The Whitman Massacre of 1847 –by Catherine, Elizabeth
& Matilda Sager
Nonfiction / History
208 pages
4 Stars
It is, perhaps, not fair to give such a riveting story only
4 stars, but I often found it confusing, in great part, I am sure, that the
original was written by long hand and the conventions of the day were not set
as they are now.
Seven Sager children made it to the Whitman Mission after
losing both parents on the way. They did not, as a popular book and movie has
made out, come alone, but were brought by the wagon master and helpful people
within the train.
The Whitman's adopted them and they stayed at the Mission
until the massacre when the two boys were killed, and a younger girl died of
complications or neglect, from the measles. (Once the massacre started, there
was no one allowed to care for the recovering children.)
Of the four remaining girls, Catherine, Elizabeth, and
Matilda each wrote their recollections of what happened, and the time-line of
events. That they do not always match is to be understood and accepted. Every
person sees and hears the same thing differently, add to that time and memory,
and well, that's why eye-witnesses are not as good in a Court of Law as
forensics and DNA. I don't believe Henrietta Naomi ever wrote anything that was
published. She was very young and possibly had no memories of the massacre. She
also died young, at age 26.
What confused me were the lack of names and often the lack
of quotations. I was not always sure who spoke. Or to whom the missive was
addressed. Probably at the time the book was originally published, people
remembered, and the names were not as important. But I would like to know.
If the history of the Oregon Country is of interest to you,
I do recommend this book. (I've read it twice). My book is a hard back,
purchased at the Whitman Mission several years ago, and I am delighted to see
it is still in print.
It shows the Whitmans as they were--genuine people who truly
cared about people, and did not differentiate between white and red skin color.
