Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 2.djvu/106

90

Martin Giesy was a member of the Aurora Colony and was with the wagon train that crossed the plains in 1855, under the supervision of Doctor Keil. He was born at Allegheny, Pennsylvania, in 1835. In 1845 he removed with his father's family to Bethel, Missouri, and ten years later, as he entered his majority, came to Oregon.

The account given in the foregoing by Michael Rapps, as to the journey, he considers remarkably correct. He recalls the dangers threatened by the Indians, and Doctor Kiel's diplomatic management. As to the incident mentioned by Mr. Miller, of the men picked up on the way, he states that he recalls it perfectly, and was himself at the trial of Doctor Keil at The Dalles, being summoned as a witness. There were three men concerned, one of whom was an educated druggist. Only two, however, made the charges against the doctor, and the other very materially assisted by giving evidence in his favor. The only basis for the charge was proved to be trivial. On the road the Indians that visited the train westward of the Rocky Mountains were continually making the remark, "King George men good; Boston men no good.' The young men about, the train soon took up the phrase "King George tillicums close; Boston tillicums cultus,' using it as a mere jest. It was easily shown that Doctor Keil did not teach this phrase to the Indians or endorse the sentiment, and after the trial—which was a genuine affair—the sympathy of the people of The Dalles was so much excited that it was with difficulty that the two men that were befriended on the road were allowed to remain in town. As to Doctor Keil's reasons for removing to the Pacific Coast, Doctor Giesy thinks it was entirely to find a