Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 1.djvu/87

Rh of free government, it was easy for him to find and join the Sons of Liberty—a secret organization auxiliary to the party called "Democrats," who opposed the "Bureaucrats."

The Sons of Liberty, or patriots, carried their movement to the point of armed resistance. They drilled regularly in secret, using sticks for guns; and at night met in secluded places to make cartridges and mould bullets. Mr. Matthieu has preserved to this day his old bullet mould, used at that time, which he has now presented to the Oregon Historical Society. He was himself a very useful member of the Sons of Liberty, since, being a store clerk, he could procure lead and powder more easily than some others. One of the services of this company was to guard the house of Papineau, whose appeals he heard in public, and whose boldness was bringing on the threatened crisis.

As is well known, however, the movement collapsed. Before a blow was struck, many of the Sons of Liberty were placed under arrest and executed. Mr. Matthieu recalls the hanging of sixteen patriots in one market place, tied in pairs, back to back. Though then a youth of not twenty years old, he was himself in danger of the same fate and sought safety at Terrebonne. While here, almost in hiding, he was approached by a certain Doctor Frasier, a Scotchman, holding some government position, and who, as it happened, was an uncle of Dr. John McLoughlin, then Hudson's Bay chief factor at Fort Vancouver, Oregon Territory. Matthieu was asked why he did not leave Canada.

"I have no pass," he replied.

"I will give you one," said the old doctor; and immediately provided the necessary paper.

With this passport, Matthieu at once started for the American border. He would become a citizen of the