Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 24.djvu/415

 Peter Skene Ogden 383 through the three organizations represented here today, aided by the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Daughters of the War of 1812, a good deal has been accomplished along the lines suggested, and a number of markers and tablets have been properly placed. In looking ahead to the future, sixty-nine years is a long time; but in looking back that length of time it seems very short — simply the allotted duration of a man's life. We have assembled here in this beautiful cemetery on this pleasant day to dedicate a monument to perpet- uate the memory of the man who risked his life to rescue the survivors of the Whitman massacre, which occurred on November 29-30, 1847. Of the fifty-two who escaped being massacred, two children of the mission died very soon after the massacre. Of the remaining fifty, eight are yet alive, and three of them are here today to join with us in these dedicatory services in honor of the man who rescued them from a life worse than death. Nobody except the pioneer can fully realize the con- ditions existing in this country at the time Mr. Ogden lived here. He went after those pioneers without an army, and was practically alone among a nation of warring Indians to talk to them face to face, and he succeeded in his efforts. It is doubtful if there is any record in the history of any country that will show a greater example of bravery, courage and determination to win than was exhibited by Peter Skene Ogden in the heroism he put forth to rescue these survivors. Now a word about the history of this state. A young man, a native son of Oregon, who had passed the eighth grade, told me recently that he had never heard of the "Whitman Massacre." If the history of our state was taught in the public schools there would be no cause for such ignorance. What we say here today will soon be forgotten ; but the history written on this monument will last as long