We learn from Mr. McBean’s letter, given below, that his horse guard and interpreter were at Dr. Whitman’s mission and saw the dead bodies; and from Indians we learn that they were kept by the Rev. Mr. Brouillet, and took his account of the massacre (which he spent most of the night in preparing) to Mr. McBean. They also reported to him that three parties of Indians were preparing and about to start, to destroy the remaining Protestant missions and American settlements in middle Oregon, including the station at the Dalles; that the women and children were to be held as hostages, or captives for future disposal; that letters and a statement were prepared by Mr. McBean, and instructions given to his messenger that he might inform the Indians on his way down to Vancouver of what had happened, but he must not give any information to any American on the way, or at the Dalles. We learn from the Hon. A. Hinman that this messenger went to him at the Dalles station, and told him that he was sent by Mr. McBean to Vancouver for men, to replace such as had died of sickness at Fort Nez Percés. The messenger took dinner with Mr. Hinman, who went with him to the Indian lodges, where the messenger told the Indians of the massacre. Mr. Hinman procured a canoe and started with him to go to Vancouver. They reached Cape Horn, some thirty miles above that place, and there, while windbound, he informed Mr. Hinman of what had occurred, making a full confession, that “the priests, Mr. McBean, and he were bad in trying to deceive him and have his family and people killed by the Indians;” told of his instructions, and of what was expected to be done with all the Americans in the country, and that he was the bearer of letters to Governor Ogden from Mr. McBean.
We will now go with this express to Vancouver. Says the Hon. A. Hinman, who is still alive, and has made oath to the truth of his statements: “We went first to Mr. Ogden’s room and informed him of the massacre. He was shocked, and said: ‘Mr. Hinman, you can now see what opposition in religion will do.’ We then went to Mr. Douglas’s room and informed him, and when Mr. Ogden was pacing the room, he said: ‘Mr. Douglas, you see now what opposition in religion does.’ After a moment’s pause, Mr. Douglas replied, ‘There may be other causes.’”
Reader, will you turn back and read over the chapter on the English Hudson’s Bay Company’s effort to secure Oregon, and see if there has not been a desperate effort made, since Dr. McLaughlin left that company, to overcome his mistakes and his humane policy toward Americans. Look also at the chapter on the English Hudson’s Bay Company’s policy relative to Rupert’s Land and Oregon, and learn fully what Mr. Ogden and Mr. (now Sir James) Douglas meant by these expressions made to Mr. Hinman, who says: “Mr. Douglas turned to me, and wished to know why I was not at home at so perilous a time. I told him I had received no letter from Wallawalla, and did not learn of the massacre till below the Cascades. At this he expressed surprise, and said, ‘Mr. McBean ought by all means to have informed you of your danger.’
“After this the express was opened, and Mr. Douglas read, and I listened to the account as given by Mr. McBean, and also of his account of three parties, which, Mr. McBean’s letter said, Indian report says are fitting out, one to the saw-mill to kill the Americans at that place, and one to Rev. Mr. Spalding’s station to cut off the Americans at that place, and one also to the Dalles to cut off those at that station.
“I said to Mr. Douglas, ‘How is it possible that Mr. McBean could have treated me in this way? How is it possible he did not inform me?’ Mr. Douglas, after a little pause, said, ‘Mr. Hinman, we must consider that the poor man was in circumstances of great perplexity, and might not know what to do.’”
This was not the case, for Mr. McBean did give him positive instructions, as we learn from Mr. Hinman’s statement. He says: “After hearing this dreadful account from the Canadian, I asked him why he did not inform me before I left my house. He said Mr. McBean told him to say nothing about it to them at the Dalles!”
Soon after the messenger and Mr. Hinman left the Dalles, the Indians went to the station and informed P. Whitman, the doctor’s nephew, that his uncle and aunt, and all the Americans at that place, were killed. This Indian report was not credited; they could not believe that Mr. McBean would send a messenger, as he had done, and not inform them of what had actually taken place.
The reader will remember the deposition of Mr. Kimzey in relation to Mr. McBean’s statements about the “holy fathers, the Catholic priests,” and the subsequent instructions to him, to let the Indians know he was from the fort.
We will now direct our attention to the mutilated letter of William McBean, as furnished by Sir James Douglas to Governor Abernethy, and published in the Oregon Spectator, December 10, 1849:—
“Fort Nez Percés, Nov. 30, 1847.