Kate Mulhall A romance of the Oregon Trail
Upon reaching Fort Vancouver we met with a truly cordial reception.
That grand old autocrat Dr. John McLoughlin had word of our arrival,
came out to meet us and in the most courtly manner but with
unaffected ease and dignity, ushered us into his private apartments
where he said we were to be his guests during our stay. We greatly
enjoyed the hospitality of the Doctor, especially after our long and
tiresome journey; and have always looked back with sincere pleasure
to the whole-hearted welcome given us by the representative of
another nation, when we might reasonably have been considered in the
guise of intruders.
A day or so after our arrival, Jason Lee unfolded to Dr. McLoughlin
his plans for establishing a Mission among the Flathead Indians. The
Doctor listened patiently as Rev. Mr. Lee related the details
connected with the project; and then while expressing the
satisfaction he felt at having a Mission located somewhere in the
country, he pointed out the stupendous task of conducting it so far
from a base of supplies.
Everything for the Mission must come by water around the Horn, be
unloaded somewhere on the lower Columbia, and then carried by
batteaux and pack animals a distance of five hundred miles
up-country--a very serious handicap. Jason Lee saw it in the same
light, but did not know what else to do.
Dr. McLoughlin suggested founding a Mission in the Willamette Valley
near French Prairie, where a small settlement of French-Canadians
already existed and there were Indians in the vicinity needing
spiritual as well as temporal enlightenment. Such a point would also
be reasonably accessible for receiving supplies by water.
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So convincing were the facts presented by Dr. McLoughlin in support
of the Willamette Valley as compared with the Flathead country for a
Mission location, that Jason Lee decided to accept his views and
followed his counsel. The Doctor also promised to assist it by every
means in his power compatible with his duties as Chief Factor of the
Hudson's Bay Company; and kept his word.
The Mission established in the Willamette Valley was conducted
successfully until measles and other epidemic diseases introduced by
the whites almost completely annihilated the native population, so
that in ten or twelve years after its founding there were no Indian
children to attend its school. During that time, however, the white
population increased rapidly by accessions to the missionary force,
many newcomers brought from "the States" by glowing descriptions sent
back by earlier arrivals, and the even stronger corroboration of the
surpassing advantages of the new country by men returning east for
missionary reinforcements.
In this again, my friends, I cannot but see the interposition of
Divine Providence. Had our Mission been established among the
Flatheads as originally intended, there would have been no such
influx of American citizens as afterwards followed into the disputed
territory to offset the prestige of the British claim, because that
remote interior region offered no such opportunities for settlement
as the salubrious climate and fertile valleys west of the Cascade
Mountains. So I may well say again, "God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform."
While I have told you, and truthfully, that the Methodists were the
first to answer the call from the Indians beyond the Rocky Mountains,
the Presbyterians and Congregationalists soon followed. In 1835 Rev.
Samuel Parker of Massachusetts, and Dr. Marcus Whitman of New York
State, were sent out by the Missionary Board of that church to
examine into the character and disposition of the tribes residing in
the region from which the {255} four Indians made the long journey to
St. Louis in search of the white man's religion, and report as to the
desirability of establishing a Mission among them.
With that purpose in view, Rev. Mr. Parker and Dr. Whitman crossed
the plains, and in the summer of 1835 arrived at a point in the Rocky
Mountains known as the "Rendezvous," a famous place for trappers and
Indiana to congregate for trading in furs and pelts. They found
encamped there several hundred Nez Perces and Flatheads just returned
from a successful buffalo hunt; and through an interpreter learned
that they were very anxious to have white religious instructors sent
out to them.
This convinced Rev. Mr. Parker that the field was a very promising
one. It was therefore agreed that he should accompany the Indians to
their homes and select a suitable location for a Mission site, while
Whitman would return east and arrange for a missionary party to go
out there under his charge the following spring.
Parker impressed upon Whitman the necessity of having the company
well equipped with everything essential for such an arduous
undertaking, and above all else to provide himself with a good wife.
The Doctor laughed and replied, "That is easier said than done;
however, I may make the attempt."
By their genial manners and evident sincerity of purpose, these two
advance missionary agents while at the Rendezvous won the confidence
of the assembled Indians to such an extent that they permitted
Whitman to select two or three young boys to return with him to "the
States," remain there for the winter, and accompany him back. The
Doctor knew that their presence would have the effect of stimulating
the Board to organize and equip a missionary party with the least
possible delay; and would be tangible proof that the Indians were
earnestly seeking religious instruction. Whitman also realized that
the boys would be of great assistance to the missionaries in crossing
the plains and mountains in the spring.
The Doctor and his wards experienced no serious difficulties on the
journey back to civilization, and arrived {256} at his home in
Rushville, Yates County, New York State, early in the winter. He was
dressed in the picturesque garb of the mountain men--buckskin coat
and trousers decorated with fringes on the arms and legs, moccasins
and bearskin cap, and had not been shaved for several months.
Reaching there late on a Saturday, Whitman did not go all the way
into the village or make his presence known until Sunday, when he
proceeded just as he was, and accompanied by the young Indians, to
the church where services were being held; entered, walked up the
aisle, and became the cynosure of all eyes in the congregation. At
first everyone wondered where the uncouth and wild looking individual
came from, and why he should interrupt the services. After gazing
intently at him for a moment or two his mother, who was in the
audience at the time, exclaimed, "Why if there isn't Marcus."
Services were immediately suspended, and all gathered around to
welcome the intrepid Doctor back from the wilderness, where he had
gone as a soldier of the Lord. He was the hero of the hour, and
every community in that part of the State made an effort to honor him.
But there was one locality where he seemed to relish the attentions
paid him more than in any other, and a house to which he made the
most frequent visits. It was not because of the genial hospitality
of the host--which was proverbial in the vicinity; nor altogether the
fascination of his conversation, though he was a man of culture and
refinement, to whom it was a treat to listen.
The admonition of Rev. Mr. Parker was uppermost in the Doctor's mind,
and beneath that roof dwelt the charming daughter of the household he
had known and admired for a long time, and who he hoped entertained
more than a passing regard for him. He now determined to press his
suit with all the energy of his forceful nature. But before telling
you the results of his efforts in that direction, I should give a
brief sketch of the early life of Narcissa Prentiss, a noble
character whose life and deeds will always occupy a very prominent
place among {257} the pioneers of the Oregon Country--more so,
indeed, than any other woman.
She was the daughter of Judge Stephen Prentiss, a highly respected
and well-to-do citizen of the Lake Region in New York State. Careful
attention was bestowed upon her early education and training, and
every possible advantage given her within reach of people in moderate
circumstances in that part of the country at the time.
In her early teens she is described as about the average in height,
the possessor of an unusually fine and well-rounded form, with blonde
hair and blue eyes. She had winning manners and a remarkably sweet,
well trained voice which naturally made her a popular leader in the
church choir and singing circles.
A romantic incident in her early life greatly impaired her happiness
in after years, as will subsequently appear. While attending the
village school one of the pupils, a boy her senior by a few years,
became enamored of her beauty and sprightly manners. He sang in the
same church choir, was a diligent scholar, had a good voice and was
generally acceptable; thrown together in this way, they became very
good friends. On her part this meant nothing more than congenial
companionship, but with him it ripened into a master passion.
In this frame of mind, he asked her to make a solemn promise to
become his wife as soon as circumstances would permit him to assume
the responsibility of providing suitably for her. She laughed
heartily at his boyish assurance, and said that she was entirely too
young to even think of such a thing; besides, when she did, he would
not appeal to her in that light. Even after this rebuff, he still
hoped that by making no further advances for the present, and abiding
his time, she would gradually come to look more favorably upon him.
A few years later Narcissa Prentiss had become one of the most
attractive young women in that portion of the State--not only
beautiful in person, but with a sweet and lovable disposition that
endeared her to all. She also had a serious turn of mind, and was
foremost in every {258} activity connected with the church of which
her family were members.
Narcissa had almost forgotten the school boy proposal when most
unexpectedly the young man, then about to be ordained for the
ministry, again appeared upon the scene. When he called at the
Prentiss home, she received him in the usual friendly manner and
treated him with the greatest cordiality, for they had been
pleasantly associated in the choir, Sunday School and religious
activities of various kinds, never having had any serious
disagreement--unless the incident already mentioned might be so
considered.
After conversing pleasantly for some time on general topics, he said,
"Narcissa, I have called upon you at this time for a special purpose.
You know that I am now about to become a minister of the gospel, may
be sent to distant parts and separated from all my friends of boyhood
days. This is not a pleasant prospect; but I could bear up under all
those things, sustained by the knowledge that it is in the service of
the Master, were it not that I would be leaving behind to me the most
precious thing on this earth--you, Narcissa, the idol of my
affections. Won't you accept the offer of my hand and heart, and be
my helpmate through life?"
Narcissa, who thought she had firmly squelched the earlier fancy, and
that he had long forgotten to think seriously of ever winning her
hand, was dumfounded. But now in far more earnestness than ever, he
had renewed the effort, apparently under the delusion that he might
be successful. In an instant her mind was made up what to say and
how to act; she must let him know once for all that such a proposal
was unwarranted and repugnant to her.
Arising and standing before him in all the dignity of her womanhood,
she asked, "Have I ever acted toward you in a way you might construe