The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-07-07
Evidence Gathered by Myron
Eells, the Noted Pioneer.
HOW OREGON WAS SAVED.
Proof that the Missionary visited WASH
inxton City and That He Drummed
Up Emigrants OF 1913.

which contains some misStatements. VIII
you correct them?
me article says: There Is no positive
proof that Whitman visited Washington
City; no paper or memorial on the subject
OF Oregon by Whitman belonging TO that
time has been discovered in the state de-
partment-" Twelve years ago the writer
collected evidence from those who met
DR.. Whitman at that time, who say that
DIR. Whitman told them that he went
there to do what he could TO save Ore
gon to the United States. They are the
following: DR.. William Geiger, now living
at Forest Grove. who had charge OF DR..
Whitman's station while he was absent In
the East at that time: kew. III. III. Spauld-
Ing, Dr. Whitman's very intimate asso-
cfate In the mission, whose station DR..
Whitman visited on his return to Ore
gon in 1si3. even before he went to his
own: Hon. W II. Gray, another mission
airy associate: Hon. A. Human. now at
Forest Grove. Or. who came to this Coast
In 1874. and spent his first winter at DR..
Whitman's station teaching school: DR..
Samuel j. Parker. now OF ithaca. N. Y,
the son OF the Rev. s. Parker, who came
to Oregon In ls35, the year before DIR. Whit
man did, and who induced the doctor to
come, the doctor accompanying him TO the
Rocky mountains in 1895, the doctor visit
ed his house both before and after his visit
W " dSiiiH5 toii III lc7os rev w
rows, d. D., the author Of "Barrows' Ore
gon." who met and talked with DIR. Whit
man at st. Louis In 1913: Hon. Alexander
Ramsey. afterward governor of Mime
sofa. who met DR.. Whitman In Washing
ton City in 1si3. and talked with him about
Oregon affairs: Hon. A. l.. Lovejoy, DIR.
Whitman's sole white travelling compan-
ion on his way East at that time; P. B.
Whitman. DIR. Whitman's nephew, who
IN IN, 9rx-itb p ic-
DIR. Edward Hale, who entertained DIR.
Whitman at ST. Louis. both when he was
going East and returning West in 1913:
Judge James Otis, OF Chicago, who says
that DR.. Whitman gave him an account
of an evening he spent with the president
and cabinet at Washington City answer
ing their questions and giving them his
views of the importance of Oregon. and
the steps that needed to be taken in or
der to secure 1t for this country; DR.. W. c.
Mckay. late of Pendleton. Or. who says
that he received letter from DR.. Whit
man. dated at Washington City In 1873.
Moreover, in 1891 there was found let
ter in the archives OF the secretary of
war. Hon. James NJ. Porter, from DIR.
Whitman. and bill which he prepared for
the establishment of a line of posts across
the continent and the better government
of the Indians. This letter was not dated,
but Endorsed on 1t is the fact that 1t was
received at Washington City on June %,
1874 In it DR.. Whitman says: TN COM
pliance with the request you did me the
honor to make last winter while at Wash
,ington City, I herewith transmit TO you
the synopsis of bill which, If ii could be
adopted would, according to my expert
ence and observation. prove highly con-
ducive to the best interests of the United
States generally; to Oregon, where I have
resided more than seven years a mis-
sionary, and to the indian tribes that in
habit the intermediate country" This let
ter and bill have been published in the
transactions of the Oregon Pioneer AS
ISOLATION for 1884," in Browns Political
History OF Oregon" pages 14S-154. and in
the Walla Walla Union. And yet there
are some who either ignorantly or willing
ly say that DR.. Whitman did not so to
Washington City.
Again. the article says: I'VE are not
aware that any member OF the party Of
1S4S has ever attributed 10 Whitman any
appreciate share in the collection of the
body OF immigrants who came to Oregon
that year" Os43). Now, I am not aware
that DR.. Whitman's friends claim that
ne organized the immigration of 1913. Bu.
they do claim that he did increase II,
and was of invaluable assistance 10 II on
the journey. The writer for a dozen
years past has endeavored TO find out from
every member of the immigration of 1873
whether Dr. Whitman's efforts induced
them to come or not. OF twenty-eight
whom he has found. seven, quarter, say
yes William Waldo. of Salem, says It
was newspaper articles in regard to Ore
gon written by DIR. Whitman which in
duced his father TO come. William Mar
tin came with them, having hired out 10
Mr.. Waldo for a year. which included the
Journey TO Oregon. Mr.. c. 3. Carey and
John Zachrey say that 1t was a pamphlet
written by DR.. Whitman which induced
them to come and several of Mr. Zachrey's
ne.ghbors. Hon. John Hobson, OF Astoria,
says that * was personal conversation
with DIR. Whitman which induced the
Hohsons and few other families 10
come. Hon N Ford. of Nalla Walla.
saws IL was the history which the doctor
gave OF Oregon which brought him. and
as he thinks hundreds of others. TO Ore
gon. Enoch Garrison was induced to come
because OF circulars by DR.. Mailman
which he read.
But Il was at Fort Hall that Or. Whit
man performed one OF his most important
works on that trip. Previous to that time
Cant Grant Of the Hudson Bay Com
many then in charge of that fort. had In
duced the Immigrants either TO go 10 Calf
fornia or TO leave their wagons at that
fort. stating that IL was Impossible Tor
them 10 bring them through TO the Co.
4
1875, and even attempted. says Cen
Palmer. in 1915. They attempted 10 Go the
same in 1S43 but. according 20 such men
of that years immigration as senator
NesmIth. Gov. p. III. Burnett ana }. y.
Baker. II was DR.. Whitman's advice fhae
successfully overcame Capt. Grant. me
doctor fully realized that that was the
KEY 10 Oregon, the same as capt. cram
did an! he proposed 70 unlock the door.
He said: Never leave your wagons; ana
promised 20 see them safely through 10
the Columbia. and did so. This immigra-
ton largely outnuInbered all the Hudson
Rav Company and Red river Immigrants,
who were trying to hold Oregon, ana
after its arrival Oregon was safe 10 the
United States.
Or. Whitman took the same view BE-
fore his death. IN April, fSI, ne wrote 20
his home board: Il often rehect on ne
fact that YOU told me you were sorFy V1at
7 came East II did not chen. nor has y
since. altered my opinion in me matter
American interests acquired in the coun-
try which the success Of the ANN srS'iol
Of 1Sas alone did and could have secured.
have become the foundation OF the iate
treaty. between England and the Oh!lsd
States in regard 20 Oregon. Tor * may :.
easrv seen what would have become o.
American interests had the fTfrf1igratfon %
fSta been disastrous as were the iinnl'sF1-
tions Of 1915 and 1875" both OF those years
his rou.e having been left for anotntF-
s.v- se-,ors.rate-s what did IN making
NV vz-av 70 ne states in the winter OF isAS
ay,s~ exc a. Of October. II was 20 open a
n-artical route and safe passage ana Sc
cure a favorable report OF the journey
from the immigrants. whica IN co.iLs- -