In the Indian camp people were dying at the rate of five or six a day, both children and adults. Nearly half of the tribe was now gone.
On November 26, a Friday, Marcus had to be absent from the mission for a time. He was home again by Sunday evening. The news he had for Narcissa was not good: Stickus, Marcus' faithful Indian friend had told him that Joe Lewis was going from Indian lodge to lodge, inflaming the Indians' anger against the Whitmans. The Indians were holding nightly councils, planning when and where they would kill the doctor.
The following morning was cold and bright. Preparations were being made to start the school again. Marcus had to leave for a while to attend the funeral of an Indian child. Out in the yard some of the men commenced butchering a cow.
When Marcus returned from the funeral he commented that not many Indians came to the funeral. He further noted that there were more Indians than normal hanging around the mission. Narcissa thought it due to the cow-butchering and the Indians hoping to have a share of the meat. Then there was a knock on the door.
Narcissa went to answer the door and was surprised to find Tomahas standing there. This was strange because Indians were not allowed to come to the house. Tomahas wanted to speak to Doctor Whitman. Marcus went to the door. Before he stepped out he turned and told Narcissa to bolt the door behind him.
In an instant, those within the house could hear loud voices outside. They were quickly followed by a blow and the sound of someone falling. They heard a cry from John Sager. The sound was quickly silenced.
Mary Ann Bridger, as ill as she was, had seen what had happened and cried out that the Indians were killing Doctor Whitman and John Sager.
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