The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1848-08-09
THE OREGON MAssAcRE.-The Mis-

summary of which we published some time
since. The following details are communi
Gated by Rev. Mr.. SpaIding. one of the sur
viving Missionaries of the American Boarc
in that Territory. We extract few addi
tional items of interest:
The massacre took place Nov. %. Mr.
Smith and family were at the saw mill 2C
miles distant; Mr.. Young, his wife and rhr e
sons. Next day Mr.. Young come down to
the station for provision's and was killed.
The others were sent for nine days after the
horrible deed, and their lives were prescrv-
ed that they might take charge of the -four
mill. But the women and children, 10 the
number of for,v-eght, Gncuding the oldest
daughter of Mr.. Spalding, who was at the
station at the timeO were made slaves by
tho murderers, and treated in the most cru
ell and brutal manner.
Eight DAYS after the first massacre. Mcssrs.
Sails and Bulee. young men who wcIe sick
were dragged from their beds, buichercd
and cut to pieces in the most horrible man
ncr, in the presence of the women and chill
drcn. and their dead bodies lay near the tnor
for 4s hours in mud and blood; and the cap.
tIrcs, and among them was the sistar of
Bnlec, were compelled 10 pass over them for
their wood and water. No one was allow.
ed to wash and bury them I'LL two Nez Per.
ces arrived.
Dr.. Whitman had just returned from
hurvlng an Indian child, and was engaged
IN reading. An Indian. to divert his a,ten.
ton. was in the act Of soliciting mcdcInc,
while another came behind him, and with a
tomahawk k struck him on the back of his
head. A second blow on the top nI,he head
laid him lifelcss on the floor. Then Tllauk.
ait, principal Chief who had received un-
numbered Iavors from The Doctor, and who
was about 20 he received into the church,
fell upon the dead body and mangIcd it h"r.
ribIy. cutting the face and head, taking out
The heart. &c. and scattering them in the
mud. Other bodies were treated in the same
brutal manner; and the little captive girls
were compelled tn pass over them frequent
ly to torment them. They las forty eight
hours Qrnm Monday till Wednesday, scat
tered about the premises. None were al
Even the distracted widows were mt allow
ed TO gn out and sonthc The last moments Of
their dying husbands, some of whom lingcr-
ed long in the agones Of death.
Mrs. Whitman fled up stairs, where she
received wound in the breast. through the
window. Mr.. Rodgers joined her; Blu, hey
were persuaded to come down, The Indians
promising not to kill them. They were i'm
taken to the door and shot. Mrs.
Whitman died Immediately. Mr. D-,~---s
linfDfEoAW fDr. AWhhn%an nina Was born in Rushvc, in
the Stale of New York. Sept 4, 1902.
| was at the Uta, twenty miles west of
WaiIatpu, at the time of the massacre; and
remained there. visiting the sick and preach
ing to the Indians, tilI Wednesday morning
at which time left for the residence of Dr..
Whitman. When was with about three
miles of the station, met Roman Catholic
priest. his interpreter, and kavusc.
Af,cr snmc conversation, the Indian
wheeled about, and, with great speed pro-
cccdcd towards the house of DR.. Whitman,
when the priest informed me Of what had
taken place lie informed me that he had
arrived there the night bcfore, that he had
tina, morning baplisrd The children of the
murdercrs. after which he hal assisted two
friendly Indians in burying the slain. He
said that Ten men and Mrs. Whitman had
been killed: that a Frcnccn,an, in the EN-.
plov of the Doctor had been spared. as also
the women and children; that no Frcnchman
or Hudson Bay Company's man,,wouId be
harmed, but only Americans. This he re-
ceive.l from the chief Having requested
him to take charge ofmy pack-l,"rsc, | ,o'k
some provisions which he prepared for the
night and gave myself into The hands of God
and turned my horse to the plains.
In the meantime the Indian had returned
toward DR.. Whilman's to reload his pistol.
and wait for inc To come along. He had
started with the inicnsion of killing me; hut
stoppingto smoke. he had accidently dischar.
ged his pistol in lighting his pipr,T and had
neglected to reload. After waiting awhile
he wheeled again on his track and followed
the priest; who had providcnliaIy made grca
speed, and had gone some ten miles before
the Indian overlonk him. Not fading me
there. nor learning from The lntcrpr ter what
direction | had taken. he returned again t'
the point of meeting and took my track; bn
darkness SION coming or, he was stopped
for tho night.
Suffice it to say, the Lord delivered mi
from my pursucr. travelled at night, an'
Law concealed IN the day time. The secon'
night my horse left me. had now ninet,
miles to walk without food; | must leave
every thing. even my boots. as they wer'
too small. But, praise be to The name o
God! the fourth night reached home, witt
great suffering.