The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1936-07-23


born on the Pacific coast to live
to maturity, arrived at Waiilatpu
on December q, 1888. The three
couples were wintering at the mis-
sion, while the Rogers and Grays
went to Lapwai to assist Spalding.
In the East, a depression began
in 1887, making itself felt in the
far-away Oregon mission just at a
time when there were more mouths
to feed, more building to be done,
in short more expenses to meet.
Exchange rates made the small
sum allowed the Columbia mission
even smaller. ..
Some of the missionaries, espe-
cially Spalding, wanted DR.. Whit
man to move from Waiilatpu to
some site more centrally located
among the various stations. In the
late spring of 1889, DR.. Whitman
decided it would be best for him
to leave the mission altogether.
The tragic drowning of little Alice
Clarissa in June, however, softened
his feelings towards the others, and
in sorrow the group seemed reunit:
ed. But Spalding re-opened the old
difficulty between himself and
Mrs. Whitman by talking about it
with the other missionaries. Gray
became violently angry at Spald-
ing, because he thought he had
spoken most strongley against Grayis
having a mission station Of his own.
Further complications arose with
the arrival Of two independent
missionary families in the fall of
1889 and three others in 1910. Some
provision had to be made for them,
though the American Board would
not take any responsibility.
Such circumstances combined
were quite enough to try the pa
thence Of saints-and no member OF
the Whitman mission ever claimed
to be that. Willingly they gave up
the comforts Of civilization and
even risked their lives to carry
their religion to a foreign, savage
land. Once located, some realized
that the task was greater than they
had imagined-that rowing tribes
could not be taught ION the wing"
that the hunting was becoming
poorer and poorer and, finally, that
Christian white settlers were great
" needed. Reverend Smith disa.
greed, criticizing Spalding for
spending more time farming than
preaching. Several bitter letters
reached the Boston office Of the
American Board.
A few settlers arrived in 1910.
bringing the first three wagons
ever to cross the Blue Mountains
to the Columbia. In 1641 an emf
grafton Of "A persons went past. In
1912 a larger emigration heralded
the coming Of more. In this group
were over a hundred persons, un-
der the leadership of DR.. E. White,
who had gotten himself appoint
ed as sub-Indian agent. DR.. White
brought to the Whitman mission the
American Boards answer to the
critical letters it had been receiv-
ing. Arbitrarily, il dismissed Spald.
ing, Smith, Gray and Rogers and
ordered Whitman to move to lap
wal.
So slow was communication be-
tween Boston and Oregon, the
Board could not know the problems
it sought to solve all had been
worked out before the letter ar.
rived. Smith, Rogers and Gray all
had voluntarily left the mission.
Immediately Whitman called .
meeting of the remaining mission.
aries at Waiilatpu. beginning Sep.
,.ember 26. Four days discussion led
% no definite conclusion and Eells
Walker and Spalding were ready
to return home to wait perhaps
months for further word from the
board. Whitman. however, sudden.
~ asked for a signed resolution
permitting him to 60 East that win.
ter in the interest Of the mission
Reluctantly the others consented.
With the 1912 immigration was
A. L. Lovejoy. then about 81 years
old. DR.. Whitman asked him to bt
his companion on the winters ride
They spent little time in prepare.
ton, starting October 8. 1912.
Whitman had two destinations
Boston and Washington. d. C.
Washington came first.
(Next: The Ride; Visit to Wash.
ington, d. c.; Boston's Cool Recep.
ton: Rushville and Angelica; With
the Cow Column; Wagon Wheels