Page:The Souvenir of Western Women.djvu/34

28 into a run and rushed into the water and drank iintil they had to be driven out.

"We are saved, we are saved! Thank God!" cried Stephen Meek, "for now I know the way." He could locate the trail to The Dalles from this stream. Men, women and children were laughing and crying in turn.

The teams were in such a bad condition that we had to lay by here three weeks. Many were sick and some died and were laid to rest in this camp. Mr. Meek would certainly have given his head for a football, had not he and his wife made their timely escape. When we reached the Deschutes the Indians there made us understand that a man and woman had crossed the river a short time before. The man swam the river, leading his horse, and an Indian swam over with the woman on his back. Other Indians tied her clothes on their heads and swam across. We did not hear of the Meeks for more than a year after this.

We were lost in the mountains six weeks. The way was rough beyond description. The women and children walked most of the way.

On reaching The Dalles Meek told the missionaries there that a party of emigrants were in the mountains. A white man and two Indians were at once sent in search of our company. When found we people were on the verge of starvation. But for the provisions brought by the scouts many, if not all, would have perished, as it took a week more to reach The Dalles when guided by these men.

The announcement of the death of Martha Morrison, wife of Hon. John Minto, will be heard with regret by those who have known, loved and honored her from the early settlement of Oregon down to the present time.

Martha Morrison came to the Pacific Coast with her parents in 1844, by the slow and primitive means of conveyance in those times. She was then a girl of but 13 years, and three years later became the wife of John Minto, from whom, after fifty-seven years of happy and helpful wifehood, she has now been separated by death. An exemplary housewife, a wise and kind mother, a helpful neighbor, a sympathetic friend, she left no duty unfulfilled.

Martha Morrison represented an intelligent, capable womanhood in its truest, because its most helpful and tenderest sense is honored by such life. In circles which for many years she has stood for the typical pioneer woman — fearless, cheerful, capable, willing, resourceful—she will be greatly missed. As for the rest, it may be told in the words of the wise man: "Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her."