Page:Oregon, her history, her great men, her literature.djvu/117

Rh others. A few days later they massacred five more. They also took captive about fifty women and children of the

mission, and others temporarily there to be held for ransom as hostages to guarantee immunity from punishment by the whites as they claimed — though some were not intended to be released.

After the Whitman Massacre. Following the Whitman Massacre three urgent requests were made for immediate relief and protection for the whites. The first came to Vancouver from William McBean, of Fort Walla Walla, asking that a party be sent to ransom the prisoners; the second was from Alanson Hinman asking that an armed force be provided to protect the station at The Dalles; the third was made by Governor Abernethy who asked the Legislature for enough troops to capture the murderers of the Whitman Mission victims, and to subdue the warlike tribes.

The Mission Captives Ransomed. News of the Whitman massacre was sent by Agent William McBean, of Fort Walla Walla, to James Douglas, chief factor at Fort Vancouver. The authorities at Vancouver promptly notified