 Frontier fighters monumental incidents in the adventurous journeys westward of the American pathfinders and pioneers Who led a life of almost continual hardship and peril in their quest for excitement and fortune? In recounting the enterprise and valor of those who explored and helped build the far west We must not overlook the heroic roles that the missionaries played in this epic drama of wilderness conquest One of the first and most noted of Northwest missionaries was dr. Marcus Whitman the Yankee physician and missionary who sacrificed his life to bring the Christian religion to the painted red Savage of the western mountains and plains and to save the Pacific Northwest to America 1834 Boston, Massachusetts the foreign mission board of the Presbyterian Church is Publicly examining young men for service in the Northwest and now that we've approved the application of reverend Samuel Parker for missionary service in the Oregon Country we will discuss yours dr. Whitman What are your special qualifications? Well, sir? I'm a graduate doctor of the Berkshire Medical College of Pittsfield, Massachusetts I am an elder in the communion of our faith the Presbyterian Church What are the qualifications? Have you dr. Whitman for several years? I've been preparing myself for missionary service by performing practical tasks and many lines hard labor most of it your sponsors in Rushville, New York your home speak highly of you dr. Whitman for which I am grateful and humble Spoken as befits a doctor of medicine and probably a missionary to the red savages at the Northwest then you will approve my application Yes, I'm sure I will I shall recommend that you become the companion of reverend Parker to investigate religious conditions in the Oregon country May God's blessing follow you Dr. Whitman and reverend Parker found the far Northwest so promising of field for their labors The dr. Whitman returned to Boston for permission to establish a permanent church in the wilderness this was granted by the Presbyterians and Dr. Whitman now married to Narcissa Prentice of Pratsburg, New York began the long and arduous journey back into the Northwest They were accompanied by the Reverend and Mrs. H H Spalding also newly married Having left his convoy dr. Whitman with one light wagon determined to be the first to cross the Rocky Mountains on wheels July 18th 1835 the junction of Smith's Fork and the Bear River on the present Idaho Wyoming boundary Marcus listen to me. You're laboring too hard Why not leave the wagon here and carry off you belonging to the rest of the way? No, Narcissa With divine guidance and help this wagon must be the first to reach the Oregon country Dr. Whitman with all due respect to your skill as a surgeon and your zeal as a missionary You're a fool sir fool or no fool reverend Spalding and with all due respect to your holy orders This party is going to enter Oregon not a foot but on four solid American made wheels Oh look Marcus for that clearing in the pines yonder on that mountain slope straight ahead white man Dr. Whitman beaver trapper the judge by their leather costume then let's hurry. Yeah, give me a lift spalding with this off-wheel Watch between these two rocks That's fine Well, I'd never have accomplished it alone Thank you gentlemen, but why the jollification are women unusual in this neighborhood madam You and the other lady are the first white women to ever cross the Rocky Mountains Yes, and you're something the honorable Hudson's Bay Company cannot get rid of they may succeed in driving us out of this country But they'll never get rid of you. Yes, sir old Moses right you two ladies have led the way into this mountain wilderness beyond Which lies peace and plentitude happiness contentment and prosperity Dr. Whitman and his bride established themselves at Walla Walla in what is now the state of Washington Reverend Spalding erected a mission on the Clearwater River in what was later to become Idaho As the Oregon country was claimed both by the United States and England It was only natural that the Hudson's Bay Company a British concern would discourage in every way the emigration of Americans In 1842 dr. Whitman was informed that the mission authorities had decided to suspend all activities in the Northwest Narcissus Narcissus, I must go to Boston. Oh Marcus, I'm sure God will be willing to wait until spring. No, I must go now This mission cannot be suspended an Oregon must be saved for the Union I must see President Tyler to give him and his cabinet first-hand information of the great potential wealth of this country What about the company? I will also tell them that the continual pressure brought against us by the Hudson's Bay Company Working for people who have no interest in America other than its exploitation for profit on the following day began One of the greatest rides in history in the dead of winter ostensibly to save a small Christian outpost But in reality to save the Oregon country for the American people Warned at Fort Hall that the Pawnees and the Sioux were on the warpath Dr. Whitman and his companion Amos Lovejoy abandoned the northern trails and took a southerly course with a guide over the Spanish Trail Causing them an additional thousand miles of horseback travel Winter now set in in earnest after incredible hardships fighting the elements and savages Whitman and Lovejoy finally reached the Rio Grande January 13 1843 Whitman Lovejoy and their guide are lost in a bleak canyon in the New Mexico Mountains Dr. Whitman, Dr. Whitman, Miguel the guide. I can't get him to his feet Frost Britain probably here. Yeah, let me help you Let me sleep. I want to slumber on the white car. No, no, you can't sleep again. You can't sleep We've got to travel travel. That's the only way we'll ever reach our destination. Thank you. You know want to travel He just want to sleep sleep No, no, no doctor you hurt. He's hurt you I'll take off all your clothes and throw you down that cliff unless you wake up and move Oh, no, I'm I'm wide awake now, but my face where you slapped me tingle, please That means the frost is leaving your flesh now March Dr. Whitman finally reached Boston where after considerable descent the foreign mission board reversed its decision The Whitman mission was saved Dr. Whitman also interviewed President Tyler and his cabinet giving the federal authorities valuable information Which later helped to determine America's policy in dealing with England over the so-called Oregon question Back at his mission again and his persecutors unable to shake his determination to win and hold the Oregon country for the United States Dr. Whitman's career reached an atrocious climax November 29th 1847 my people die And Paul is so true He'll face medicine man's magic is greater than mine. He is the servant not of the great spirit, but of the evil one Who told you I have blood a clapper of the Hudson's Bay traders But the pale face has given my people corn saved them from starvation Is he'll them of their pain and extracted the arrows of that enemy only to secure their confidence To prepare the good soul for the rotten seed If your medicine cannot overcome this play which has fallen on my people, what can I do make war? Make war against who against the pale face doctor and his squaw cast the spell of the spotted death over the red people of your glorious tribe Show me proof of the white man's property, and I will punish you demand proof Look your son gray eagle approaches his head is deeply bowed in shame My son Why do you avoid my eyes? My sister red fawn your daughter. Oh father spotted death Yes, my father gray eagle my son Take four braves of your clan to exact the blood vengeance from the pale face invaders as prescribed in the death ritual of my people gold Extra tired tonight market. I'll make you some tea. Yes nurses. I'm very wary Not with work, but with worry Why declare if the Hudson's Bay Company don't leave us be I'll give them a piece of my mind if I have to go all the way To England to do it wouldn't do you any good my dear only make matters worse Very well market. I'll hold my tongue Anyway, until they start persecuting us again all too soon. I fear What do you mean market tonight an Indian one of our converts brought me to stressing news Couldn't be worse than we've been hearing for months But it is far worse an epidemic of measles has attacked the Indians and we mission people are held responsible But you've worked yourself to skin and bones treating the Indian. Yes. I did my best But who are we to question the will of God? Pray darling wife pray that God's will be done our father who I didn't heaven Give them father. Well, they know not what they do Then Thus ended the earthly careers of dr. Marcus Whitman and Narcissa his devoted wife Theirs was a glorious martyrdom, but nonetheless an unnecessary shameful revolting martyrdom human sacrifices on the blood-stained altar of greed and political expediency United by the common bond of their great love for each other their patriotism and their abiding faith in the Creator They both served so faithfully they departed this life together with benedictions for their savage executioners on their trembling lips And so we bring to a close another splendid chapter in the lives of those gallant frontier fighters who despite natural obstacles and man's lust for power One and welded the great Western Empire to the United States of America