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ing, finding the executive at church. Even the usual decorum of the sanctuary was forced, to give way. The letter was read to the congregation, and the greatest excitement prevailed, of mingled gladness, gratitude, and sorrow. t
On the following day the ransomed captives were delivered to the governor in Oregon City. As the boats passed Portland a salute was fired, as also on their arrival at the Falls; the compliment being in- tended to express the general gratitude of the people to the gallant man who had effected their release. On the 17th the governor indicted a letter of thanks as follows :
" Sir : I feel it a duty as well as a pleasure to tender you my sincere thanks, and the thanks of this com- munity, for your exertions in behalf of the widows and orphans that were left in the hands of the Cayuse Indians. Their state was a deplorable one, subject to the caprice of savages, exposed to their insults, com- pelled to labor for them, and remaining constantly m dread lest they should be butchered as their husbands and fathers had been. From this state I am fully satisfied we could not relieve them. A small party of Americans would have been looked upon with con- tempt; a large party would have been a signal for a general massacre. Your immediate departure from Vancouver on receipt of the intelligence from Wan- latpu enabling you to arrive at Walla Walla before the news of the American party having started from this reached them, together with your influence over the Indians, accomplished the desirable object ot relieving the distressed. Your exertions in behalf ot the prisoners will no doubt cause a feeling of pleasure to you through life, but this does not relieve them nor us from the obligations we are under to you. You
3i The price paid for the prisoners was 62 three-point ^ ket J 63 cotton shirts, 12 guns/oOO loads of ammunition, 37 pounds oftobacc n d 12 All ts Seven oxen and 16 bags of coarse flour, obtained from Tdouka kt , foi the use of the captive., had also to be accounted for. Or. Spectator, Jan. -0, lblS.