Page:The Early Indian Wars of Oregon.djvu/95

 S and one

rifle. In another case where a cow had been slaughtered by "a hungry and mischievous lodge," they were pur sued, and resisting arrest, one Indian was killed and an other wounded. The pursuers lost one horse killed and one wounded. Yet no one was much disturbed by such occurrences; and indeed, the early Oregon settlers were^ usually careful not to give the natives cause of offense.

It was about this time, however, that the spirits militant among the later colonists determined to frighten the Hudson's Bay Company into a humble attitude towards the Americans by the organization of a company, armed and trained for the protection of the colony against aggres sion by the English, and invasion by the native population. This company, the first military organization in Oregon, or the whole northwest, was authorized by the provisional government, and was known as the " Oregon Rangers." It was officered by Thomas D. Kaiser, captain ; J. L. Mor rison, first lieutenant; Fendal C. Cason, ensign; and held its first meeting for drill at the Oregon institute March 11, 1844. The course of the executive committee in calling out this company to " avenge the national insult, and seek redress for this astounding loss" namely, the before mentioned slaughter of an ox was ridiculed by White in his report to the secretary of war. History has not re corded any deeds of prowess performed by the rangers, whose organization was aimed as much at the Hudson's Bay Company as at the Indians. 1

For one year after Dr. Whitman s return to his mission, / quiet had reigned in the upper country. The Indians/ there, as has been said, were filled with an ambition to / acquire wealth by stock-raising, and not being able to pur- f chase many animals from the immigration, had formed a ]

1 As a relic of Oregon s first attempt at government, when it had a triple execu tive, the following document is interesting :

The people of the temtory of Oregon To nil to whom these presents s/iall come :

Know ye, that pursuant to the constitution and laws of our said territory, we have appointed and constituted, and by these presents do appoint and constitute J. L- Morrison first lieutenant of the first volunteer company of rangers of said territory,