The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1914-02-27
BURIAL
W Woman Last Chapter In
Western Drama
PenI0uS Adventure Was A
Bridal Tour

Spokane, Wash, Feb. pam event
of deep historic interest was the rein
terment at Spalding, Idaho, Of the bo-
dy Of Mrs. Henry Spalding, borne
thither after many years of repose in
the cemetery at Brownsville, Ore, to
rest forever by the side of him who
dared with her to cross the wild con-
tinent seventy-seven years ago and
bear the hardships and deprivations of
mission life among the Nez Perce In
dianA
Equally with Mrs. Marcus Whitman,
Mrs. Spaldng shares the glory and the
honor of rearing in this savage land
the first Christian homes of all the in
Vulnerable Christian homes that now
fill the pleasant region between the
Rocky Mountains and the sea. They
we're the first white women to journey
to the Pacafic coast, and it was their
wedding journey.
DR.. Marcus Whitman had travelled
the year before as far as the fur trad
ing rendezvous on Green River in the
Rocky Mountains, and from that point
he returned to the United States for
volunteers for the contemplated mis-
sions on the Pacific slope. Learning
that Mr.. Spalding and his bride had
volunteered for mission work among
the Usage Indians, DR.. Whitman set
out to overtake them and induce them
to go with himself and Mrs. Whitman
to the Pacific Northwest.
He came up with them in the deep
SHOWS of western New York. They
were travelling by sleigh, and Mrs.
Spalding, still convalescent from a
long illness, was unable to walk save
with an effort, and then only for few
steps. 1t is narrated that with char
acteristic abruptness DR.. Whitman
called out:
1--WE want you for the Oregon mis-
sion"
''How long will the journey take?"
answered Spalding.
"The summers of two years.
''What convoy shall we have?"
"The American Fur Company to the
divide"
What shall we have to live on?"r
Buffalo meat till we raise our own
grain"
How shall we journey?'
Con horseback"
"How cross the rivers?"
Swim them"
Mr.. Spalding turned from Whitman
to his bride
"My dear" said he, my mind is
made up; it is not your duty to go,
but we will leave it to you after we
have prayed"
The little party came presently to
tavern, and, pausing there, took a
private room and each prayed in turn.
With beaming face Mrs. Spalding
emerged after few minutes of pray
er and declared: Il have made up my
mind to CO."
The husband lovingly demonstrated
with her zeal pointing out the hard
ships, the privations and perils of the
way and as he reflected upon these
perils the brave man broke down and
wept.
What mean ye to weep and to
break mine hearth" was the brides
reply: for am ready not to be bound
only, but also to die at Jerusalem for
the name of the Lord Jesus"
Such was the spirit that carried
these resolute men and women into
the Oregon wilderness. And SO they
came into the depths of the widest
West and never before was bridal jour-
ney like unto this.
The Whitmans set up their mission
at Waiilatpu, near Walla Walla, The
Spaldings took up their work at Lap
wal, among the Nez Perces.
Mrs. SpaIding is described as being
"about medium height, slender in
form, with dark brown hair, blue eyes
and rather dark complexion, of a SER
ious turn of mind and especially apt in
learning languages. She is said to
have acquired enough of the Nez
Perce tongue from her guides on the
journey from Walla Walla to the Clear
water, distance of about $50 miles,
to be able to converse with some read