The thought of fostering care seems to have remained with this
"survivor" since her days with the Whitmans.
Forgiving innocent ones for the atrocious acts of their kindred upon
her own brothers, Mrs. Delaney became a benefactor of the Indians.
Before the apportionment of their lands the Coeur d'Alene squaws and
children suffered great hardships. To them the Farmington hotel kitchen
was a haven of warmth and plenty. They started home cheered and fed
with bundles of food to tie on their ponies. The Delaney living room is
the only place I have seen Indian women and girls light hearted and
chatty. They loved to linger to sing for their hostess. Mrs. Delaney's
hospitality extended to clergymen of all creeds. Her's has been a life
of hard but generous service. "Not to be ministered unto but to
minister" seems to have been the life motto of this woman reared in the
wilds.
In 1881 General and Mrs. T. R. Tannatt came to the Northwest when the
latter began a search for historical data; she sought pioneers and
recorded their statements for comparison, in an effort to obtain truth.
Opportunity gave her acquaintance with Mr. Gray, author of History of
Oregon, Rev. Cushing Eels, the Spalding family, several survivors of
the Whitman massacre, and pioneer army and railway officers from whom
she gleaned information which later assisted her in writing the
booklet, "Indian Battles of the Inland Empire in 1858," published by
the D. A. R.
In 1887 she stopped at the Farmington hotel owned by Mrs. Delaney, and
continued an acquaintance with her until 1920. She said Mrs. Delaney's
account of the massacre never varied, and in discussion of points of
difference with other survivors Mrs. Delaney's clear description and
logical reasoning invariably convinced the others that she must be
correct, while her clear remembrance of subsequent events, known to
them both for more than three decades, strengthened Mrs. Tannatt's
belief in the accuracy of her earlier impressions.
Mrs. Tannatt often urged this witness of the heartrending tragedy to
publish her recollections, and had the pleasure of reading the
manuscript for this narrative which she said contained the most
comprehensive and truthful description of the Whitman massacre she had
seen. She consented to write the Foreword, but before doing so was
summoned by her Heavenly Father.