Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-05-06
If the EVENING STAR.

WASHINGTON TERRITORY, April 10Th. 1882.
On yesterday. in company with the Hon. w
H. Gray, one of the pioneers of civilization on
the Pacific coast, your correspondent visited the
old site of the mission home, established by DR..
Marcus Whitman and party in 1886, under the
auspices of the American board of missions. in
the beautiful Walla Walla Valley about five
miles west of the growing town of the same
name. The spot was admirably selected for the
purposes intended. The original buildings occu-
pied the banks of a noble river which washed
avide and fertile valley. inclosed by commanding
eminences which stood as Notifications against
the hostile inrOadS of SavaTes. This was the
first Christian mission ever established west of
the Rocky mountains. aud did much to educate
and ciyiZe the Indians. But its noble efforts
in this direction provoked the pronounced Oppo-
sition of the Hon. Hudson's Bay company,
which controlled the fur trade all along
this coast. and which sought to
hold that wide domain extending from CalifOr-
MIA TO the Russian possessions. TO teach the
! Indians the elements Of knowledge and the arts
of civilized life was to unfit them for habitual
hunting excursions. and thus the craft of these
INSCRIPTIONS traders who purchased the skins
of wild animals from these hunters for mere
trifle was put in jeopardy. As the work of the
missionaries increased the revenues of the COM
plny would diminish. Hence, its antagonism to
evangelism.
When DR.. Whitman saw that it was the set
tied purpose of the HudSon's Bay men to make
this vast region Of country. extending from the
42d to the 5ith parallel Of latitude British
territory he determined to invoke the powers of
the American government to prevent it. He
accordingly in the fall of 1912 set out on horse
back for Washington, and after crossing NOUN
taus OF snow and rivers OF ice and enduring i'll
deScrlbable hardshipS and hazards in the follow
ing February he reached the capital and at once
proceeded TO urge the object of his mission on
President Tyler treaty was concluded with
! Great Britain saving this country to the United
States and to the heroic sacrifices and patriotic
appeals of DR.. Whitman the country is largely
indebted for the possession Of Oregon, Wash
tOn Idaho and Montana. which would other
wise have been numbered as British provinces
When the doctor returned from the east he
brought back with him about thousand i'm
migrants. which gave the Americans the
prepOnderance of power on the Pacific coast.
He arrived at Wailaptu, the name of his mission
post. about one year from the time he left, to
find his home sadly dilapi(iated and his flourish
| ing mill burned to the ground. The Indians
were very hostile to the doctor for leaving them
and during his absence the seeds of assassination
| were sOwn, which, four years after eliminated
! in crop OF summary vengeance. Besides a
base SANDER was circulated by his enemies that
tients who died from the effects Of the measles in
spite of the best medical skill to save them. These
ignorant and superstitiOus people, instigsted by
secret emissaries of the mission, resolved on spec
| dy revenge. The plan was adopted and the time
appointed for the dreadful tragedy. Accordingly,
| on the oath day of November, 1917, large body
| of Cayuses, armed with knives. tOmaha aks and
| rifles, rushed upon their innocent Victims and
amid wild and frantic wells. murdered them in
the most brutal manner, Dr. Whitman and
wife, with dozen of his American associates of
both sexes, were sacrificed in this horrid mas
sacre. Several Of the younger females were
seized as captves and held for time as wives
| for their cruel captors To complete the catas-
trophe the torch was applied, and all the build
| ings OF the place were laid in ashes Some Of
the ruins still remain to be seen by visitors The
mangied bodies of these missionaries were all
| buried in common grave near the spot where
they fell. We stopped down and with a rever-
entail feeling plueked few shrubs from the
rude mound where they repose till the resurrec-
| ton morn. On an eminence near this sacred In
! closure handsome monument is soon to be
| erected by the Pioneer and Historical Society of
| Oregon In honor Of the martyred dead. 1t is to
! be built in the form Of Celtic cross and its
estimated cost Is about $50 600. This worthy
object appeals alike to the patriotism and piety
| of the American people. The Hon. w. II. Gray,
OF Astoria, Washington Territory. will be glad to
rnno cantr itpfin for hio