The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-11-24
BY WILLIAM T. FILLS.
Marcus Whitman. the hero of

Marcus Whitman. the hero of Ore
gon. missionary, statesman and pa
triot. was born in the state of New
/ York, September 4, 1902. His parents
were sturdy. upright New .Englanders
/ who developed rugged qualities of
: character in their son. AS he grew
from boyhood to manhood he decided
/ to enter the ministry, but later, be-
cause Of physical weakness made the
study of medicine his profession.
Meantime, in the distant Oregon
country explorers had told the IN
dams OF the existence of a Supreme
Being of whom they desired to know
more But the presence of Christian
teachers was denied them From this
J fragm ntary knowledge grew desire
so great that at length four indians
made thousand mile journey east
ward across the prairies and mountain
ranges to learn If possible more of this
mythical God. At st. Louis they were
entertained by the superintendent of
Indian affairs for the northwest, who
treated them courteously, but gave
them no aid in their quest.
The empty quest Of these earnest
seekers ended. Two of the Indians
died at St Louis and the other two
disappointedly turned their faces
homeward- The purpose of their jour
ney as expressed by one OF them has
thus been handed down as it was taken
by a nearer:
Il came to you over a trail of many
/ moons from the SeLIlnG sun. GU were
the friend of my fathers. I made my
way to you with strong arms, through
many enemies and strange lands, that
might carry back much to them. I
go back with both arms broken and
empty. My people sent me to get the
white mans book of heaven. 1 am
going back the long sad trail to my
people Of the dark land. You make
my feet heavy with the burdens of
gifts, but the Book Is not among them.
When tell my poor. blind people. af-
ter one more snow that did not bring
the Book, no word Will be spoken.
One by one they Will rise up and go
out In silence. Ny people will die In
darkness. aud they will go out on the
long path to the other hunting
grounds. No white man will go with
them, and no white mans Book to
make the way plain"
This appeal did not fall upon deaf
ears. Before long the Oregon Method
years before this the American Board
of Commissioners for Foreign Mis- |
sions decided to send Marcus Whitman
and com panion to explore Oregon. |
The tribe that had sent their four mes
sengers for the white mans Book sent |
guide to meet the strangers. Oregon |
at this time included the present state /
Of Oregon, Washington. and Idaho, a |
part of western Montana, and part Of |
southwestern Wyoming, an area In |
which there were but fifty Americans. |
with an Indian population of one hun |
dred thousand.
80
DR.. Whitman labored increasingly /
for the good of the Indians. Within |
three years he had cultivated more |
than two hundred and fifty acres of |
land. To the Indians who agreed to /
till the soil he furnished seeds He /
also learned the language and served /
the other stations professionally
% ~
If was Fr Tho v-frtar ~ 1910 that
DR.. Whitman made his famous ride. /
The purpose of this journey was two
fold: To confer with the board about /
various matters relating to the Oregon /
mission. and to save Oregon to the /
United States. 1t was the aim OF the /
Hudson Bay company to bring all this !
country under the control OF Great /
Britain. Hearing, casually. that a party
Of immigrants had crossed the noun
tains and that it had been said. "EIur-
rah for Oregon. America Is too latei''
convinced Whitman that the time for
action had arrived.
Then came the famous decision OF /
Whttman's: It am going to cross the
Rocky Mountains and reach Washfng-
ton this winter. God carrying me