The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1895-03-25
SETTLEMENT OF OREGON.


the United States-His Indomitable Perse-
verance and Energy Whitman College a
Memorial to Him.
Rev. S. B. L. Penrose, president Of
Whitman college at WalIa- w ALA, Wash-
ington, gave a most thrilling address at
the United church last evening before
q large audience. His subject was "A
New Chapter In American History"
and his theme was the energy and her
oism displayed by Marcus Whitman,
band of missionaries who were the first
to settle that large track of territory
them called Oregon, but which now COM
prises the three ST ates of Oregon, Wash
ington and Idaho. He told how the lit
tie band set out from their eastern
homes for the Pacific slope and with
their wives and children faced untold
dangers and hardships in mountains,
Businesses and in desert places I'M the
name of Christ and the church.
Continuing, he spoke in the main as
follows: Il once was shown 24o acres of
land which Whitman practically titled
himself, while his wife was all the time
busy i'm her school work. One day
Whitman was called away distance
of Twenty-Five miles to set the leg Of a
boy which had been broken by a fall
from his horse. While at this house
Whitman heard strange tidings. They
were to the effect that a number OF Brit
ish settlers were making their way down
from Saskatchewan to take possession
of Oregon in the name of the queen. A
yaung Catholic priest himself an Eng
lishlnan, was present and proposed the
toast; Here's to Oregon. She's ours,
and the United States can whistle for
her. Whitman sat at the table silent
But his resolve was soon formed He
jumped ON HIS horse and rode the TWEEN
ty-two miles in two hours. When he
refined UP I'M front of the house he shout
ed to SpauIding, I must go to Wash
ington this minute The plan was TO
ride to Washington across the continent
and lay before the president and the
government the real facts in regard to
Oregon and to save 1T, If possible, to the
United States. He WAS a man who had
the rit3phetic vision to see Of what i'm
nense value this would eventually be
to the United States. Some of the other
missionaries expostulated with him and
said that 1t was mixing up politics and
religion. Mr.. whitman answered that
although he was a missionary. he was
not yet expa trlated and would stand
with all his force and energy for the
preservation of Oregon to the United
of three set out on their tremendous
They covered the first 300
miles of the journey in ten days and ar
rived at Fort Hall. Here they found
that hostile Indians were on the war
path and ais the snow of the beginning
of winter had commenced to fall they
had to turn south 900 miles out of their
course. The little company still pressed
ON to Washington. At one time they
were reduced to live on dog meat and
were confronted with starvation. At
another time they were lost in the snow
mi a ravine This was perhaps the most |
critical p,otnt in the journey. Even the |
Whitman himself lost |
heart The Indian guide said: Just |
watch the old mule, how she is witch |
ng her ear as. though she wanted to go |
hat way There is no hope, said |
Whitman. We might as we'll follow |
Ter lead And so the old mule led them |
)ut of the ravines and saved the man |
Who preserved Oregon to the United |
states-a hero of the nation.
"The party reached Washington on |
March 8, 1843 He saw Webster, who |
lad been his schoolmate. To him he
old his story, but Webster did not listen
With favorable ear, He just then had
,et scheme of trading Oregon for
odfshery and he did not want to be
eterred from his scheme by anything
lse. He then told his story to Presl-
ent Tyler, and strange to say he list
ned where Webster, the broad-minded
beral statesman had turned a deaf |
ar. It had been said In the senate that I
he Rocky mountains were the natural
oundary of the United States, and that
was to be hoped they would remain
0, as the soil beyond them was barren |
nd sterile. President Tyler said that
Whitman could show that Oregon
ould be colonzed from the United
tates that he would see that 1t was
OF ceded to Great Britain. 1t must be
orne in mind that the Ashburton
'eaty in 1912 did not fix the northwest
rn boundary. 1t was not until 1886
lat the boundary was definitely fixed
l the summer of 1S43 the first wagon
ain made it's way through the noun
Tins. On the third of September the
ettlers at the mission station saw the !
agons coming down from blue haze Of
lie distant mountains, then the clatter
hoofs was heard and he drew rein | I
efore his own door-the good DR.. Whit :
an.
That's the way Oregon was saved to :
lie United States, and now three stars ,
'e emblazoned on the azure field Of :
ue in our national flag. They repre-
mt the three states Of Oregon, Idaho t
Id Washington. 4
cat this time measles broke out 6
nong the Indians, and owing to their r
natural method of treating the dis
sc many died. The Indian medicine q
en- said that it was the medicine Of {
r. Whitman that was killing them t
the seeds of dissatisfaction was I
wn among the Indians, and on No e
mber 29 1849, an Indian stole UP be- 4
nd DR.. Whitman, who was giving a d
sson to a pupil, and planted hatchet /.
the back of his head. His wife cried $
L