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Show THE BULLETIN Whitman's Ride to "Save Oregon" Becomes Another Exploded Myth New Biography of the Martyred Missionary of the Pacific Northwest Sums Up the Evidence f 1842-4- 3 in a Famous Controversy and Shows That He Undertook His Heroic J in the Interests of His Church Rather Than for Political Reasons. 0 Weitorn Newspaper Union. By ELMO SCOTT WATSON half a century FOR accepted among popular beliefs the story of "Marcus Whitmans ride to save Oregon It for the United States. was a graphic recital that told how the pioneer missionary sped on horseback across the continent in midwinter to see President John Tyler and prevent his trading the Oregon country to Great Britain for some cod fisheries until Whitman could prove that American colonists were able to drive their wagons all the way from the East across the plains and over the Rockies to Oregon. Whitman, so the story goes, convinced the President and his secretary of state, Daniel Webster, that this could be done. Then he promoted the great migration which started over the historic Oregon Trail in 1843 and this migration poured so many American settlers into the Pacific Northwest that it gave the United States a better claim than Great Britain to the region when the final show-dow- n came a few years later. The only trouble with this story is that, like so many such patriotic yams, it had little foundation in fact. It was started back in 1865, nearly 20 years after Whitmans death. For the next two decades it was widely accepted and even included in some of our school books. However, in the eighties historians began to challenge its accuracy and a bitter controversy, that continued for another 15 years, was started. By 1900 scholars had pretty well established the fact that the n legend was without historical foundation. So authors of school histories began leaving the story out of their textbooks. Unfortunately, however, they omitted much that was true as well as much that was false. Recently there has appeared a biography of Whitman which sums up and evaluates all .the evidence available on the many disputed points of the story and it confirms the belief that Whitmans ride to "save Oregon properly belongs among the "exploded myths of history." This book is "Marcus Whitman, M. D. Pioneer and Martyr," written by Dr. Clifford Merrill Drury and published by the Caxton Printers, Inc., of Caldwell, Idaho. In it the author shows clearly that Whitman undertook his famous journey, not because of any pressing need for saving Oregon to the American Rag at that time, but because of a crisis in the affairs of the missions which he had helped establish in the Northwest; that, although he did go to Washington, his visit, there had little or no effect on legislation concerning the Oregon country; and that, while he played some part in the 1843 migration, it was not nearly so important as Whitman partisans would have us believe. Paradox It is a curious paradox that the man who was mainly responsible for propagating the "Whitman legend was the man who was chiefly to blame for bringing about the crisis that sent Whitman on his transcontinental journey. He was Reverend Henry Harmon Spalding. Spalding and his wife had accompanied Whitman and his bride, Narcissa Prentiss Whitman, when the American board of commissioners for foreign missions sent them to carry Christianity to the Indians of the Northwest in 1836. Several years previously Spalding had been a suitor for the hand of Narcissa Prentiss back in New York state and when she rejected him he consoled himself by marrying Eliza Hart in 1833. However, he seems to have brooded over his disappointment until he (iad something akin to hatred for the wife of his The journey of the Whitmans and the Spaldings across the continent took 6!i months and in itself is historically important because it was the first time that white women had ever crossed the continent. During the trip Spalding's animosity toward Mrs. Whitman cropped out and resulted in several unpleasant incidents. Arriving in the Northwest, the two families separated. The Spaldings established their mission on the Clearwater river in what is now Idaho aiid the Whit fellow-missionar- y. The flrst known published version of the Whitman-SaveOregon story was written by S. A. Clark and appeared in the Sacramento Union November IS, UN. This account was short and rather vague, but it gives the supposed conversation between Whitman and Webster. This account was reprinted in the Dansville (N. Y.) Advertiser May 4. 1863. Beginning with the May S3, 18CS, issue of the San Francisco Paciilc, a series of lectures by H. H. Spalding The tenth and eleventh of appeared. tha series, which were published on October 19 and November 9 of that year, gave fuller development to the theory that Whitman rode to save Oregon. Tha Astoria Marina Gazette for July and August. 1866, carried a similar account of Whitman's ride by W. H. Cray (one of tha missionaries associated with Whitd -- man). Marcus Whitman swimming his mans went 125 miles farther on and settled at Waiilatpu on the Walla Walla river in eastern Washington. During' the next two years the missions flourished. Then the American board began sending out other missionaries and this soon resulted in trouble. There were clashes of personality over minor matters, rivalries and jealousies in which Spalding became the chief troublemaker. Letters sent back to the mission board in Boston were filled with complaints against him by the other missionaries. It took months for communications to reach their destination and this delay contributed to the disorganization of the missionary work. However, Whitman and Whitman-Saved-Orego- A Curious The story of Marcus Whitmans ride affords an interesting study in how a legend develops. Dr. Drurys book contains two apThe pendices which discuss Cause of Whitman'; Ride and "The Whitman Controversy. In the latter he says: turu across the Grand river. tah in Utah, thence away down into New Mexico to Taos and Santa Fe and then follow the Santa Fe trail to Bents Fort on the Arkansas and from there go to Westport and across Missouri to St. Louis. Even though they avoided the peril of hostile Indians, their journey turned out to be a hazardous one. They met with deep snows and extremely cold weather while crossing the mountains. Several times they lost their way- and barely escaped freezing to death. Whitman was nearly drowned while swimming his horse across the Colorado river near the present site of Grand Junction, Colo. Later their supply of food ran out so they were reduced to killing their pack mules and even a dog, that accompanied them, to avoid starvation. Fortunately they met a party of hunters just in time and were guided to Taos, which they reached the middle of December. After resting there for a short time they pushed on to Bents Fort, where Lovejoy remained while Whitman joined a party of mountain men who were going to St. Louis. He arrived there on March 9 and pushed on to Washington. Whitman in Washington In the heat of the old controversy over the "Whitman legend, there were some who doubted that the missionary ever went to Washington. But Dr. Drury believes there is enough evidence to prove that he did and that he had interviews with President Ty- -. ler, with his friend, John C. Spencer, who was secretary of the treasury in Tylers cabinet, with - James M. Porter, secretary of war, and with Daniel Webster, secretary of state. As for the significance of that visit. Dr. Drury sums it up as follows: Statue of Whitman on the Witherspoon building in Philadelphia. his associates made a determined effort to solve their problems themselves and by 1842 they were apparently successful. Then, to their dismay, they received an order from the board instructing Whitman and Spalding to abandon their missions, recalling Spalding from the field and dividing the remaining missionaries among the other posts that had been established. It was this fact, according to Dr. Drury, that influenced Whitman to attempt the long journey to Boston, where he could go over the whole situation thoroughly with the board and try to convince its members that their order should be revoked. Moreover, since the influence of the Catholic' missionaries in the Oregon country was increasing and these missionaries were receivof the Huding the sons Bay company, the strongest factor in Great Britains claim to the territory he would bring back with him pious settlers" (of the Protestant faith) to settle in the vicinity of the mission stations. It was this secondary motive, enlarged out of all proportion to its importance by adherents to the legend, which has been emphasized in ascribing to Whitman's journey great political significance. Even without any such important motive, his ride" was heroic enough to deserve remembrance. He left Waiilatpu on October 3, 1842, accompanied by Asa Lawrence Lovejoy, who had come to Oregon that summer with a party of 114 emigrants led by Dr. Elijah White, newly appointed Indian agent for Oregon Territory. Arriving at Fort Hall two weeks later, they met a Hudson's Bay trader who warned them against taking the usual route east through South pass because of hostile Indians. So they turned south to go by a .'oundabout route, via Fort Uin Whitman-Saved-Orego- n Although Marcus Whitman rods East on million builncu, hia deep Interest In tha political destinies of Oregon cauied him to turn aiide while en route to Boston. There was a political purpose in Whitman's visit to Washington, for how else is it possible to explain his preset.ce in that city? However, it does not appear that his visit there was effective in shaping any government policy involving Oregon. No treaty affecting the Paciilc Northwest was then under consideration. The Oregon emigration movement had already started without Whitman's influence, and there were many in the East who were Just as concerned about Oregon's future as Whitman was himself. Whitman's visit to Washington was that of an enthusiastic friend of Oregon eager to pass on information which he considered of value to those occupying positions of high authority. The Anal bond which made Oregon a part of the Union was the presence of thousands of emigrants in Whitman was destined that territory. to play an important part In the emigrant movement, and in this respect he did more than any other single individual to save Oregon . . . When Whitman reported to the board of missions in Boston, his welcome was not a very cordial one. One of the members re- ceived him "quite roughly," sayWhat are you here for, ing, leaving your posts?" Later, however, he was treated more kindly and the members listened with interest to his report. The upshot of the matter was that Whitman prevailed upon the board to rescind its order and as one of the members wrote In the annual report: In view of the subject, the importance of sustaining the mission becomes much more' obvious and great. It is seen to have new, wider and more permanent bearings . . . They anticipate the wave of white population which is rolling westward. This wave did roll westward indeed, and Marcus Whitman, returning to Waiilatpu, saw it increasing each year until there was no longer any doubt whether England or America should own This emigration also Oregon. brought disaster to the man who had helped start it. For the settlers of 1847 brought with them in virulent form two white mens diseases" which began decimating the Indian tribes. Out of their resentment over this came the chain of events which led directly to the "Whitman Massacre" which began on November 29, 1847, and in which Dr. Whitman, his wife and 14 othert. lost their lives. Snoring Cause and Cure CLASSIFIED, DEPARTMENT; HOTELS By DR. JAMES W. BARTON e Bell Syndicate. WNU Service. HOTEL PLANDOMK. State St. igh.1 ing noises it is the automobile horn, the locomotive whistle, the siren of the ambulance or the fire truck that we have in mind. Noise is so harmful to the body and brain that all over the world London, New York, Paris, Berlin, and in smaller cities laws are now in force to lessen all noises. While this greet company were at dinner, an express arrived from Fort Colville, announcing the (to them) glad news that tha colony from Red River had passed the Rocky mountains and wera Colville. An exclamation of However, all noise la not outdoor! and one of the moat disto others is snornoises turbing rar ing. Snoring has been measured by the audiometer in sound units, the decibel, which. Is the smallest sound that can be heard by the normal ear. This machine shows that the sound of the snore ia 40 decibels which is equal to the sound of a noisy office or automobile. In Hygeia, Margaret McEnchem stated that, according to careful estimates, one out of every eight persons snores more or less regularly, and no doubt every person snores occasionally. How It May Be Cured. What is the cause of snoring and what can be dime about it? There are many causes of snoring but most cases are due to some obstruction to the breathing en-- L REV. H. II. SPALDING rged turbinate bones, bending to one side of the septum (the bone Joy bunt from the whole table, at first unaccountable to Doctor Whitman, till a and cartilage partition between the young priest, perhaps not so discreet adenoids in children. nostrils), ma the older, and not thinking that there was an American at tha table, sprang Many cases are due simply to lying to his feet, and, swinging his hand, on the back and letting the mouth "Hurrah for Columbia I (Oregon) America la too late; wa have got drop open. the country. In an instant, as by inThe noise from snoring is due stinct, Dr. Whitman law through the to vibrations while breathing in and whole plan, clear to Washington, Fort out of the soft palate and the uvula Hall and all. The American missionary im(the little portion of fleah hanging mediately excused himself from between the tonsils or the place the table, sprang upon his horse where the tonsils have been). and rode hastily to Waiilatpu. Lying on the left side when the When he arrived there his horse left side of the nose Is "blocked" was white with foam." He and the right side when the right sprang down and declared dra- side of the nose is blocked, prematically I am going to cross vents snoring because it allows the the Rocky mountains and reach wing or side of the nose to drop Washington this winter, God car- down, leaving more air space berying me through, and bring out cause nostril becomes more widely an emigration over the moun- open. tains next season, or this counHowever, as Margaret McEach-er- a try is lost. points out, the best plan to cure It made a pretty story, but the "snorer" Is to have him visit there are several weak points hi the family physician or the nose it. For, as Dr. Drury points out, and throat specialist and have obSpaldings account was written in the struction corrected. heat of controversy and bears more evit dence of an eloquent imagination than it does of historical accuracy. To begin Water and Reducing. It is often pointed out to overweights that as fat tissue holds so much water, if they would cut down on their water or liquid intake for three or four weeks, or until the body, by means of the water in all foods, has taken a definite amount of water from the foods, they would lose weight more rapidly. This is a point known to boxers, wrestlers, jockeys, and others whose weight must be kept within certain limits but seems to be unknown to a great many overweights. Overweights state that they always thought water was good for them because it washed out wastes, cleared out the kidneys, and added no weight. Water is good for everybody; every body needs it in order to work properly. But the body needs only so much water or liquids daily, and in fat individuals much of what is not used is stored away in the fat, just as the fat itself Is stored away in overweights because it is not used or needed. What most overweights forget is that all the water taken Into the system must be considered or accounted for; this means not only water, tea, coffee, milk, aoft and with, the Red River emigration came In hard drinks but also the water in 1841 and not in 1843, as Spalding's difoods ary itself bears testimony. Archibald food. For instance, semi-soli- d McKinlay Indignantly denied that any contain a great amount of water and such dinner party was ever held or any even the driest most solid food consuch taunt ever given. Drury then goes on to analyze tains some water. Nuts, dry cethe evidence in regard to the mo- reals and crackers may contain as tives which influenced Whitman much as 5 to 10 per cent bf water; fruits and vegetables contain a to go East and concludes thus: Since Whitman intended visiting Washgreat amount of water, some a ington. It must have been for a politias 85 to 95 per cent. high cal motive. Mission business would not have called him there. Granting that there waa this motive in Whitman's Gretna Green Marriages mir.d. we then can ask ourselves this decades Scotland's Gretna For question: "Would Whitman have made Green has been famed for its marthe perilous ride when he did if the fateful order of the board had never been riages of elopers, many, of whom Issued?'' were pursued by irate parents and The documentary evidence lndicatea that he would NOT have done so. The took their vows as hastily as posprimary eausa for hia departure on Oc- sible over a smithys anvil, for fear tober 3. 1842, was mission business, hut an irate relative would break up as a patriotic American citizen. Whitman planned befure he left Waiilatpu the proceedings. to visit Washington to lay before the authorities there tome information hit pollened and to speak in behalf of a cause "Jigger" Kind of Flea dear to his heart. The Jigger" is a kind of flea In the light of all the evidence which is found in offered in Dr. Drurys book it is has the habit of tropical countries, not difficult to accept his verdict the skin of the foot burying itself in of a per that "Whitman was one link in a son or an animal, iteither doesn't care chain which bound Oregon to the which. There it swells till it is the United States. lie was an imporsize of a small pea, causing the tant link, but not thr whole most intense irritation SALT LAKE to 81.86 Retse CLEAN Whan lx 1KNO NEVADA ite al tha HOTEL GOLDEN Ecu' teraert sag papular Imri we think of disturb-- . TIHEN VV However, as previously indicated in this article, it was H. H. Spalding who did most to propagate the idea that a political moNoise keep the nerve tense, the tive sent Whitman on his journey. Spalding did this with his nerves keep the muscles tense, so that in a noisy faclecture which was printed in the ' Sacramento Union, October 19, tory or office, fa1865, and reprinted as a Senate tigue or tiredness comes on sooner bedocument. cause tenseness of Spalding's story told in great detail how Whitman visited the the muscles tires British post of Fort Walla Walla Just as if (me were in September, 1842, and attended Naturally working. a dinner party at which there also if one Is kept were a number of Hudson's Bay alert by noise there men and some Catholic priests. is not much chance for rest or sleep. Then, according to Spalding: PRODUCTS CLAY -- - SEWER PIPE FLOWER FACE BRICK and POTS -- WALL COPING ALL CLAY PRODUCTS. SaW Laka CO. CLAY UTAH FIRE PHOTO FINISHING BoU - Coin. PHOTO DESEREI Bah Lake City. U. with Prints Dav NT stamp.. 25C SERVICE. P. O. Bax SS. PHOTOGRAPHY Film. Dnvutoped with FDCALBCOPE THE No ilft.pi. BLika t MS Boath Main iC 25 -h BUILDING MATERIAL BUCK CO. 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