 proudly we hail from New York City where the American stage begins here is another program with a cast of outstanding players public service time has been made available by this station for your army and your Air Force to bring you this story as proudly we hail the Pioneer Spirit of Oregon a true story of the Pioneer Spirit that is America our first act curtain will rise in a moment but first young woman how about your future does it include an interesting and important job a job that will take you to the exciting places of the world places where tomorrow's history is being made today right now young women like yourself are urgently needed to serve their country in the women's Army Corps here's your opportunity to secure your future go to your nearest United States Army and United States Air Force recruiting station and get all the facts today and now your Army and your Air Force present the proudly we hail production woman of Oregon in 1836 America's foot rested uneasily on the threshold of her West the Louisiana Purchase had extended the frontier of the United States to the Rocky Mountains but beyond lay a disputed region the southern half of which belong to Mexico and to the north was the Oregon territory to become the prize of the country which settled at first in perfect purple state the silent mountains waited for the contest to begin and in the shaded valleys unseen and hidden Indian drums beat restlessly waiting to it was the lifelong dream of a young physician Marcus Whitman to settle a portion of the great Oregon territory his first trip into this region had convinced him it could be done many scoffed at the idea others warned him against it but there was one who listened to his dream who longed to share in its realization her name my sister Whitman I can tell you about her I'm Joe Bonner for a trapper in the Nebraska territory nothing much surprises me but that spring 1836 you can bet I was surprised seeing a woman heading for the Oregon country come all the way from Western New York earned a husband not far out of St. Louis Dr. Whitman had stopped to give medical help to some settlers and that's how come they missed the river crossing with the wagon train and how come I offered to guide their party through the Indian country ahead we were deep into Pawnee territory when we come to you say we must cross the river before nightfall Marcus much as we have to get on dearest we can't risk taking the livestock and cattle across at night half a day loss when every hour is vital bonners scouting along the banks hope finding a safer place to cross if we don't catch up with the wagon train at Fort William will have to turn back we aren't equipped to travel through the Rockies now sister we must catch up with them before Fort William every day our danger grows greater here in Pawnee territory I look at you bearing it so gallantly have you forgotten the girl in Pratsburg who wanted to share your dream oh don't you imagine she wants to share your danger what is it man what's the matter party up river caught in the current it's sweeping them downstream they point ease yeah except for their leader he's a white man what can we do to help them if we stretch a rope across the river they'll be able to claim that we can't save their rafts they're too heavily loaded and put every available man to work we must try and save them here come the rafts ropes across and secure on the other side if they only hold when those rafts even if they snap we'll be able to pull the men ashore why don't they jump from the rafts don't they see the rope they're afraid to jump he's making them stick to the rafts he can't hope to save the cargo doesn't he know that where those rafts are loaded jump jump for your job and hold on the rope you can't save it job yes mr. Birkin that was a good meal you prepared well thank you you'll be glad to know that my husband is tending to the Indian who was injured tending to him Marcus is a doctor Indians are very strong I just assume you you can't mean that after asking them to risk their life I didn't ask them to take any chances I wasn't willing to take myself to save that cargo must have been very important it was man works hard for something all his life then sees it lost in a minute you say you plan to settle in Oregon thought of that myself want to be some nice little places springing up along the Willamette River before long we plan to go deeper into Oregon than that deeper my husband met the chief of the Kayu's tribe last year the Kayu's has he told you anything about that tribe I'm well aware our task won't be an easy one but the first step in settling peacefully among the Indians is to bring them to an understanding of the white man's ways and they're the white man's God you won't get very far playing missionary among the Kayu's the chief has asked my husband to return and teach his people and you were brave enough to come along this is Whitman I admire you I'd like to join your party your plan seemed to be changing abruptly with the loss of your car on the contrary this fits in very well with my plans matter of fact I could be very helpful through this stage of your journey you never know what the ponies are gonna do next not to warlike still not predictable either I've done a few favors for that chief was your cargo intended for the chief of the pointy the cargo is at the bottom of the river and I'm no further concerned Mrs. Whitman what was your cargo Mr. Birkan everything ready for the crossing bomber everything ready first let me show you something where where did you find that followed a hunch took a little trip down river during the night sounded washed up in the banks a gun so this was the cargo Mr. Birkan was taking into Pauly territory where is Marcus is it wise to let him see that we know Mrs. Whitman is right but knowing this can we let him join our parties he says he wants to refuse him and we may have trouble on our hands especially here in Pauly country why is he arming the ponies and have any do this plant settling are you and attacked by the ponies on one organ tribe would mean that the feet of all of our hopes wouldn't it Indians would know the weapons came from the white men all chance of settling peacefully among them would be gone yet what Mr. Bonner says is true if we don't permit this man to join our party we may never reach the wagon train alive less more time is lost Bonner promises me we'll be at Fort William by sundown tomorrow Marcus Mr. Birkan spent another night away from the camp probably holding another of his night meetings with our unseen porny escort does he intend to stay with us even after we rejoin the wagon train being associated with us gives him the disguise he needs that way has a chance of winning the confidence the Indian only to sell them out to the porny's oh it was our hope to carry a promise of peace into the Oregon country now we're like the carriers of a disease that could spread through the whole west made good my promise to the Whitman's got them their crew and livestock to Fort William by sundown of the next day Jim Birkan was now a member of their party nothing you could prevent that but at least the wagon train was waiting for him at the fort and their journey through the Rockies would be a safe one so I left him on the stony doorstep of the Rockies and though I was never to see them again I was to hear more much more of Narcissa Whitman I can tell you about Narcissa Whitman I'm Captain McLoughlin at the time commandant of the fort at Walla Walla the first stop in Oregon country I remember Mrs. Whitman the day she walked into my office very tired from her journey across the Rockies nevertheless she was anxious to get started with her work our Mrs. Whitman I presume you're aware of my reasons for suggesting the trip your husband's now making to the Bellamette Valley well I imagine because the mission there's well established and running it would involve no hardship for a woman Mrs. Whitman you proposed to go among the Cayuse Indians one of the trickiest and cruelest tribes in all the northwest last year my husband talked to the chief of the Cayuse who asked him to return to instruct his tribe we want to believe that control of the savages can come through peace and love alone but we've learned some very hard lessons and Mrs. Whitman our men never travel into that country except in groups you propose to go unprotected well perhaps going among them that way we'll show them that we wish to live peacefully with them as yet they've had no proof of this Mrs. Whitman you're a very courageous woman but I Mr. Burkhard I believe I was in the next room waiting to see you the door was open I couldn't help hearing I have to tell you may help out with your concern over Mrs. Whitman's safety among the Cayuse Indians you see last night a white man attended the sickness of chief from Tippi's wife a white man yes and they expected to get better a white man is going back tonight to make an agreement with chief from Tippi about the right to settle in Cayuse country this white man was yourself Mr. Burkhard that's right it's Burkhard this sort of unofficial action is what causes trouble it's a very forced to think the patient lived doesn't it give us the foothold we need among the Indians it gives us a footing based on the white doctor as a medicine man well when Dr. Whitman returns he can explain to the chief that things sometimes go wrong Captain McLoughlin I think there's some things I should tell you about Mr. Burkhard how long a journey has Dr. Whitman several days through some unhealthy country what were you about to tell me Mrs. Whitman nothing only what a help Mr. Burkhard has been to us and how gratefully we would accept any assistance he might be able to offer Dr. Whitman it's good to be able to welcome you back tell me is your decision still unaltered I must go among the coyote even in the light of what has happened what are you referring to well I I wonder if you're prepared to hear it what is it Captain McLoughlin last night the wife of the coyote chief died Burkhard who tried to heal her is also dead coyote justice Dr. Whitman sort of thing it makes me ask you to make no decisions if you consider the dangers not isn't perhaps Captain McLoughlin's right well isn't a promise a consideration above all thought of danger isn't there too much work ahead to undo the harm that's been done and shouldn't we begin that work at once you are listening to the proudly we hail production woman of Oregon we'll return in just a moment for the second act here's an opportunity for you young women of America an opportunity to get in step with the smartest today the rapidly expanding women's Army Corps needs qualified young women between the ages of 18 and 34 this is your chance to do an important job the pay is good with excellent prospect of rapid advancement why not check with your local United States Army and United States Air Force recruiting station today you'll find that it's easy to get in step with these proud American women who are serving their country in the women's Army Corps you are listening to proudly we hail now we present the second act of woman of Oregon at a time when the future of the United States in North America lay in the peaceful settling of her West Narcissa Whitman came with her husband to live with the kaius Indians in the heart of the Oregon country the story of this first white woman to cross the American continent continues as it is told in the chronicles and memories of the time Captain McLaughlin continues his account yes I can tell you about Narcissa Whitman though I was to see her only when I visited the kaius village of why La Tupu means the kaius tongue place of the rye grass it came to mean much more than that to people familiar with the story of Narcissa Whitman and her husband they had surmounted tremendous odds to become the first white settlers in a hostile country I remember the day of my first visit a day marked by a foreboding quite a welcome for you Captain McLaughlin Marcus has prevailed upon the chief of the tribe to come and meet you today chief holds himself aloof which is certainly more than these people do Marcus do you think he'll come think he will look out the window they just ridden out of the clearing and that's what a fall of feathers could only belong to a chief oh that's chief I'm tippy huh Marcus why do you look so troubled yes what is it with women's wrong take a close look on her sister they're closer now can't you tell that isn't dumb tippy but it is son wearing the chief's headdress let's go outside to meet him very well Marcus come Captain McLaughlin I can't understand this that boy's rash and hot-headed surely they've not made him chief of the tribe greetings to look I regret of my father who no longer has place of chief in our council you are now chief in his place to look I look I is young in years but old with wisdom of chiefs before him then you believe as your father taught wisdom of tribe older than length of years my father ruled I come to meet white man from Fort to learn what his visit means chief to look I this is Captain McLaughlin is a friendly visit learn of your progress he's happy to see your church nearly complete he wants to hear the voices of the children humming the hymns they've learned children sing only in praise of chief to look I this day may I offer my congratulations chief to look I I hope the same harmony will exist between you and your white friends that existed when your father was chief to look I show same friendship if white men pay for work Indians do pay what's that we have no funds chief to look I pay for work which your people seem to do gladly it is their church they build in exchange for the care my wife has shown the children who come to our kitchen your father promised a nurse for her child soon to be born chief to look I give all this if white man pay Mrs. Whitman when I return to the fort I'll see what can be done the way of raising money can't let your great effort die here already word of it has reached the eastern seaboard more and more people are coming to settle in the west we must do what we can it's useless to meet this threat and only find another means of blackmail no I must talk to chief to look I as I talk to his father and in the meantime the meantime take no word of this back but Dr. Whitman I'll have to alert the fort and words of this incident will discourage the migration you speak of only by encouraging people to come west and we hope to settle it for the United States and Captain McLaughlin this is a plentiful reward for the spending of a few uneasy hours now sister Whitman spoke only of the hours not of the months of unrest and uncertainty months of waiting for the new chief to lay aside as arrogance and feeling of hostility waiting for the help that they would need as the hour approached for her child to be born Alice Clarissa Whitman was the first white child born in Oregon date was March 14th 1837 a week later I was present at her christening in the church that still stood in completed and open to the sky Marcus look coming slowly in at the front of the church standing along the walls yes Indian women with their children standing so quietly almost in awe and reverence can it be they feel a spiritual bond with us today look at their faces so full of wonder you know I feel that somehow with the birth of our child is born the understanding that something universal and wonderful works for the white man and for the Indian alike oh this day may be the birth of new hope now sister was right the feeling grew that the place in which the child was christened was a home she wished to share with others the kaius gave the house of God a roof they gave the child a nurse chief to look I talked of mutual help and cooperation with Marcus wasn't long before Narcissa Whitman stood with her husband at the door of her home in the tall rye grass and saw the first immigrant wagons from the east go by into the waiting land of Oregon but her happiness was not destined to last when tragedy struck it came swiftly with an aftermath of trouble thank you for coming captain I wonder who was wise doctor I had to know if you felt anyone was responsible for what happened no I'll tell you exactly how it happened you'll see that there's no one's fault really perhaps mine for it leaving my family well it was necessary for you to be away those three days my wife always carries on my duties in my absence so she went yesterday to care for an Indian child sick she returned toward evening the house was empty the Indian nurse was gone so was our child she called frantically for both of them finally she could think of only one thing the lake and that's where she found the child yes too late to say I learned this morning why the nurse was gone brave came carried her off seems this was the woman destined to become the bride of chief to Kai and the child wandered out of doors and door the lake Narcissa at least of all would wish the place to place the blame for the child's death on anyone but I fear our understanding with the Indians has reached another crisis because of this see they fear reprisals from the 40s and another wall goes up but tell me will you stay here dr. Wittman Narcissa would not want to go you're not what the death of our child being vain she'd want the tragedy to bring us closer in feeling to the kai use people there may be possible I can't be sure on September 30th 1839 Marcus Wittman left for Washington to talk to president Van Buren about alerting expenses for the aid of settlers Narcissa faced the winter alone preferring to stay in the home she and Marcus had built there were nights of terror for Narcissa Wittman moments when her great courage was almost bound to fail the next summer Marcus returned at the head of a large train of missionaries they went to all parts of Oregon when I took my leave of the Wittman's I left them in their home though I was never to see them again I was soon to hear the ending that fate wrote to her story let me tell you about Narcissa Wittman I'm Catholic and Sage the oldest of seven often children who lost both mother and father on their journey through the Rockies but our brother John kept us alive and in good spirits all the rest of the way to Oregon till our cart drawn by too thin and weary oxen brought us to the doorstep of Narcissa Wittman Marcus Marcus come quickly dear help me lift these children from the cart oh these poor poor children this boy must guide him he can't be over 13 he's varying your exhaustion ma'am I I'll let him out of the car we must make them clean and comfortable and find places for them to sleep Marcus this little girl her legs broken we must make it well again we stayed with the Wittman's in their home and it became our home and we grew to be healthy happy children as Oregon gradually came to be settled around that Indian village for the silken grass grew tall and where the Indians grew restless at the fear that soon the settlers would trample that tall grass in spite of the repeated promises of the Wittman's distrust reached giant proportions and then it happened it was unforeseen and sudden and perhaps nothing could have prevented it for when it broke out case of measles among the children care was taken to keep it from spreading to the Indians but when it did evil stories spread about the doctor who had brought disease to kill the members of the tribe doctor Wittman was at the foot when the news reached him he hurried back to his home Marcus Marcus you shouldn't have come here I had to other children all together in the other room yes keep them there dearest don't let them know no matter what happens what are you going to do if they've come to take a life perhaps mine will do oh no let me stay here and see it's the only way Marcus I like together has been rich while our arms braced each other our dreams have embraced a couple go quickly to the children yes my tears what is it mrs. what's wrong nothing Catherine nothing and we mustn't let the children think there's anything wrong we must get them to sing there is something no help me rocker we just left to me all they've broken in Marcus Catherine take the children up into the loft at once she kill white woman if she reached for gun of husband what chance have we if I don't reach I kill right before she rich there's she go upstairs we brought no Eve the blood flow through her arm and the life from her body she died protecting the sager children and though they burned the house no harm came to us we were soon released and taken to the fort and offered a home in another part of the Oregon country the others went but I prefer to stay close to the monument erected that year above the graves of Marcus and our sister Whitman who had brought a hope to Oregon a hopeful field and a dream come true have you noticed the new trim whack uniform worn by the young women who are serving in the women's Army Corps this new uniform not only stamps the wearer as being smartly dressed it also indicates that she is doing her part to keep America strong if you are a young woman between 18 and 34 and can qualify you are urged to do your part in making unity strength freedom a reality go to your nearest United States Army and United States Air Force recruiting station and enlist in the women's Army Corps today this has been another program on proudly we hail presented transcribed in cooperation with this station by the United States Army and the United States Air Force recruiting service this is Kenneth Banghart speaking and inviting you to tune in the same station next week for another interesting story on proudly we hail