The Quarterly of the Oregon Historical Society Part 12

DOc.u.mENTS.

TWO WHITMAN SOURCES.

Correspondence to the _New York Spectator_ which describes Doctor Whitman as a pa.s.senger on board the steamer Narraganset on Long Island Sound. Doctor Whitman is on his way from New York to Boston.

Editorial from the _New York Daily Tribune_ of March 29, 1843.

ARRIVAL FROM OREGON.

We were most agreeably surprised yesterday by a call from Doctor Whitman from Oregon, a member of the American Presbyterian Mission in that territory. A slight glance at him when he entered our office would convince any one that he had seen all the hards.h.i.+ps of a life in the wilderness.

He was dressed in an old fur cap, that appeared to have seen some ten years' service, faded, and nearly dest.i.tute of fur; a vest whose natural color had long since faded, and a s.h.i.+rt--we could not see that he had any--an overcoat, every thread of which could be easily seen, buckskin pants, etc.--the roughest man we have seen this many a day--too poor, in fact, to get any better wardrobe. The doctor is one of those daring and good men who went to Oregon some ten years ago to teach the Indians religion, agriculture, letters, etc. A n.o.ble pioneer we judge him to be, a man fitted to be chief in rearing a moral empire among the wild men of the wilderness. We did not learn what success the worthy man had in leading the Indians to embrace the Christian faith, but he very modestly remarked that many of them had begun to cultivate the earth and raise cattle.

He brings information that the settlers on the Willamette are doing well; that the Americans are building a town at the Falls of the Willamette; that a Mr. Moore of Mr.

Farnham's party, some sixty years of age, was occupying one side of the Falls, in the hope that [the] government would make him wealthy by the pa.s.sage of a preemption law; that the old man Blair, another member of the same party, was living comfortably a short distance above, as all who have read Mr. Farnham's travels will know that he deserves to do.

Doctor Whitman left Oregon six months ago; ascended the banks of the Snake or Laptin River to Fort Hall, and was piloted thence to Santa Fe by the way of the Soda Springs, Brown's Hole, the Wina, and the waters of the del Norte.

From Santa Fe he came through the Indians that have been removed from the States to Missouri. The doctor's track among the mountains lay along the western side of the Anahuac Range; and he remarks that there is considerable good land in that region.

We give the hardy and self-denying man a hearty welcome to his native land. We are sorry to say that his first reception, on arriving in our city, was but slightly calculated to give him a favorable impression of the morals of his kinsmen. He fell into the hands of one of our vampire cabmen, who, in connection with the keeper of a tavern house in West Street, three or four doors from the corner near the Battery, fleeced him out of two of the last few dollars which the poor man had.

[This editorial was quoted in full by the Boston _Advertiser_ of March 31st.]

From the _New York Spectator_, Wednesday evening, April 5, 1843.

CRUISING IN THE SOUND.

GENTLEMEN: Respecting the goodly Bay State I can say but little, because since I saw you, I have been only an occupant of steamboat and railroad cars. I had long supposed that a three-day trip to Boston was only hereafter to be a notion and reminiscence of olden time, but alas! I have had the stern reality of things as they "used to was." I left New York on Monday, in the Narraganset, at the usual time.

We had a rough trip into the Sound, and at 12 o'clock Captain Woolsey, with sound discretion, carried us into the New Haven Bay, where we anch.o.r.ed till Wednesday morning, when we proceeded to Stonington, and on going over [to?] the railroad and finding it in the vocative case, owing to the outbreak of the waters, we retraced our movements and again took boat, and made a pa.s.sage around Point Judith.

It is due to Captain Woolsey and his very gentlemanly aid, Mr. Richmond, to say that everything was done to make a large body of disappointed pa.s.sengers feel happy; good and plentiful meals were gratuitously provided, and it can hardly be possible that any wayfarer on this occasion left the Narraganset without a deep conviction that, under the severe and awkward circ.u.mstances of the pa.s.sage, all had been done that was possible to obviate the inconveniences and disagreeables of the pa.s.sage through the Sound. I would add that the boat worked well. We had a very pleasant set of pa.s.sengers. Among others I may mention the Hon. Robert Rantoul of Boston. This gentleman is by far the ablest man of the Democratic party in Ma.s.sachusetts, and unless I could see him embarked for Salt River, (which I think must be his final destination,) I would rather have him embark on the same boat in which I sail, than any other. He is a very interesting, affable man, of great research, and will, I doubt not, yet render good service to the country.

THE REV. DR. WHITMAN FROM OREGON.

We also had one who was the observed of all, Doctor Whitman, the missionary from Oregon. He is in the service of the American Board of Commissioners of Foreign Missions. Rarely have I seen such a spectacle as he presented. His dress should be preserved as a curiosity; it was quite in the style of the old pictures of Philip Quarles and Robinson Crusoe. When he came on board and threw down his traps, one said "what a loafer!" I made up my mind at a glance that he was either a gentleman traveler, or a missionary; that he was every inch a man and no common one was clear. The Doctor has been eight years at the territory, has left his wife there, and started from home on the 1st of October. He has not been in bed since, having made his lodging on buffalo robe and blanket, even on board the boat. He is about thirty-six or seven years of age, I should judge, and has stamped on his brow a great deal of what David Crockett would call "G.o.d Almighty's common sense." Of course when he reached Boston he would cast his sh.e.l.l and again stand out a specimen of the "humans."

I greatly question whether such a figure ever pa.s.sed through the Sound since the days of steam navigation. He is richly fraught with information relative to that most interesting piece of country, and I hope will shortly lay it before the good people of Boston and New York. Could he appear in New York Tabernacle--in his traveling costume--and lecture on the Northwest coast, I think there would be very few standing places. Much of his route was on foot and occasionally on horse or mule back, with a half-breed guide.

To avoid the hostile Indians he had to go off to the Spanish country, and thence to Santa Fe. A rascally hackman took him in at New York, and carried him from place to place at his whim and finally put him down near the Battery, close to his starting point, charging him two dollars, and it being midnight he succeeded in the vile extortion.

CIVIS.

In connection with our friend's communication we subjoin an interesting account of Doctor Whitman's mission, as given by Mr. Farnham in his travels in 1839 over the Rocky Mountains.

[Fills over one and a half columns.]

DOc.u.mENTS RELATING TO THE OREGON EMIGRATION MOVEMENT, 1842-43.

OREGON--PITTSBURGH MEETING AND DOCTOR WHITE'S REPORT.

The following paragraphs we find in several of the eastern papers this morning:

"_The Settlement of Oregon._--The meeting at Pittsburgh last week, reported that it was not expedient for American citizens to emigrate to Oregon until the United States Government had taken measures to secure and protect the emigrants in their rights.

We see, by a letter in the New York papers, that Elijah White, who went as United States agent to Oregon, and took with him a large party of emigrants, writes, under date of August 17th, that his party had increased to one hundred and twelve, although they had lost two, one by sickness and the other by accident. They started with nineteen wagons, and their journey had been slow and tedious; but they had pa.s.sed two thirds of the way, and were in excellent health and good spirits. A favorable opportunity for emigration will occur in April, through the aid of Mr. Fitzpatrick, at Independence. Mr. White advises those who intend to go to prepare light strong wagons, and to take no loading except cooking utensils, and provisions for four months. Mules are preferable to horses. He says no doubt exists as to ultimate success of the colony."

From the _Jeffersonian Republican_, September 17, 1842.

THE SETTLING OF OREGON.

We learn with gratification that it is at least rumored that an expedition is about to be got up in Saint Louis, to colonize the rich and interesting Territory of Oregon. To such as have so laudable and advantageous an enterprise in view, we are prepared and feel warranted in saying, that it rests not upon "rumor" that many of our fellow-citizens of upper Missouri intend emigrating to that highly celebrated region next spring, and will no doubt be glad to be joined by as many of the enterprising citizens of Saint Louis as may think it their interests to join them.

We learn from the "Oregon Correspondence Committee" of this place, that already they are beginning to receive names of gentlemen desirous of joining the expeditions, and from present indications, there seems to be no doubt remaining that there will be quite a large company formed. Let not those who now [have it?] in contemplation, draw back, but steadily persevere, and they may confidently promise themselves success. The country which they seek is no doubt one of equal attraction and advantages as any on the globe, and we rest a.s.sured that so soon as the number of inhabitants will justify, the fostering hand of a territorial government will be extended to it. Up then every pioneer, and let your cry be "Onward!"--_Western Missourian._

From the _Ohio Statesman_, March 7, 1843.

LETTER FROM AN OREGON EMIGRATION AGENT TO A FRIEND AT PITTSBURG.

WAs.h.i.+NGTON CITY, February 21, 1843.

DEAR SIR: Nothing of importance has transpired in Congress since my last. I am informed by members of the House of Representatives that the bill for the occupation and settlement of Oregon Territory will come before the House this week. It will pa.s.s when acted upon. It was referred to the Committee of Foreign Affairs. John Quincy Adams, chairman of the committee, reported back the same without amendment, on the 13th, and, as might have been expected from him, recommended that the bill do not pa.s.s. It is evident, notwithstanding, that the bill will pa.s.s when acted upon. Captain Stine [Steen], commanding the Dragoons at Fort Leavenworth, has addressed several letters to Dr. L. F. Linn and others, wis.h.i.+ng the Secretary of War to grant him permission to accompany us with the Dragoons. I have postponed an interview with the Secretary of War till I am ready to leave for the West. I have sent many doc.u.ments to you and others. You will please send some of them to your friends in Ohio, Wheeling, and other places, if you have any to spare. I have given the names of the several committees in Pittsburgh, and west of it, to a number of the members, who promise that they will continue to send all the doc.u.ments calculated to throw light on the subject of Oregon, etc.

I am happy to learn that the citizens of Pittsburgh take so warm an interest in the matter.

I am your most humble and obedient servant,

J. M. s.h.i.+VELY.

From the _Ohio Statesman_ of March 3, 1843.

The War Department made the following responses to the inquiries of Prof. Joseph Schafer for information as to provision of military escort in 1843 for body of emigrants going to Oregon:

First indors.e.m.e.nt.

WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, _Was.h.i.+ngton_, _September 5, 1902_.

Respectfully submitted to the Chief of the Record and Pension Office, War Department.