Transcriber's Note: Inconsistent hyphenation and spelling in the original document have been preserved. Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. Italic text is denoted by _underscores_. The quote starting on page 19 with "If, however," has no end quote. On page 177, "as he plead" should possibly be "as he pled." The quote starting on page 215 with "Marcus Whitman" has no end quote. On page 287, "staid back" should possibly be "stayed back." [Illustration: WHITMAN LEAVING HOME ON HIS WINTER RIDE TO SAVE OREGON.] How Marcus Whitman Saved Oregon. A TRUE ROMANCE OF PATRIOTIC HEROISM, CHRISTIAN DEVOTION AND FINAL MARTYRDOM.... WITH SKETCHES OF Life on the Plains and Mountains in Pioneer Days BY OLIVER W. NIXON, M.D., LL.D., _For Seventeen Years President and Literary Editor of the Chicago Inter Ocean_. INTRODUCTION BY Rev. Frank W. Gunsaulus, D.D., LL.D. SECOND EDITION. ILLUSTRATED. STAR PUBLISHING COMPANY, CHICAGO, 1895 Copyrighted, 1895, by Oliver W. Nixon. (All rights reserved.) DEDICATION. TO THE BOYS AND GIRLS OF THE Little Log School House on the Willamette, NOW THE GRAY HAIRED MEN AND WOMEN OF OREGON, WASHINGTON, IDAHO AND CALIFORNIA, TO WHOM I AM INDEBTED FOR A MULTITUDE OF PLEASING MEMORIES WHICH HAVE BEEN UNDIMMED BY YEARS AND DISTANCE, I GRATEFULLY DEDICATE THIS VOLUME. PREFACE. This little volume is not intended to be a history of Oregon missions or even a complete biography of Dr. Whitman. Its aim is simply to bring out, prominently, in a series of sketches, the heroism and Christian patriotism of the man who rendered great and distinguished service to his country, which has never been fully appreciated or recognized. In my historical facts I have tried to be correct and to give credit to authorities where I could. I expect some of my critics will ask, as they have in the past: "Who is your authority for this fact and that?" I only answer, I don't know unless I am authority. In 1850 and 1851 I was a teacher of the young men and maidens, and bright-eyed boys and girls of the old pioneers of Oregon. Many years ago I told the story of that school to Hezekiah Butterworth, who made it famous in his idyllic romance, "The Log School House on the Columbia." It was a time when history was being made. The great tragedy at Waiilatpui was fresh in the minds of the people. With such surroundings one comes in touch with the spirit of history.