, 1866-04-13

| By special request, we give place 70 'he iO''O"
version of the whitman massacre, as given by
Rev. Father BrOuillet, an eyewitness to the con-
GLIDING scenes in that terrible tragedy'
uFoRr WALLA WALLA, March 2, 4s4s.
HCoL. G1LLIAM-Dear Sir:-I have the honor
to reply to the request which you have been
pleased TO make me lately. 1t Affords me greA'
satisfaction to be able to oblige you ny giving
you a detailed account of the facts relatlNe I
the terrible event of the 29th November, when
happened within my knowledge; =
Blauchet, arrived at Fort Walla Walla at the
beginning of last autumn, with the intention of
devoting themselves to the ipstructiouof the
various tribes of Indians in this part OF Ore
gOn. Some were located north of the Coium-
bia, and it was decided that the others should
pass the winter with the Cayuses at the camp
of the Young Chief, because this chief had not
ceased for several years to ask for priests, and
had offered his house for their Accommodation.
But when we arrived at the Fort he was on a
hunting expedition, from which he did not re-
turn till late in the fall, end for that reason the
commencement of our mission was retarded un-
til the 9th of November.
During our stay at the Fort we saw DR.. Whit
nan several times, aud though he at first seemed
violently opposed to US, telling the Bishop
frankly that he would do all he could against
him, yet upon further acquaintance he seemed
to regard us with more favorable eye, and
when the care of the Cayuse mission was given
to me by the Bishop, INDUCED in the hope of
being able to live upon good terms with the
Doctor.
The day before our departure from the Fort
for the Umatilla, we dined with Mr.. Spalding
and Mr.. Rodgers, and assure you that it was a
satisfaction to me to have the acquaintance of
those gentlemen. then INDUCED the hepe
more strongly than ever of living in peace with
them all, which was in perfect accordance
with my natural feelings; for those who are ac-
qRainted with me know that | have nothing
more at heart than to live in peace with all men,
and that exempt from prejudices am disposed
to look with equal eye upon the members Of
all religious denominations, to do all can for
the good of all without regard TO the name by
which they may be called.
On Saturday, November 27th, | left the Foft
in company with the Bishop and his Secretary
for our mission on the Unatilla, 25 miles from
DR.. Whitman's. We had scarcely arrived in
the evening, when, going to see sick per
son, l learned that DR.. Whitman aud Mr.. Spal-
ding were en- route for my mission, Or. Whitman
having been called to attend to the sick.
The next day being Sunday, we were visited
by DR.. Whitman, who remained but few min
utes at the house and appeared to be much agi-
tated. Being invited to dine, he refused. saying
that he feared it would be too late, as be had
25 miles to go, and wished t. reich. home
before night On parting b. eutreated me not
to fail to visit him when | would pass by his
mission, which very cordially promised to do.
On Monday, 9th, Mr.. Spalding took supper
with us, and appeared quite gay. During the
conversation, he happenedto say that the Doc
tor was unquiet, that the Indians were diSpleased
with him on account of the sickness, and that
even he had been informed that the murderer an
Indianl intended to kill him but he seemed not
to believe this and suspected as little as we did
what was taking place at the mission Of the
Doctor.
Before leaving Fort Walla Walla it had been
decided that after visiting the sick people Of
my own mission on the Umatilla | should visit
those Of Tilokaikts camp, for the parpose Of
baptising the infants and such dying adults as
might desire this favor and the Doctor and Mr..
Spalding having Informed me that there were
sill many sick persons at their mission, was
confirmed in this resolution, and made prepara-
tions to go as soon as possible.
After having finished baptizing the infants
and adults of my mission, left on Tuesday, the
3Oth of November, late in the afternoon, for
Tilokaikt's camp, where / arrived between
and o'cOck in the evening 1t is impossible
to conceive my surprise and CONSERVATION when,
upon my arrival, learned that the Indians the
day before had massaered the Doctor and his
wife, with the greater part OF the Americans at
the mission. passed the night without scarce
ly closing my eyes. Early the next morning l
babtised three sick children, two of whom died
soon after and then hasted to the scene of death,
to offer to the widows and orphans all the as
sstance IN my power l found five or six wo-
men and over thirty children in a situation de-
plorable beyond description. Some had Just
lost their husbands, and others their fathers,
whom they had seen massacred before their
eyes, and were expecting every moment to share
the same fate. The sight Of those persons
caused me to shed tears which, however, was
obliged to conceal, for was the greater part of
the day in the presence of the murderers, and
closely watched by them, and if had shown
too marked an interest in behalf of the suffer-
ers, it would only have endangered their lives
and mine these therefore entreated me TO be
upon my guard. After the FIRST few words that
could be exchanged under the circumstances, l
inquired after the victims, and was told that
they were yet unbuned. Joseph Stanheld,
Frenehman, who was in the employ of Dr..
Whitman, and had been spared by the Indians,
was engaged in washing the corpses, but being
alone, he was unable to bury them. l resolved
to go and assist him, so as to render to these
unfortunate victims the last service in my power
to offer them. What sight did | then behold
Ten dead bodies lying here aud there, covered
with blood and bearing the marks of the most
atrocious eruelty-some pierced with balls, 9TH
Whitman had received three gashes on the face.
Three Others had their skulls crushed so that
their brains were oozing out.
1t was on the 29th of November, between two
and three o'clock in the afternoon, when all the
people at the Doctors house were busy, that the
Indians, with their arms concealed beneath their
blankets, introduced themselves successfully
into the yard and in an instant executed their
horrible butchery. Three or four men (Ameri-
cans only were able to escape.
The rayages which the sickness had made in
their midst, together with the conviction which
half-breed, named Joseph Lewis, had succeeded
in fixing upon their minds that Dr. Whitman had
poisoned them, were the only motives could
discover which could have prompted them to
this act Of murder. This half-bFeed had imag-
ined conversation. between DR., Whitman, his
wife, and Mr., Spalding, in which be made them
say that it was necessary 70 hasten the death OF
the Indians in order to get possession OF their
4 L l.. l. -, ,,.E Ii hal