Told by the Pioneer's - Washington Secretary of State
Told by the Pioneer's - Washington Secretary of State
Told by the Pioneer's - Washington Secretary of State
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<strong>Told</strong> <strong>by</strong> <strong>the</strong> Pioneers<br />
WITH WHITMAN ON WAY WEST<br />
By J. A. Stoughteu - Spokane County<br />
Recalled Details <strong>of</strong> Perilous Journev 'Yest<br />
•<br />
C0111"tesy <strong>of</strong> TValla TValta [;n iOll<br />
A man who crossed <strong>the</strong> plains with <strong>the</strong> great immigration <strong>of</strong> 1843<br />
\'isited "ralla 'Valla during <strong>the</strong> Pioneer Pageant in 1924 and told <strong>of</strong><br />
his experiences. This train was led <strong>by</strong> ::\Iarcus "Vhitman and J. A.<br />
Stoughten <strong>of</strong> Spokane recalled <strong>the</strong> trip.<br />
The wagon train <strong>of</strong> 1843, according to ::\11'. Stoughten, consisted <strong>of</strong><br />
about 200 wagons. The Stoughten party left from Fort Leavenworth,<br />
Kan., <strong>the</strong>n a frontier army post, and joined <strong>the</strong> part~' later.<br />
That ::\Iarcus 'Yhitman was actually <strong>the</strong> guide <strong>of</strong> this party was<br />
strongly affirmed b~' Stoughten.<br />
"Ano<strong>the</strong>r man had been taken as guide but after he got us into several<br />
pockets vrhitman brought <strong>the</strong> party through, said Stoughten.<br />
"Whitman used to ride back and forth along <strong>the</strong> train encouraging<br />
and giving ad\'ice so we sa\" him practicall~' e\'er~' day <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> long<br />
,<br />
Journe~'.<br />
StuppI'd Twin'<br />
"'\Te ,,'ere stopped t\"ice <strong>by</strong> large bands <strong>of</strong> Ill(1ians Sioux and<br />
l'he~'ennes. The first time we were forced to pa~' tribute and killed<br />
nine head <strong>of</strong> cattle to feed <strong>the</strong> Indians. The second time, after <strong>the</strong> Indians<br />
appeared, Fremont with Kit Karson, his scout, and about 25<br />
soldier,;: came up. Fremont told us to gi,'e our whips to <strong>the</strong> \\'omen<br />
and take our guns. After looking O\'er <strong>the</strong> Indians \H,' found many <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong>m <strong>the</strong> same ones ,,'e had fed before and with <strong>the</strong> help <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> soldiers<br />
llron~ <strong>of</strong>f <strong>the</strong> Indians. The soldiers staved with us for about 10 days<br />
• •<br />
uutil all danger from Indians ,"as passed.<br />
"Ai' ,,'e g'ot into <strong>the</strong> alkali desert <strong>the</strong> cattles' feet began to wear out<br />
und <strong>the</strong>v . died from <strong>the</strong> alkali. :l'.Iy fa<strong>the</strong>r lost two yoke <strong>of</strong> oxen. "-hit-<br />
.'<br />
man let <strong>the</strong> party scatter out more to g'et feed and at times it \\'as 100<br />
miles from front to real' <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> train."<br />
An exciting tale <strong>of</strong> a great buffalo stampede which missed <strong>the</strong> train<br />
<strong>by</strong> only half a mile waf; also told <strong>by</strong> Stoughten. "Their llO<strong>of</strong>s sounded<br />
like thunder and we could hear <strong>the</strong> rattle <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir interlocked horns<br />
for miles. By spreading horsemen out along <strong>the</strong> train and shouting,<br />
we managed to turn <strong>the</strong> course <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir stampede a trifle so <strong>the</strong>y<br />
missed <strong>the</strong> train. :Men with <strong>the</strong> train who had had experience on <strong>the</strong><br />
plains estimated that <strong>the</strong>re were many thousands in <strong>the</strong> herd."<br />
73