Across the Plains in 1844 E-Book

Catherine Sager

• Herausgeber: The Old Pioneer Press
• Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024

Beschreibung

Across the Plains in 1844 by Catherine Sager is among the most gripping firsthand accounts of pioneer life in the American West ever written. It is also a key primary document supporting the events of the Whitman Massacre.
 
On November 29, 1847, Marcus Whitman, a doctor, and Narcissa Whitman, his wife, and twelve other members of the Waiilatpu Mission in the Oregon Territory were murdered by a small contingent of the Cayuse Indians. The killings became known as the "Whitman Massacre."
Earlier fur traders had threatened Native people with infectious disease, so when measles spread to the mission in the mid-1840s, decimating the nearby Cayuses, the Indians blamed Whitman. Plateau Indians usually did not kill shamans for failing to cure patients, but they believed that excessive amounts of spiritual power could inspire murderous intentions.
 
After slaughtering the Whitmans, the Cayuses took dozens of settlers hostage, mostly women and children, including Catherine Sager. Across the Plains in 1844 is Sager's page-turning account of the initial journey west, the measles outbreak, the massacre of the Whitmans, Sager's subsequent capture, and her eventual emancipation.

Leseprobe

Across the Plains in 1844

Catherine Sager

Published by The Old Pioneer Press, 2024.

Copyright

Across the Plains in 1844 by Catherine Sager. First published in 1905. New edition published by The Old Pioneer Press, 2024. All rights reserved.

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright Page

I - ON THE PLAINS IN 1844

II - WAIILATPU MASSACRE, 1847

III - IN CAPTIVITY

Further Reading: My Life Among the Indians

I - ON THE PLAINS IN 1844

My father was one of the restless ones who are not content to remain in one place long at a time. Late in the fall of 1838 we emigrated from Ohio to Missouri. Our first halting place was on Green River, but the next year we took a farm in Platte County. He engaged in farming and blacksmithing, and had a wide reputation for ingenuity. Anything they needed, made or mended, sought his shop. In 1843, Dr. Whitman came to Missouri. The healthy climate induced my mother to favor moving to Oregon. Immigration was the theme all winter, and we decided to start for Oregon. Late in 1843 father sold his property and moved near St. Joseph, and in April 1844, we started across the plains.

The first encampments were a great pleasure to us children. We were five girls and two boys, ranging from the girl baby to be born on the way to the oldest boy, hardly old enough to be any help.

Starting on the plains, we waited several days at the Missouri River. Many friends came that far to see the emigrants start on their long journey, and there was much sadness at the parting, and a sorrowful company crossed the Missouri that bright spring morning. The motion of the wagon made us all sick, and it was weeks before we got used to the seasick motion. Rain came down and required us to tie down the wagon covers, and so increased our sickness by confining the air we breathed.

Our cattle recrossed in the night and went back to their winter quarters. This caused delay in recovering them and a weary, forced march to rejoin the train. This was divided into companies, and we were in that commanded by William Shaw. Soon after starting Indians raided our camp one night and drove off a number of cattle. They were pursued, but never recovered.

Soon everything went smoothly, and our train made steady headway. The weather was fine, and we enjoyed the journey pleasantly. There were several musical instruments among the emigrants, and these sounded clearly on the evening air when camp was made, and merry talk and laughter resounded from almost every campfire.

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