UNBEKNOWNST: People of Oregon, 1845-1881

Mid-Nineteenth Century Oregon

Too young to avert danger, Mattie McAlister – an eleven-year-old runaway slave – walked alone to Oregon, hiding in daylight and walking in darkness. One rainy night, she bumped into Black Saul and feared he would abuse her like her half-brothers had. A moment later, her peril intensified as horse riders brandishing leather whips approached and stopped ten feet away. Overwhelmed with dread of a lashing, they dropped to the ground to hide. But this was only the fi...