The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-11-21

then supported by the Congregational.
Presbyterian and Dutch Reformed church
SO. In 1854 the lasi-aamed denomination
decided TO sustain mission vast OF The
Rocky mountains and asked the board 10
assume direction OF IL. This was done.
ard fn May Rev. Samuel Parker, Rev. j.
Dunbar and Mr.. s. AlIis left Ithaca, y. Y.
20 explore the country. Arriving in ST.
Louis too late 10 get the necessary protec-
ton Of the caravans OF fur traders Msssrs.
Dunbar and Aiiis engaged In missionary
work among the Pswnees. In April. lsss.
Mr. Parker MAS Joined by DIR. Marcus
Whitman and obtaining the protection Of
the American Fur Company. they Travelled
i'm safety 10 the rendezvous on Green river.
a branch OF the Columbia. The informa-
ton here cleaned from Indians. trappers
and traders was sufficient 10 encourage the
attempt To organize a mission. DIR. Whit
man accordingly returned. and Mr.. Parker
proceeded on tour OF exploration down
the Columbia river and back home by way
OF the Sandwich islands and Cape Horn.
arriving in isa5 when he published vol
ume, now highly PRICED among the coli
lections of published records pertaining TO
the Northwest.
Dr. Whitman took with him on his re-
turn trip two Neg Perce boys. He arrived
at RushyilIe LATE Saturday night. and his
return home was made known the next
morning. when he walked into church ac-
companied by his two dusky Nez Perez
boys. These boys proved of great value
on the return trip For example. at the
crossing Of one bad river. one of the boys
took a cord in his mouth. swan across.
pulled a larger rope across, made IL fast.
and the whole party crossed in safety.
Narcissa Prentice was the cultured
daughter of Judge Prentice. of Prattsburg.
y. Y. She had long been betrothed TO Dr.
Whitman. She Was as much of an en-
thnsIast over the Oregon mission as IVES
the doctor. Their wedding day was fixed
upon but the American board which had
decided 10 undertake the mission after re-
ceiving DR.. .Whitman's report determined
that IL would be unwise TO send young
couple on such a journey without compan-
ions. The wedding was postponed. and
DR.. Whitman sought for the necessary
companions He found them in Rev. III.
III. Spalding and wife and Mr. w. III. Gray
The party thus arranged for, preparations
were az once begun for the journey over
1.-THE long and sad trail" DIR. Whitman
and Miss Prentice were married in Febru-
airy. ls36. The church prepared fare
well service. In speaking of Miss Prentice
and this farewell service. Martha J. Lamb,
in the Magazine Of American History.
1884 gives the following pathetic picture:
THE voice of Miss Prentice was of re-
markable sweetness. She was a graceful
blonde. stately and dignified in her bear
ing. without a particle OF affectation.
When preparing to leave for Oregon the
church held a farewell service. and the
minister gave out the well-known hymn:
''Yes my native land. j love thee.
All thy scenes, / love them we'll:
Friends. connection. happy country.
Can | bid you all farewell?
1.-The whole congregation Joined heartily
tta cst,a hut haf ina hNry
half through one by one they ceased sing
ing and audible sohs Were heard in every
part o. the great audience. The last
stanza was sung by the sweet voice Of
Mrs. Whitman alone, clear, musical and
unwavering.'
Mrs. Spaiing though bride of but a
few months, vas invalid and had been
IN delicate health for years. She proved
herself heroine along the tiresome jour
ncy across the plains Diaries were kept
on tlis journey. and there are recorded
many Of the exciting experiences familiar
and always interesting to those who
made that same journey In the years that
followed. Probably the most important
singh" event that occurred on this historic
journey Is associated with Whitman
wagon"
The officers of the Hudson Bay Com
pany had pursued a uniform policy Of dis
coursging emigration into Oregon They
looked upon this great Northwest as their
own huge farm. and the single crop that
they sought 10 harvest was the peifs of
fur bearing animals Emigrants and
civilization most certainly destroyed
that wild crop. and The company re-
sorted 10 every known means TO
save what they wrongly supposed 10
be their rights. Wagons and agfi-
cultural implements spoke a language Of
settlement and spreading civilization They
ttfst to
into Oregon. BHt Marcus Whitman de-
trrmjncd 10 take his wagon into Oregon.
ANA that settled a. for he WAS a man Of
grit as well rs Of piety.