Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 11.djvu/177

Rh Seventy people, the greater part of whom were bachelors, composed Mr. Stockman's company when it put out from the Missouri river. The men bound themselves into a sort of military organization, elected a captain and other officers and established a guard system which was strictly adhered to throughout the journey. To this system of guarding may be accredited the fact that they were not openly molested by Indians at any time. One sad incident, however, marred the trip. At one of the camps in the Black Hills, a little elevenyear-old girl, following the bent of her curiosity, wandered beyond the limits of the circle within the immediate view of the company. When her absence was noticed, search was at once made in the vicinity of the camp, but without success. Then searching parties scoured the country round about continuously for three days, discovering not the least sign or clue to her fate. Concluding that she had been carried off by Indians who lurked stealthily near the train, the company abandoned all hope of her recovery and proceeded on its way.

On nearing what is now the western boundary of Idaho, their provisions ran very low. Game was not very plentiful along the route and they were compelled to resort to wild berries and such fish as they were able to obtain. Wild rose buds constituted a large part of their bill of fare. One of the men shouldered his gun and, hurrying on afoot to Walla Walla, reported the condition of the company and a saloon keeper at that place sent out a wagon loaded with provisions to meet it. While encamped in the Grand Ronde valley the provisions reached the hungry emigrants. They arrived at Walla Walla on the first day of September, having been just six months en route.

From the Missouri river, settlement extended westward on the Platte about 20 miles and after passing these farms no others were seen until the Walla Walla valley was reached, the route followed lying to the north of Salt Lake. The buffalo were in their heyday, especially in the region of the Platte river. So numerous and so tame were they that