Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1904-07-09


the Rocky mountains on the fourtn
of July. 1886. and taking possession OF
that western coast for God and the
United States, was an inspired states
man?
Whitman's Brave Enterprise
Rut Marcus Whitman had more than
Inspired vision and opened ears. lie
had consecrated, noble Christian
heart. as well as clear brain. lie
was gospel missionary who was
ready. if necessary. to die If by his
death he could only accomplish the
work which God had given him to DO.
In order to save Oregon for the Union, ,
in midwinter, alone, he rode stralght |
across this continent. He deied the |
warning elements as well as savage
tribes the terrOrs of the SHOWS ana
the precipices and colds as well as the
Indian tOmahawks.
After the Hudson Bay company
found II was unable to stem DacK
western immigration IT took anoHer
course. 1t decided to import Its own
loyal English subjects from Canaua
and gradually crowd the Americans 10
the wall. 1t tried to do with the Amer
icons as the Americans of the east did
with the Indians. About century
ago Joseph Elliott was the agent ol
the Holland Land company, which
owned nearly all the lumber about the
region of the western part OF New
York near to Niagara Falls. One day
n famous Indian chief OF that tihe'
| Red Jacket by name, met Mr.. Eiliot
and sat down with him upon log 10
talk. In little while Red jacket
said. I'm a quiet tone, to Joseph Elliott,
"Afove along, joe" and Mr.. Elllou'
surprised at the request, moved llttie
along the log. In little while came
tbe second request of Move along,
Joe" and a third request, Move along
Joe" and a further request, Move
along joe" until Mr.. Elliott was at the
end of the log Then, when the lndiah
said "Move along, joe" Mr.. Elliott be-
came angry and answered: "Why, man.
| cannot move along any farther WIN
out landing in the mud" Ugh said
Red Jacket, "just so white man III
reference to Indian land. White man
, saws to Indian, Move along, move
along. move along until white man
pushes Indian off the face OF the
earth"
The tactics adopted by the Amer
leans toward the Indians were imi
e tated by the Hudson Bay company
4 1t began settling Oregon with It's OWL
+ friends. In the hope that II treat!
. between the United States and Eng
f land should be negotiated, leaving th'
r possession of the country to be de
Y cided by popular vote, the Ehghsi
;. settlers would outnumber the Ameri
cans. Whitman no sooner learned III
J. nature of the scheme than he set ou'
s. winter though it was, for washington
4. TO put the government on its guard AM
n warn 1t against negotiating any treat
l. by which the position Of Oregon woui
N be affected. That lonely ride from Or'
n | .vu ~ v~ooii..1s~-- L. A. - - .
N 1S42 is story of personal intrep1dlt
10 and natriotism which ought to be Ill
10 mortal Would you and l be willin
10 TO sacrifice for our country ana ou
20 Cod as Marcus Whitman sacrlnceo
%. Would YOU and be willing, II nece
he sary. to give up our all ana lay 90"
,is our lives in suffering greater than al
On soldier ever suffered upon the Anne
th lean 5attleields?
ON Rut as | take a step further in n
Is. study Of this remarkable nation Dun
od or. I find, as with Marcus Whitman u
az greatest Of men are always the ge
If. tlest of men. Furthermore, ma III
I'D the seemingly unimportant inciden
oir of their lives. which they did out OF L
400 pureness and nobility of their hear
,to have sometimes had the most far reac
nd ing effects In their ultimate triumph
es Not only do we admire Marcus Wh
NV. man as a patriot and a hero, but as
rod lover and q husband, and IT Is a
in markable fact that his public succ'
,o,, was in no small degree due to the gu
the tiles he displayed in his private Il
,ho Do YOU ask how the one could C
hit. trihute TO the other? | answer by r;
his idly drawing three verbal plctur
the Scene the first: We are now standl
in tbe little village church of Pra'
burg. in the central part Of New "
" state 1t is in the winter of 1856; L
-, ruary is the month. rather sh'
O' heavily built man Of reddish hair
M, heard. with determination marked
on every lineament of his face, is
A., bridegroom. DR.. Marcus whitman
his name. A sweet faced young Ia
Narcissa Prentiss, daughter OF Ju
Prentiss. is the bride. In the prese
hr Of their village friends the young
Mo hecome one. The cOngratulau
'.io, are spoken. The words of farewell
now said. The bride and groom [
s,,o their faces west, and the long br
.;st trim of 5000 miles commences.
o+od Two Brides In the Party.
that Scene the second: We are now at
Gro. frontier station Of Fort Laramie. OF
- % platte river. The little caravan
,ud. transcontinental travellers are here
no. that they must unload their wat
tho and strap all their goods upon
cis. mules and horses. No wagon hau
an a vet crossed the mountains, and no
ound on could. Up to this year no "
nond woman had ever crossed the contif
q on There were two brides in that p'
cious The one was the young wife OF Ma
Whitman; the other was the pro
.eyon his missionary associate, Rev. Sal
"a MEL Parker by name Il tell you that
ldent on cannot go through" l hear Oh
the rough members of the caravan
a. 'e. T now see a set look upon the rae
i .no DIR. Whitman. His jaws snap
30 80 with the grip Of steel trap. Ill
~ o CLINT comes into his eye as ne
." "But | tell you that wagon WI
, u. .,.,a through. These ladies, my "ile
us Mrs. Parker, must not be comp