connection stated that another press and more type was greatly needed. Not long after the above date, a press was established at Honolulu, and by March 20, 1830, the combined plants had issued twenty-two distinct books, averaging thirty-seven small pages each, amounting in all to three hundred and eighty-seven thousand copies.
In a few years the demand for printed matter in the islands assumed such proportions that greater facilities for printing became necessary; hence the first Honolulu press was laid aside.
In 1836, the American board mission among the Indians in Oregon was established; so as a means of encouragement, and with a view to helping on in the work of this mission as far as possible, the first native church of Honolulu decided to send it the unused press. Accordingly, an arrangement was effected with Mr. Edwin O. Hall, who had been one of the printers of the mission since 1835, to take it to Oregon. It was shipped with type, fixtures, paper and binding apparatus, all valued at $500, and arrived at Vancouver, on the Columbia river, about April 10, 1839. An express was sent to Dr. Marcus Whitman at Wai-il-et-pu, six miles west of the present city of Walla Walla, Washington, and to Rev. H. H. Spalding at Lapwai, on the Clearwater, not a great way from the present city of Lewiston, Idaho, notifying them that the press, with Mr. and Mrs. Hall and F. Ermantinger as guide, would leave Vancouver on the 13th with the hope of reaching Fort Walla Walla (now Wallula) on the 30th. Spalding, with his wife and child, started for Wai-il-et-pu on the 24th and reached his destination on the 27th. The next day a note was received to the effect that the press and party before named had just arrived, passage having been made up the Columbia river in a canoe. On May 6th, the press and escort, started for Lapwai, the press on pack animals in charge of Ermatinger; Hall and wife and Spalding and family in a canoe, and all arrived safely at their destination late on the evening of the 13th. On the 16th, the press was set up, and on May 18, 1839, the first proof sheet in the original Oregon territory was struck off. This was an occasion of great rejoicing. On the 23d, it was resolved to build an adobe printing office. On the 24th, the first four hundred copies of a small book in the Nez Perce Indian language were printed. The translation was made by Mr. and Mrs. Spalding and Cornelius Rogers, a teacher in the mission, and used in manuscript form prior to the arrival of the press. On July 10th, the style of alphabet was agreed upon, it having been decided to adopt the one used in the Sandwich Islands. This was done at Kamiah by Dr. and Mrs. Whitman, Mr. Spalding and wife. Rev. A. R. Smith and wife, and Mr. Hall. On August 1st, the printing of another book was commenced in the new alphabet, and by the 15th, five hundred copies were completed. On December 30th the press was packed, with the intention of sending it to Dr. Whitman's station, Wai-il-et-pu, to print a book there. The next day it started on its journey, and that evening the packhorse fell down a precipice, and it was supposed that the press was dashed to pieces. On January i, 1840, Mr. Rogers rode to the scene of the accident, gathered all the material together and returned. By the 17th the press was again set up, and it was discovered that nothing was lost save a few type. By this experience, it was found that it would be easier to send the manuscript to the press than the press to the manuscript. Printing was resumed on the 20th, and on the 28th Mr. Hall having started for the Sandwich Islands, Mr. Rogers, who had been taught to set type and operate the press by Mr. Hall, was employed to take charge of the press and do the printing for the mission for 30 pounds, English money, per year and his board. Thereafter, so long as the mission was sustained, the usual routine of work was pursued.
It is impossible to state accurately the number of publications that were issued from this press in the Flathead, Spokane, Cayuse and Nez Perce languages; but it is believed to have been at least a dozen. It has been my good fortune to secure four copies of these publications for the library of the Oregon Historical Society during the past three years.
