Nez Perces and Flathead Indians (1831) visited St. Louis, Missouri. Wyandot Indian chief, William Walker (1800-1874) wrote a letter, January 19, 1833, documenting the visit of the four Indians, identifying them as being one of the Flathead tribe and three of the Nez Perces tribe. They had traveled 3,000 miles to St. Louis, Missouri, and met with Territorial Governor William Clark (1770-1838) of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, 1805-1806, and Catholic Bishop Joseph Rosati (1789-1843), because they heard:
<The white people away toward the rising sun had been put in possession of the true mode of worshiping the Great Spirit; they had a Book containing directions.> 1833WW001
On March 1, 1833, William Walker's letter was printed in the Christian Advocate & Journal and Zion's Herald of New York, a Methodist Episcopal publication which at the time had the largest circulation of any periodical in the world. The letter ignited an immediate and enthusiastic Protestant and Catholic missionary effort to reach the Indians of the west, resulting in the creation of the Oregon Trail. The letter stated:
<...The immense country embraced between the western line of the state of Missouri, and the territory of Arkansas and the western base of the Rocky Mountains on the west, and Texas and Santafee on the south is inhabited by the Osage, Sioux, Pawnees, Comanches, Pancahs, Arrapohoes, Assinaboins, Riccarees, Yanktons, Omahaws, Black-feet, Ottoes, Crow Indians, Sacs, Foxes, and Iowas; all a wild, fierce, and warlike people. West of the mountains reside the Flat-Heads, and many other tribes, whose names I do not now recollect.
I will here relate an anecdote, if I may so call it. Immediately after we landed in St. Louis, on our way to the west, I proceeded to Gen. Clarke's, superintendent of Indian affairs, to present our letters of introduction from the secretary of war, and to receive the same from him to the different Indian agents in the upper country.
While in his office and transacting business with him, he informed me that three chiefs from the Flat-Head nation were in his house, and were quite sick, and that one (the fourth) had died a few days ago. They were from the west of the Rocky Mountains. Curiosity prompted me to step into the adjoining room to see them, having never seen any, but often heard of them. I was struck by their appearance...
The distance they had traveled on foot was nearly three thousand miles to see Gen. Clarke, their great father, as they called him, he being the first American officer they ever became acquainted with, and having much confidence in him, they had come to consult him as they said, upon very important matters.
Gen. C. related to me the object of their mission, and, my dear friend, it is impossible for me to describe to you my feelings while listening to his narrative. I will here relate it as briefly as I well can.
It appeared that some white man had penetrated into their country, and happened to be a spectator at one of their religious ceremonies, which they scrupulously perform at stated periods.
He informed them that their mode of worshiping the supreme Being was radically wrong, and instead of being acceptable and pleasing, it was displeasing to him; he also informed them that the white people away toward the rising of the sun had been put in possession of the true mode of worshiping the great Spirit. They had a book containing directions how to conduct themselves in order to enjoy his favor and hold converse with him; and with this guide, no one need go astray, but every one that would follow the directions laid down there, could enjoy, in this life, his favor; and after death would be received into the country where the great Spirit resides, and live for ever with him.
Upon receiving this information, they called a national council to take this subject into consideration. Some said, if this be true, it is certainly high time we were put in possession of this mode, and if our mode of worshiping be wrong and displeasing to the great Spirit, it is time we had laid it aside, we must know something more about this, it is a matter that cannot be put off, the sooner we know it the better.
They accordingly deputed four of their chiefs to proceed to St. Louis to see their great father, Gen. Clarke, to inquire of him, having no doubt but that he would tell them the whole truth about it.
They arrived at St. Louis, and presented themselves to Gen. C. the latter was somewhat puzzled being sensible of the responsibility that rested on him; he however proceeded by informing them that what they had been told by the white man in their own country, was true.
Then went into a succinct history of man, from his creation down to the advent of the Saviour; explained to them all the moral precepts contained in the Bible, expounded to them the decalogue. Informed them of the advent of the Saviour, his life, precepts, his death, resurrection, ascension, and the relation he now stands to man as a mediator-that he will judge the world, & c.
Poor fellows, they were not all permitted to return home to their people with the intelligence. Two died in St. Louis, and the remaining two, though somewhat indisposed, set out for their native land. Whether they reached home or not is not known. The change of climate and diet operated very severely upon their health. their diet when at home is chiefly vegetables and fish.
If they died on their way home, peace be to their manes...They died inquirers after the truth. I was informed that the Flat-Heads, as a nation, have the fewest vices of any tribe of Indians on the continent of America.
I had just concluded I would lay this rough and uncouth scroll aside and revise it before I would send it, but if I lay aside you will never receive it; so I will send it to you just as it is, 'with all its imperfections,' hoping that you may be able to decipher it. You are at liberty to make what use you please of it.
Yours in haste, Wm. Walker.> 1833WW002
The Right Rev. Joseph Rosati, Bishop of St. Louis, wrote an account three months after the 4 Indians visited St. Louis in the annals of the Association of the Propagation of the Faith, December 31, 1831:
<Some three months ago four Indians who live across the Rocky Mountains near the Columbia River (Clark's Fork of the Columbia) arrived at St. Louis. After visiting General Clark who, in his celebrated travels, has visited their country and has been well treated by them, they came to see our church and appeared to be exceedingly well pleased with it. Unfortunately, there was no one who understood their language. Some time afterwards two of them fell dangerously ill. I was then absent from St. Louis.
Two of our priests visited them and the poor Indians seemed delighted with the visit. They made the sign of the Cross and other signs which appeared to have some relation to baptism. The sacrament was administered to them; they gave expressions of satisfaction.
A little cross was presented to them. They took it with eagerness, kissed it repeatedly, and it could be taken from them only after death. It was truly distressing that they could not be spoken to. Their remains were carried to the church and their funeral was conducted with all Catholic ceremonies.
The other two attended and acted very becomingly. We have since learned from a Canadian, who has crossed the country which they inhabit, that they belong to the nation of Flathead who, as also another nation called Blackfeet, has received some notions of the Catholic religion from two Indians who has been to Canada, and who has related what they had seen, giving a striking description of the beautiful ceremonies of Catholic worship, and telling them that it was also the religion of the whites.
They have retained what they could of it and they have learned to make the sing of the Cross and to pray. These nations have not yet been corrupted by intercourse with others.
Their manners and customs are simple, and they are very numerous. Mr. Condamine (Rev. Matthew Condamine was one of Bishop Rosati's clergy attached to the Cathedral) has offered himself to go to them next spring with another. In the meantime we shall obtain some further information of what we have been told and of the means of travel.> 1833WW003
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American Quotations by William J. Federer, 2024, All Rights Reserved, Permission granted to use with acknowledgement.
Endnotes:
1833WW001. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Wyandot Indian, William Walker, March 1, 1833, in a letter published in the "Christian Advocate & Journal." Huston Horn, The Pioneers, The Old West. (Alexandria, VA: Time'Life Books, 1974), p. 49. Peter Marshall and David Manuel, The Glory of America (Bloomington, MN: Garborg's Heart 'N Home, Inc., 1991), 4.23.
1833WW002. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Wyandot Indian, William Walker, March 1, 1833, in a letter published in the "Christian Advocate & Journal." Huston Horn, The Pioneers, The Old West. (Alexandria, VA: Time'Life Books, 1974), p. 49. Peter Marshall and David Manuel, The Glory of America (Bloomington, MN: Garborg's Heart 'N Home, Inc., 1991), 4.23 Blanchet, Historical Sketches, 43-44.
1833WW003. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Joseph Rosati, Bishop of St. Louis, December 31, 1831, in an account in the annals of the Association of the Propagation of the Faith, of 4 Indians who visited St. Louis.