# Der Lutheraner_St. Louis Missouri_1848 09 19_S16
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16

ilatpu, Clear Water and Tschimakain. Last year, however, the station of the Methodists at Dalles was transferred to our brethren. Dr. Whitman had formerly the oversight of Waiilatpu; Mr. Spalding labored among the Nez Perces at Clear Water; and Messrs. Cells and Walker dwelt among the Flat Heads at Tschimakain. The station at Dalles was attended to by Mr. Hinmann, to whom a nephew of Dr. Whitman stood by as assistant.

Concerning the causes of that lamentable event, which has so unexpectedly darkened the prospects of the mission, Mr. Spalding says, as will be seen, nothing certain. The accounts which have appeared in the newspapers are certainly in part correct; but it is very questionable whether the whole truth is reported. Thus the confessions of Mr. Rogers that have been cited, which implicate Dr. Whitman and Mr. Spalding in a conspiracy against the Indians, are mentioned in no letter that has reached the mission house. The reader will not fail to note the part of the following communication which describes Mr. Spalding's meeting with a Roman Catholic priest. It appears, indeed, quite extraordinary that under such circumstances baptism was administered to the children of the murderers. And this occurrence gains an increased importance when we consider the unceasing exertions of the Romans to extend their influence over the Indians of Oregon. Within a few months a considerable reinforcement of priests and nuns has entered that remote region; at several points missions have been established, not far from Waiilatpu and Clear Water.

Although we have no ground to suppose that the Romanists have an immediate share in the murder of Mr. and Mrs. Whitman, yet it is possible that they have said and done something which has an unforeseen and unintentional connection with this sad event. As is said, Dr. Whitman expressed his fear that their measures would bring him harm; especially when the diseases (measles and dysentery), which had been brought by the immigrants from the United States and showed themselves so destructive to the Indians last autumn, were declared by the priests to be a judgment which God had sent upon the Americans on account of their heresy and wickedness. Some of the Cayuse chiefs refused at this time to hear his instruction any longer. However, a further discussion of this subject must be put off until more exact news has come in.....

The murder of Dr. Whitman and others is reported by Mr. Spalding in a letter of the 8th of January, 1848:

“I have the painful duty to inform you of a most lamentable event. I have, however, but little time for writing, as the messenger goes from here to the States tomorrow morning. I can now only state the dreadful fact, leaving the particulars to a future communication. Our dear brother and sister Whitman are murdered by the Indians, and with them twelve other persons, namely Mr. Rogers, who for two years had been preparing for the ministry, with the intention of devoting himself to our mission; John and Francis Sagar, the two eldest boys of the orphan children; Mr. Kimble of Indiana, Saunders, Hall, Marsh, Hoffmann of Elmira, New York, Gillan, Young, Sails, and Bulee, of the last immigration, who had remained at the station to winter there. The first three have left numerous families behind.

The massacre took place on the 29th of November, 1847. Mr. Smith and his family were at the sawmill, 20 miles away; likewise Mr. Young, his wife and his three sons. On the following day Mr. Young came to the station for provisions, and was killed. The rest were sent for nine days after the dreadful deed, and their lives were granted them, that they might take charge of the flour mill. But women and children, forty-eight in number (including my eldest daughter, who was at the station at the time), were made slaves by the murderers and treated in the most cruel and brutal manner.

Eight days after the first murder Messrs. Sails and Bulee, two young men who lay sick, were torn from their beds, slaughtered, and most horribly cut in pieces, in the presence of the women and children; their dead bodies lay 48 hours near the door in filth and blood; the prisoners, among whom was a sister of Bulee, were compelled to step over them, and to fetch wood and water. No one was permitted to wash and bury them until two Nez Perces came.

Dr. Whitman had just returned from the burial of an Indian child and was occupied in reading. In order to divert his attention, an Indian pretended as though he wished to ask him for medicine, while another stepped behind him and struck him with a tomahawk on the back of his head. A second blow on the crown stretched him lifeless on the ground. Thereupon Tilaukait, one of the first chiefs, who had received countless proofs of love from the Doctor and was just about to be received into the church, threw himself upon the body and mangled it frightfully, cutting head and face to pieces, tearing out the heart, etc., and scattering it in the mire. Other bodies were treated as cruelly; the little captive girls were forced to step over them often, in order to torment them. They lay 48 hours (from Monday to Wednesday) about in the yard. No one was permitted to take them up and bury them. Even the afflicted widows were not permitted to go out and to sweeten the last moments of their dying husbands, some of whom long tormented themselves in the agony of death.

Mrs. Whitman fled upstairs, where she received through the window a wound in the breast. Mr. Rogers followed her; they were persuaded, however, to come down, as the Indians promised not to kill them. Nevertheless they were at once dragged to the door and shot. Mrs. Whitman died immediately. Mr. Rogers suffered still a long time. Mr. Osborn, who was sick and hid with his sick family under the floor, heard him, as he lay in filth and blood, frequently say: “LORD JESUS, come quickly,” until his voice failed him. Mr. Hall fled from the Indians, reached Walla Walla, crossed the Columbia and took his way to this place; but he has not yet arrived; and Indian reports say he is killed.

Mr. Canfield fled, after he was wounded, hid himself in an upper room until dark, then fled four miles, and hid himself in the bushes during Tuesday. During the day he heard several guns, and since my return from Utilla was expected on that day, he considered it certain that I had fallen. By night he took the direction toward my station; and, although a stranger, he reached it nevertheless, by God's help, on Saturday, and brought the dreadful tidings, saying that I was probably killed and my daughter naturally among the prisoners. Mrs. Spalding at once sent an Indian out to rescue Eliza, if possible.

Mr. Osborn and his sick family fled that night about three miles and hid themselves in the bushes. On the following day they traveled about five miles, when Mrs. Osborn was left behind. Mr. Osborn took a child, leaving his wife with two children, reached Walla Walla, where he found horses and a friendly Indian, and after long wandering and searching they reached the Fort on Friday night; during the whole time Mrs. Osborn and the children had nothing to eat. Mr. Stanley, a painter, was on the return from Shimakaie to Waiilatpu; but when he was two miles distant from the bloody scene, he learned from a little girl that at that place all were dead. He escaped to Walla Walla. A Nez Perce, who was present and a witness of that dreadful occurrence, set out on Friday and reached Clear Water on Sunday and brought the news that I had escaped the Indians and had taken the direction toward the Willamette. Meanwhile my happy arrival, which took place, with God's help, on Monday night, removed the dreadful uncertainty from the soul of Mrs. Spalding.

(To be concluded.)

Notice.

To the preachers of the St. Louis Conference District of the German Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and other States, it serves hereby for information that our conference this year is to be held from the 13th to the 16th of the coming month of October at Neumelle, St. Charles Co., Mo., (13 miles from the Missouri and 45 miles from St. Louis).

G. H. Löber.

Notice.

The “Gespräche zwischen zwei Lutheranern über den Methodismus,” contained in the preceding volume of the Lutheraner, have been printed separately — in pamphlet form — and are to be had, in whole and in parts, at 5 cents for 2 copies, of F. W. Barthel.

Received

for the Synodical Mission Fund:

$1.00 from Mr. Kerkhof.
25 cents from Mr. Schneller,
$1.00 from Mr. Hermann.
$1.47½ from various congregation members in St. Louis.

Paid.

The 2nd half of the 3rd volume. Mr. Rösner.
The 1st half of the 4th volume. The Messrs. Nicol. Koch, Rösner.
The 4th volume. The Messrs. Chr. Bende, Ellerbusch, Ernst Jansen, P. Löber (for Roth), Mich. Thomas.
The 1st half of the 5th volume. The Messrs. Phil. Bücher, Nicol. Koch.
The 5th volume. Mr. P. Löber (2 copies), Heinr. Biermann.

Printed by Arthur Olshausen,
Publisher of the Anzeiger des Westens.