CHAPTER VII.
THE UTAH AND OREGON EXPEDITIONS.
Visit to Europe in 1853 - Shipwreck of the Humboldt - Voyage to Europe in 1856 - The Mormon rebellion - Military expedition under Harney - De Smet accompanies as chaplain - Peace with the Mormons-Expedition interrupted - Yakima war in Oregon - Harney sent thither - De Smet goes with him - Voyage via Panama - Pacification of the Oregon Indians - Departure for home - Arrival at Fort Benton - Voyage by skiff to Omaha - Thence by steamer to St. Louis.
The year 1852 was spent by Father De Smet in his regular duties as procurator of the Province. In the spring of 1853 he started on another trip to Europe accompanied by the Right Reverend Bishop Miege, Vicar Apostolic of the Indian Territory east of the Rocky Mountains. While passing through Washington they were presented to President Pierce by Colonel Thos. H. Benton and Father De Smet was made bearer of dispatches to several European powers. They sailed May 9th on the steamer Fulton and crossed in eleven days - a great contrast with the voyage of 1821, when it took forty days under sail to bring De Smet to America.
Father De Smet accompanied Bishop Miege only as far as Paris. While there an incident occurred that shows the humorous nature of the great missionary and also his fertility of resources in popularizing his work in America. He delivered an address upon his missions to the student fathers at the Sorbonne, and to make it more effective, decked out one of them in Indian paraphernalia that he had brought with him.
Father De Smet embarked oil his return to America November 23d of the same year on the steamer Humboldt. The voyage was rough and slow and the steamer had to put into