The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1936-08-06
CHAPTER vi

Norcissa Whitman aWoke SuodSL
- rom troubled sleep. Someone
". fnmbling at the latch. Fright
ed hit courageous, she got up anc
~ ..t her full weight against the open
rdoor. A blanket was caught there
.ae next morning. left by the un1n'
vited guest.
uer friends at Fort Walla Walls
.duised her to leave Waiilatpu un'
q her husband should return from
AZ East Rumors had started among
az Indians that Whitman had gone
- athe Boston people to bring back
elders" Mrs. Whitman's health hao
s,,ffered during the strenuous years
81 building up the mission. She I'M
civ decided to see a doctor OF the
Hrdson's Bay company at vancou'
uer and to visit the Methodist mis-,
zion stations on the Willamette ano
Of the Dalles. She left young
mar named William Geiger IN
charge at Waiilatpu. .
Rehind at Fort Walla Walla she
Loft little David Malin, first OF her
sdonted family. He was half Span
;sh half Indian, and had been
brought to her in 1912, starved, de-
serted. prosecuted youngster who
seemed only three or four but really
mas somewhat older. With her in all
her travelling she took the haf-breed
Children she called my little girls.
Warv Ann Bridger and Helen Mar
Meek. daughters of the famous
mountain men who were sincere
friends of the Whitmans.
whether her beloved Marcus was
alive or dead she could not know,
but she sent one letter after him
by messenger few days after he
left and others across the mountains
n the hope that they might reach
him sometime before he returned.
She had no way of knowing how
quickly he and Lovejoy rode to Fort
Hall. There the two men turned
from the familiar northern route to
he strange southern trail and trav-
eled perhaps thousand miles out
Of their way. Treacherous Indians
md impossible snowdrifts blocked
the usual way. There were billiards
and icy rivers even on the southern
route, via Santa Fe, and at least
twice Whitman lost the trail. But in
February he reached Westport, Mis-
souri,, and pushed out with all speed
to Washington, D. c., where he Wis
tied at least one government official
Secretary of War. Tradition among
those who talked with him Of his
visit has it that he also discussed
problems of Oregon country settle
ment with the president.
Might the story of the Oregon
Trail have been less bloody if the
secretary Of war had listened to
Whitman's advice, if he had not
piegon-holed the bill the over
worked Oregon doctor upon his re-
turn home took time to prepare al
his request? Whitman believed the
Indians, who were few in number,
should be settled and made an agri-
cultural people as rapidly as posi-
BE, that payment for their lands
should be made in cattle and sheep
not In gold. This done, passage
through the hunting grounds west
q the Platte would be safer, and
trading posts could be established
ct strategic points. These would
supply provisions to emigrants who
could not hope to carry enough in
their wagons to take them easily
across the plains, deserts, and noun
tains between the frontier west and
he far west.
Still riding hard in his disreputa.
ble-looking but sensible frontier
earb, Whitman went up to New
York, where he talked with Horace
Greeley. He did not pause long. fol-
e still must visit Boston, his own
nmily in Rushville and Narcissa's
n Angelica. Already the great emf.
grafton was gathering at Westport
port Soon it would be starting tc
ould a road broad and wide, wheels
oVer wheel tracks where few wag.
coS had passed before.
NE American Board official.
were not altogether pleased at see.
- Whitman. Already they had SEM
1esters to Oregon cancelling the
eeoers they had given in 1912. Some
oaseers were clarified, however, thai
ecoh never have been cared fol
voen communication by letter VIA.
- slow.
wnen the members Of the 1874:
- 08anized, they appointed ,
umtttee to confer with DR.. Whit
- . to the practicability Of TIN
~ Their guide, Captain JohI
as& and old army officer, ha(
Iva been west Of the Rocky noun
- mr. enough to know whether ,
rrsgoo road would be possible. Whel
= whitman caught up with the Ap
egate section of the train In May
= services as physician were mos
= demand = bringing babies int