Whitman's Ride Through Savage Lands Part 1

Whitman's Ride Through Savage Lands.

by Oliver Woodson Nixon.

PREFACE

_I respond with pleasure to the invitation to write a series of sketches of pioneer missionary history of early Oregon for young people. Its romantic beginnings, of the Indian's demand for "the white man's book of heaven," and especially to mark the heroic act of one who, in obedience to a power higher than man, made the most perilous journey through savage lands recorded in history. The same leading facts of history I have before used in my larger work, "How Marcus Whitman Saved Oregon." In this I have simplified the story by omitting all discussions with critics and historians, stated only as much of historic conditions as would make clear the surroundings, and have interwoven with all, real incidents from wilderness and savage life. They are not only the experiences of the heroic characters, but some of my own when the West was wild more than a half a century ago._

_O. W. N._

_Biloxi, Miss., January, 1905._

INTRODUCTION

No character in Sir Walter Scott's tales appeals more directly to my heart than "Old Mortality." He had a high and n.o.ble mission, to make live again the old-time worthies, and to keep in remembrance the brave deeds of the past. Any man who follows in his footsteps, and makes the world see in vivid light the heroes of another day, is to me a public benefactor. When, then, Dr. Nixon writes of "Whitman's Ride Through Savage Lands," and shows the force, wisdom, and unselfishness of Dr. Marcus Whitman and his accomplished wife, I feel like doing everything within my power to express my grat.i.tude and to secure the reading of his book.

The tale, as he tells it, is very interesting. It is a tale that has been often in the mind of the American public of late years, but it cannot be too often told nor too often pondered. It has in it the very elements that nurture bravery and patriotism. Dr. Nixon tells it well. In simple, straightforward language he gives us the whole story of Dr. Whitman's life-career, indicating the forces that inspired him and the results that attended his efforts. Dr. Nixon sees in the events of the story the guiding and determining hand of Providence.

With a wisdom justified by the needs of the ordinary human mind he calls attention to the part G.o.d himself had in the career of his hero, and thus he gives to his story an uplifting significance which a thoughtless reader might fail to note.

It is the glory of our American life that every part of our land has its splendid heroes. The Atlantic and Pacific coasts are one in having been the scenes where courage and devotion have expressed themselves. The earlier years of our national history brought into recognition the deeds of greatness done in the East. These later years are being used to make manifest the endurance and manliness that marked so much of settlement and progress in the West. Plymouth deserves its monument to the Pilgrims. So does Walla Walla deserve its monument to Dr. Marcus Whitman. From boundary to boundary of our wide domain we have had heroes, the stories of whose lives tend to make devotion to duty and allegiance to G.o.d transcendently beautiful.

Among such stories this of Dr. Whitman has high place. The personality of the author of it comes often to the front in his pages, but none too often. His own experiences serve to heighten the effect of the story, and give deeper impression to the facts narrated.

I look forward to the influence of this book with pleasure. I see boys and girls rising from the reading of it with clearer views of self-sacrifice, and with a more determined purpose to make their lives daring for the good.

The book carries with it a conviction of the worth of the best things, that is most healthy. It teaches important lessons concerning missionary helpfulness, that the reader accepts without being aware of the author's purpose.

A nation to have the lion's heart must be fed on lion's food. The story of Dr. Whitman is such food as may well nourish the lion heart in all youth, and develop in our American homes the n.o.blest and most attractive Christian virtues.

JAMES G. K. MCCLURE.

LAKE FOREST, ILLINOIS.

CHAPTER I

_The Lewis and Clark Centenary Exposition in Portland. The Great Captains. Their Guides, Hoe Noo Chee and Sacajawea (The Bird-Woman)._

A great Exposition of the arts and industries of the whole wide world is to be held this summer in the beautiful city of Portland, Oregon.

It is to commemorate the grand achievement of a few brave men and one brave woman, who lived, labored, and conquered a century ago. At the call of their commander, they exiled themselves from home and friends; they crossed the wide deserts, climbed through gorges and peaks of the "great Stony Mountains," struggled through the pathless forests of giant firs, lived among wild beasts, and wilder men, until they reached the pathless Pacific Ocean--that was then but a waste of water, where great whales sported and the seals found abundance of food amid rocky sh.o.r.es and islands for safe homes. Now teeming mult.i.tudes inhabit the fertile plains; through the rugged mountains pa.s.s the great highways of the world--along the charted coast are many ports, where white-winged fleets lie at anchor and the great black freighters load and unload the commerce of many lands. But Portland still retains many of the old landmarks. The beautiful Columbia River still flows by it to the sea, forests are not far away, and "the everlasting hills" are about it, with their white-capped peaks piercing the sky.

A hundred years ago, a vast and unknown wilderness stretched from the Mississippi to the Pacific Ocean--it was a land of mystery of unknown extent. Millions of wild cattle that we call buffaloes roamed over its plains, wild beasts hid away in its mountain fastnesses, the beavers and otters built their homes along its rivers, and wild tribes of savage men made pitiless war upon each other, though not dest.i.tute of many n.o.ble traits of character. The young republic of United States had far more territory east of the Mississippi than they could manage or protect, so gave small care or thought to what lay beyond. But one thing they had learned, that, for their own safety from foreign aggression, and the protection of their commerce, they must gain possession and control of the great river. Thomas Jefferson, that wise and far-seeing statesman whose name and fame grow as the years go on, was President at that memorable time of great opportunities, and through his influence with Congress induced them to make the great Louisiana purchase, which gave to our government the Southern and Gulf states, the control of the Mississippi River, and, as Jefferson believed and claimed, the whole country to the Pacific Ocean. He had, perhaps, but little knowledge of its vastness or its value, but it has been said that his friend, the great naturalist Audubon, who wandered up and down the world searching out its wonders and beauties, had told him many things about the great western country. So he again appealed to Congress for an appropriation to send out an expedition to learn something of the nature and value of their new possessions. The pitiful sum of two thousand five hundred dollars was allowed. Captains Lewis and Clark of the United States army were selected to lead the expedition, and with them were sent a botanist, a geologist, an engineer, and some soldiers, who were required each to make a full report of their journey, which took three years to accomplish. It is significant of the indifference of the government in the matter that these reports were sent to Washington and were laid aside for several years when--through Jefferson's influence again--the captains' reports were handed over to Richard Biddle of Philadelphia, who made a brief abstract of them, const.i.tuting one small volume, that pa.s.sed for many years as an account of the Lewis and Clark exploration, and it has not been until within the past three years that any genuine copy of these reports has ever been published. It is small wonder then that thirty years later Oregon remained an almost unknown and unclaimed country. The young captains and their company, full of enthusiasm for their work, made their preparations and purchased their supplies, mostly at their own expense, and left the last marks of civilization at St. Louis in the spring of 1804.

[Ill.u.s.tration: SACAJAWEA (THE BIRD-WOMAN).

Guide of the Lewis & Clark Expedition.]

The heroic little company made its first winter camp at Fort Mandan on the Upper Missouri, ready for an early start in the spring. The success of the expedition in a strange land through the long line of savage tribes was dependent largely upon a good guide and interpreter. Lewis and Clark had secured Toussaint Chabonneau, a Frenchman, who had renounced civilized life, married, and settled among the Indians. He had traveled over wide stretches of country, and had a small knowledge of the language of several tribes.

Sacajawea, the wife of Chabonneau, was a handsome Indian girl of seventeen years. She had been captured by the Minitaree Indians when a small child, from the Shoshone Indians far up in the Rocky Mountain region, held by them as a slave, and sold to the Frenchman who made her his wife. Sacajawea was delighted with the prospect of again journeying toward her old home, but continued to do the menial work for the company, as is customary for Indian women. Captains Lewis and Clark, before many weeks upon their journey, saw that their real guide and interpreter was not Chabonneau, but Sacajawea, his wife.

Their way along the great river proved the identical route which the captive child had taken from her home into slavery, and with Indian nature and sagacity, every notable spot remained in her memory. She told them of the streams in advance that flowed into the great river, and the tribes through which they were to pa.s.s; she told them her history; she was the daughter of the great chief of the Shoshone Indians, who were rich in land and horses. They owned large possessions reaching to the foot of the Rockies, to which they came during the summer months. It was there where she became a prisoner.

When they reached the place she ran like a child and pointed out the spot in the bushes where she hid to escape her enemies.

Captain Lewis said: "Our hope now is to find these Shoshones and their horses. Here we must leave our boats and prepare for mountain and land travel." Sacajawea explained the habits of her tribe the best she could, but it was a vast wilderness by which the company was surrounded. Both Captains Lewis and Clark with their best men scoured the country, and finally succeeded in finding the Shoshones, who had fled from their supposed enemies. They were led before the great chief Cameahowait. There they told of Sacajawea as best they could, which at once aroused attention. The chief ordered horses and provisions, and with many friends of the lost princess they went with Captain Lewis and his men to camp. Sacajawea recognized her brother, now head chief of the tribe, and as well the playmates of her childhood, and with tears in her eyes, and dancing with joy, she embraced them. The talk was long, for the Indian girl had to learn the fate of her family and friends. Had she desired she might have remained and resumed an easy life with her tribe.

Nothing now was too good for the white men, for they were brothers and friends. Sacajawea was their interpreter, and they received everything they needed for comfort, such as provisions and horses, for the journey to the Pacific and the return.

In meeting the many savage tribes and asking favors and permission to travel in safety through their domains, it was not the flag nor the guns they carried, but Sacajawea with the papoose upon her back and her wise diplomacy that opened the way and made them welcome. Upon the home journey the little Indian girl rode ahead with the captains, having richly earned her honors and the love of all. When the journey came to an end, Captains Lewis and Clark begged that Sacajawea and her husband accompany them to Washington, but Chabonneau preferred the wild life he had chosen, and the brave little woman dropped from civilized history.

Well may the women of beautiful Oregon in the coming Centennial take an honest pride in commemoration of the deeds of Sacajawea. It is most appropriate that the beautiful bronze to be then erected to her memory has been designed and executed by an American woman, Miss Alice Cooper, of Denver.

We copy these stanzas of a poem by Bert Hoffman, who epitomizes admirably the reasons for Sacajawea's honored place in this Centennial history:

_Sacajawea._

"The wreath of Triumph give to her; She led the conquering captains West; She charted first the trails that led The hosts across yon mountain crest!

Barefoot she toiled the forest paths, Where now the course of Empire speeds; Can you forget, loved Western land, The glory of her deathless deeds?

"In yonder city, glory crowned, Where art will vie with art to keep The memories of those heroes green-- The flush of conscious pride should leap To see her fair memorial stand Among the honored names that be-- Her face toward the sunset, still-- Her finger lifted toward the sea!

"Beside you on Fame's pedestal, Be hers the glorious fate to stand-- Bronzed, barefoot, yet a patron saint, The keys of empire in her hand!

The mountain gates that closed to you Swung open, as she led the way,-- So let her lead that hero host When comes their glad memorial day!"

The heroic explorers of a century ago richly earned the honors they are now to receive, and wherever and whenever the names of Lewis and Clark are spoken or written in honor there also should be the name of Sacajawea, the Indian girl of the wilderness.

Thus the crowning success of the great expedition which gave the United States its second strong legal claim to the whole grand Oregon country was shared by the brave, true, diplomatic Sacajawea ("the bird-woman"). Readers of the complete story to follow will not need to be reminded that the heroes and heroines who thirty years later braved danger and death to save beautiful Oregon to the Union were only making sure the grand work thus inaugurated.

In course of time vessels on voyages of discovery drifted around Cape Horn, sailed up the long coast line of the Americas, always searching for that which would bring them wealth. Finding the immense quant.i.ties of furs gathered by Indians in the Oregon country, both the Americans and the English established trading-posts on the coast.

The great Astor fortune that still remains in the family had its origin there. But the English had more money, more men, and more ships than the Americans, and before many years they ruled alone and the great "Hudson Bay Company" ruled the land. They established trading-posts eastward, and fleets of vessels carried the rich spoils of forest and ocean to all the countries of the world. At the time of the beginning of our story Dr. John McLoughlin was chief factor of the "Hudson Bay Company" and virtual king of the country. He was a n.o.ble old Scotchman, who had married an Indian wife to whom he was loyal and true all his life. He was kind and just to red men as well as white, and always ready to hold out a helping hand to all who came to him. But he served the English government and was always careful that no rivalry to the company he served should be allowed in the territory they claimed.

CHAPTER II

_The Visit of the Flathead Indian Chiefs to St. Louis. Was the Story Authentic? Incidents--the Banquet Speech--Sketches of Indian Life and Character. Hoo Goo Ahu and Sacajawea._

It was a beautiful morning in the closing days of October, 1831. The trees about St. Louis were robed in their gorgeous autumnal foliage.

High above came the "honk, honk, honk" of the wild geese, as in long, straight lines or in letter V's, they winged their way southward, while the birds were gathering in groups, chattering and arranging for their winter outing in warmer lands. The residents of the city were just arousing from their sleep, smoke was beginning to curl above the chimneys, shutters and doors were being opened for business activities, when the strange scene was presented of four Flathead Indian Chiefs, marching solemnly single file down the middle of one of the princ.i.p.al streets. At that date the now prosperous and great city of St. Louis was but a "frontier town," mainly noted as a military station, and Indians were not uncommon, as all the great and fertile country north and west was occupied by them. But these were new and unusual in appearance, and attracted attention. Their bare heads in front were as flat as boards, and their long hair was interwoven with eagle quills; their dress and dignified bearing all indicated notable men from some far-distant tribe that the people had not before seen.

[Ill.u.s.tration: CASCADES OF THE COLUMBIA. (B. H. Gifford, photo)]