Page:The Early Indian Wars of Oregon.djvu/62

44, and proceeded to the chamber of Mrs. Whitman, who escaped out of their hands only by the timely aid of Mr. Geiger. A few days later the mission flouring-mill was burned down, and a large quantity of grain destroyed. Mrs. Whitman had been compelled to take refuge with the Methodist families at The Dalles, which place she reached by the kindness of the Hudson's Bay Company at Fort Walla Walla, accompanied by Geiger.

The Nez Percés also had insulted and ordered out of her house Mrs. Spalding at Lapwai; and after stealing Mr. Spalding's horse, had pointed a gun at, and further menaced him.

These were acts of an unmistakable character, and Dr. White felt called upon to exhibit the authority in him vested. He secured the services of Thomas McKay, a noted leader of the Hudson's Bay Company's trading parties, and much respected as well as feared by the Indians, with six other picked men, to go to the scene of the disturbances. To this party were added Cornelius Rogers, late of Waiilatpu, and Baptiste Dorion, as interpreters. They were also joined by Mr. and Mrs. Littlejohn, who wished to go to the aid of the Spaldings at Lapwai, as they had agreed to do before Dr. Whitman's departure. At The Dalles it was thought best for Mrs. Littlejohn to remain until the temper of the Indians became better known; but Mr. Geiger accompanied the excursion to look after the mission property at Waiilatpu.

It was already the sixteenth of November when the expedition set out from Vancouver. Owing to adverse winds on the Columbia it did not reach The Dalles until the twenty-fourth, where it made a short stay to procure horses, arriving at Waiilatpu, after having been joined at Walla Walla fort by Mr. McKinlay, on the first day of December. The Cayuses appeared shy, evidently unable to believe that this small party was all whom the agent of the United States had brought with him into a hostile country, and fearing a surprise. White took little notice