Letter from Henry Brallier to Frederick V. Holman of October 27, 1905.
Since I delivered my address on McLoughlin Day, I have received the following letter. The persons referred to are probably a small party, who came to Oregon prior to 1840. There were several small parties of immigrants to Oregon, who came prior to 1842. Robert Shortess came overland in 1839 and 1840 to Oregon with one of these parties.
"Seaside, Oct. 27, 1905."
"Mr. Frederick V. Holman,
"Portland, Oregon.
"Dear Sir: In the Sunday Oregonian of the 15th of this month I see an interesting account of Dr. McLoughlin, but one act of his that showed his human kindness, I have never seen in print. This a man by the name of Marechell told me. He was an old Hudson's Bay man who died here in his eighty-sixth year. He could not recollect the exact year, but it was a year or two after Wyeth came, the emigrants got lost in the head waters of Snake River, and would have all perished but the Indians brought word from one tribe to another about them being there, until it reached Fort Vancouver. When the Doctor heard it, he rushed around like one wild and called, 'Where is Marechell! Where is La Framboise.' He started them with a lot of provisions in their canoes, with some others to help to the Cascades, there to pack them over, then get them in their canoes again, take them to The Dalles, and there they got ponies to pack them on their journey to the emigrants, a weary trip. And after some two weeks' trip, they found the emigrants encamped in a small valley, there still to live a short time and then starve to death. He said if ever it tried a man's soul, then it did his. The poor women came running to him, fell on their knees, hugging them and crying. Men crying and blessing them and the Doctor for sending them. I often think if there is an upper seat around the throne of God, that the Doctor and some of those men that were so kind to others, are there now.
"This man Marechell came with the Hudson's Bay Company, when he was 12 years of age, with his father. As near as he could tell he was about 22 years of age when he took the trip to find the emigrants.
"I came to the Coast in early '52; to Oregon in '58; to Astoria in '63, and to Seaside soon after. So I knew Marechell well, and did see La Framboise a number of times. So what Marechell told me I believe is true.
"Beg pardon if this intrudes on your time and patience.
"Respectfully,