Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 16.djvu/387



CAPTAIN JOSEPH R. WALKER 359

his chief in quite destitute condition from his long journey to the Pacific shore of Oregon, and his exploration of the Colum- bia and Snake rivers, and sadly disappointed at the failure of his next darling project, that upon which Walker had been sent.

It was arranged that Walker and Cerre should proceed on the homeward journey to Missouri, to superintend the con- veyance of the furs to St. Louis; and there ended Walker's connection with the Bonneville expedition.

After his return to Missouri, Captain Walker as he then became known, was quickly employed by the American Fur Company, and during the ensuing four years he remained in that employment.

These were four years of arduous toil, frequent privations, desperate encounters with hostile Indians, besides many hazard- ous adventures and bare escapes from death.

He then determined to pursue his favorite mode of life on his own account, untrammeled by contract obligations and un- restrained in his path of duty or pleasure.

The companion and congenial fellow of the most noted trappers and mountain men the Sublettes, Bridger, Hensley, Fitzpatrick, Williams, Carson and others of similar skill and worth he employed his years in hunting, trapping, exploring and pioneering thence onward, down to within a few years of his death, and became conspicuous among the few who volunteered their services, on many occasions, in guiding and escorting into California and Oregon the weary and perplexed and destitute emigrants who came over the plains to found new homes on this coast.

Hundreds of families of whom the heads are still living, or whose sons and daughters are now themselves advanced in life, with families of their own about them, throughout these Pacific States and Territories, owe their easier and safer jour- ney hither to his generous and prudent conduct.

He not only guided or directed them to the most feasible and least dangerous routes and through mountain passes, but he furthermore, in many instances, accompanied and gave