Page:History of Oregon volume 1.djvu/334

Rh Cockstock was killed, and three Americans wounded, George W. Le Breton and a Mr Rogers mortally.

The death of Le Breton, who was an active young American, and conspicuous in the early politics of the colony, was severely felt; and a public meeting was called at Champoeg to consider the subject of the outbreak, the result of which was the formation of a volunteer company of mounted riflemen under the name of Oregon Rangers, this being the first military organization in the territory. Resolutions were passed indorsing and supporting the measures taken by White in his official capacity, the reason for this step being that McLoughlin had censured the conduct of the Americans, alleging that the killing of Cockstock was an assassination, a view which, however well founded in the fact that the citizens had not waited for the overt act, was extremely offensive to the Americans. An investigation was ordered by the executive committee, and White cited to appear before the colonial judge, O. Russell, to vindicate himself, and remove the stigma from the fair name of the American colonists. Probably the trial never took