The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1906-08-01

was successful in catching the party
Ell route to st. Louis.
From st. Louis DR.. Whitman went
by stage coach to Washington. D. c..
where he had several interviews with
President Tyler and Secretary Web
ster.
With the secretary he found IL much
harder to deal than the president. Mr..
whitman begged that the settlers In
Oregon should be protected. and that
American immigration should be en-
couraged.
He next went to the Hon. James NJ
i Porter. secretary of war, and by him
was received with the greatest kind
ness and promised to aid him in his
scheme II immigration.
Having transacted hrs business, be-
ing successful beyond his expectation.
DR.. Whitman hurried to Boston to the
headquarters of the American board,
where he was received very coldly and
rebuked for having spent so much
money From Boston he went to visit
his own and his wife's relatives.
Meanwhile the spirit of immigration
was having its effect, and by spring
1000 men. women and children. with
1875 wagons and 1000 head of stock,
had gathered at Waston (near Kan
sas City,, and Fort Leavenworth,
ready to start for the west
This year the grass was late and the
caravan did not get started until the
first week in June. DR.. Whitman re-.
manned behind and did not overtake
the party until it reached the Platte
ha oxxtn
been over 1t twice before.
On arriving at Fort Hall the COM
pany was greatly discouraged by
Johnny Grant, who was working for
the fur trading company. After leav-
ing Fort Hall many teams became ex-
hausted and many wagons had to be
left on the way.
The Whitman party arrived in Ore
gon territory in October, 1S4S, and on
their arrival the English and Canad-
ian forces were outnumbered three to
one. Thus the stars and stripes float
ed over Oregon never to be hauled
down.
1t was at this juncture that the dip
lomatic officers Of Great Britain and
the United States began considering
the controversy. The matter came to
an issue in 1886, when the parallel 40 !
degrees was definitely settled by
treaty to be the boundary line.
DR.. Whitman's journey to Washing
ton City increased the train Of emf
grants at a time when increased popu-
lation was critically needed. His dis |
closures and persuasion were the medi- |
UNI of arousing the government Of |
ficials to immediate action. resulting |
in the treaty of 1916. He upheld the |
American spirit and the civilizing in |
fiuence Of the Christian religion. BY
his influence with the Indians he was
enabled to divert many hostilities BY
teaching agriculture to the Indians
and emigrants he tapped the agricul-
tural resources and learned of the pro-
ductive possibilities of this great coun-
try.
The first permanent settlement of
Washington was made at Tumwater
in 1S45. Port Townsend, situated on
Puget sound, in the northern part Of
Jefferson county. was settled by H. c.
Wilson. A large settlement was eff
fected in 184S, many of the newcomers
taking claims along the Cowlitz river.
Walla Walla is situated in the south
eTn part Oh Walla Walla county, Sc
attic, the largest city Of Washington,
is in King county on Puget sound;
Tacoma is situated in Pierce county,
on Puget sound; Olympia. the capital
of Washington. is situated on the
southern point of Puget sound In
Thurston county.
The Indians were ignorant Of re-
ligion; neither did they know how to
cultivate the soil. DR.. Whitman also
taught them to be kind to other In
dian tribes.
Whitmans ride to Washington and
his return with immigrants made him
a marked man with both the Hudson
Bay company and the Indians.
When the treaty was ratified and
England lost Oregon, both knew who
was responsible for 1t, and doubtless
from that hour he was a doomed man.
A conspiracy was brewed among the
Indians and the massacre at Waiifat-
pu occurred the Goth of November
1S47, in which DR.. and Mrs. Whitman