An illustrated history of Klickitat, Yakima and Kittitas counties; with an outline of the early history of the state of Washington, Part 13

Author: Interstate publishing co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: [Chicago] Interstate publishing company
Number of Pages: 1146

USA > Washington > Kittitas County > An illustrated history of Klickitat, Yakima and Kittitas counties; with an outline of the early history of the state of Washington > Part 13
USA > Washington > Yakima County > An illustrated history of Klickitat, Yakima and Kittitas counties; with an outline of the early history of the state of Washington > Part 13
USA > Washington > Klickitat County > An illustrated history of Klickitat, Yakima and Kittitas counties; with an outline of the early history of the state of Washington > Part 13

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Dr. Whitman had attended an Indian funeral on the morning of the fatal 29th of November. After his return he remained about the house,

and is said to have been reading in his Bible when some one called him to the kitchen, where John Sager was. His voice was heard in conver- sation with an Indian, and soon after the work of slaughter began. Whitman was tomahawked and shot. John Sager was overpowered, cut and gashed with knives; his throat cut and his body pierced with several balls from short Hudson's Bay muskets. Mrs. Whitman, who was in the dining-room, hearing the tumult, began wringing her hands in anguish and exclaiming, "O, the Indians! the Indians!" The Osborn family hid themselves under the floor of the Indian room. Having done their dreadful work in the kitchen, the Indians engaged in it joined others in the work of despatching such of the American men and boys as they could find on the outside. Mrs. Whitman ran to the assistance of her husband in the kitchen. Women from the mansion house came to her aid, as did also Mr. Rogers, who had been twice wounded, but the noble doctor, though still breathing, was past all human assistance. Mr. Kimball, with a broken arm, came into the house, and all engaged in fastening the doors and removing the sick children up-stairs.

Without all was din and turmoil and fury. Retreating women and children screaming in dreadful anguish, the groans of the dying, the roar of musketry, the unearthly yells of frenzied savages, maddened with a diabolical thirst for human blood, the furious riding of naked, dusky horsemen, insane with excitement, the cries of despair and the fierce, exultant shouts of infuri- ated fiends mingled together to create a scene which for terror and despair on the one side and devilish atrocity on the other has few parallels in human history. No pen has power to describe it adequately and no imagination is equal to its full reconstruction.

Having killed all the male representatives of the hated American race to be found without, the Indians turned again to the doctor's house. Mrs. Whitman, venturing too near a window, was shot through the breast. The doors were battered down and the window smashed. By the time the Indians had gained an entrance to the build- ing, Mrs. Whitman, Mrs. Hays, Miss Bewley, Catherine Sager and Messrs. Kimball and Rogers and the three sick children had taken refuge in an up-stairs room, whence Mrs. Whitman and Mr. Rogers were soon summoned by the Indians. As they did not comply with the request to come down, Tamsucky started up-stairs after them, but seeing a gun so placed (by Miss Bewley) as to command the stairway, he became frightened and advanced no further. He, however, urged Mrs. Whitman to come down, assuring her that she would not be hurt. On learning that she had been shot, he expressed great sorrow, and upon being assured that there were no Americans in the room waiting to kill him, Tamsucky at last went up-stairs and engaged in conversation with

CENTRAL WASHINGTON.

the people there, in the course of which he reit- erated expressions of sorrow for what had hap- pened and desired the white men and women to retire to the mansion house, as the building they then occupied might soon be destroyed by fire. Eventually, Mrs. Whitman started down, assisted by Mr. Rogers and Mrs. Hays. Her wound, or the sight of her mangled and dying husband, or both, caused a faintness to come over her, and she was laid on the settee. As this was borne out of the door, a volley was fired into it and those who bore it, killing or fatally wounding Mr. Rogers, Mrs. Whitman and Francis Sager, the last-named, according to Gray, being shot by Joe Lewis.

Not content with destroying the lives of their victims, the Indians gave vent to their savage spleen by heaping upon the dead and dying such indignities as they could. The noble face of the good doctor, a face that had expressed no senti- ments but those of kindness toward the dusky savages, was hacked beyond recognition, while the doctor still breathed, by the tomahawk of Tiloukaikt; the matronly features of Mrs. Whit- man were lashed unmercifully with whips, and her body was rolled contemptuously in the mud; John Sager was terribly gashed with knives, and the remains of other victims were treated with similar indignities.

Joe Lewis, the darkest demon of the tragedy, went to the school-room, sought out the innocent children, who, terrified, had hidden themselves in the loft above, and brought them down to the kitchen to be shot. For a time they stood hud- dled together, guns pointed at them from almost every direction, expecting the order to be given at any moment which should occasion their death. Eliza, daughter of Rev. H. H. Spalding, was among them. Being acquainted with the Indian language, she understood every word that was said regarding the fate of herself and the other children, and her feelings, as she heard the Indians beseeching their chief to give the order to shoot, may be imagined. That order was never given, thanks, it is claimed, to the inter- position of Joseph Stanfield, and the children were led away by two friendly Walla Wallas to a place of seclusion and temporary safety.

When night closed down upon this scene of savage cruelty and destruction, the Indians with- drew to the lodge of Tiloukaikt to review the day's proceedings and consult as to future opera- tions. The killed on this first day of the mas- sacre were Dr. and Mrs. Whitman, Mr. Rogers, John and Francis Sager, Messrs. Gilliland (Gray calls him Gillan), Marsh, Sanders and Hoffman. Mr. Osborn and family had taken refuge under the floor of the Indian room at the first outbreak. There they remained until night, when they stole out and sought safety in the brush. Eventually, after enduring terrible hardships, they reached Fort Walla Walla, where McBean, yielding to

their importunity, reluctantly furnished them a blanket or two and enough victuals to sustain life. Mr. Canfield, wounded, fled to the black- smith shop, thence to the mansion house, where he secreted himself until the coming of darkness, when he stole away to Lapwai. Mr. Hall escaped by snatching a gun which had missed fire from an Indian and protecting himself with it till he reached the cover of the brush, whence he escaped to Fort Walla Walla. He was put across the Columbia river by Mr. McBean, and started for the Willamette valley, but was never after- ward heard of. Mr. Kimball and the four sick children, who remained in the attic which Mrs. Whitman and Mr. Rogers were induced by the treachery of Tamsucky to leave, were forgotten by the Indians in their excitement and were left unharmed the first day. Crocket Bewley and Amos Sales, both sick, were spared for reasons unknown until Tuesday, December 7th, when they were cruelly butchered in their beds.

The morning of November 30th, Mr. Kim- ball, induced by the suffering of himself and the sick children to seek water, was discovered and shot. The same fate overtook James Young, who, ignorant of the massacre, had come from the saw-mill with a load of lumber. On this day, also, two sons of Donald Munson, of the Hudson's Bay Company, who were attending school at the station, also a Spanish half-breed boy, whom Dr. Whitman had raised, were sent to Fort Walla Walla, for the Indians had no quar- rel with any but Americans.

Wednesday, December Ist, Rev. J. B. A. Brouillet, one of the Catholic priests before-men- tioned, arrived at the scene of desolation. He assisted Joseph Stanfield in the work of prepar- ing the dead for burial. In his "Authentic Account of the Murder of Dr. Whitman," this priest makes this statement concerning his visit:

"After having finished baptizing the infants and dying adults of my mission, I left Tuesday, the 30th of November, late in the afternoon, for Tiloukaikt's camp, where I arrived between seven and eight o'clock in the evening. It is impossible to conceive my surprise and conster- nation when upon my arrival I learned that the Indians the day before had massacred the doctor and his wife, with the greater part of the Ameri- cans at the mission. I passed the night without scarcely closing my eyes. Early the next morn- ing I baptized three sick children, two of whom died soon after, and then hastened to the scene of death to offer to the widows and orphans all the assistance in my power. I found five or six women and over thirty children in a condition deplorable beyond description. Some had just lost their husbands, and the others their fathers, whom they had seen massacred before their eyes, and were expecting every minute to share the same fate. The sight of these persons caused me to shed tears, which, however, I was obliged

THE CAYUSE WAR.

to conceal, for I was the greater part of the day in the presence of the murderers, and closely watched by them, and if I had shown too marked an interest in behalf of the sufferers, it would have endangered their lives and mine; these, therefore, entreated me to be on my guard. After the first few words that could be exchanged under those circumstances, I inquired after the victims, and was told that they were yet un- buried. Joseph Stanfield, a Frenchman, who was in the service of Dr. Whitman, and had been spared by the Indians, was engaged in washing the corpses, but being alone, was unable to bury them. I resolved to go and assist him, so as to render to those unfortunate victims the last ser- vice in my power to offer them. What a sight did I then behold! Ten dead bodies lying here and there covered with blood and bearing the marks of the most atrocious cruelty, some pierced with balls, others more or less gashed by the hatchet. "

It is a well-known fact that the lives of the women and children of the mission were more than once in jeopardy. How near they came to being sacrificed at one time appears from the fol- lowing language of Brouillet, who was writing in defense of Joseph Stanfield:

It was on the morning of the day that followed the massacre. There were several Indians scattered in the neighborhood of the mission buildings, but especially a crowd of Indian women was standing near the door of the house in which all the white women and children were liv- ing. Stanfield, being then at a short distance from the house, Tiloukaikt, the chief of the place, came up and asked him if he had something in the house. "Yes," said Stanfield, 'I have all my things there." "Take them away." said the Indian to him. "Why should I take them away? They are well there." "Take them off," he insisted, a second time. "But I have not only my things there; I have also my wife and children." "Yes," replied Tiloukaikt, who appeared a little surprised; "you, have a wife and children in the house! Will you take them off?" "No." replied Stanfield, "I will not take them away, and I will go and stay myself in the house. I see that you have bad designs; you intend to kill the women and chil- dren; well, you will kill me with them. Are you not ashamed ? Are you not satisfied with what you have done? Do you want still to kill poor, innocent children that have never done you any harm ?" "I am ashamed," replied Tiloukaikt, after a moment's hesitation. "It is true, those women and children do not deserve death; they did not harın us; they shall not die." And, turning to the Indian women who were standing near the door of the house waiting with a visible impatience for the order to enter and slaughter the people inside, he ordered them to go off. The Indian women then became enraged, and, show- ing the knives that they took from beneath their blankets, they insulted him in inany different ways, calling him a coward, a woman who would consent to be governed by a Frenchman; and they retired, apparently in great anger for not having been allowed to imbrue their hands in the blood of new victims. The above circumstance was related at Fort Walla Walla to Mr. Ogden, by Stanfield himself, under great emotion, and in presence of the wid- ows, none of whom contradicted him.

But though the lives of all the women of the mission except Mrs. Whitman were spared, some of these unfortunates were overtaken by a fate

worse than death. The excitement of the mas- sacre kept the minds of the Indians distracted from thoughts of other crimes until Saturday following the outbreak, when Tamsucky seized upon one of the girls and compelled her to be subject unto him. The fifteen-year-old daughter of Joseph Smith, from the saw-mill, was appro- priated by the two sons of Tiloukaikt, her father, it is said, being so terrified by the danger he was in as to yield consent; and Susan Kimball was taken to the lodge of Tintinmitsi, or Frank Esca- loom, the Indian who had killed her father. It is said that by claiming Mrs. Hays as his wife, Joseph Stanfield saved her from violation. The names of other possible victims of this reign of terror have never come to light, though it has been stated that even little girls were subjected to outrage. In order to involve Five Crows in their guilt and so secure his assistance in case of war, he was offered his choice of the American girls for a wife. He picked on Miss Bewley; sent a horse and an escort for her and had her brought to his home on the Umatilla. The bishop and his priests there have been severely criticized for refusing her protection from the embraces of Five Crows, and their failure to shield her has been made to argue their complic- ity in the massacre. It is likely, however, that fear for their lives overcame their better natures. The same charity which condoned in a measure at least the cowardice of Smith in consenting to the violation of his own daughter, and of other captives in assenting to the slanderous reports about Dr. Whitman's poisoning the Indians, should be extended to these priests also.

At the time of the massacre, Rev. H. H. Spalding was in the country of the Cayuses. He took supper with Brouillet on the evening of the fatal 29th. The next day was spent by him in concluding his visits to the sick of the neighbor- hood, and on Wednesday, December Ist, he set out on horseback for Whitman's station. When near Waiilatpu, he met Brouillet returning after having assisted Stanfield in burying the dead; also his interpreter and Edward Tiloukaikt. Speaking of their interview, Brouillet says:

Fortunately, a few minutes after crossing the river (Walla Walla), the interpreter asked Tiloukaikt's son for a smoke. They proposed the calumet, but when the moment came for lighting it, there was nothing to make a fire. "You have a pistol," said the interpreter; "fire it and we will light." Accordingly, without stopping, he fired his pistol, reloaded it and fired again. He then commenced smoking with the interpreter without thinking of reload- ing his pistol. A few minutes after, while they were thus engaged in smoking, I saw Mr. Spalding come galloping towards me. In a moment he was at my side, taking me by the hand, and asking for news. "Have you been to the doctor's?" he inquired. "Yes," I replied. "What news?" " Sad news." "Is any person dead?" "Yes, sir." "Who is dead? . Is it one of the doctor's children?" (He had left two of them very sick.) "No," I replied. "Who then is dead?" I hesitated to tell him. "Wait a moment," said I; "I cannot tell you now." While Mr. Spalding was asking me these different questions, I had spoken to my inter-

CENTRAL WASHINGTON.

preter, telling him to entreat the Indians in my name not to kill Mr. Spalding, which I begged of him as a special favor, and hoped that he would not refuse me. I was waiting for his answer, and did not wish to relate the dis- aster to Mr. Spalding before getting it, for fear that he might, by his manner, discover to the Indian what I had told him, for the least motion like flight would have cost him his life, and probably exposed mine also. The son of Tiloukaikt, after hesitating some moments, replied that he could not take it upon himself to save Mr. Spalding, but that he would go back and consult with the other Indians; and so he started back immediately to his camp. I then availed myself of his absence to satisfy the anxiety of Mr. Spalding.

The news completely paralyzed Mr. Spalding for a moment. "Is it possible? Is it possible?" he exclaimed. "They will certainly kill me." "I felt the world all go out at once," he told Mrs. Victor in referring to the incident eighteen years later, "and sat on my horse as rigid as a stone, not knowing or feeling anything." Brou- illet urged him to arouse himself and decide quickly what to do. He determined to seek safety in flight, and receiving a little food from the priest, started post-haste for Lapwai. Trav- eling most of the way on foot, his horse having been lost, he reached the home of Colonel William Craig about a week later. There he found Mrs. Spalding, who, receiving from Mr. Canfield word of the massacre, of her daughter's captivity and of the probable death of her hus- band, had removed from the mission to Craig's home.

Spalding encouraged the Nez Perces to remain neutral, for Cayuse emissaries were already seeking their friendship and support. He wrote a letter to the priests informing them of his safe arrival, expressing a wish for peace and promising to endeavor to secure it. This was conveyed by two Nez Perces-Inimilpip and Tipialanahkeit-to the Catholic mission, the Indian couriers encouraged the Cayuses to sue for peace, and the bishop advised a meeting of the chiefs to decide upon some course of action. Accordingly, on the 20th of December, Tilou- kaikt, Five Crows, Camaspelo and a number of others met in council at the mission, Bishop Blanchet and Revs. Brouillet, Rosseau and Le Claire being also present.

The result of their deliberations was the fol- lowing manifesto, dictated to the bishop:

The principal chiefs of the Cayuses in council assem- bled state: That a young Indian who understands English and who slept in Dr. Whitman's room, heard the doctor, his wife and Mr. Spalding express their desire of possess- ing the lands and animals of the Indians; that he stated also that Mr. Spalding said to the doctor: "Hurry giving medicines to the Indians that they may soon die;" that the same Indian told the Cayuses: "If you do not kill the doctor soon, you will all be dead before spring:" that they buried six Cayuses on Sunday, November 28th, and three the next day; that the schoolmaster, Mr. Rogers, stated to them before he died that the doctor, his wife and Mr. Spalding poisoned the Indians; that for several years past they had to deplore the death of their children; and that according to these reports, they were led to believe that

the whites had undertaken to kill them all; and that these were the motives which led them to kill the Americans.

The same chiefs ask at present:

First, that the Americans may not go to war with the Cayuses.

Second, that they may forget the lately committed murders as the Cayuses will forget the murder of the son of the great chief of the Walla Wallas, committed in Cali- fornia.

Third, that two or three great_men may come up to conclude peace.

Fourth, that as soon as these great men have arrived and concluded peace, they may take with them all the women and children.

Fifth, they give assurance that they will not harm the Americans before the arrival of these two or three great men.

Sixth, they ask that 'Americans inay not travel any more through their country, as their young men might do them harm.

Place of Tauitowe, Youmatilla, 20th December, 1847.

Signed:

TILOUKAIKT, CAMASPELO, TAUITOWE, ACHEKAIA.

Meanwhile, forces were at work for the relief of the captive men, women and children. Peter Skeen Ogden, of the Hudson's Bay Company, had heard of the massacre and had set out from Fort Vancouver for the purpose of ransoming the helpless Americans. He arrived at Fort Walla Walla on the evening of the 19th of Decem- ber, and by the 23d had arranged a council, which was attended by Chiefs Tauitowe and Tiloukaikt, with a number of the young Cayuses, also by Blanchet and Brouillet. Ogden's speech on this occasion is a marvel of mingled boldness and diplomacy. He said :

I regret to observe that all the chiefs whom I asked for are not present-two being absent. I expect the words I am about to address to you to be repeated to them and your young men on your return to your camps. It is now thirty years since we have been among you. During this long period we have never had any instance of blood being spilt, until the inhuman massacre, which has so recently taken place. We are traders and a different nation from the Americans. But recollect, we supply you with ammu- nition not to kill the Americans. They are of the same color as ourselves, speak the same language, are children of the same God, and humanity makes our hearts bleed when we behold you using them so cruelly. Besides this revolting butchery, have not the Indians pillaged, ill- treated the Americans, and insulted their women, when peacefully making their way to the Willamette? As chiefs, ought you to have connived at such conduct on the part of your young men? You tell me your young men committed the deeds without your knowledge. Why do we make you chiefs, if you have no control over your young men? You are a set of hermaphrodites, and unworthy of the appellation of men as chiefs. You young hot-headed men, I know that you pride yourselves upon your bravery, and think no one can match you. Do not deceive yourselves. If you get the Americans to com- mence once, you will repent it, and war will not end until every one of you is cut off from the face of the earth. I am aware that a good many of your friends and relatives have died through sickness. The Indians of other places have shared the same fate. It is not Dr. Whitman that poisoned them, but God has commanded that they should die. We are weak mortals and must submit, and I trust you will avail yourself of the opportunity to make some repara- tion. By so doing it may be advantageous to you, but at

THE CAYUSE WAR.

the same time remember that you alone will be responsible for the consequences. It is merely advice that I give you. We have nothing to do with it. I have not come here to make promises or hold out assistance. We have nothing to do with your quarrels; we remain neutral. On my return, if you wish it, I shall do all I can for you, but I do not promise you to prevent war.

If you deliver me up all the prisoners, I shall pay you for them on their being delivered, but let it not be said among you afterward that I deceived you. I and Mr. Douglas represent the company, but I tell you once more we promise you nothing. We sympathize with these poor people and wish to return them to their friends and rela- tions by paying you for them. My request in behalf of the families concerns you ; so decide for the best.

By this happily worded speech the Indians were placed in a trap. They must yield to Ogden's wishes or forfeit the regard of the Hud- son's Bay Company, while at the same time Ogden made no promises which would embarrass the Americans in their future dealings with the tribe or the murderers.

To this speech the Indians made reply as fol- lows:

Tauitowe: "I rise to thank you for your words. You white chiefs command obedience with those that have to do with you. It is not so with us. Our young men are strong-headed and foolish. Formerly we had experienced, good chiefs. These are laid in the dust. The descendants of my father were the only good chiefs. Though we made war with the other tribes, yet we always looked and ever will look upon the whites as our brothers. Our blood is mixed with yours. My heart bleeds for so many good chiefs I had known. For the demand made by you, the old chief, Tiloukaikt, is here. Speak to him. As regards myself, I am willing to give up the families."

Tiloukaikt: "I have listened to your words. Young men do not forget them. As for war, we have seen little of it. We know the whites to be our best friends, who have all along prevented us from killing each other. That is the reason why we avoid getting into war with them, and why we do not wish to be separated from them. Besides the tie of blood, the whites have shown us a convincing proof of their attachment to us by burying their dead 'longside with ours. Chief, your words are weighty. Your hairs are gray. We have known you a long time. You have had an unpleasant trip to this place. I can not, therefore, keep these families back. I make them over to you, which I would not do to another younger than yourself."

Peo-peo-mox-mox: "I have nothing to say. I know the Americans to be changeable; still I am of the opinion as the Young Chief. The whites are our friends, and we follow your advice. I consent to your taking the families."

Mr. Ogden then addressed two Nez Perce chiefs at length, in behalf of the Rev. H. H. Spalding and party, promising he would pay for their safe delivery to him. The result was that

both chiefs, James and Itimimipelp, promised to bring them, provided they were willing to come, and immediately started to Clearwater with that purpose, bearing a letter from Chief Factor Ogden to Mr. Spalding. The result of that con- ference was the delivery, on the 29th of Decem- ber, to Mr. Ogden (for which he paid the Cayuse Indians five blankets, fifty shirts, ten fathoms of tobacco, ten handkerchiefs, ten guns and one hundred rounds of ammunition) of the following captives :

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An illustrated history of Klickitat, Yakima and Kittitas counties; with an outline of the early history of the state of Washington, Part 13

Author: Interstate publishing co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1904 Publisher: [Chicago] Interstate publishing company Number of Pages: 1146

Author: Interstate publishing co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: [Chicago] Interstate publishing company
Number of Pages: 1146