Murder At The Mission

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The New York Times bestselling author of Escape From Camp 14 presents a gripping narrative about a missionary, a tribe, a massacre, and a myth that influenced the American West. In 1836, two missionaries, Dr. Marcus Whitman and Reverend Henry Spalding, journeyed westward by covered wagon to convert the Cayuse and Nez Perce tribes in present-day Washington and Idaho. Their missionary efforts failed, but Spalding succeeded as a propagandist, crafting a narrative that portrayed Whitman as a hero and spurred westward migration, ultimately leading to the devastation of the tribes they aimed to help. Spalding claimed that Whitman undertook a heroic ride to alert the President about a British plot to seize Oregon, while the truth was that Whitman sought to secure his job. After returning, he and his wife, along with eleven others, were killed by the Cayuse, who had legitimate grievances against him for supporting white encroachment and being linked to a measles outbreak. The Cayuse were labeled as savages, and five were executed. This meticulously researched account reveals how these events shaped narratives over the following century, highlighting the exploitation of history by those in power and the consequences of American expansion. Whitman's legacy was romanticized, becoming a foundational myth of the Pacific Northwest, while the true costs of these actions remain obscured.