inland about 25 miles, they remained there until April 12. Then eastward by way of Forts Boise and Hall, they left the latter post June 21. After the usual dangers and trials of the over- land route in those days they reached the Shawnee mission near Westport on the first of September, five months on the way. Here Mr. Lee was overtaken by a messenger who had been dispatched for the purpose by Dr. McLoughlin, carrying the sad news that Mrs. Lee and their infant son had died a little more than two months before. Could any deed more fully portray the nobility of character and kindliness of heart than this of John McLoughlin, by sending a courier 2000 miles to apprise a friend of his great bereavement ?
May 6, 1842, an emigrant train, composed of 112 persons, left Independence, Mo., for Oregon. I have always felt that more prominence should have been given to this expedition, as it was the first of its kind, but the notable ride of Dr. Whitman and the voluminous and interminable discussion of matters connected with his errand and the migration to Oregon in 1843 have completely eclipsed the earlier expedition in the minds of the reading public.
Three men who became in later years notably prominent in Oregon affairs were a part of this train Dr. E. White, Medor- em Crawford and A. L. Love joy. The wagons were left at Fort Hall.
February 23, 1842, the prudential committee of the mission board that had control of the Whitman-Spalding-Eells mission passed resolutions discontinuing three of the four stations, re- calling Spalding and Gray to the states and ordering Whitman to dispose of the mission property at the station thus abolished and directing Whitman to join Walker and Eells at Tshimakain.
News of this destructive order was brought to Whitman by Dr. E. White, reaching him about September 10. At once he dispatched messengers to his colleagues and they assembled at Wai-il-at-pu September 26-28. After the objections of Eells and Walker were overcome, H was decided that Whitman should go East by the overland route. October 5 was the time set and the other members of the mission returned to their
