Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 24.djvu/434

 402 Charles Henry Carey with the Bowie or pistol. This rage against Judge Thornton is wholly uncalled for only as the truth goads, stings and wounds these road hunters even unto madness. While they had the suffering emigrants on their new route, who generally suffered the loss of all their prop- erty and some of them the loss of health and of life, it was all very well. But now, to be told of their deceptions, or more properly to give the public an account of it, so that others may not be led into similar sufferings and losses, is an offense which subjects a man to a threatened loss of his life. I hope the emigrants in future may be kept from the tender mercies of these road hunters. Friday, 4. Last night, we were favored with another small rain ; a very great favor indeed. Sunday, 6. A little rain today. Congregation rather smaller than usual, say thirty hearers. I suppose quite a proportion of our population are preparing for the election tomorrow. June 7, 1847. This is an important day, it being the first Monday in June, it is, therefore, the day for election throughout the territory. It is also the appointed time for holding the Supreme Court for the territory. It is, moreover, an important day as it is said Judge Nismith is in the city to get revenge on J. Q. Thornton, judge of the Supreme Court, for what he has published in the Spectator concerning te southern or Applegate route into which quite a proportion of the immigrants of last year were persuaded greatly, very greatly to their injury. Nismith, who has been judge when the timber was scarce, is now here for the sake of [road] hunters— their cham- pion and bully; to whip or kill Judge Thornton for the trouble springing out of the developments made by said Judge Thornton. The Judge being a true courageous southerner is abundantly armed and is attending to his affairs as a citizen and Judge; intending either to kill Nismith or be killed by him provided said Nismith shows anything menacing in his manners towards him. Nismith