The Whitman Massacre Perspectives: Part 2, Narcissa Whitman

Welcome back to Myths & Mischief! This is your Lovable Lord of Lore, today’s mischievous myth is the second in a series of five involving different perspectives about the events surrounding the Whitman Massacre which started the path to statehood for Washington.

Narcissa Whitman

Even as a young girl I knew I was destined for greatness. I am a tough and determined woman and I know I can accomplish anything. When I was in school, I spent time studying with Henry Spalding, too much time if you ask me. Henry was always asking for help with his studies, but he never really needed it. When we were just about done with school, he asked me to marry him. I didn’t see him as a great man. He was kind of average, so I told him no. He was hurt, but I figure he will find some average girl and he will be fine. Marrying him would have just slowed me down because I am destined for greatness.

After I was out of school, I went to the board and asked to be sent West. They told me I had to be married. Maybe Henry would prove to be useful after all.

It turns out that Henry had gone and got married. I did hear about a single missionary who had just returned for the Northwest named Marcus something or other. I sought him out at once. We hit it off immediately and Marcus agreed to marry me so we can set out soon.

Now the board said that we need another couple to go with us. I know I can get Henry to go, I can get him to do just about anything.

I guess not anything, he got his new wife pregnant and can’t go. I don’t know of anyone else that is ready to go, and time is wasting away. With a mixed blessing, Henry’s baby didn’t work out so they are coming with us. We are going to take wagons, that will be a first. I, and Henry’s wife, I will be the first woman to travel across the continent. I got pregnant on the way making me the first pregnant woman to make it across.

When we got to Fort Vancouver, I was displeased to find out that our community was not set up as it was supposed to be. Apparently the guy who was supposed to pick out a site and build everything had quit and gone away. This McLaughlin guy tried to tell us we should be like the other missionaries and go South. Apparently, he did not realize that we were destined for greatness. I told Marcus we should go work with the Cayuse. They were in the middle of the trail and needed to be civilized for everyone’s safety and we would be the first to work with them. Our progress could be seen by all the settlers passing through and they would have to give us the credit since nobody else had been with them.

As we accomplish this amazing feat, we will have civilized the most dangerous group, that sounds like a task for those destined for greatness. Missionary life is hard. I miss a lot of the things back East that made life so much easier. I was spending most of my time mending clothes and shoes, so I have taken to educating the Natives as a reprieve. They don’t understand much, and I have to explain things over and over. The children of the Natives aren’t too quick either. We have lots of formal meals so we can show the Natives how to do things properly. They should be grateful for all that we are doing for them, but they keep giving me attitude. Who do they think they are. They don’t even understand that we are helping them half the time. Why would they choose anything other than salvation?

I just found out that they have been stealing fruit from us. Marcus tried reasoning with them and got nowhere. He seems to be less than competent sometimes. I explained to him that you need to treat them as children. If they do something and they don’t like it, they won’t want to do it again.

Alice Clarissa was in the River this morning and Marcus wasn’t minding her at all. She fell in and drowned. This is horrible. People are going to think we are failures since we cannot protect our children from these savage lands. If only they knew how hard it is to survive out here.

Apparently many of the missionaries are struggling, Marcus was called back East to report on our progress. I told him to bring back more people because I don’t feel safe around these Natives. They may have even had something to do with taking poor Alice Clarissa from me. With all the work we have done, I am sure she is in a better place now.

Without Marcus here, I am calling all the shots. The days run smoothly enough, but night seems to bring out the wicked. I hear noises around the house. I hear things on the roof. There are animal noises at all hours of the night. Sudden banging on the walls are followed by a terrifying silence. I can’t sleep. The days are dragging along, but I can’t take it anymore. I have decided that we all will be safer with Henry at his mission until Marcus returns.

Marcus finally got back. He brought back a thousand people. I think it will be safe enough to go home now. A lot of the people are sick. I guess the Lord doesn’t want the Cayuse around anymore as he has given them diseases that only kill the savages. I think that is his way of teaching them a lesson for scaring me.

Marcus was supposed to talk to the Natives and smooth things over. He did a horrible job, they seem mad. Late one night I heard the door get kicked in. I took the children upstairs immediately. As I was closing the door I saw one of those savages hit Marcus in the head with a hatchet. I locked the door and returned to calm the children. The Cayuse were calling for me to come out. They said that if I came out, then they would spare the others. As a religious and civilized person, I figured I had no other choice.

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Until next time, this is your Lovable Lord of Lore.

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