44.

intendent of Indian affairs wherever he might find them. Lieutenant Irvine, 42 from whom Lane learned Kearney s predicament, carried Lane s proposition to the major, and the prisoners were at once sent to his care, escorted by Captain Walker. Lane s party 43 set out immediately for the north, and on the 7th of July delivered their charge to Governor Gaines, who had arrived at the ferry, where he was encamped with fifteen men waiting for his interpreters to bring the Rogue River chiefs to a council, his success in which undertaking was greatly due to his possession of their families. Lane then hastened to Oregon City to embark for the national capital, having added much to his reputation with the people by his readiness of action in this first Indian war west of the Cascade Mountains, as well as in the prompt arrest of the deserting riflemen in the spring of 1850. To do, to do quickly, and generally to do the thing pleasing to the people, of whom he always seemed to be thinking, was natural and easy for him, and in this lay the secret of his popularity.

When Gaines arrived at Rogue River he found Kearney had gone, not a trooper in the country, and the Indians scattered. He made an attempt to col lect them for a council, and succeeded, as I have inti mated, by means of the prisoners Lane brought him, in inducing about one hundred, among whom .w r ere eleven head men, to agree to a peace. By the terms of the treaty, which was altogether informal, his com mission having been withdrawn, the Indians placed

• 2 Irvine, who was with Williamson on a topographical expedition, had an

adventure before he was well out of the Shasta country with two Indians and a Frenchman who took him prisoner, bound him to a tree, and inflicted some tortures upon him. The Frenchman who was using the Indians for his own purposes finally sent them away on some pretence, and taking the watch and valuables belonging to Irvine sat down by the camp-fire to count his spoil. While thus engaged the lieutenant succeeded in freeing himself from his bonds, and rushing upon the fellow struck him senseless for a moment. On recovering himself the Frenchman struggled desperately with his former prisoner but was finally killed and Irvine escaped. Or. Statesman, Aug. 5, 1851.

43 Among Lane s company were Daniel Waldo, Hunter, and Rust of Ken tucky, and Simonson. of Indiana.