In 1847 , a measles epidemic broke out among the native population , which lacked immunity to the disease and it spread quickly . The American population had some limited immunity to measles which meant a lower mortality rate than the natives . This discrepancy stirred discontent among the natives who felt Marcus was only curing the white people while letting Indian children die . The resentment boiled over on November 29 , 1847 , when Tiloukaikt and others attacked the mission , killing both Whitmans . This event would be remembered as the Whitman massacre , in which eleven others were killed , including the young brothers John and Francis Sager . Many more were taken hostage
Whitman massacre
Whitman massacre
Narcissa Whitman