The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-12-01


Eloquent Address by Rev. j. La
Wilson, LII. D.-Mr.. Prtnxle. tho
Adopted Daughter Of the Whit
Tears 70 Her Asditors Eyes.
Special Dispatch 20 the Observation-Disclosures.
WALI.A WAL.ssA. Nov. 3o.-The fiftieth
anniversary of the Whitman massacre
finds a sudden lastre beginning TO glow
around the name of Marcus Whitman.
The neglected grave has been at last re-
membered; the lonely hill which for fifty
years has stood "A sentinel over the old
mission grounds laid desolate by savage
fire was today made ready for crowning
with a granite shaft: the mariyred mis-
sionary. who had so long been forgotten
by an apparently ungra,eful people. is now
hailed as the hero of the Northwest. and
now three bright stars are shining I'm the
country's flag as the result chiefly OF
Not only Walla Waila. but representa-
tive people of the entire Northwest. paid
tribute TO that great missionary today.
Thousands of men, women and children
did honor 10 him and participated In the
ceremonies tina, have been fitting close
to an important event In the history of
the West
Every business house. office and school,
room in walla walla was closed today.
and almost the entire population of walla
Walla county witnessed the exercises at
the site of the monument that in to mark
the place where DIR. Whitman and his brave
little band were massaered.
Excursion trains brought hundreds of
people from Portland. The DalIes, Pendle-
ton, Dayton. Waitsburg. Lewiston, Spo-
kane and other points in Oregon. Washing
ton and Idaho. filing the city to over
flowing.
Many old pioneers who had been sepa-
rated for years met again today. renewed
friendships and recalled the experiences Of
hardships and privations and dangers en-
uuIeu Wnen ING savage Fuieu tue tanu
which is now one OF the most prosperous
and fiourishing domains of the earth.
Veterans In the Procession.
Promptly st Q o'clock this morning pro-
cessio was formed on East Main stree; by
Grant MARSHAL Y. c. Bialock. headed by
the Ma walla band. 1t was composed
of Indian war veterans. members OF the
Grand Army OF the Republic. Mayor Betz,
members OF the city council. city and
county officials. representative business
men, public school children. students OF
Whitman college. trustees. alumni. sur
vivors of the Whitman massacre. officers
and speakers of the day and the thousands
OF visitors.
The procession passed down Main street
which was gaily decorated with flags and
bunting. to Fourth. and thence 10 the Ore
gon Railroad 4 Navigation Company's de-
pot. where cars were In waiting 10 trans
port the vast crowd To Waiiiatpu. the
scene of the massacre, six miles west of
the city. On reaching Whitman station.
the procession WAS reformed. and with the
Fourth United States cavalry. commanded
Col e. K. Compton. acting as an escort OF
honor. the march was again taken up.
Arriving at the grounds the cavalry was
formed on three sides Of a hollow square.
In the center OF which was the platform,
where the exercises took place. Imme-
dlstely In front OF the platform was the
marble tomb and upon tho brow OF the hill
was the site selected for the granite monu-
ment. With but little delay the vast mui-
titude were soon comfortably located on
the side Of the hill facing the speakers
stand.
Exercises at the Grave.
The exercises were opened by 8. y. l..
Penrose president OF the day. Music by
the Fourth cavalry hand began the eere-
rnonieS after which Rev. W. 8. Holt II.
n. Of Portland, offered the prayer for the
dedication Of the tomb.
Rev. 4. M. Gum. Of Tacoma offered
prayer. after which the survivors and stu
dents of whitman college covered the
graves of the nartyred with flowers.
Mrs. Catherine Prlngis. survivor of the
massacre and adopted daughter of DR. and
Mrs Whitman. then made short address
in which she recalled the points of inter-
est connected with the massacre. Her re-
marks were very touching and brought
tears to the eyes OF the aged survivors.
At 1870 the excursionists returned 10 the
city. whore the procession reformed and
marched 10 the opera house where a large
crowd assembled. The programme began
with music by the Fourth cavalry band
and after prayer by Rev. Holt. Rev. ~ w.
Scudder. OF Tacoma. made 8 brief address
on the missionary work OF Whitman.
Dr. Wilson's Address.
President Penrose introduced Rev. r. r.
Wilson. Ill. D.. OF Portland, the orator
Of tho day. who delivered an eloquent and
touching address 1ron the life and work
OF Dr. Whitman. Mr. Wilson said In part:
'"Fhs event on the scene and on the an
niveTsary Of which we have met today
was Of a kind that not seldom marked the
course Of the early settlement OF CUR couu-
try. There was little in It's ostward cir
.curstances 10 Distinguish n from a scogs
OF other m3ssacres that had marked tho
settlement OF the Atlantic sesboard and
later the settlement Of tae valley OF shs
Mlssasg.ppl. And Il was not radically diff
fsfeni fran those la motive.
I'VE need not look far for the exciting
cause of rae deed nor need We vex our
minds with the thought OF dark csnspsr-
scY or ths part OF those whose religious
or commercial interests may h~ fnougas
70 have found promise Of furihsranee In
the event. native trfne among whom
were many restless and turbulent spirits
ths tribe new grown jssIoas because of
the recent rapid sGeroa cznsnEa of the
whites afs0n their territory. their ssIrserssf-
fious fears aroused by the prevalence at
shz time af = malignant epidemic. and sas
presence among them of one malicious
spirit as inssigatcr ard leader. are cu0agn
20 account for the whole bloody deed.
The hse~ which fell here 40 cruelty ara
wstn NzfF'F7 isrfstesGs resislfs 5sfen in those
tiErseS IgupeaGed over other eommnnstses
ana uD-usssCieS fsL elSa Vlsfa In rhix val.