The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1936-07-02
WAGONS WEST
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Whitman
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The Fur company left all its
wagons, taking only cart beyond
Fort Laramie. The Whitman party
decided to take Spalding's light
wagon at least as far as the Rem
devious. Baggage was repacked on
animals
1t was on independence Day, July
4, that the caravan wound up
through the South Pass of the Rocky
Mountains and crossed the contin-
entail divide. Narcissa Whitman and
Eliza Hart Spalding looked down
over western country no white
woman ever had entered that way
before.
A Fur Company messenger had
been sent ahead to the rendezvous,
ard a large company Of Nez Perces
rode out to meet the mission party.
One of the Indians brought letter
from Rev. Samuel Parker. whom
the Whitmans had expected would
be waiting for them at the rendezv'
ouS It gave no information or ad
vice, only saying that he had de-
cided to return to the States by sea.
The missionaries were greatly die
appointed. but hoped they migS
reach the coast before he embarkeA
His explorations could do them ~
good if not reported.
On Wednesday. July 6. the cara
van reached the rendezvous. There
the missionaries were greeted hy
the main camp Of Nez Perces, who
appeared to be overjoyed at their
arrival. So anxious were they 10
keep their religious teachers, they
wanted the party to accompany
them over the northern route,
which was long and mountainous
Fortunately John Mcleod and
Thomas Mckay Of the Hudson's Bay
company arrived just at that time,
bringing another letter from
Parker. This was nearly as brief as
the other, but advised the mission
aries 10 travel by the Snake River
route with Mcleod.
On the 18th Of July, the Whitman
party moved to the Mcleod camp.
and the Nez Perces and Flatheads
followed. That night the Whitmans
tasted bread for the first time since
the last Of May. Mrs. Spalding es-
pecially appreciated it.
Some Of the Nez Perces insisted
on going with the missionaries
when they left with the Mcleod
party for Fort Hall on Monday, July
10. Dried buffalo meat procured
from the Indians made up most Of
the food supply for the journey
from the rendezvous to Fort Hall,
which they reached about August 8.
There they much appreciated bread
and vegetables from the factors
little garden.
At Fort Hall the main body Of Nez
Perces turned north, and the Whit
mans found travelling easier. The
Indians would ride eight hours
without stopping. The white people
usually rested two hours in the
middle Of the day.
two-wheeled cart. An axle-tree had
broken July %, but the men had
refused to leave the wagon behind.
knowing how valuable it would be
to them If they could get it through.
They were forced to leave it at
Snake Fort Gater Fort Boise),
however, for their animals were fail
ing and the route through the Blue
Mountains was declared impossible
for it. In his book ON Spa1ding, DR..
Clifford M. Drury gives evidence
that this was the first wheeled We
hicle to go as far west as Fort Boise.
It was not until 1910 that wagons
made their way over the Blue
Mountains into the Columbia River
valley.
Cattle too weak to travel also
were left at Fort Boise. Arrange
ments were made with the Hudson's
May Company to exchange stock OF
goods on the Coast for what the
missionaries left behind.
After the Snake River was again
crossed, the party divided, the
Spaldings remaining with the In
dians and the live stock and most d
the baggage. So it happened tina,
| Narcissa Prentiss Whitman reached
the Columbia river overland day
or two ahead Of Eliza Hart Spald-
ing. Climbing over the Blue Noun.
tains was the most difficult part Of
| the trip. in many ways, though the
| Whitmans were happy to see the
green timber which covered their
slopes.
From the top Of the Blue Noun.
tains on August %. 1896. the eyel
Of an American white woman
looked for the first time upon the
Columbia river valley. To the nortl
Mrs. Whitman saw Mount st
| Helens. She watched the sun g
down behind Mount Hood.
Next-Fort Walla Walla; Dowr
the Columbia to Fort Vancouver
DR.. Mclaughlin Entertains; Plan!
for Station Sites; First American
Home in Northwest; Spring Of 1887
Gray Goes East; Missionary Work
Birth of Alice Clarissa.)