Whitman's
Ride Through Savage Lands
Whitman's
Ride Through Savage Lands
with
Sketches of Indian Life
O. W. Nixon, M.D., LL.D.
Author of "How Marcus Whitman Saved Oregon," "The Mountain
Meadows," Etc.
Introduction by
James G. K. McClure, D.D., LL.D.
Profusely Illustrated
Published by
The Winona Publishing Company
1905
Copyright, 1905, by
THE WINONA PUBLISHING COMPANY
PREFACE
I respond with pleasure to the invitation towrite a series of sketches of pioneer missionaryhistory of early Oregon for young people. Itsromantic beginnings, of the Indian's demand for"the white man's book of heaven," and especiallyto mark the heroic act of one who, in obedience to apower higher than man, made the most perilous journeythrough savage lands recorded in history. Thesame leading facts of history I have before used in mylarger work, "How Marcus Whitman Saved Oregon."In this I have simplified the story by omitting alldiscussions with critics and historians, stated onlyas much of historic conditions as would make clearthe surroundings, and have interwoven with all, realincidents from wilderness and savage life. They arenot only the experiences of the heroic characters, butsome of my own when the West was wild morethan a half a century ago.
O. W. N.
Biloxi, Miss., January, 1905.
INTRODUCTION
No character in Sir Walter Scott's talesappeals more directly to my heart than"Old Mortality." He had a high andnoble mission, to make live again the old-timeworthies, and to keep in remembrance the bravedeeds of the past. Any man who follows in hisfootsteps, and makes the world see in vivid light theheroes of another day, is to me a public benefactor.When, then, Dr. Nixon writes of "Whitman'sRide Through Savage Lands," and shows theforce, wisdom, and unselfishness of Dr. MarcusWhitman and his accomplished wife, I feel likedoing everything within my power to express mygratitude and to secure the reading of his book.
The tale, as he tells it, is very interesting. Itis a tale that has been often in the mind of theAmerican public of late years, but it cannot be toooften told nor too often pondered. It has in it thevery elements that nurture bravery and patriotism.Dr. Nixon tells it well. In simple, straightforwardlanguage he gives us the whole story of Dr.Whitman's life-career, indicating the forces that[4]inspired him and the results that attended hisefforts. Dr. Nixon se