The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1910-11-16
AVOID LOVE-! DON'T WE'D!
WOMAN LAWYER TO GIRLS

more exciting anu iflOTe lnIllllHS lHdH
the story of the Whitman massacre.
I There are but two people now living
! who experienced this awful tragedy,
Mrs. Megler of Astoria, and Mrs. Ger
| trude Denny of Portland. Mrs. Meg
Ter was at the time a baby and could
have no clear recollection of the af-
fair. Mrs. Denny, however, was S
years old and remembers it wildly. 1t
was my good fortune recently to hear
this story from the lips of this re-
markable old woman, and | will at
tempt to tell it as it was told a
seeming fair account without eX-
, tenuation or malice.
About six months before the massa-
' ere Mrs. Denny's father came west
! with his wife and children. He was
an architect and a builder of much
ability. Being the sort of man that
| DR. Whitman needed, he remained at
| the mission, or rather at the emigrant
| house near the mission.
The Indians at this time were suf-
| fering from measles and other con-
| tagious diseases. Wild reports were
circulated among them that DR.. Whit
man was poisoning them, and also
| that he intended to bring emigrants
from the east to take all their lands.
| The superstitious Indians saw their
people dying all about them and they
| really believed these lies while all
this time DR.. Whitman and his kind
| hearted wife were giving their whole
| time and energy in caring for them
| The doctor and Mrs. Whitman were
aware that plots had been laid for
their death, but they still had faith in
their Indians. They never ceased to
hope or to go bravely about their
work.
Children Are Spared.
In Mrs Denny's mind all the fright
| full details remain more distinctly, per-
| haps than if she had been older and
| more able to understand it: besides
the children were not mistreated to
any great degree. They were huddled
| into corners, terror stricken. where
they witnessed the whole dreadful af-
fair.
The massacre began some time ear
ly in the afternoon. Nine people were
killed the first day, including DR..
Whitman, who was the first one
struck down, and Mrs. Whitman, who
was killed several hours later. Five
men were killed the next morning
All met death in a disgustingly wicked
manner, the Indians cruelty slashing
the faces of the dying.
still 1 remember" said Mrs. Den
ny, chat there were a number of
Indians that had not believed the re-
ports against DR.. Whitman These
took no part in the massacre, yet they
IN Il
weeping during both DAYS"
Wondering how such cruel savages
| could have spared even the women,
asked Mrs. Denny about it. She
smiled in her motherly way. then her
face became grave at recollection.
There is a story, sad little ro-
nance, that is not generally known"
she said, that had much to do with it.
[ will tell you the story.
IIalf-Brecd Saves Women.
"Joe Lewis, the Canadian half
breed, it is believed, was deep in the
plot to murder DR.. Whitman, but he
had formed a great affection for Mrs.
Hayes, q widow with two children.
whose husband had died of cholera 4
| short time before the massacre. 1t
was the earnest desire Of Joe Lewis to
marry Mrs Hayes, but the idea was
repugnant to her. She had been a
devoted wife and the memory of her
husband was still fresh in her mind.
| After the numbering of the men the
Indians told Joe Lewis to go away
| that they were coming back the next
day to kill the women. lie came to
the emigrant house and talked IL over
with the women. There were no Sc
crets,' said Mrs. Denny. owe talked
| freely about all things, for we did not
know at what moment we would yield
up our own lives. joe Lewis told the
women that if Mrs EayeS would con-
sent to marry him he would persuade
the Indians not to Kill them. Rut Mrs.
Hayes refused to d this >he could
not imagine such g. union. She con-
santed, however, to consider it and if
| they were ever delivered to freedom
to become his wife if she could bring
ha1sclf to do it.
when the Indians returned they
wanted to know why Joe Lewis was
| still there. He brought out Mrs.
Hayes and said that she was his wife
and that he did not want to leave her.
! He told them that the women could
do them no harm, and finally per-
| suaded them, the Indians cOnSenting
to let them live just so long as no SOL
diers came out to rescue them and
punish the offenders.
Captives Are Ransomed.
Indians were stationed on watch
for miles and eery evening the wo-
men and children in the emigrant
house waited breathlessly for the In
dian runners to arrive with the news
that meant life or death to them. So
the women and children continued to
| live this miserable existence Tor more
than a month. Many times the In
dams We're restless and threatened to
kill them, despite the suave talk OF
the rascal Joe Lewis
Finally the story of the massa IRE
reached Captain Ogden Of the HUI
son Bay company. Captain Ogden
was a man who had had much ex-
perience with Indians. He knew that
he must not give the Indians an ink
| ling that a rescue party was coming,
so he went to Walla Walla and from
there communicated with the savages
and succeeded in reasoning the cap
tives. He told the Indians that ne
simply wanted to buy the women and
children-he gave them beads, blan-
kets, guns and tobacco. The whole
thing amounted to about S400 or $500
Captain Ogden can not receive too
much praise for his prompt action in
this affair.
When the Indians told us that we
could 60" continued Mrs. Denny
even then we We're AFRAID they might
change their minds, 80 we rose and
starteda bout 3 O'Clock in the morn
! ing An Enelishm1;> nap,ad Smith