Page:The Early Indian Wars of Oregon.djvu/90



CHAPTER IV.

Two IMPORTANT EVENTS WHITE S CAUTION TO THE IMMIGRANTS PILOTS OF 1843 INDIANS TROUBLESOME TRADING FOR CATTLE THE DALLES MISSION ABANDONED MISBEHAVIOR OF CHIEF COCKSTOCK THE AFFAIRS AT OREGON CITY COCK- STOCK AND Two AMERICANS KILLED HUNGER AND THIEVING IN T^IE WALLAMET VALLEY THE OREGON RANGERS AND THEIR EXPLOITS THE INDIAN CATTLE COMPANY KILLING OF ELIJAH HEDDING ALARM IN OREGON WHITE S DEPART URE FOR WASHINGTON PEU-PEU-MOX-MOX IN CALIFORNIA IN 184(5 NEW INDIAN AGENT IMMIGRATION OF 1845 ROAD MAKING POLITICS AND THE SOUTHERN ROUTE IMMIGRATION OF 1846 TREATMENT OF THE INDIANS BY THE COLONISTS IMMIGRATION OF 1847 NEGLECT OF OREGON BY THE GOVERNMENT THREATS OF INDEPENDENCE APPREHENSIONS THE BLOW FALLS.

Two events of great importance to Oregon took place in 1843, the first, the organization of a provisional govern ment in May; the second, the arrival in the autumn of nearly nine hundred immigrants.

Aware of the danger to be apprehended from the In dians on seeing a large body of white men with their families and stock coming into their country, Dr. White dispatched a letter to meet the immigration at Fort Hall, urging upon them to travel compactly, in companies of not less than fifty ; to treat the Indians kindly but with reserve, and to keep a vigilant watch upon their property. He warned them that if they came strolling along in small parties they would scarcely escape having difficulty with the Indians.

And that was just what happened. The Indians nearest the mission of Waiilatpu, owing to their farailiarty with white people, and the temptation to take reprisal for fancied wrongs, were the most impertinent and thieving. They were, however, quick to see the benefits to themselves of the passage through their country of so many people with what appeared to them wonderful riches in cattle, wagons, household goods, and clothing, affording them opportuni ties of trade or theft as best suited their disposition or convenience. A great deal of thieving took place, and as