LETTERS OF REV. WILLIAM M. ROBERTS 243
children have had the measles and his eldest son was at the point of death. They have all recovered each of our boys and myself have been attacked with the fever, my ilness was only a few hours, and theirs of but a few clays continuence. Two afflictions have prevailed the Measles and a species of low typhus fever known in the west as the winter fever and on the road as the camp fever. Both are contagious not in the same sense nor to the same extent but still both brought in by the emigration and spread over the country wherever they have gone. In my letters Via Canada I mentioned that Mr. Ogden of the Hudson Bay Company had succeeded in per- chasing the persons held in captivity by the Indians including the families of Mr. Spalding & Mr. Osborn with the women and orphan children and had all (amounting to 51 Persons) arrived in safety. The treatment of the captive women was horible tho their lives were spared. Mr. Spalding has gone to the Twalatine plains and the orphans are placed in families where they will be well taken care of. We have [not] heard from Messrs. Walker & Eells up to the last account they had concluded to remain at their post. Altho fears may well be entertained for their safty. Our war continues. Gol. Gilliam was shot by accident and the chief command now devolves on Col. Lee. The Governor has just issued proclimation for 300 more volunteers and while I am writing troops of horsemen coparisoned for Indian warfare are passing by my window while now and then a wounded man is seen patiently waiting for returning health that he may return and again renew the deadly strife. Up to this time it is not known that one of the murderers has been killed but it is almost certain that terrible vengeance awaits them. I shall present the fiscal state of the Mission in another letter. Indulging the hope that the dark cloud which has lowered over us with such threatening aspect may give way to the bright sunshine of peace and pros- perity, I am, Dear Bro.
Yours in Christ,
Win. Roberts. Rev. Dr. Pitman, Cors. Sec. &c.
Extract of letter to G. Gary. 6
Salem, Octo. 26th, 1848.
"There is a little business affair to which I desire you to reply early as possible, it is the transfer of 10 acres of the
6 George Gary, D. D., the second superintendent of the Oregon Miuions.
