Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-08-19

and men to'maks q beginning, Mr.. Par
ter, with the committee, would not b
discouraged, and psrsevered until 4
iass the board accepted ths direction o
the work Bot 90 much tue had bee,
occupied in correspondence and prepar
afisn, that IL vas May 9th, 1884, befor
all were ready to start. Mr.. Parker
then nifty yfve wears old, with two youn,
men, Aessrs. John Dunbar and Samue
Allis, were commissioned for the mis-
sion- Al the church had assumed tn,
support of the work, il held a ssecia
meeting at the time of their departure
On Monday, May 9Th, the church bell
rang before I'VE O'Clock in the morning
calling those interested together. Al
that early hour the church was nlled
The baggage vas piled near the foldinl
doors. After prayer, the singing of Z
Aynn and giving the right hand Of fel-
lowship, came the public and private
farewslls. Stages drove into the part
in front, Q company of some forty oo1
In and were driven about two miles or
the way 10 the lake; again a good bye
was said, and the Cayuga lake steamer
Tslspachus moved Of With the beoin.
ming OF the Oregon mission, Mrs. Par.
ksr accompanying her husband across
the lake.
The missionaries however arrived at
st. Louis too late for the caravan of the
American Fur Company for that year,
without whose protection 1t was unsafe
to proceed, or Mr.. Parker would have
been along with Rev. Jason Lee, but az
1t was the whole enterprise was delayed
another year. This was discouraginp,
bnt Mr.. Parker would not be discoLr-
aged. According TO instructions from
the Board Messrs. Dunbar and AIlis en-
tered upon the work among the Pswnee
Indians. and the Ithaca church gave
their means to sustain that mission and
the responsibility of the
Oregon work. Mr.. Parker returned to
Ithaca and Was commissioned by the
Board TO spend the time nntil the next
February in holding missionary meet
ings, monthly concerts for prayer, and
in preaching and raising funds in New
York. A letter Of his dated Ffanklins-
vile, N. Y. Dec. 8, 1884, gives the fol-
lowing ipformation:
My Dear Famil, My labors have
been fatiguing owing to the very bad
state Of the roads. He travelled with
his own horse and wagon. My suocess
has been as good az expected. The
though small. have been
greater than have ever been taken up
on any other application Of like nature.
| have found some missionaries. DIR.
Whitman, cf Wheeler, Stenben County,
New York, has agreed to offer himself
10 the Board to go beyond the noun
tains. He has no family. Two ladies
Daer themselves, one a daughter Of
Judge Prentiss, Of Amity, Aileyhany
County; the other Miss Mccoy, of
Cuba, offers herself. Also one minister,
very promising except his health. Also
} Mr.. Clark and Rev. Samuel MAY,
brother to Mrs. Powell. Ever affee-
SAMUEL PAhKxR.
1t Ii impossible to say now whether
Dr.. Whitman and Miss Prsntiss, who
became his wife, were then
acquainted or not. it ID the impression
u DIR. B. j. Parker, son of Rev. s. Par
Ier, from whom most Of the foregoing
has been obtained, that his
ather wrote DR.. Whitman that he had
,etter 20 and see her at her fsthsr's
louss, and Ars. Whitman said, in his
ather's parlor, before leaving: "We had
o make love somewhat abruptly, and
must do our oourtship now We are mar
led"
Tho fall and winter being spent in
his manner, ON the 4th of March, 1885.
10 again started, but with no public
demonstrations from the church at
ithaca, a. they no longer felt that the
Mission was under their care. At 81.
Louis he met DR.. Whitman, who had
preceded him Q few days. They left
hat place on the Sth Of April, but near
y month was spent mostly In Missou-
d before they left what was called the
United States.
When fully ON their way. q nev dan
ger awaited them, not from Indians or
Wild animals, bat from their white trav-
ellinR companions. On May Oath, the
Sabbath. DR.. whitman and Mr.. Parker
rested, while the caravan moved on.
The movements Of this caravan were 90
NOW that they felt they could easily
ovsrtake il, and a. there was no danger
from hostile Indisns, they felt it to be
their duty 10 rest on that day. The
next day they overlook the caravan be-
fore night; but some Of the men were
much displeased because Of this resting
on the Sabbath. On that Monday the
caravan croased the Nsahnabstana ON
raft, and - express their displcasors
they cut sorns of the barks with which
the raft vas bound together, and set il
adrift. Fortunately, il did not drift far
before it lodged against . tree, and
vhen 0essrA Parker and Whitman
came along without much loss Of time,
they repaired it and passed over. At
nieht one Of ths despsradoes went 10
thois tent with basin Of alcohol. and
aid that thsy were offended, becauas of
this refusal - travel on the Sabbath,
but, u they would take friendly drink
With him, 10 would b passed over. This,
oe coufse, was refused. He then said
that some Of the men were highly dis
ploAaed, and gave them 10 understand
that their lives wero in danger, and AS
q vay Of reconciliation urged them at
least 10 pot she basin 20 their lips and
vet them. They still Refused. and after
urging without being able
10 shake their Temperance principles
ho LEFT, bat wttheot giving mp some pur-
Doso Of revenge IN the future. But here,
IL it b. noted, Providence tosk the
matter into its hands The company
remained st Council Bluffs about three
vsskn, making Ansl preparations for
their Journey. While there. the spas
nodie cholsra broke out With great
maliQuity. The warm weather. intem-
poraSo habits Of the men and their man
neR Of living. evidently aggravated the
dioeass % that thrse men died and sew
eral Others barely recovered. DR.. whit
mAn's medical skill vas nov precisely
what Vas needed. and With Mr.. Parker
q nurus, be did what he was able to
aye than. and hs Vas largely succees-
ful. M vAs plainly sseu aud frankly
aeknoVledocd that, but for his practice,
~ nsn would have diaperssd, and the
caravan vould have failed OF going to
its destination. This assistance thus
rendorod turned enemies into friends
enemies, Who vass - full Of hatred be-
causs Of this Sabbath example that, a.
they aftsrwards oonfs0sd, they intend
Cd 70 kill the missionaries on the first
sonvsnisnt occasion.
The manner Of an0ampmsnt "a de-
soribsd a follows: To form . large
hollow square, enoIosing about an acre,
having the river on one side, three
wagons on part Of another coming down
70 The river, and opposite three more In
the sAms manner, on the opposite sids,
With the paokasss % arranged IN par
Gals - 10 An mp the rear. and the sides
not occupied BY the vaQonA The horses
and mules near the middle Of the day
vsrs turned oct under guard n feed for