The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1936-06-25

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ard had attended school in Rushville,
Whitman's home, during January,
and he had learned little more than
he already knew about reading and
| writing the English language. His
companion, John, had stayed at the
Parker home in ithaca, and it was
there DR.. and Mrs. Whitman went
for a weeks visit soon after their
wedding. Then week spent in Rush
vile before final fareWellS were said
on March 8, 1886. The hundredth
anniversary of this date was OBJ
served as "Whitmans' Day" in Ore
gon and Washington.
By sleigh and stage the Whitmans
travelled to Pittsburgh over roads
which constantly held them back
as melting SHOWS turned them to
running rivers of mud. On their way,
as they passed through Williams
port, Pa, they overlook Dr. and Mrs
Benedict Satterlee, missionaries to
| the Pawnees. Mrs. Satterlee was ill,
utterly unfit to make such a trip,
but she seemed to improve slightly
| until they had spent some time at
Liberty Landing, where she died.
At Pittsburgh the Whitmans, Sat-
terlees, and the two Indian boys
boarded a little river boat which
laboriously worked upstream, some
times grounding on sandbars and
tying up. at night. When they ar
rived in Cincinnati on Friday. March
18, the SpaldingS were waiting rather
anXioUslv. E=--.s.a
A letter had arrived from Greene
of the American Board definitely
approving Spalding's going with the
Whitmans. The Company left Gin
cinnati on March %, boarding the
steamboat JuniuS bound for st.
Louis. They expected to reach their
destination before the Sabbath, but
there were many delays. To avoid
travelling on that holy day. they got
off the boat at the little village of
Chester, Illinois. The old minister.
who had lived in that little pioneer
community for years without such
guests, said that their unexpected
coming was like angels visit"
Providentially it seemed to the mis-
sionaries, the steamboat Majestic I'm.
expectedly appeared in the river the
next morning to take them on. Fog
further delayed them, and they did
not reach St. Louis until Tuesday
evening, March %.
At the st. Louis post office was
found an official communication
from the Secretary Of War, but no
personal letters for either Marcus or
Narcissa from Rushville and An
gelica. The war department d0cu-
ment gave Spalding and Whitman
the right to reside in the Oregon
Country, which was then jointly oc-
cupied by America and Great Bril-
tain and which was in reality for
eign land.
Arrangements were made with the
American Fur Company Tor one OF
its boats to stop at Liberty. the last
outpost within the nations borders.
to take the mission party to Bell
evue Cor Council Bluffs. where the
Company's train would be formed.
One day was spent doing business
and sightseeing. The Spaldings and
Mrs. Whitman went with friends to
visit the Catholic Cathedral. In his
Spalding book DR.. Drury remarks.
"Surely both the Spaldings and the
Whitmans would have viewed the
place with a different spirit had
they known that two OF the Nez
Perez Indian delegations had been
buried from the former Cathedral
in the fall of 1872
Nothing particul srly exciting hap
pened on the three-hundred mile
Journey up the Missouri to Liberty.
They took passage on the Charlton
Thursday noon, March 81. and
reached Liberty exactly week
later, on April T.
Then began wait Of three weeks
for the Fur Company's boat, which
had met with an accident. Day by
day they looked for it to appear.
meanwhile completing their preara-
tons for the journey.
For shelter they made a cOn1cal-
shaped tent out of oiled cotton bed
ticking" Their dishes were of tin.
and each carried his own knife in
| its scabbard, ready for use. Besides
food supplies and livestock. side
saddles and heavy farm wagon
were bought. The Spaldings' light
wagon was reserved for the women.
and it was to become famous as the
first wheeled vehicle to go beyond
the Rockies as far as Fort Boise.
One day they were surprised by
the arrival Of young man about
twenty-six years old who said he
| had been appointed by the American
Board to accompany them as mech
anic. His name was William II. Gray,
of whom a friend once said, II can
not learn that he has ever failed in
anything. except in becoming a
scholar"
Altogether, the party grew to ten
with the addition Of third Nez
Perez. whom they called Samuel
Temoni. hired man by the name OF
Dulin. and sixteen-year-old Iowa
named Miles Goodyear. On April
Is Gray and Spalding left Liberty
to go to Bellevue overland with the
tent and other equipment.
On April 80, Mrs Satterlee died
Sunday morning while the funeral
awaited Company boat passed by
l without StODnin0