, a young and handsome Indian woman of the Snake +tribe—Sahcajahweah, meaning "bird-woman," commonly +known in later history by the shortened and simplified +name "Sacajawea." By her courage, fidelity, tact and +intimate knowledge of aboriginal habits, this remarkable +girl wife assisted materially in extricating the explorers +from the many almost insurmountable difficulties that +beset the journey over the Rocky Mountains and Bitter +Root range. It is no exaggeration to say that but for +her, Lewis and Clark might never have reached the shores +of the Pacific. +</p> + +<p> +At the present juncture she was of great assistance. +Though not understanding the Nez Perces tongue, her +familiarity with the native sign language enabled her +to make known to the Indians whatever the white leaders +wished to communicate, and explain to her companions +what the former were desirous of expressing. She +completely removed from the minds of the red men any +lurking suspicions they might otherwise have entertained +as to the motives and purposes that brought the +white men hither. +</p> + +<p> +The explorers learned from these Indians that the big +Chief of the tribe was encamped about two days' travel +down the river, and that a messenger had already been +dispatched to notify him of the arrival of these strange +men in his country. On the following morning the +party, accompanied by a Nez Perces guide, set out to +visit the Chief of this seemingly very friendly tribe. The +commanders issued orders that the men should polish up +their accoutrements and make the best possible appearance; +and that their behavior while sojourning in the +country of this tribe should be above reproach, as it +was essential for the success of the expedition to have +the friendly cooperation of these Indians. +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P242"></a>242}</span> +</p> + +<p> +On the evening of the second day the cavalcade of +thirty-odd travelers descending from a rolling plateau, +beheld the many lodges forming the main camp of the +Nez Perces tribe situated on a willow creek bottom, a +short distance above where the stream entered the +beautiful Clearwater River, along whose banks were many +small groves of cottonwood, interspersed with clumps of +large willows. The camp presented a picturesque +appearance of probably two hundred lodges, scattered up and +down along the little valley for perhaps a mile with very +little regularity in formation. On this occasion it +presented a very animated appearance, for the occupants +of each tepee were on the outside anxiously awaiting the +arrival of the wonderful strangers with bearded faces +and carrying loud-noise weapons. +</p> + +<p> +In about the center of the string of lodges was one a +little larger than the rest, in which dwelt the great Chief +of the little nation, who was now standing in front of +the lodge entrance arrayed in an elaborate costume of +Indian finery surmounted by an immense head-dress of +eagle feather plumage. He wore a doublet of tanned +deerskin, fringed and decorated with elk teeth and agate +stones, and leggings of the same material; his feet were +encased in moccasins inwrought with the finest +embroidery done by Indian women. The Chief, probably +fifty years old, was a well proportioned man of medium +size with regular features and well shaped head; he stood +motionless, with his eyes intently fixed on the approaching +column of white men riding in single file down the +gently sloping hillside towards the row of lodges—a sight +never before witnessed by any of them. +</p> + +<p> +The Indian guide pointed out the lodge of the Chief +to Lewis and Clark, who halted the column; and +dismounting a little distance off, approached it on foot. +The Chief did not move a muscle until Captain Lewis +held out his hand with the evident gesture of a friendly +purpose, whereupon he reached out, grasped the extended +hand of Captain Lewis and held it firmly for a little +while, muttering something in a guttural voice which, +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P243"></a>243}</span> +though not understood, was evidently intended as a pledge +of friendship. +</p> + +<p> +Each one of the party was then presented to the big +Chief, who gave every one a friendly greeting even to +the last, the negro man servant of Captain Lewis, though +the stoical Indian could not suppress a look of wonder +as he gazed from head to foot upon the gigantic black +man. The Indians were all filled with strong curiosity +at these strange men with bearded faces and wonderful +firearms that sent a leaden messenger of death faster +and more accurate than their most expert bowman; but +neither the white men nor their guns, strange and almost +incomprehensible as they seemed, created anything like +the astonishment aroused at beholding the African, who +was a continual object of their awe and admiration. +Little attention was paid to Sacajawea, for she was of +their own race and a member of a tribe with which they +were not too friendly. +</p> + +<p> +The whole assembled concourse of savage tribesmen +vied with one another in offering hospitality to the +newcomers, and exhibited unfeigned pleasure when any of +them entered their lodges and partook of refreshments. +Friendly relations between the Americans and Nez Perces +established so long ago under these peculiar conditions, +have continued without a break up to the present time; +and let us hope may never be impaired. +</p> + +<p> +Lewis and Clark acquired much useful information +during their sojourn with this tribe. They were informed +that it was yet a long distance to the "Big Water"—the +goal of the expedition; and also learned that almost +insurmountable obstacles would prevent continuing all +the way to their destination on horseback. It would +be possible, however, to reach it by waters all flowing in +that direction, finally uniting in one mighty river which +was swallowed up by the "Big Water" near the setting +sun. +</p> + +<p> +Thereupon the explorers set their men to building boats +on the banks of the Clearwater; and it was determined +to complete the passage in that manner. They also made +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P244"></a>244}</span> +arrangements to leave their horses with the Indians +until their return the following spring, when the journey +towards the "rising sun"—the land of the white +man—would be resumed. +</p> + +<p> +While the Lewis and Clark expedition remained on +the Clearwater, the Indians held their annual rites to +placate the wrath of their false deity, lest he visit upon +them dire misfortunes in the form of famine and pestilence, +which at times fell upon their people with serious +consequences. The white men refrained from making +any comment upon these absurd and pagan ceremonies +until they were ended. Then having a council with +several of the leading men of the tribe, they endeavored +in the kindest and most inoffensive manner—through +the medium of Sacajawea, who by this time had acquired +a considerable knowledge of the Nez Perces tongue—to +point out to the Indians that the white people were in +possession of a much better method of worshipping the +Supreme Being who created the heavens, the earth and +all things therein; and it would be a great blessing if +they would learn to do likewise. +</p> + +<p> +This kindly advice found deep lodgment in the minds +of those untutored children of the wilderness, and was +made still more effective by the earnestness and sincerity +of the "bird woman," who since becoming the wife of +Chaboneau had already received considerable instruction +in, the tenets of the Christian religion. Thus the seed +that bore such rich fruit a quarter of a century later, and +actually led to all that vast region becoming a part of +the United States, was planted in what is now our far +Northwest. +</p> + +<p> +When the boats were finished the little band prepared +to continue its journey by water. Many presents were +distributed to the friendly Indians before leaving their +hospitable village; though trifling in value, these were +highly prized by the natives, and helped to cement firmly +the friendship already started between the two races. In +return the white men received a liberal supply of dried +venison and roots to sustain them during the arduous +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P245"></a>245}</span> +undertaking still ahead of them. The Nez Perces also +furnished two guides to accompany the expedition; these +proved of invaluable assistance to Lewis and Clark, +particularly in their perilous descent of the Columbia. +</p> + +<p> +That historic journey down the river to the Pacific +Ocean was successfully accomplished; and in the following +spring the party returned to the Indian encampment +on the Clearwater, finding all the horses that had been +left with the Indians in fine condition to re-cross the +mountain ranges over which they had come the preceding +summer. While stopping at the Indian village on this +homeward-bound route, the subject of the white man's +religion was again broached by the natives; and once +more the leaders of the expedition impressed upon them +the spiritual and temporal advantages of acquiring a +knowledge of the revealed word of God. +</p> + +<p> +This good and salutary advice sank deep into the hearts +of the simple-minded red men, who realized that in many +ways the white strangers were superior to them. They +had more effective weapons, their utensils and +implements were beyond the power of any Indian to make, +they could find knowledge in books and talk on paper; +they had far better saddles and bridles, and could kill +a deer or a bear with their smoke-fire guns. Surely then, +it was more than probable that they possessed a better +knowledge of worshipping the Supreme Being than the +poor and ignorant Indians—thoughts about which +continued to agitate the minds of this truth-seeking tribe +long after the departure of their good friends, Lewis +and Clark. +</p> + +<p> +After the lapse of many years the subject was again +brought into prominence by the arrival in that part of +the country of a small party of full-blooded Iroquois +and half-breed employes of the Northwestern Fur +Company from eastern Canada. All of these had acquired +a knowledge of the Christian religion, and lost no +opportunity to impress upon the pagan members of their race +its superiority over the crude and senseless forms still +practiced by the native Indians. +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P246"></a>246}</span> +</p> + +<p> +Coming from people of their own stock, this corroborative +testimony of what Lewis and Clark had told them +carried great weight, and aroused an intense desire for +instruction in the white man's faith; but they could see +no possible way to gratify it. How could the poor, +benighted Indians come into contact with the white +people, and acquire their way of worship, when there were +none in any region with which they were familiar? The +prospect was indeed gloomy for Indians seeking the +light. +</p> + +<p> +But conditions soon began to change. The Hudson's +Bay Company was securing a firm hold upon the country, +bringing in white men, half-breeds and Indians from +Canada to carry on its extensive fur-hunting business. +Trading posts were established throughout the vast region +west of the Rocky Mountains and north of the Spanish +possessions. The Indians welcomed this great commercial +enterprise into their country, for it gave them a +market for what they had to sell, and opportunities to +acquire by trade many useful articles which had never +before been within their reach. +</p> + +<p> +Some of these new trading posts were established close +to the Nez Perces country, and the tribesmen soon became +frequent visitors to them. Here again they were told +how superior the white man's religion was to their +outlandish and foolish ceremonies. They also learned that +one of the two leaders of the explorers who visited their +country many years before was still living and occupying +a high position, in that department of the Government +having the management and care of Indian affairs. +His home was in St. Louis, a city many miles beyond +the great mountains, a distance that would take many +moons to traverse. +</p> + +<p> +These Indians pondered long and seriously what to do +under the circumstances; but no matter how great the +distance, formidable the obstacles or how threatening +the dangers of traveling through a vast region—peopled, +indeed, by men of their own dusky race but known to +be fierce, warlike and no respecters of persons—they were +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P247"></a>247}</span> +determined to make the attempt. The desire to gain a +knowledge of the white man's religion had taken +complete possession of their minds, and they would not be +content until that object should be attained. +</p> + +<p> +At a joint council of the Nez Perces and Flatheads, +one Indian of advanced age and a young brave of each +tribe were selected to go in search of the explorer they +had remembered during the quarter century since he +had been among them, and ascertain the truth of the +reported better religion than their own. During the +summer and early fall of 1831, these four delegates +traversed more than half of the Continent from the far +Northwest to the junction of the Mississippi and +Missouri rivers. +</p> + +<p> +Arriving at St. Louis after a long, difficult and perilous +trip of which no account was ever made, they were +directed to the home of Gen.[<a id="chap09fn2text"></a><a href="#chap09fn2">2</a>] William Clark, who received +them cordially and during their stay there often +entertained them in his own house. As may well be imagined, +the General was astonished when he learned the purpose +that brought them from such a distance; and although +outside his line of duty, he determined to do everything +possible to assist them. +</p> + +<p> +Clark spent considerable time showing them the town +and its attractions; to those children of the wilderness, +St. Louis was of course a strange and wonderful place. +It was at that time the largest settlement in the middle +West, and the principal outfitting point for travel, +explorations or hunting expeditions to the Rocky Mountains +or beyond. But the greatest obstacle to the progress of +their mission was the inability of the Indians to speak or +understand our language. +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P248"></a>248}</span> +</p> + +<p> +Before they had been very long in St. Louis, one of the +old men became ill, doubtless from the fatigue of the long +journey, change of diet and impure water of the Mississippi; +he soon passed away, and was buried there. In +about two weeks the other old Indian followed him in +death, neither living to know the result of their mission. +The two younger men remained there during the winter, +and in the spring started up the river on their way back +to the far Northwest. One of them died in the Yellowstone +region, and the other proceeded to cross the Great + ountains alone, finally succeeding, after a long absence,<br> +in reaching his home and kindred. +</p> + +<p> +While they were at St. Louis an Indian agent, William +Walker, en route to the Osage and other tribes beyond the +Mississippi, arrived there with a letter from the Secretary +of War, and called upon Clark for special instructions +regarding the Indians he was about to visit. The General +informed him of the Nez Perces and Flatheads under his +roof at the time. +</p> + +<p> +Anxious to see those aborigines from beyond the Rocky +Mountains, Mr. Walker interviewed them and gives an +interesting account of their appearance and the reason +for their coming. This was published after his return +from the trip already mentioned; and although he does +not give dates, it has been established from contemporary +records that the Indian delegation was in St. Louis +during the winter of 1831-32. +</p> + +<p> +Mr. Walker's letter in the <i>Christian Advocate</i> of March +1, 1833, at once aroused the greatest interest and religious +fervor throughout the length and breadth of the land. +Missionary enthusiasm quickly arose to fever heat, due to +the fact that a party of Indians had voluntarily come +more than two thousand miles over mountain and desert +from near the waters of the Pacific, calling for Christian +enlightenment. +</p> + +<p> +It aroused the apostolic spirit among the churches to a +height not seen in a generation; meetings were held, +subscriptions to defray the expenses came pouring in, and +devoted men offered their services to answer the call. The +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P249"></a>249}</span> +first in the field were the Methodists, animated by the +evangelical spirit of John Wesley, founder of that great +denomination. Funds were raised, the personnel of the +party decided upon, and all preparations completed for +the journey to the far West in the spring of 1834. +</p> + +<p> +Rev. Jason Lee was placed in charge of the expedition; +and I had abundant opportunity to personally observe +how well fitted he was mentally, physically and spiritually +for the serious task. Arrangements were made for the +missionaries to accompany Nathaniel J. Wyeth, of +Boston, who had organized a fur company to carry on that +business in the Oregon Country; and had some forty or +fifty men in his party. +</p> + +<p> +The journey across the Continent was full of exciting +adventures—fording or swimming turbulent and treacherous +rivers, eluding or repelling small bands of predatory +Indians, fleeing for safety from the thunderous charges +of stampeding buffalo, and many incidents of lesser +import. But while neither my time nor your patience will +admit of giving a detailed recital of them, one event which +happened on that trip deserves more than passing mention. +After crossing the Rocky Mountain divide, their course +was northwest until they came to the Snake River. While +on an exploring trip the previous year, Mr. Wyeth had +decided to erect a trading post at a point on that stream +near where a considerable tributary, the Portneuf River, +enters it and in the midst of a good fur-producing +territory, well adapted for his purpose. +</p> + +<p> +The party camped at this place and remained there a +few days. Besides the men Wyeth had brought from the +eastern States, who by this time had become genuine +frontiersmen at least in appearance, he had taken quite +a number of mountain men and independent trappers into +his employ at the Rendezvous on Green River, near the +site where Fort Bridger was located by James Bridger +in 1843, about nine years later. There were also some +nondescript characters with no visible occupation—altogether +a motley and extremely picturesque throng. +</p> + +<p> +Many of the men had buckskin suits, embellished with +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P250"></a>250}</span> +fringes and decorated with beads; others wore untanned +deer and bearskin garments of almost every conceivable +design. A few had coats and trousers of buffalo hide, and +one a complete suit of wildcat skins. All had beards, +some reaching to the belt line, while others were clipped +until they resembled bristles; but there was no evidence +that any man among them possessed a razor. +</p> + +<p> +Though it was midsummer, many wore fur caps and +some went bareheaded. Various kinds and patterns of +rifles and muskets were in evidence, while a few carried +Spanish musketoons. Physically they were somewhat +above the average stature of men in "the States." While +encamped there the men spent most of the time playing +cards, shooting at targets or swapping yarns. +</p> + +<p> +It was not the kind of a crowd you would expect to see +occupying church pews or attending Sunday School; but +Jason Lee made an announcement that he would hold +services on the Sabbath, and desired every one to be on +hand. They evidently thought it a good joke for any one +to attempt to preach Christianity to such a lawless crowd +of semi-wild and godless men; however, it was a diversion, +and all promised to be there and hear the reverend +visitor's message. +</p> + +<p> +Jason Lee was six feet or more in height and slightly +stooped; his head was large and well-shaped, with an +undeniable expression of determination and courage. Yet +there was a kindly look in his eye; and when he smiled, +you instinctively knew that beneath his rugged outward +appearance was a genial spirit tempered with seriousness. +</p> + +<p> +Shortly after breakfast he took his Bible and went +some distance from the camp to the shade of large trees, +and spent a couple of hours walking back and forth in +serious meditation. About 10 o'clock—the hour announced +for the services—he returned to the camp where the +throng had assembled. +</p> + +<p> +Some were lolling on the grass, others squatting on +blankets, a few listlessly leaning against the trees and +others standing by the tent openings. There were no +benches, nor any roof to protect the audience from the +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P251"></a>251}</span> +fierce rays of the summer sun; but that did not matter +to men who had lived for years in the open, and were +accustomed to sleep under the canopy of heaven. +</p> + +<hr> + +<p class="capcenter quote"> +<a id="img-251"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-251.jpg" alt="REV. JASON LEE'S GREAT SERMON IN THE SNAKE RIVER COUNTRY, 1834; SEE OPPOSITE PAGE"> +<br> +REV. JASON LEE'S GREAT SERMON IN THE SNAKE RIVER COUNTRY, 1834; SEE OPPOSITE PAGE +</p> + +<hr> + +<p> +Lee took a stand where all might be within range of +his voice, cast his eyes over the unusual assemblage, +opened the Bible and read in a clear and penetrating +voice a text from the gospels about the crucifixion and +death of Christ. Then he requested all to join with him +in prayer. Some who had not entirely forgotten their +early training, did so as best they could, while the more +hardened sinners nudged each other in the ribs and +smiled—as if to say, "What nonsense!" +</p> + +<p> +The clergyman was not an eloquent speaker, but forceful +and impressive; and his subject was well suited to +call forth all the earnestness of his nature and the +sincerity of his faith. He spoke for an hour, and before +half through had the complete attention of every one in +the audience; those who were at first inclined to scoff soon +lost their indifference and listened with profound attention +to every word. When at the close of his sermon, he +quoted dramatically the words, "Socrates died like a +philosopher but Jesus Christ died like a God," there was such +a stillness as if all within hearing were spellbound; and +they were. +</p> + +<p> +I have listened to great orators in the political arena, +and on various occasions to brilliant ministers of the +gospel; but have never known one to so thoroughly magnetize +his hearers as Jason Lee did the trappers, hunters +and mountain men who composed that audience away off +in the wilds of the Snake River Country in 1834. It was +the first sermon ever preached west of the Rocky +Mountains; and has probably not been excelled to this day. +</p> + +<p> +Wyeth put his full force at work erecting the rectangular +trading post, more generally known as Fort Hall, for +his contemplated fur-dealing activities. Although it +remained only a short time in the control of that +enterprising American, and passed into the hands of the +Hudson's Bay Company upon the collapse of Wyeth's original +enterprise the following year, that frontier +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P252"></a>252}</span> +establishment was a very important factor in the great +emigration to the Oregon Country. +</p> + +<p> +A day or so after the Jason Lee sermon, the missionary +company departed for its intended destination, the +Columbia River, where a favorable location for a Mission was +to be selected. The journey on horseback for several +hundred miles through rugged and broken country was +fraught with many difficulties and dangers, all +successfully overcome. +</p> + +<p> +In September the tired and travel-stained little party +arrived at Fort Walla Walla on the Columbia, the chief +trading post and outfitting headquarters of the Hudson's +Bay Company east of the Cascade Mountains, where they +were kindly received and hospitably entertained by +Mr. C. P. Pambrun, the official in charge. Here it was +decided to leave the horses and complete the remainder of +the journey by water; and fortunately a party of +fur-hunters returning with a cargo of pelts taken along the +waters of the upper Columbia, was then on the way to +Fort Vancouver. +</p> + +<p> +With these the missionaries were given passage, and +floated down the great river in their batteaux. The +French-Canadian crew were expert boatmen and a happy +lot to travel with, joking and singing almost without +intermission; their care-free and mercurial natures never +seemed to be ruffled, no matter what obstacles interfered +with their progress. The annual fur-hunting expedition +had been very successful; and they were looking forward +to a genuine celebration upon their arrival at Fort +Vancouver, a privilege given to them once a year. +</p> + +<p> +I shall never forget the mingled feelings of wonder +and admiration as our little party approached the mighty +break in the upper levels of the Cascade Mountains made +by the river when, in prehistoric time, it forced a passage +through that gigantic range. The scenery was superb—nothing +grander can well be imagined—magnificent snow-capped +mountains, primeval forests clothed with foliage +of various hues reaching down to the water's edge, and +numerous sparkling waterfalls leaping over the sides of +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P253"></a>253}</span> +perpendicular bluffs from elevations of two to six +hundred feet. +</p> + +<p> +Occasionally immense basaltic pillars, rising from the +bank of the river to a great height, and some of most +grotesque outlines, would be encountered. There is +nothing of the kind in the United States to compare with +that scenery of the Columbia. +</p> + +<p> +Upon reaching Fort Vancouver we met with a truly +cordial reception. That grand old autocrat Dr. John +McLoughlin had word of our arrival, came out to meet us +and in the most courtly manner but with unaffected ease +and dignity, ushered us into his private apartments where +he said we were to be his guests during our stay. We +greatly enjoyed the hospitality of the Doctor, especially +after our long and tiresome journey; and have always +looked back with sincere pleasure to the whole-hearted +welcome given us by the representative of another nation, +when we might reasonably have been considered in the +guise of intruders. +</p> + +<p> +A day or so after our arrival, Jason Lee unfolded to +Dr. McLoughlin his plans for establishing a Mission +among the Flathead Indians. The Doctor listened patiently +as Rev. Mr. Lee related the details connected with +the project; and then while expressing the satisfaction +he felt at having a Mission located somewhere in the +country, he pointed out the stupendous task of conducting +it so far from a base of supplies. +</p> + +<p> +Everything for the Mission must come by water around +the Horn, be unloaded somewhere on the lower Columbia, +and then carried by batteaux and pack animals a distance +of five hundred miles up-country—a very serious +handicap. Jason Lee saw it in the same light, but did +not know what else to do. +</p> + +<p> +Dr. McLoughlin suggested founding a Mission in the +Willamette Valley near French Prairie, where a small +settlement of French-Canadians already existed and there +were Indians in the vicinity needing spiritual as well as +temporal enlightenment. Such a point would also be +reasonably accessible for receiving supplies by water. +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P254"></a>254}</span> +</p> + +<p> +So convincing were the facts presented by Dr. McLoughlin +in support of the Willamette Valley as compared +with the Flathead country for a Mission location, +that Jason Lee decided to accept his views and followed +his counsel. The Doctor also promised to assist it by +every means in his power compatible with his duties as +Chief Factor of the Hudson's Bay Company; and kept +his word. +</p> + +<p> +The Mission established in the Willamette Valley was +conducted successfully until measles and other epidemic +diseases introduced by the whites almost completely +annihilated the native population, so that in ten or twelve +years after its founding there were no Indian children +to attend its school. During that time, however, the +white population increased rapidly by accessions to the +missionary force, many newcomers brought from "the +States" by glowing descriptions sent back by earlier +arrivals, and the even stronger corroboration of the +surpassing advantages of the new country by men returning +east for missionary reinforcements. +</p> + +<p> +In this again, my friends, I cannot but see the +interposition of Divine Providence. Had our Mission been +established among the Flatheads as originally intended, +there would have been no such influx of American citizens +as afterwards followed into the disputed territory +to offset the prestige of the British claim, because that +remote interior region offered no such opportunities for +settlement as the salubrious climate and fertile valleys +west of the Cascade Mountains. So I may well say again, +"God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform." +</p> + +<p> +While I have told you, and truthfully, that the Methodists +were the first to answer the call from the Indians +beyond the Rocky Mountains, the Presbyterians and +Congregationalists soon followed. In 1835 Rev. Samuel +Parker of Massachusetts, and Dr. Marcus Whitman of +New York State, were sent out by the Missionary Board +of that church to examine into the character and disposition +of the tribes residing in the region from which the +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P255"></a>255}</span> +four Indians made the long journey to St. Louis in search +of the white man's religion, and report as to the +desirability of establishing a Mission among them. +</p> + +<p> +With that purpose in view, Rev. Mr. Parker and +Dr. Whitman crossed the plains, and in the summer of 1835 +arrived at a point in the Rocky Mountains known as the +"Rendezvous," a famous place for trappers and Indiana +to congregate for trading in furs and pelts. They found +encamped there several hundred Nez Perces and Flatheads +just returned from a successful buffalo hunt; and +through an interpreter learned that they were very anxious +to have white religious instructors sent out to them. +</p> + +<p> +This convinced Rev. Mr. Parker that the field was a +very promising one. It was therefore agreed that he +should accompany the Indians to their homes and select a +suitable location for a Mission site, while Whitman would +return east and arrange for a missionary party to go +out there under his charge the following spring. +</p> + +<p> +Parker impressed upon Whitman the necessity of +having the company well equipped with everything essential +for such an arduous undertaking, and above all else to +provide himself with a good wife. The Doctor laughed +and replied, "That is easier said than done; however, I +may make the attempt." +</p> + +<p> +By their genial manners and evident sincerity of +purpose, these two advance missionary agents while at the +Rendezvous won the confidence of the assembled Indians +to such an extent that they permitted Whitman to select +two or three young boys to return with him to "the States," +remain there for the winter, and accompany him back. +The Doctor knew that their presence would have the effect +of stimulating the Board to organize and equip a +missionary party with the least possible delay; and would be +tangible proof that the Indians were earnestly seeking +religious instruction. Whitman also realized that the +boys would be of great assistance to the missionaries in +crossing the plains and mountains in the spring. +</p> + +<p> +The Doctor and his wards experienced no serious difficulties +on the journey back to civilization, and arrived +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P256"></a>256}</span> +at his home in Rushville, Yates County, New York State, +early in the winter. He was dressed in the picturesque +garb of the mountain men—buckskin coat and trousers +decorated with fringes on the arms and legs, moccasins +and bearskin cap, and had not been shaved for several +months. +</p> + +<p> +Reaching there late on a Saturday, Whitman did not +go all the way into the village or make his presence known +until Sunday, when he proceeded just as he was, and +accompanied by the young Indians, to the church where +services were being held; entered, walked up the aisle, and +became the cynosure of all eyes in the congregation. At +first everyone wondered where the uncouth and wild +looking individual came from, and why he should interrupt +the services. After gazing intently at him for a +moment or two his mother, who was in the audience at +the time, exclaimed, "Why if there isn't Marcus." +</p> + +<p> +Services were immediately suspended, and all gathered +around to welcome the intrepid Doctor back from the +wilderness, where he had gone as a soldier of the Lord. He +was the hero of the hour, and every community in that +part of the State made an effort to honor him. +</p> + +<p> +But there was one locality where he seemed to relish +the attentions paid him more than in any other, and a +house to which he made the most frequent visits. It was +not because of the genial hospitality of the host—which +was proverbial in the vicinity; nor altogether the fascination +of his conversation, though he was a man of culture +and refinement, to whom it was a treat to listen. +</p> + +<p> +The admonition of Rev. Mr. Parker was uppermost in +the Doctor's mind, and beneath that roof dwelt the +charming daughter of the household he had known and admired +for a long time, and who he hoped entertained more +than a passing regard for him. He now determined to +press his suit with all the energy of his forceful nature. +But before telling you the results of his efforts in that +direction, I should give a brief sketch of the early life +of Narcissa Prentiss, a noble character whose life and +deeds will always occupy a very prominent place among +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P257"></a>257}</span> +the pioneers of the Oregon Country—more so, indeed, +than any other woman. +</p> + +<p> +She was the daughter of Judge Stephen Prentiss, a +highly respected and well-to-do citizen of the Lake Region +in New York State. Careful attention was bestowed upon +her early education and training, and every possible +advantage given her within reach of people in moderate +circumstances in that part of the country at the time. +</p> + +<p> +In her early teens she is described as about the average +in height, the possessor of an unusually fine and +well-rounded form, with blonde hair and blue eyes. She had +winning manners and a remarkably sweet, well trained +voice which naturally made her a popular leader in the +church choir and singing circles. +</p> + +<p> +A romantic incident in her early life greatly impaired +her happiness in after years, as will subsequently appear. +While attending the village school one of the pupils, a +boy her senior by a few years, became enamored of her +beauty and sprightly manners. He sang in the same +church choir, was a diligent scholar, had a good voice +and was generally acceptable; thrown together in this +way, they became very good friends. On her part this +meant nothing more than congenial companionship, but +with him it ripened into a master passion. +</p> + +<p> +In this frame of mind, he asked her to make a solemn +promise to become his wife as soon as circumstances would +permit him to assume the responsibility of providing +suitably for her. She laughed heartily at his boyish +assurance, and said that she was entirely too young to +even think of such a thing; besides, when she did, he +would not appeal to her in that light. Even after this +rebuff, he still hoped that by making no further advances +for the present, and abiding his time, she would +gradually come to look more favorably upon him. +</p> + +<p> +A few years later Narcissa Prentiss had become one of +the most attractive young women in that portion of the +State—not only beautiful in person, but with a sweet +and lovable disposition that endeared her to all. She also +had a serious turn of mind, and was foremost in every +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P258"></a>258}</span> +activity connected with the church of which her family +were members. +</p> + +<p> +Narcissa had almost forgotten the school boy proposal +when most unexpectedly the young man, then about +to be ordained for the ministry, again appeared upon the +scene. When he called at the Prentiss home, she received +him in the usual friendly manner and treated him with +the greatest cordiality, for they had been pleasantly +associated in the choir, Sunday School and religious +activities of various kinds, never having had any serious +disagreement—unless the incident already mentioned might +be so considered. +</p> + +<p> +After conversing pleasantly for some time on general +topics, he said, "Narcissa, I have called upon you at this +time for a special purpose. You know that I am now +about to become a minister of the gospel, may be sent to +distant parts and separated from all my friends of +boyhood days. This is not a pleasant prospect; but I could +bear up under all those things, sustained by the knowledge +that it is in the service of the Master, were it not +that I would be leaving behind to me the most precious +thing on this earth—you, Narcissa, the idol of my +affections. Won't you accept the offer of my hand and heart, +and be my helpmate through life?" +</p> + +<p> +Narcissa, who thought she had firmly squelched the +earlier fancy, and that he had long forgotten to think +seriously of ever winning her hand, was dumfounded. +But now in far more earnestness than ever, he had +renewed the effort, apparently under the delusion that he +might be successful. In an instant her mind was made +up what to say and how to act; she must let him know +once for all that such a proposal was unwarranted and +repugnant to her. +</p> + +<p> +Arising and standing before him in all the dignity of +her womanhood, she asked, "Have I ever acted toward +you in a way you might construe that I entertained any +affection for you, or given any grounds for you to hope +that I might have anything more than just a friendly +feeling towards you? If I have so acted, I'm not aware of +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P259"></a>259}</span> +it. Now bear this in mind—never under any circumstances +would you be considered in the light of a lover or +husband for me!" +</p> + +<p> +A cloud passed over the brow of the young man as he +felt the sting of her reply, and it is generally believed +that a vow of eternal animosity against what he deemed +a haughty and insolent young woman who had repelled +his well-intentioned proposal was made by him. "Some +time you may regret this," he remarked, or words to that +effect, and took his departure. +</p> + +<p> +Narcissa, kind hearted and reluctant to hurt the feelings +of anyone, regretted having wounded his vanity and +pride so deeply; but thought that was the only way his +persistent suit could be stopped for all time. This +happened some four years before the return of Dr. Whitman +from the Oregon Country to his home in New York State. +About a year after his rejection by Narcissa Prentiss, +Rev. Mr. Spalding was married to Miss Eliza Hart, a +very estimable young woman, and sent west to engage in +missionary work. +</p> + +<p> +Marcus Whitman, although making frequent visits to +the Prentiss home, and received on every occasion by the +Judge and his family as a welcome guest and intimate +friend, did not attempt as yet to play the role of suitor +for the hand of Narcissa. He must first know that all +arrangements for the projected missionary expedition +were satisfactorily completed before committing himself +in any personal way that might later prove embarrassing. +</p> + +<p> +It was a matter of considerable importance for the +Missionary Board to assemble and outfit a sufficient +number of persons for such an undertaking; and many +investigations and calculations had to be made before a +complete organization was effected. It was considered +necessary to have an ordained minister, and difficult to +find one willing to go. But in the early spring the +personnel of the party was decided upon, and the animals, +wagons and supplies purchased so that the westward +movement could begin as soon as the season was far enough +advanced. +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P260"></a>260}</span> +</p> + +<p> +Whitman now decided that the auspicious moment had +arrived to take the important step that had been +uppermost in his mind since his return from the Rocky +Mountains. He was of a sanguine temperament and optimistic +by nature, with supreme confidence in his ability to +overcome obstacles; in the vital matter now in hand he +felt confident of success, but was anxious to know what +the result would be. +</p> + +<p> +With this purpose in view he mounted his horse and +rode hurriedly to the Prentiss home, finding the Judge out +but Narcissa there. Entering the sitting room, he took +a seat and without any preliminaries remarked, "Well, +Narcissa, everything is arranged and the party will start +for the great undertaking in just one month from now. +I said the party was complete, which is not quite correct; +there is yet one vacancy and I have come, Narcissa, to +ask you to fill it by becoming the wife of Marcus +Whitman, leader of the party. +</p> + +<p> +"I need not tell you that you hold a higher place in +my estimation than any other living mortal; your +womanly intuition has long ago made you aware of that. +I also believe that you entertain for me a feeling of +uncommon friendship, at least—if not more. Am I right +or wrong? Answer me, Narcissa." +</p> + +<p> +"Marcus, this is so abrupt you almost take my breath +away, but I will be just as frank," she replied. "I will +go with you." +</p> + +<p> +Taking her hands in his and gazing into the depths of +her beaming blue eyes he exclaimed, "I felt in my soul +that you would." Drawing her nearer and enfolding her +in his arms, he imprinted a seal of affection on her lips. +</p> + +<p class="thought"> +* * * +</p> + +<p> +Both were naturally well fitted for the task of +bringing the light of the gospel and the advantages of +civilization to the Indians. Marcus Whitman was strong +and rugged, with an unlimited capacity for work; and +although a physician, the missionary life appealed to him +much more than the practice of his profession, due +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P261"></a>261}</span> +probably to natural inclination and his early training. +A knowledge of medicine was a valuable aid in a region +without professional men. +</p> + +<p> +Narcissa Prentiss was in full health and vigor, capable +of enduring the privations and hardships incident to such +a life, and of an intensely religious temperament. She +left home, friends and every association dear to the +majority of womankind, and set forth on a tremendous +journey across deserts and over mountain ranges—the +way beset by difficulties and dangers—in order to lend a +helping hand in carrying the "tidings of great joy" to +the natives of the far Northwest. +</p> + +<p> +A great deal of spoken and written eulogy has been +bestowed upon the devotion to duty, courage and fortitude +of Marcus Whitman—unquestionably in great part well +merited. So far, little has been said in praise of the +noble qualities of head and heart possessed by his wife +and coworker in the Lord's vineyard. But as time goes on +I have no doubt that historians and poets will exalt her +virtues and sing her praises. +</p> + +<p> +The marriage ceremony in the Presbyterian Church at +Angelica, N.Y., in February, 1836, was very quiet and +simple, as both were opposed to any undue publicity. But +when the members of the congregation became aware +that the missionary party was about to start, it was +arranged to have a farewell party and services on the eve +of its departure. The little church was crowded to +capacity; not only was nearly every member present, but +many who were not affiliated came to bid farewell and +Godspeed to this universally beloved member of the +community, which had been the home of the Prentiss family +since 1834. +</p> + +<p> +She took her usual place as leader of the choir, while +the eyes of all were riveted upon the pleasing countenance +and attractive form of the one who was about to leave +them—perhaps forever. After the services and singing +of appropriate hymns, a time for greetings was +announced; and the whole congregation surged forward, +each anxious to grasp the hand and say a personal word +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P262"></a>262}</span> +to her whom they loved so well and were reluctant to let +go. Before being dismissed, all were asked to join in a +parting hymn selected for the occasion. +</p> + +<p> +Narcissa led the singing, and when the last verse—beginning +with the words, "Yes, my native land, I love +thee"—was begun, audible sobs were heard through the +audience. Before it was finished the pent-up feelings of +the assemblage were unloosed, and the genuine feeling of +sorrow became contagious; handkerchiefs were pulled out, +and there was scarcely a dry eye in the audience. Only +the voice of Narcissa carried the words all the way +through; but she never faltered until it was finished, +when she also gave way to the prevailing emotion. +</p> + +<p> +Rev. Henry H. Spalding and his wife were selected by +the American Board of Home Missions to accompany +Dr. and Mrs. Whitman. For some time past the Spaldings +had been engaged in missionary work in the State of Ohio +from where, upon the arrival of the Whitmans from New +York State, the four proceeded to Liberty, Missouri, the +point at which final arrangements for the western +journey were to be completed. +</p> + +<p> +The Board of Commissioners probably did not take the +precaution of consulting Dr. Whitman as to his choice +of companions for the great task they were entering +upon; could Narcissa have had any voice in the matter, +the Spaldings would certainly not have gone with them. +It is to be regretted, for the good of the cause, that such +an appointment was made, as subsequent events will +explain. W. H. Gray, a mechanic, was also designated +by the Board to accompany the missionaries. +</p> + +<p> +Rev. Mr. Spalding was a stockily built man of medium +height, with a large head and rather high forehead; and +was a voracious reader, especially of books on religious +and controversial topics. Although rated, even by his +admirers, as a "peculiar" man, he accomplished commendable +results in the mission field for nearly 40 years. +Mr. Spalding died August 3, 1874, in his 71st year, and is +buried in the Nez Perces country a few miles from +Lewiston, Idaho. +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P263"></a>263}</span> +</p> + +<p> +His wife, Eliza Hart Spalding, was rather tall and +angular, and though not possessing regular features, had +a kindly and intelligent expression that won many +friends. She had the gift of knowing how to gain the +respect and confidence of the Indians, and was conspicuously +successful as a teacher among them. Gray was a +self-important person, with quite a smattering of learning, +but inclined to be self-willed and even insubordinate. +</p> + +<p> +These men and women established the first Indian +Missions in the vast region between the Rocky Mountains +and the Cascade Range, nearest the tribes who had +sent the delegation to St. Louis in 1831, seeking a +knowledge of the Christian faith. About the time the +missionaries arrived at Liberty, a number of hunters and +trappers in the employ of the American Fur Company, +under the leadership of two experienced frontiersmen, +Milton G. Sublette and Thomas Fitzpatrick, were +assembled there preparing to leave for the Rocky Mountain +region on a trading and fur-hunting expedition. +</p> + +<p> +By this good fortune, the missionaries were able to +travel in the company of a well-equipped outfit, without +fear of molestation by roving bands of Indians on the +way. But not everything required for the long journey +had been secured in time to start with the larger party, +which set out two days in advance. Whitman determined +to catch up with the fur hunters before reaching +the most dangerous part of the route, which he did. +</p> + +<p> +Many days were consumed in traversing the bad roads +of western Missouri, which in the spring in those pioneer +days were full of ruts and mud-holes; and the Doctor was +the only one of the party with any previous experiences +in that kind of travel. Early in May they were on the +west side of the Missouri River with their wagons, horses +and cattle all in fairly good shape, but on the south side +of the Platte near its mouth. The latter was nearly a +mile wide, and the crossing of it a very formidable +undertaking; but it had to be done, for the Trail continued +westward on the north side. +</p> + +<p> +That might be termed the real starting point on the +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P264"></a>264}</span> +expedition, as there every vestige of civilization was left +behind, and immense plains and great mountain ranges +inhabited only by Indians and wild animals, extended +far out before them. It was a perilous trip in those days, +even for men fond of adventure and thoroughly accustomed +to hardships. +</p> + +<p> +But in the company were two refined and educated +women leaving friends, kindred and the comforts of +civilized life to undergo the discomforts and face the +hazards of the long journey. It was a noble courage, and +heroism of the rarest type. Their names should be held +in high veneration by the Christian people of this land +for all time to come; and I believe they will be. +</p> + +<p> +The crossing of the Platte was difficult and wearing; +and the burden of it fell upon Dr. Whitman, as +Rev. Mr. Spalding was ill and unable to help. Mrs. Whitman +and Mrs. Spalding were taken over in a "bull boat," a +contrivance made by stretching a buffalo hide over small +willow growths. In the process of making, the larger +ends were stuck in the ground, and the smaller ones +interlapped, after which a fresh hide was fastened over them +and allowed to dry. Then the ends of the willows were +pulled out of the ground, it was turned upside +down—and called a "boat." +</p> + +<p> +Though a very risky affair in which to cross a wide +river, there was no other available conveyance; so they +entered it, at least with a show of confidence, and were +carried safely over. An entire day was required to get +the outfit to the other side; Whitman was obliged to swim +back and forth several times, and by evening was +completely exhausted. +</p> + +<p> +Early the next morning a start was made and the +animals were urged forward at the utmost speed under +the circumstances, to overtake the fur-hunters before +the Pawnee villages were passed, as unfriendly Indians +might be encountered beyond. I will not enter into a +detailed account of the many events of interest on their +way over the great plains, but cannot refrain from +mentioning a few outstanding features of the journey. +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P265"></a>265}</span> +</p> + +<p> +When they came within sight of the Elkhorn, a tributary +of the Platte, it presented a very menacing appearance +at the height of the flood-water season. Arriving +first at the river, the Indian boys Whitman had taken +back with him the preceding winter saw a skin canoe on +the farther side; completely stripping, they wound their +shirts around their heads and swam over, returning with +the canoe by the time the rest of the party came up to the +bank. A rope was then stretched across, and the goods +hauled over in the canoe without much difficulty. +</p> + +<p> +Those Indian boys were very useful to the missionary +party in driving the loose stock, herding, guarding at +night and in many other ways. They seemed more than +willing to render assistance whenever the occasion called +for it; and in initiative were equal if not superior to +white youth of the same age. +</p> + +<p> +About a hundred miles east of the "Rendezvous," the +party fell in with a large number of Indians belonging to +tribes west of the Rockies who came over the mountains +every year to hunt buffalo. Some of them had met the +Doctor on his previous trip, and remembered his intention +of bringing missionaries to instruct them in the white +man's way of worshipping; now they manifested great +pleasure at meeting the little party on the way to fulfill +the promise made the year before. +</p> + +<p> +The ladies especially aroused the curiosity and wonder +of the savages, who now for the first time beheld a white +woman. No sooner had Mrs. Whitman alighted from +her horse than a number of the native matrons came +forward to welcome her; each one of them shook hands +with her, and at the same time placing the left hand +affectionately upon her shoulder, gave her a hearty kiss. +Mrs. Spalding was greeted in a similar manner. +</p> + +<p> +Both were deeply moved by the cordiality and sincerity +of their welcome by those Indian women, and greatly +surprised to learn from this experience that they have about +the same manner of salutation as their civilized white +sisters. It goes to show that regardless of climate or +color, human nature is about the same the world over. +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P266"></a>266}</span> +</p> + +<p> +One of the chiefs present when the ladies arrived soon +took his departure, and returning in a short time with +his wife, introduced her to both of them—with a wave of +the right hand towards his squaw and the left towards the +white women, at the same time bowing politely. When +the tents were pitched and occupied by Mrs. Whitman and +Mrs. Spalding after the fatigue of the horseback ride, +some of the Indians, with unabated curiosity, remained in +the vicinity and were occasionally bold enough to peep in +and then grin with astonishment. +</p> + +<p> +Arriving at the "Rendezvous," a long-to-be-remembered +sight was presented to their eyes. There were assembled +hundreds of trappers, hunters, traders and packers—in +fact all kinds of mountain men—some of whom had not +seen a white woman in more than twenty years; and there +must also have been some fifteen hundred or two thousand +Indians who had traveled there to trade with the American +Fur Company. All of them, white men and Indians +alike, were intent upon having a good look at the first +two white women who had ever penetrated that far into +the wilderness, and were to traverse another thousand +miles or so of rough country before reaching their +destination. +</p> + +<p> +Mrs. Whitman thoroughly enjoyed the novelty and +excitement of the strange situation. Some of the +mountain men ventured to approach her and offer some kind +of a compliment, which amused her exceedingly; but she +always answered them with gracious and cordial bearing, +and thus became very popular with these semi-wild and +reckless frontiersmen. +</p> + +<p> +Mrs. Spalding was more interested in the appearance of +the natives among whom she had come to teach, and +anxious to acquire a knowledge of the Nez Perces +language. Somewhat from anxiety to see how she would +act, the Indians gathered around her while she tried +as best she could to converse with them. +</p> + +<p> +Before the departure of the missionary company for +the Columbia River, a grand reception and display was +planned in its honor. On the appointed day, the Indian +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P267"></a>267}</span> +warriors formed a procession in gala dress at one end of +the plain, each of the four tribes being represented by a +company in fighting costume—which was breech-clout, +with plenty of paint and feathers. All were mounted on +well-shaped Indian horses, which though not large were +spirited and active. +</p> + +<p> +These fighting braves carried their weapons, and in +addition many had drums, horns and other noise-making +instruments. When everything was in readiness the +command was given, and there burst forth from every +painted warrior such a wild and terrifying yell as only +aborigines can utter; then, joining in a mighty chorus +of barbarous song, the cavalcade charged down the valley +at frantic speed, brandishing their weapons and beating +drums. +</p> + +<p> +Reaching the farther end of the valley, they whirled +around and dashed back with equal impetuosity, afterwards +performing skilful evolutions in front of the +missionary tents. The whole maneuver was conducted like a +preconcerted military movement, the force of six or seven +hundred Indians obeying the signals of the leaders with +machine-like precision. +</p> + +<p> +All members of the missionary party had assembled +in front of their tents before this torrent of furious +savages approached and swept by them with wild gesticulations. +Their bronze bodies glistened in the summer sun +and quivered with the great excitement under which +they labored in this mimic attack upon an imaginary foe. +</p> + +<p> +In front of the rushing columns rode a huge warrior +of the Snake tribe, known as "Big Foot," more than six +feet tall and well proportioned. His horse was much +larger than the ponies of the other Indians (most of whom +rode bareback); and he had a saddle of the Mexican +pattern, probably secured during a foray into the settlements +of New Mexico Territory. +</p> + +<p> +He raised in his stirrups, whirling a Spanish musketoon +and yelling like a demon, his voice being heard above +all the din and uproar. The whole performance was so +realistic that before it ended the nerves of the women +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P268"></a>268}</span> +were severely tried; and at its conclusion the Indians +crowded around the tents to further gratify their +curiosity. +</p> + +<p> +The missionaries rested for a few days at the Rendezvous +on Green River and then set out for Fort Hall with +only one wagon, the other having been abandoned by +necessity farther east. At the fort, then owned by the +Hudson's Bay Company, they were very kindly received, +but told that it would be virtually impossible to travel any +farther with the wagon. However, on account of +Mrs. Spalding's delicate health, Whitman determined not to +give it up until absolutely necessary. +</p> + +<p> +Owing to the deep sand and large sage-brush about +twenty miles below American Falls on the Snake River, +and the extremely rocky surface of the hills, he was +obliged to leave the box and rear wheels there, converting +the remainder into a cart which he managed to take as +far as Fort Boise, where that also was abandoned. With +the wagon-box was left something far more valuable to +Narcissa Whitman—a little trunk which she dearly prized +as a present from her sister Harriet. Here is the way +she laments the loss of it: +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="quote2"> +Friday evening +</p> + +<p class="quote2"> +Dear Harriet: +</p> + +<p class="quote"> +The little trunk you gave me has come with me so far, and +now I must leave it alone. Poor little trunk! I am sorry to +leave you. Twenty miles below the Falls on Snake River shall +be thy place of rest, x x x x. Narcissa. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p> +My good friends, before proceeding farther with my +story I must tell you that about three years ago I visited +the home of Judge Prentiss in New York State; and the +fine old gentleman accorded me the great privilege of +copying the voluminous correspondence written by his +daughter on the journey across the Continent and during +the years spent at the Mission station until her unhappy +death. I will at times quote her exact words describing +events intimately connected with her missionary labors. +</p> + +<p> +She possessed the rare gift of expressing in the most +lucid language the condition of her feelings regarding the +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P269"></a>269}</span> +many trials and afflictions it was her lot to bear during +their life at Waiilatpu. I have with me copies of all these +letters; and will now read her description of the crossing +of Snake River, as must be done more than once in your +own journey to the "Promised Land": +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="quote"> +Preparing to cross Snake River. The river is divided by two +islands into three branches, and is fordable. The packs are +placed on the tallest horses, and in this way we crossed without +wetting. Husband had difficulty with the cart, which was +turned upside down in the river, and the mules entangled with +the harness. The mules would have been drowned but for a +desperate struggle to get them ashore. Then after putting two +of the horses before the cart, and two men swimming behind +to steady it, they succeeded in getting it over. +</p> + +<p class="quote"> +I once thought crossing streams would be the worst part of +the journey. I now do so without fear. There is one manner +of crossing—take an elk skin and stretch it over you, spreading +yourself out as much as possible. Let the Indian women put +you on the water, and with a cord in the mouth they swim and +draw you to the other side. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="quote"> +In four or five days more of travel they arrived at Fort +Boise, where the Snake River had to be recrossed. Again +I will quote Mrs. Whitman: +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="quote2"> +22nd. +</p> + +<p class="quote"> +Left the Fort yesterday, came a short distance to Snake +River; crossed and encamped for the night. The river has +three branches divided by islands. The first and second places +were deep but we had no difficulty in crossing on horseback. +The third was deeper still. +</p> + +<p class="quote"> +This being a fishing post of the Indians, we found a canoe +made of rushes and willows. Mrs. Spalding and myself placed +ourselves and our saddles in it, and two Indians on horseback +with a rope towed us over. The canoe is made of bunches +of rushes tied together and attached to a frame made of a few +sticks of small willows. It was large enough to hold us and +our saddles. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p> +The cart which had been brought from the Falls of +Snake River especially for the accommodation of +Mrs. Spalding was abandoned here and the remainder of the +trip to Fort Walla Walla made on horseback. No serious +mishaps befell the little party on this part of the journey, +although it was an exceedingly rugged and difficult region +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P270"></a>270}</span> +to traverse. They were tendered a very kindly reception +at the fort by the employees of the Hudson's Bay +Company, and a boat was secured to convey them down the +magnificent river to Fort Vancouver. +</p> + +<p> +At forts Hall, Walla Walla and Vancouver, where the +missionaries were guests of the great fur company, all +were greatly interested in the two refined and educated +American women who had the pluck and hardihood to +undertake such a long and hazardous journey. Upon +reaching the head of the rapids above The Dalles of the +Columbia, Mrs. Whitman gives an interesting account +of what had to be done to pass safely that formidable +obstacle to their progress. She says: +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="quote2"> +8th. +</p> + +<p class="quote"> +Came last night to the Chute (above The Dalles), a fall in +the river not navigable. There we slept, and this morning +made the portage. All were obliged to land, unload, carry our +baggage and even the boat for half a mile. +</p> + +<p class="quote"> +I had frequently seen a picture of Indians carrying a canoe, +but now saw the reality. We found plenty of Indians here +to assist in making the portage. After loading several with +our baggage and sending them on, the boat was turned over +and placed upon the heads of about twenty of them, who easily +marched off with it. +</p> + +<p class="quote2"> +September 9th. +</p> + +<p class="quote"> +We came to The Dalles just before noon. Here our boat +was stopped by two rocks of immense size and height, all the +water of the river passing with great rapidity between them +in a very narrow channel. We were obliged to land and make +a portage of two and a half miles, carrying the boat again. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p> +The Dalles is a great fishing resort for Indians of several +tribes; we did not see many, however, for they had just left. +</p> + +<hr> + +<p class="capcenter quote"> +<a id="img-270"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-270.jpg" alt="DR. JOHN McLOUGHLIN, CHIEF FACTOR OF THE HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY, WELCOMING MRS. MARCUS WHITMAN AND MRS. HENRY H. SPALDING AT FORT VANCOUVER ON THE COLUMBIA RIVER, IN THE FALL OF 1836: SEE OPPOSITE PAGE"> +<br> +DR. JOHN McLOUGHLIN, CHIEF FACTOR OF THE HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY, WELCOMING <br> +MRS. MARCUS WHITMAN AND MRS. HENRY H. SPALDING AT FORT VANCOUVER <br> +ON THE COLUMBIA RIVER, IN THE FALL OF 1836: SEE OPPOSITE PAGE +</p> + +<hr> + +<p> +At Vancouver they were also cordially received and +hospitably entertained by that grand old man, Dr. John +McLoughlin. It was a never to be forgotten sight for me +to observe this representative of the all-powerful English +fur company, of towering stature and knightly dignity, +standing with hat in hand at the portal of the fort +graciously bending to salute and welcome the two first white +women to set foot upon the immense territory over which +he then held undisputed sway. It was not a mere formal +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P271"></a>271}</span> +greeting, but a genuine expression of satisfaction to see +devoted men and women coming into the territory to +improve both the spiritual and temporal condition of his +Indian wards, in whose welfare he was deeply +interested—for McLoughlin was by nature benevolent. +</p> + +<p> +In consultation with Whitman, he advised the latter to +establish his Mission somewhere east of the Cascade +Mountains, for the reason that the Indians of the interior +were mentally and physically superior to those near the +coast, as well as more likely to adopt the rudiments of +civilization and accept Christianity from the missionaries. +Thereupon Whitman, Spalding and Gray returned up the +Columbia to the vicinity of Fort Walla Walla for the +purpose of selecting a site, while the women remained at +Fort Vancouver as Dr. McLoughlin's guests until a +Mission House could be erected. +</p> + +<p> +After looking over the country for several days they +decided that a point called Waiilatpu, on the Walla Walla +River about thirty miles from its mouth, would be a +desirable location for a Mission, as it was convenient to +the habitat of the Cayuse and Walla Walla tribes and +reasonably near the headquarters of the Hudson's Bay +Company for that vicinity, in case trouble should arise. +Work was immediately begun upon the construction of a +comfortable log dwelling roofed with poles covered with +straw and dirt thrown upon the top, which very well +suited the purpose for which it was intended. +</p> + +<p> +A site for another Mission to be in charge of +Rev. Mr. Spalding was located among the Nez Perces on the +Clearwater River about 100 miles northeast of Waiilatpu. +Mr. Spalding then returned to Fort Vancouver for the ladies, +while Dr. Whitman continued work on the dwelling. In +about three weeks Mrs. Whitman arrived at Waiilatpu, +and the Spaldings went on to the Clearwater. +</p> + +<p> +At this isolated and unattractive Mission in the midst +of uncivilized and unappreciative aborigines, practically +shut off from people of her own race and tongue, Narcissa +Whitman spent eleven long weary years in the prime +of her young womanhood, endeavoring to enlighten the +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P272"></a>272}</span> +minds and improve and elevate the morals of the savages, +with no hope or prospect of being rewarded in this life, +except by the consciousness of doing the utmost for her +fellow mortals, and that her work might be pleasing in +the eyes of God. The sacrifice of her own life was her +only visible reward. +</p> + +<p> +In 1839 a great sorrow fell upon the Whitman household. +They had a beautiful little girl, an only child who +was suddenly snatched away from her loving parents, +without the slightest inkling of approaching danger or +cause for apprehension. The poignancy of Mrs. Whitman's +grief was intensified by the peculiar circumstances +surrounding them at the time. +</p> + +<p> +She was in a wilderness inhabited by cruel and treacherous +Indians, cut off by nearly three thousand miles +from the old home and her own family, with only +Dr. Whitman to lend a helping hand or console her with a +loving voice; and he was overwhelmed with pressing +duties. Her anguish was beyond description, but with +true Christian courage and exalted faith she bowed to +the Divine will. What sublime resignation! +</p> + +<p> +I have a copy of the characteristic letter she wrote to +her father on that sorrowful occasion, from which I will +now read: +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="quote2"> +Waiilatpu, Sept. 30, 1839. +</p> + +<p class="quote2"> +MY DEAREST FATHER: +</p> + +<p class="quote"> +Doubtless before this you have heard through the Board of +the melancholy death of our most precious and only child, +Alice Clarissa. That we loved her most ardently is true, and +we feel keenly the severe pangs of a separation from her. +Yet it is the Lord that hath done it, and He has dealt with +us as a tender parent deals with the children He loves. O, +how often have I felt and thought what a privilege it would +be, if I could see and unburden to my dear parents the +sorrows of my broken and bleeding heart since we have been +bereft of our dear, sweet babe. +</p> + +<p class="quote"> +Although deprived of this inestimable consolation yet, dearest +father, I desire to ask you to unite with us in praise and +gratitude to God who has so mercifully sustained me, and that +when crushed to the earth because His hand lay heavily upon +me, His grace was manifest to preserve and sustain my soul +from murmuring or repining at His dealings with us. +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P273"></a>273}</span> +</p> + +<p class="quote"> +This unspeakable consolation is ours, that our daughter is +at rest in the bosom of Him who said, "Suffer the little +children to come unto me, for of such in the kingdom of +heaven." Young as she was, we could plainly see a manifest relish and +enjoyment in singing and worship; the last month of her life +she commenced learning to read, and improved rapidly. +</p> + +<p class="quote"> +I would describe to you if I could her bright, lively +appearance on Sabbath morning, the day of her death. She had +always slept with me until just a week before then, and +that night she proposed, of her own accord, to sleep on the mat +on the floor. This gave me a very strange and singular +feeling, for I never before could persuade her to lie away from +me, not even in her father's arms * * *. It being very warm, +and because she preferred it, I let her sleep on the floor all +night—but did not sleep much myself. Ever after this I made +a bed for her by the side of mine, where I could lay my hand +upon her. +</p> + +<p class="quote"> +Her appearance at worship in the family was deeply interesting. +For some time she had been in the habit of selecting +the hymn she wished us to sing, and that morning her choice +was "Rock of Ages Cleft for Me." Oh, if dear father and +mother could have seen with what animation she sang, and +how her sweet voice soared above ours! +</p> + +<p class="thought"> +* * * * * * * * * * * +</p> + +<p class="quote"> +Dear father, when you sing this hymn think of me, for my +thoughts do not recur to it without almost overcoming me and +bringing fresh to my mind how she appeared when she last +sang it. +</p> + +<p class="quote2"> +NARCISSA. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p> +That letter bears the impress of having been written by +a superior woman suffering the keenest pangs of a mother's +grief, yet bearing it with all the fortitude and +resignation of the early Christian martyrs. +</p> + +<p> +The tragedy happened on a Sabbath morning, while +Dr. and Mrs. Whitman were reading the scriptures. Alice +Clarissa went to bring some water from the river which +flowed near-by the Mission House, as she had done many +times before. She went from the house with a cup in +each hand, bounding down to the river bank to fulfill her +errand, and returned no more. +</p> + +<p> +How it happened is simply conjecture, as there was no +witness when the cold waters of the Walla Walla River +fanned out the precious life of this first white American +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P274"></a>274}</span> +child born west of the Rocky Mountains. The little mound +that marked her grave not far from the house was kept +green and bedecked with flowers until the day of the +massacre and destruction of the Mission. +</p> + +<p> +The missionaries—particularly Rev. Mr. Spalding and +Dr. Whitman—never worked in harmony after their +arrival in the Indian country. It is said that the +bitterness of Mr. Spalding against Mrs. Whitman continued +from the time he was a suitor for her hand; and that the +rankling of it led at least to a lack of co-operation on his +part with his successful rival, the Doctor, in carrying on +the Mission work. I will read a letter of Mrs. Whitman +to her father, which throws a flood of light upon the +subject: +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="quote2"> + Waiilatpu, Walla Walla River,<br> + Oregon Territory, Oct. 10, 1810.<br> +</p> + +<p class="quote2"> +MY DEAR FATHER: +</p> + +<p class="quote"> +The missionaries' greatest trials are but little known to the +churches. I have never ventured to write about them for fear +it might hurt. The man who came with us ought never to +have come. My dear husband has suffered more in consequence +of his wicked jealousy and great pique towards me than can +be known in this world. Not he alone but the whole Mission +suffers, which is most to be deplored. It has nearly broken up +the Mission. +</p> + +<p class="quote"> +The pretended settlement with father before we started was +only an excuse; and from all we have seen and heard, both +during the journey and since we have been here, the same +bitter feeling exists. * * *. I never did anything before I left +home to injure him, and nothing since; and my husband is +cautious in speaking and thinking evil of him or treating him +unkindly; yet he does not, nor has he received the same +kindness from him since we have been missionaries together. +</p> + +<p class="quote"> +Every mind in the Mission that he has had access to he has +tried to prejudice against us, and did succeed for awhile, +which was the cause of our being voted to remove and form a +new station. This was too much for my husband's feelings to +bear, and so many arrayed against him for no good reason. +He felt as if he must leave the Mission, and no doubt would +have done it had not the Lord removed from us our beloved +child. This affliction softened his feelings and made him willing +to submit to the will of the Lord, although we felt that we +were suffering wrongfully. +</p> + +<p class="quote"> +The death of our babe had a great effect upon all in the +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P275"></a>275}</span> +Mission; it softened their hearts towards us, even Mr. S's for a +season. * * * The Lord in His providence has brought things +around in such a way that all see and feel where the evil lies. +Some of them are writing to the Board; and it may require his +removal or return to effect it, not so much for his treatment +towards us as some others also. +</p> + +<p class="quote"> +* * *. I have long desired to have some few judicious +friends know our trials, so that they may understand better +how to pray for us. If this Mission fails, it will be because +peace and harmony does not dwell among its members. Our +ardent desire and prayer is that it may not fail. It is this +state of things among us that discourage us. When we look +at the people and the providence of God, we are more and +more encouraged every year. +</p> + +<p class="quote"> +As ever, I remain, your affectionate daughter, +</p> + +<p class="quote2"> +NARCISSA WHITMAN. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p> +During the early days of the Mission the Whitmans +devoted themselves almost exclusively to the difficult task +of inducing the Indians to receive instruction in both +spiritual and temporal matters. The Doctor was rough +and ready in his manner, outspoken in his opinions and, +particularly, vigorous in his actions; when the Indians +did not do exactly as he thought they should, he openly +showed his disapproval and scolded them. +</p> + +<p> +This helps to explain why the Mission was not as +successful as it might have been; but Whitman was +nevertheless a thoroughly sincere and honest man, always +prompted by high motives. Due somewhat to the lack of +harmony in the establishment there, the Board finally +concluded that Waiilatpu should be abandoned. +</p> + +<p> +Very different indeed was the disposition of the +lovable and sweet-tempered woman, Narcissa Whitman, his +helpmate in the work. By kindly manner and tactful +methods she endeared herself to those in her special +charge, and was eminently successful in the care and +management of children. +</p> + +<p><br><br></p> + +<p class="t3"> +WHITMAN'S RIDE AND THE MASSACRE +</p> + +<p> +Having learned that the Board had ordered the abandonment +of two stations, including the one at Waiilatpu, +Whitman asked the missionaries to convene at that place +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P276"></a>276}</span> +for consideration of what steps should be taken to have +the order rescinded. Upon arrival of some of them, he +called the meeting without awaiting the arrival of those +coming from a greater distance, as he deemed the matter +too urgent to be postponed even a day. It was decided +to have the Doctor proceed immediately to the East to +lay the whole matter before the Board. +</p> + +<p> +Accordingly Whitman, accompanied by A. L. Lovejoy, +left Waiilatpu October 3, 1842, on the long and afterward +famous horseback ride over the Rocky Mountains and +through the vast prairie country during the winter. He +was the kind of man no dangers or difficulties could +deter; and although he underwent great privations, +successfully completed the trip. +</p> + +<p> +His reception by the Board was by no means cordial; +but in a forceful way he showed the serious consequences +that would follow the abandonment of the Missions. +Finally convinced by his logic, the Board rescinded the +order, which action was the object for which the ride was +undertaken. After that he visited his old home in New +York State. +</p> + +<p> +Westbound during May of the following year, Whitman +overtook the 1843 emigrants somewhere along the +Platte River and traveled with them as far as Fort Boise +on the Snake River. Worried about affairs at Waiilatpu +after so long absence, he then went on ahead. +</p> + +<p> +From that time on the affairs of the Mission were still +more unsatisfactory; and the Indians gradually became +alarmed at the number of immigrants arriving in the +country, bringing the measles and other diseases generally +fatal to the natives. Whitman was very successful +in treating his own people, but the great majority of +affected Indians succumbed to the diseases contracted +from the whites. +</p> + +<p> +The more superstitious ones began to imagine that the +Doctor was using "bad medicine" to kill them off so that +his white brothers could have their lands, an idea which +became an obsession with them. It did not bear fruit for +awhile; but as time went on and conditions showed no +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P277"></a>277}</span> +signs of change, the foolish natives determined to destroy +the station and kill the missionaries. The latter had been +forewarned more than once by friendly Indians to be on +their guard, as something desperate might happen; but +they did not take it seriously. +</p> + +<p> +On Monday, November 29th, the first of the fatal blows +fell. Whitman was in the sitting room talking with +Mrs. Osborne who lived in an adjoining room. An Indian +came to the door, knocked and asked to see the Doctor +about some medicine; he stepped into the outer room +where several were assembled, and talked with them about +their sick. While thus engaged one of them suddenly +drew a tomahawk from beneath his blanket and delivered +a crushing blow upon Whitman's head. +</p> + +<p> +Then pandemonium broke loose, and with frightful +yells the savages began the slaughter of the defenseless +inmates. In only one instance was any resistance offered; +when attacked by an Indian with a knife, the school-teacher +grappled with his assailant and struggled for his +life until dispatched by another of the natives. +</p> + +<p> +Mrs. Whitman was shot through the breast by a renegade +half-breed, Joe Lewis, and afterwards beaten over +the head and face with clubs until life was extinct. She +was the only woman slain, the others being made captive +and confined in one of the Mission houses. The reign of +terror continued through Tuesday, Wednesday and +Thursday, with several other murders of the white people. +Two seriously ill men were dragged out of their beds and +clubbed in a most barbarous manner until they expired. +</p> + +<p> +It is surprising that, wrought up to such a high state +of frenzy against the Mission and its inmates, the +Indians did not also massacre the fifty or more women and +children who fell into their hands. Through the untiring +efforts of Peter Skene Ogden, Chief Factor of the +Hudson's Bay Company, the latter were ransomed after a +few weeks' captivity. +</p> + +<p> +The Whitman Massacre was one of the saddest and most +revolting episodes in the annals of missionary effort in +North America. It cast a shadow over the land, and +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P278"></a>278}</span> +caused those who were active in the movement for the +regeneration of the red men to almost abandon it in +despair. +</p> + +<p> +No doubt you think it strange that in telling you +about the Oregon Country, its exploration and early +settlement, I should have devoted so much time to the +expeditions, labors and sufferings of the missionaries. But it +was owing primarily to the initiative from those sources +that the Pacific Northwest, with all of its wonderful +resources and possibilities, became known to the people of +"the States"; large numbers were thus encouraged to +emigrate to it, aiding materially in bringing all of that +vast region under the flag and within the dominion of our +beloved country. +</p> + +<p> +Otherwise the choicest portion of that territory would +in all probability have passed into the possession of a +foreign power. Is not that a good reason for occupying +so much time in recounting their efforts and exploits? +I will now give briefly a few of the outstanding incidents +since the migration to the Oregon Country began in the +wake of the missionaries. +</p> + +<p><br><br></p> + +<p class="t3"> +THE PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT +</p> + +<p> +In the spring of 1843, a kind of Provisional Government +for the Oregon Country was organized at a meeting +of settlers held at Champoeg in the Willamette Valley. +Previous attempts had been made for that purpose, but +owing to divergent views, they had ended in failure. +</p> + +<p> +Now, however, at a gathering in March, 1843, called +ostensibly for the purpose of taking steps to protect the +settlement from predatory animals and known as the +"Wolf Organization," a resolution was introduced and +carried to appoint a committee of twelve to formulate a +plan. At the meeting held on May 2nd attended by both +British and American partisans, the vote was very close, +the advocates of a Provisional Government winning by a +slight margin. +</p> + +<p> +It was so close that there was difficulty in determining +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P279"></a>279}</span> +which side had the majority; so after one or two +unsuccessful attempts to decide by a <i>viva voce</i> vote, an +agreement was reached to have a division and count—those in +favor of the proposal going to the right, while those +opposed went to the left. Joseph L. Meek, a man of +splendid physique and the hero of many adventures in the +Rockies, clad in the garb of the mountaineers, with +sparkling eyes, a voice of command and the air of a +Major General, stepped to a niche in history as he strode +to his position crying out, "Who's for a divide! All in +favor of the report and organization follow me." +</p> + +<p> +The hunters and trappers who were present followed his +lead, and so carried the day for the proponents of the +measure. More than half the Americans present voted +against it, because they (wrongfully) believed it a scheme +of the Mission party to secure control of the organization. +Were it not that quite a number of French-Canadians +favorable to self-government voted in the affirmative, +it would have lost. +</p> + +<p> +On the following day, May 3rd, the Provisional Government +was duly organized—a date and event long to be +remembered. That government was ably and wisely carried +on for a term of six years, until the United States +assumed jurisdiction in 1849. +</p> + +<p> +Dr. John McLoughlin recognized it, as he never would +have done were it not worthy of respect. It demonstrated +that the Oregon pioneers were capable, resourceful and +not mere imitators of other men. Their deeds should be +admired and their names venerated. +</p> + +<p> +I might add that the entire white population of the +Oregon Country at that time was only a little more than +two hundred. But the tide had set in, and nearly five +times that number were already assembled at different +points on the Missouri River preparing to start overland. +</p> + +<p><br><br></p> + +<p class="t3"> +THE 1843 MIGRATION +</p> + +<p> +This was in many respects the most remarkable and +important migration that ever left the Missouri River +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P280"></a>280}</span> +for the far Northwest. Although numerically far below +those of the following years, it was the first company +regularly organized to go out to that territory with the +sole object of making permanent settlements, and growing +up with it. +</p> + +<p> +The people composing it were not influenced to any +considerable extent by the evangelical movement, but +mostly farmers, tradesmen and mechanics determined to +find and make the best of opportunities for improving +their material condition. It was the first migration to +succeed in taking wagons beyond Fort Hall to the banks +of the Columbia and down along the south side of that +river to The Dalles, thence by batteaux or rafts to Fort +Vancouver and the Willamette Valley, thus blazing a +trail for future thousands to follow. +</p> + +<p> +Among those emigrants were several men of unusual +ability and forceful character, who were subsequently very +successful and attracted wide attention. Peter +H. Burnett—keen, alert and ambitious, the possessor of an +almost inexhaustible fund of information and anecdote—became +the first Governor of California, 1849-51. +</p> + +<p> +Another one was J. W. Nesmith, witty and brilliant, +later United States Senator from Oregon. Jesse +Applegate, one of the men who came over the Oregon Trail +in 1843, was a versatile writer, forceful speaker and a +leading worker in the ranks of every progressive movement +in the Pacific Northwest during his long and useful +life there. +</p> + +<p> +These men had the hardihood to attempt a feat +considered utterly impracticable by those who had passed +and repassed over that route on horseback for many years. +When asked for his opinion as to the feasibility of taking +the wagons to the Columbia, Richard Grant, the Chief +Factor of the Hudson's Bay Company at Fort Hall, made +this characteristic and undoubtedly honest reply, "I will +not say that Americans cannot do it, but for myself I +cannot see how it would be possible." +</p> + +<p> +The news that a large company of home seekers had +succeeded in driving their teams and four-wheeled vehicles +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P281"></a>281}</span> +all the way through by that route caused widespread +rejoicing throughout "the States," and virtually settled the +question as to which nation the region should belong. +</p> + +<p><br><br></p> + +<p class="t3"> +THE UNFORTUNATE SAGER FAMILY +</p> + +<p> +Of the many tragic and pathetic incidents along the +Trail during the early migration to Oregon, none +surpasses that of this most bereaved and sorely afflicted +family. Mr. Sager, a blacksmith, went in 1838 from Ohio +to Missouri; in the fall of 1843 he moved to St. Joseph +in that State, and in the spring of 1844 joined the +Gillman party bound for the Oregon Country. He was +accompanied by his wife and six children, the eldest a +boy of fourteen (a seventh was born on the road), making +five girls and two boys. +</p> + +<p> +While crossing the Platte River one of his wagons in +which Mrs. Sager was riding, overturned and so seriously +injured her that she never entirely recovered from it. +Near Fort Laramie the oldest girl fell under the wheels of +the wagon and was rendered helpless during the remainder +of the journey. At Green River, Mr. Sager died leaving +an invalid wife, a crippled daughter and six children, +the youngest a baby only a few weeks old. +</p> + +<p> +In the party was an unmarried German doctor of a +benevolent disposition who, seeing the straits to which +the family was reduced, volunteered to drive and care +for the oxen and assist the unfortunates to their destination. +Mrs. Shaw, a kind hearted woman of the train, took +the infant in charge. At Fort Bridger the greater part +of the property brought that far by the emigrants, among +them the Sagers, had to be abandoned, making their lot +still harder, for henceforth they must travel in a cart. +</p> + +<p> +Notwithstanding all that could be done to alleviate the +sufferings of the ill and weak mother, she could no longer +endure the hardships of the journey; and gave up her +spirit in the wild and forbidding region of the Snake +River. Delirious at the time, she called upon her dead +husband to take good care of their little ones. +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P282"></a>282}</span> +</p> + +<p> +Mr. Shaw went to the Whitman Mission to see if Dr. and +Mrs. Whitman could be prevailed upon to assume the +care and custody of the orphans. Though prompted by +their natural inclinations to do so, the Whitmans +hesitated to assume the additional responsibility. +</p> + +<p> +While in this uncertain frame of mind, the two-wheeled +vehicle with its cargo of six ragged and travel-stained +children appeared upon the scene. It was utterly +impossible for those kind-hearted people to resist that +appeal. When the question of the infant came up, the +Doctor could not see how it could be managed; but +Mrs. Whitman turned to him and said, "I would like to have +the baby most of all." +</p> + +<hr> + +<p class="capcenter quote"> +<a id="img-282"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-282.jpg" alt="ARRIVAL OF THE SAGER ORPHANS AT WAIILATPU, THE WHITMAN MISSION IN THE OREGON COUNTRY, FALL OF 1844: SEE OPPOSITE PAGE"> +<br> +ARRIVAL OF THE SAGER ORPHANS AT WAIILATPU, THE WHITMAN MISSION <br> +IN THE OREGON COUNTRY, FALL OF 1844: SEE OPPOSITE PAGE +</p> + +<hr> + +<p> +The arrival of the cart load of orphans at Waiilatpu +presented a sight worthy of the brush of some great artist +to transfer it to canvas, for such a combination of +circumstances seldom occurs in real life. All that then +remained of their once complete outfit was in the foreground; +and the emaciated, nearly exhausted oxen dropped +down to rest as soon as they were unyoked. John, the +oldest boy, was seated in the front end of the cart, his +ragged garments covered with a heavy coating of grey +dust from the sagebrush plains, while his woe-begone +countenance and tear-stained cheeks clearly indicated his +supreme anguish. +</p> + +<p> +Francis, the younger boy, was leaning on one wheel of +the cart, his head resting on his arm and sobbing audibly. +On the near side, the three little girls were huddled +together bareheaded and barefooted, looking at the boys +and then at the house, dreading whatever might happen. +Close to the oxen stood the German doctor with his whip +in hand and kindly eyes viewing the scene with suppressed +emotion. +</p> + +<p> +The baby member of the family was in the care and +custody of Mrs. Shaw, whose husband somewhat +thoughtlessly asked Mrs. Whitman if she had any children of +her own. Stopping at the threshold, the good woman +pointed to the little grave on the side of a small mound +easily seen from that point, and replied, "The only child +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P283"></a>283}</span> +I ever had sleeps yonder." In the tone of her voice and +the expression of her face there was unspeakable sadness. +Only a few years later John and Francis were brutally +murdered at the same Mission House by infuriated +Indians, and all the girls taken into captivity. That family +certainly was tried in the crucible; and never in my +experience have I found a parallel to it. +</p> + +<p class="thought"> +* * * +</p> + +<p> +Up to the present time fully nine-tenths of the +emigrants going to the Oregon Country have settled in the +Willamette Valley—a very large and fertile valley, probably +seventy or eighty miles long by some ten or twelve in +width. It is flanked on either side by ranges of heavily +timbered hills, and traversed by the large Willamette River, +which is fed by numerous streams issuing from the adjacent +mountains on its course northward to join the mighty +Columbia. The climate is remarkably mild and entirely +free from extremes of temperature; and its very fertile +soil produces small grains such as wheat, oats and barley, +in great abundance. Vegetables of every kind grown in +the temperate zone do remarkably well, while fruits such +as apples, pears, plums and cherries are not only raised +in great quantities, but are generally superior to the +same varieties in the Atlantic States. Fish and game +are also quite plentiful. Since the discovery of gold in +California, that region has been an excellent market for +everything raised at fancy prices; if this condition +continues, the Oregon farmers will soon be more prosperous +than the California gold miners. +</p> + +<p> +There is also a vast region north of the Columbia, +heavily timbered but interspersed here and there with +numerous fertile valleys, which in recent years have been +receiving many immigrants who claim to see a great +future ahead. Even in the eastern portion of the territory, +which is still occupied almost exclusively by Indians, +shrewd men see possibilities of large settlements +springing up within the next few years. +</p> + +<p> +It is a wonderful country to which you are going, and +you will probably never have cause to regret the decision. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a id="chap09fn1"></a> +[<a href="#chap09fn1text">1</a>] As this narrative was told in the early 1850s, "half a century +ago" refers to the period shortly after 1800.—E.M. +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a id="chap09fn2"></a> +[<a href="#chap09fn2text">2</a>] Companion of Capt. Meriwether Lewis on the Lewis & Clark +Expedition of 1804-6; 1st Lieut. U.S.A., Jan. 31, 1806 +(resigned Feb. 27, 1807); appointed Brig.-Gen. of Militia by +Thomas Jefferson, March 13, 1807; Governor of Missouri +Territory 1813-21, and afterward, +including the time of the visit of +these Indians, Superintendent of Indian Affairs at St. Louis +until his death in 1838. Brother of Gen. George Rogers Clark. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap10"></a></p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P284"></a>284}</span> +</p> + +<p class="hang2"> +THE WORK BEGUN AND CARRIED ON FOR TWO +DECADES BY EZRA MEEKER TO BE +CONTINUED ON A LARGER SCALE BY THE +OREGON TRAIL MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION, +INC. OBJECTS: PLAN: MEMBERSHIPS: +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p> +More than twenty years have elapsed since the +author started, January 29, 1906, on a return +trip over the Oregon Trail, which he had traversed +with an ox-team when just past 21 years of +age, accompanied by a brave young wife and a babe, +nearly fifty-four years before. The first journey was +in search of a home in the Oregon Country, of which +he has now been a resident for over seventy-three +years; and the second one to rescue from impending +oblivion the memories of the Pioneers by rediscovering +the Trail they followed, and erecting permanent +monuments to honor their heroic achievements. +</p> + +<p> +A third trip was made with the ox-team in 1910 to +continue and enlarge the effort; a fourth one with an +automobile in 1915 to enlist the co-operation of the +motoring public in the great work, and finally a fifth +by aeroplane in October, 1924, when he looked down +from the air at a speed of 100 miles per hour upon the +route previously followed at an average of about two +miles an hour by a migration of at least three hundred +thousand, of whom not less than twenty thousand gave +up their lives on the way. Although a total of nearly +two hundred monuments and markers have been +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P285"></a>285}</span> +placed along or nearby the old tracks, the plan as a +whole is still incomplete; and the desirability of +carrying it forward beyond the limitations of a single life, +unquestionable. +</p> + +<p> +On January 9, 1926, the OREGON TRAIL MEMORIAL +ASSOCIATION, INC. was organized under +the laws of the State of New York, for the following +specific purposes: +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="quote"> +1. To search out, identify, suitably and permanently +mark the line of the Oregon Trail, in so far as possible +at this time, with or without visible marks of the old +tracks. +</p> + +<p class="quote"> +2. To erect suitable monuments or memorials on or +nearby the sites of historical forts, trading posts or +other important landmarks along the Trail, such as +Fort Kearney, Fort Laramie, Fort Hall, Fort Bridger +and others of distinct historical interest. +</p> + +<p class="quote"> +3. To restore the Whitman Mission in the County +of Walla Walla, State of Washington, as the same +existed at the date of the Massacre, November 29, +1847; to establish, or promote the establishment of, a +park or other memorial to appropriately commemorate +the sacrifice of Marcus and Narcissa Whitman, and +the other victims of that historic tragedy; also to +identify other localities where massacres are known to +have taken place, and to suitably mark them. +</p> + +<p class="quote"> +4. To promote, encourage or portray in moving +pictures, vividly recording the historic scenes on the +great emigration over the Oregon Trail, with a +reproduction of the characteristic scenery along the route, +for use in the schools of the Nation, teaching exact +and truthful history by such methods. +</p> + +<p class="quote"> +5. To collect and preserve written accounts, objects +of interest and other things pertaining to the history +of the winning of the Pacific Northwest; to deposit +same with the historical societies, preferably in the +States where found, or to designate a Museum or +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P286"></a>286}</span> +museums to preserve such records, relics or objects +of interest as may be donated or otherwise acquired; +and erect a suitable memorial to the Pioneers, most +appropriately in the City of Washington. +</p> + +<p class="quote"> +Membership consists of two classes—Annual and +Life. Any citizen of the United States, of adult age, +shall be eligible for membership by the payment, +annually, of two dollars ($2); or for a Life +Membership by one payment of fifty dollars ($50). No +assessment of members shall be made; nor shall +membership involve any financial obligations beyond +the stated fees or dues to the Corporation. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p> +The considerable number of men and women who +have already become identified with the organization +are devoting their time and money to perpetuate the +memory of the Pioneers, all but a few of whom have +gone to their reward, and to preserve the history of +the great overland migration which was the principal +factor in advancing the northwestern boundary of the +United States to the Pacific Coast. Work will be +started in the field as soon as sufficient funds are +secured to enable it to be carried forward on the high +standard outlined. Success in accomplishing these +objects depends upon public confidence and support; +and the reader of this volume is invited to become +a member. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="t3"> + OREGON TRAIL MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION, INC.<br> + Ezra Meeker, Rev. David G. Wylie, D.D., LL.D.<br> + President Secretary<br> + 18 Old Slip, New York City<br> +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P287"></a>287}</span> +</p> + +<p class="t3b"> +WORKS BY EZRA MEEKER +</p> + +<p> +LOVED BEFORE SEEN (1874), a Story of Pioneer Life. +</p> + +<p> +WASHINGTON TERRITORY WEST OF THE CASCADE +MOUNTAINS (1870), a descriptive pamphlet, out of +print and rare; as high as $100 has been paid for single copies. +</p> + +<p> +FARM AND HOME, an editorial series of 52 numbers, +1884-6; newspaper publication only. +</p> + +<p> +HOP CULTURE IN THE UNITED STATES (1883); +rare and out of print. +</p> + +<p> +PIONEER REMINISCENCES OF PUGET SOUND, +AND THE TRAGEDY OF LESCHI (1905); 550 pages in +two volumes under one cover, silk cloth binding, $15.00. +</p> + +<p> +SHORT STORIES FOR CHILDREN, each with a moral. +</p> + +<p> +THE LOST TRAIL (1911-12-15), a booklet of 32 pages, +of which several editions totaling a hundred thousand copies, +have been issued. +</p> + +<p> +THE OREGON TRAIL, VENTURES AND ADVENTURES, +revised and republished under title of THE BUSY +LIFE OF EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS (1916); 400 pages, $1.65, +postpaid. +</p> + +<p> +FIFTY YEARS OF PROGRESS IN WASHINGTON +(1915); 400 pages, $5.00 postpaid. +</p> + +<p> +KATE MULHALL, a Romance of the Oregon Trail +(1926); this volume, $2 postpaid, with the usual discounts to +the trade. +</p> + +<p> +In active preparation (1926): A CENTURY OF BUSY +LIFE—the biography, varied experiences as pioneer, farmer, +author and traveler, including four years in Europe, and the +"homespun" philosophy of Ezra Meeker, 1830-1930 (borrowing +a few years from the future, through which the author +confidently expects to live, and thus justify +the title chosen for this +work), amplifying and carrying forward THE BUSY LIFE +OF EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS in more definite historical +retrospect. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br><br></p> + +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78040 ***</div> +</body> + +</html> + diff --git a/78040-h/images/img-008.jpg b/78040-h/images/img-008.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..bae82f9 --- /dev/null +++ b/78040-h/images/img-008.jpg diff --git a/78040-h/images/img-027.jpg b/78040-h/images/img-027.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..bf94b36 --- /dev/null +++ b/78040-h/images/img-027.jpg diff --git a/78040-h/images/img-052.jpg b/78040-h/images/img-052.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5f114ca --- /dev/null +++ b/78040-h/images/img-052.jpg diff --git a/78040-h/images/img-053.jpg b/78040-h/images/img-053.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..18a0634 --- /dev/null +++ b/78040-h/images/img-053.jpg diff --git a/78040-h/images/img-057.jpg b/78040-h/images/img-057.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3c62a84 --- /dev/null +++ b/78040-h/images/img-057.jpg diff --git a/78040-h/images/img-066.jpg b/78040-h/images/img-066.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a32a8f2 --- /dev/null +++ b/78040-h/images/img-066.jpg diff --git a/78040-h/images/img-074.jpg b/78040-h/images/img-074.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7624246 --- /dev/null +++ b/78040-h/images/img-074.jpg diff --git a/78040-h/images/img-075.jpg b/78040-h/images/img-075.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..70d0e17 --- /dev/null +++ b/78040-h/images/img-075.jpg diff --git a/78040-h/images/img-088.jpg b/78040-h/images/img-088.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..58d7076 --- /dev/null +++ b/78040-h/images/img-088.jpg diff --git a/78040-h/images/img-102.jpg b/78040-h/images/img-102.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2f1f936 --- /dev/null +++ b/78040-h/images/img-102.jpg diff --git a/78040-h/images/img-125.jpg b/78040-h/images/img-125.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9417f88 --- /dev/null +++ b/78040-h/images/img-125.jpg diff --git a/78040-h/images/img-136.jpg b/78040-h/images/img-136.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..467c70a --- /dev/null +++ b/78040-h/images/img-136.jpg diff --git a/78040-h/images/img-159.jpg b/78040-h/images/img-159.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b5ebe9a --- /dev/null +++ b/78040-h/images/img-159.jpg diff --git a/78040-h/images/img-175.jpg b/78040-h/images/img-175.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..37f9583 --- /dev/null +++ b/78040-h/images/img-175.jpg diff --git a/78040-h/images/img-217.jpg b/78040-h/images/img-217.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c94b535 --- /dev/null +++ b/78040-h/images/img-217.jpg diff --git a/78040-h/images/img-223.jpg b/78040-h/images/img-223.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e95424d --- /dev/null +++ b/78040-h/images/img-223.jpg diff --git a/78040-h/images/img-251.jpg b/78040-h/images/img-251.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b0cfb53 --- /dev/null +++ b/78040-h/images/img-251.jpg diff --git a/78040-h/images/img-270.jpg b/78040-h/images/img-270.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e324df4 --- /dev/null +++ b/78040-h/images/img-270.jpg diff --git a/78040-h/images/img-282.jpg b/78040-h/images/img-282.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c064d66 --- /dev/null +++ b/78040-h/images/img-282.jpg diff --git a/78040-h/images/img-cover.jpg b/78040-h/images/img-cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a256839 --- /dev/null +++ b/78040-h/images/img-cover.jpg diff --git a/78040-h/images/img-front1.jpg b/78040-h/images/img-front1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4db2d18 --- /dev/null +++ b/78040-h/images/img-front1.jpg diff --git a/78040-h/images/img-front2.jpg b/78040-h/images/img-front2.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..60d175e --- /dev/null +++ b/78040-h/images/img-front2.jpg diff --git a/78040-h/images/img-title.jpg b/78040-h/images/img-title.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5f6c893 --- /dev/null +++ b/78040-h/images/img-title.jpg diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6c72794 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This book, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..184d572 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for eBook #78040 +(https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/78040) |
