Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 37.djvu/405

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Letter of Catherine Sager Pringle
357

bed. He looked at each child and when he came to Helen,[1] a little girl living with him, he called Mrs. Whitman and told her that Helen was dying. He sat down and watched her until she finally got better. He told Mrs. W. that an Indian named Sticus had told him that that evening the Indians were talking of killing him; that Joe Lewis was putting them up to it. He spent a sleepless night for he was in trouble. The next day, which was the fatal 29th of November, he was talking and said if things did not look brighten by April he was going to leave, but, said he “if I am to die by the hands of Catholics my death will do more good than my life.”

After giving some directions reference to the children, three of whom were past hope, the little girl I spoke of above and my two youngest sisters, he went to bury an Indian. When he came back he said the Indians were gathered about but he supposed it was because they were killing a beef that day and they always came around on such days to get what was thrown away. He said that none of them were at the funeral. He went upstairs to see a young lady who was sick. He found her crying bitterly but she could not tell why. He came down and stood at the window a few moments as in deep thought and then said "poor L[2] is in trouble and cannot tell why. I will get her some medicine and you had better go and talk to her awhile.” He went to the medicine case to get some. While Mrs. W went into the pantry to get some milk the Indians crowded around demanding some. She told them to wait till she gave some to her children. She then came into the sitting room where we were and locked the door after her as the Indians were not allowed in that room. They still kept asking for the milk and Mrs. W started to get some for them. Just as she got to the door they asked for the Dr. She said “Dr. you are wanted.” He went out and she fastened the door after him. Presently we heard a very loud talk in the kitchen but paid no attention to it till we heard a gun go off and immediately followed by another one.

We could not tell what it was but started to run. Mrs. W called


  1. Helen Mar Meek, daughter of Joseph L. Meek. She died a few days after the massacre.
  2. Lorinda Bewley.