USA > Oregon > The Oregon native son, Vol. I > Part 67
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Yakimas had come, and George, now hearing the muskets, ran home. E. W. Baughman was with him. Bill Murphy had left the blockhouse early for the In- dian camp, and had nearly returned be- fore he saw the Indians or was shot at. He returned, two others with him, and ran for George Johnson's, about thirty Indians in chase. After reaching John- son's Murphy continued on, and gave Hamilton and all below warning, and the families embarked in small boats for Vancouver. The men would have bar- ricaded in the wharfboat but for want of ammunition. There was considerable government freight in the wharfboat. They stayed about the wharfboat and schooner nearly all day, and until the In- dians commenced firing on them from the zinc house on the bank. Then they shoved out.
Tommy Price was shot through the leg in getting the boat into the stream. Floating down they met the steamer Belle, with Sheridan and forty men. sent up on report of an express carried down by Indian Simpson in the morning. George and those with him went on board the steamer and volunteered to serve under Sheridan, who landed at Sheridan's place and found everything burned. The steamer returned and the Indians pitched into Sheridan. fought him all day, and drove him with forty men and ten volunteers, to below Hamil- ton's, notwithstanding he had a small cannon; one soldier killed.
The steamer Belle returned next day (third of the attack), and brought am- munition for the blockhouse. Your partner, Bishop, who was in Portland. came up on her. Steamer Fashion, with volunteers from Portland, came at the same time. The volunteers remained at the Lower Cascades. Sheridan took his comand, and with a batteau loaded with amunition, crossed to Bradford's island, on the Oregon side .where they found most of the Cascade Indians, they hav- ing been advised by George Johnson to ao th there on the first day of the attack
They were crossing and recrossing all the time, and Sheridan made then: prisoners. He pressed a boat's crew and, as they towed up to the head of the island and above, saw great numbers o' Indians on the Washington territory sid- and opposite them. Sheridan expected them to cross and fight him, and between them and the friendly (?) Indians in hi- charge, thought he had his hands full.
Just then Sheridan discovered Stepto. and his dragoons, infantry and volun- teers, coming down from the Mary, sur- prising completely the Indians who were cooking beef and watching Sheridan across the river. But on the sound of the bugle the Indians rushed like deer to the woods, with the loss of only one kill- ed-"Old Joanum." But for the bugle they ought to have captured fifty.
So ended the battle. The Ninth regi- ment are building a blockhouse on the hill above us, also at George Johnson's. and will hereafter keep a strong force here.
Lieut. Bissell and twelve men who were stationed at the Upper Cascade- were ordered away and left for The Dalles two days before the attack was made upon us.
The Indians Sheridan took on the is- land were closely guarded and sentenced to be hung. The Cascade Indians, be- ing under Old Chenowith (chief), were brought before Col. Wright, tried and were adjudged guilty of ireason in fight- ing. Chenoweth died game; was hung on the upper side of Mill creek. I acte ! as interpreter. He offered ten horses. two squaws and a little something to ev- ery "tyee" of his life: said he was afrail of the grave in the ground, and beggel to be putintoan Indian dead-house. H. gave a terrific warwhoop while the rope was being put around his neck. ! thought he expected the Indians to con: and rescue him. The rope did not work well, and while hanging he muttere "Wake nike quash copa memaloose! He was then shot. I was glad to see the old devil killed, being satisfied that he was at the bottom of all the trouble. Bu! Icannot detail at too great length
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THE CASCADE MASSACRE.
The next day "Tecomeoc" and "Cap- tain Jo" were hung. Captain Jo said all the Cascade Indians were in the fight. The next day "Toy," "Sim Lasselas" and "Four-Fingered Johnny" were hung. The Next day "Chenoweth Jim," "Tum- tah" and "Old Skein" were hung, and "Kanewake" sentenced, but reprieved on the scaffold. Nine in all were executed. "Banaha" is prisoner at Vancouver, and decorated with ball and chain. The rest of the Cascade Indians are on your is- land and will be shot if seen off of it. Such are Colonel Wright's orders. "Dow," "Watiquin," "Peter," "Mahoo- ka John" and "Kotzue." maybe more, have gone with the Yakimas.
I forgot to mention that your house at the Lower Cascades, also Bishop's, was burned; also to account for Capt. Dan Baughman and Jim Thompson. They put back into the mountains, and at night came down to the river at Vander- pool's place. fished up an old boat, and crossed to the Oregon side. They con- cealed themselves in the rocks on the river bank opposite, where they could watch us, and at night went back into the mountains to sleep. They came in safely after the troops arrived.
We do not know how many Indians there were. They attacked the block- house. our place and drove Sheridan all at the same time. We think there was no less than 200 0: 300. When the attack was made on nis three of our carpenters ran for the middle blockhouse, overtook the cars at the salmon house, cut the mules loose, and with the cardrivers. all kept on. They were not fired upon until they got to the spring on the railroad, but from there they ran the gauntlet of bullets and arrows to the fort. Little Jake Kyle was killed in the run. Several were wounded.
This is a long letter; but. knowing you would be anxious to hear all the particu- lars, I have endeavored to give you a true description. Dan is writing to oth- ers at home, and has read this letter. We have got to work again, building and transporting: are going to build a saw
mill as soon as we can. We had but few poor specimens of men here during the fight-generally all behaved well. There was, however, one notable excep- tion, a person who arrived at the store a few minutes before the fight commenced -and whose name I will give you in person.
Am a little bit afraid to go to Rock creek to fish, in fact have had no time so far. Don't think I shall have much fishing this summer. Wish you were back. Yours,
L. W. COE.
Robert Williams, who was one of the detail of eight men under Sergt. Kelly from Company H, left at the Middle Blockhouse by Capt. Wallen, and who helped to make the gallant defense there, against the Indian attack, writes as fol- lows:
The following is an account of the de- fense of the middle blockhouse: I was the first person who suspected that the Indians were preparing for mischief. I discovered the same on the day previous to the attack, while carrying a message from Mr. Griswold, who lived at the Middle Cascades, to Mr. Hamilton, who lived on a farm a little below the landing at the Lower Cascades. The message was for Mr. Hamilton to bring up im- mediately a yoke of oxen which Mr. Griswold had purchased of him. and also to hitch them to one of a lot of new gov- ernment wagons that were at the land- ing and bring it up also. Mr. Hamilton started on his mission the next morning, but learned that the Indians had broken out on the warpath. He abandoned his wagon and hastily returned to warn his neighbors and seek safety for himself and family.
In passing each way by the Indian camp, as I had to do in going to and from carrying the message, my attention was particularly attracted at seeing the majority of the Indians standing togeth- er in council and dressed in warlike cos- times, while some few were playing at a grame resembling shinny Their actions
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were suspicious and confirmed the belief that they were planning mischief. The movements of some of them in particu- lar. going in a half-circle through the timber, thus to flank me, awakened in my mind a very strong suspicion that they were trying to catch me to kill me. I did not show to them any evidence that I suspicioned them of doing me harm, but after I got past their camp and out of their sight I hurried with my utmost speed for the blockhouse, and then told Sergeant Kelly and my other comrades of my suspicions. But by reason of our belief in the strength of our position, few as there were of us, we did not dread any danger from the Indi- ans, or even think any more about it, for, during the whole of the night previous to the attack, six out of the nine of us there and an old German, H. Kyle, were drinking whisky toddy and telling army stories, the old German taking an active part in the sport, and claiming to be one of Blucher's Waterloo veterans, but none of them got drunk. The next morning the sergeant permitted Frederick Ber- naur to go to the Upper Cascades for a canteen full of whisky; but. unfortun- ately for him, the Indians had com- menced their attack on the blockhouse before he returned, preventing him from getting back to us. They shot him through both legs. He managed, how- ever, to get to the bank of the river, and there hide from sight. He fainted sev -. eral times from loss of blood, but the whiskey he had in his canteen supported his strength. When night came on he left his hiding place and got in safety to the blockhouse, where he received a joy- ful welcome, for we all thought he was killed.
When the attack first began nearly all of the men in the detachment were scat- tered around in the vicinity. There were but three of us in close proximity to the blockhouse, Sheridan, the cook. McMan- us and myself. We all heard the shoot- ing, but, strange to affirm, even after what I saw the day previous, I. nor the
that we were attacked by Indians. My first feeling at such an unusual occur. rence was that of indignation at such foolish conduct, thinking that some per- son was firing off his revolver. But the cook quickly found what was the matter and imediately gave the alarm by cryin; "Indians!' McManus and myself wer. standing close together near the block house, and on the instant the alarm was given we cast our eyes towards the hi !! , and timber which closely surrounded us in front, and then we beheld to our hor- ror the painted and half-naked savages. exultantly firing upon all they could see. McManus, who stood by my side. was shot in the groin. He died short! after, in the army hospital at Vancouver from its effects. I truthfully confess that when I beheld the savages engaged in their bloody work, and my comrade by my side fatally shot, I felt for a few mno- ments as if my hair was lifting off my head. Then my thoughts instantly re- verted to the great peril I had escaped the day before, the panoramic view of which will ever remain stamped on my memory. My wounded comrade and myself lost no time in getting inside the blockhouse. I then quickly got on m; accoutrements and gun, and immedi. ately commenced the defense. The in- cessant firing and racket of the Indian .. gave unmistakable warning of dead's danger to those of my comrades wh were strolling around. They all got : the blockhouse in saftey, except I ...; rence Rooney, who was so unfortuna as to be captured upon the hill wi :: cutting wood. The two or three un' . tunate families who were living near : blockhouse ran to it with all their n"_ for the safety of their lives, but set of them were severely wounded in : ning the gauntlet. We had altoge with us three killed and seven woun & Among the former was Mr. Geo Griswold, who might have escaped death but for the over-confidence in 1 friendliness of the Indians towards hu: and his standing in view and waving 1
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the time they were the Cascade Indians, whom he well knew, and not suspecting that there was a large force of hostile Y'akimas among them.
The German boy, Jake Kyle, mention- i'd in Mr. Coe's narrative, was killed while riding on horseback down the road on the hill, about 100 yards in front of the blockhouse. The Indian that shot him stood by the side of a tree close to the road, his gun almost reaching the poor boy, ivho fell instantly upon being shot. It was an agonizing sight to me to see the poor, unconscious boy writh- ing in deadly agony for several hours. Sometimes he would endeavor to sit up, but each attempt provoked the Indians to shoot arrows into him.
"Jehu Switzler" and Tom McDowell (both well known in Vancouver), and another man to me before unknown, were on their way from the Upper to the Lower Cascades, but before they had proceeded far they discovered nostile In- dians. Being unarmed ,they made a des- perate effort to reach the blockhouse, and providentially did, in safety, but fatigued. They proved a valuable ac- quisition to our small force. The three gallantly aided us during the defense in All duties assigned to them to do.
.After they had got in the door was :nade secure by a bolt and a strong chain. That being completed we pre- pared, in terrible earnest, for the uneven ind deadly conflict by giving our savage enemies a treat of canister shot, fourteen "ounds in all, from our six-pounder gun. which finally made them precipitately re- 'rvat for better shelter. We sent after them a few shells for a change. They, however, returned to their first position "o pay their respects to us again. But " this time they had learned our mettle. #1d1 wisely concluded that they could not ship us; so they retired behind the hill mut of the range of our guns, to torture and put to a horrible death our unfortun- ate comrade, Laurence Rooney, whom they had captured. We could not see them at it, but we heard our comrade's
complished that last inhuman and dia- bolical cruelty, the main portion left and went to the Lower Cascades. The out- rages which they did there are fully nar- rated in Mr. Coe's narrative. They, however, left enough behind to besiege us at the blockhouse. But they did not offer to fight us any more, consequently our little party deemed it advisable, if possible, before night came on, to make an effort to get food and water.
I instantly volunteered to do so. The sergeant willingly consented to my go- ing. The stranger who joined our force with Switzler and McDowell gallantly volunteered to go with me in search of whatever we could find to sustain life. Our companions in the blockhouse were meanwhile watching with guns in hand, ready to defend us to the utmost of their ability if occasion offered. But, luckily, we were not molested. I went through a window into Mr. Griswold's house, and, to my great joy, I found a dishpan full of excellent doughnuts. I then handed them to my companion on the outside to take them to the blockhouse, which he did, to the great deligh of all. In the meantime I discovered in the pan- try a fine large ham, which, with the doughnuts, sufficed to relieve all the pangs of hunger. But we failed to get water. So ended the first day's transac- tion. But still on constant vigilance by day and night it was necessary to depend for the safety of our lives until we could get assistance, which came on the morn- ing of the third day of the siege.
The second day the Indians were still besieging us and thus preventing us from getting the precious elixir. water, which by that time all of us greatly need- ed, especially the wounded. But close by there was a small saloon, owned and kept by one of the Palmer brothers, who, with his brother -- who kept a store at the foot of the hill by the river bank-luckily made theis escape immediately after the Indians made their attack, locking the doors of both buildings before they left. My army comrade, William Houser,
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lowed to go to the saloon and get what- ever they might find to alleviate hunger and thirst. I seconded the motion. Ser- geant Kelly then permitted him and me to go. The door being locked my com- rade had to break it open with an ax. We procured within one dozen bottles of English porter, one decanter of brandy, the same of whisky and wine, and a small box full of oyster crackers. We failed to get water, but the articles mentioned sat- isfied every requiremnt, except surgical aid, until we could get relief, which we knew was close at hand. by hearing the report of gallant Phil. Sheridan's guns, firing upon the enemy at the Lower Cas- cades .. After that signal of relief, we all relaxed the ceaseless vigilance we had . all the time kept, for the purpose of al- lowing a portion of our guards to take a little rest and sleep. We were greatly favored at night during the siege by the service of a vicious bulldog of one of the neighbors rendered to ns; he barked and gave warning to us of any attempt the Indians made to get toward the blockhouse. If they had been allowed to get close enough to the building, they would, without doubt. have tried to burn it, by throwing burning pitchwood upon the roof. The next morning Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel Edward J. Steptoe, Ninth United States Infantry, command- ing companies A, E, F and I, same reg- iment, and detatchment of company E. First dragoons, and company L, Third artilery, in all 200 men and officers, came to our relief. The sergeant told them how we had made the defense, and the colonel then complimented all of us for our admirable conduct. Now that relief had come the citizens who had taken refuge with us left for their homes and destinations, we soldiers also went where our fancies directed, and to examine. in particular if we could find traces of in- jury that we had done to the Indians. We failed to see any signs of blood, but my . comrade with me, Hiram Smiley. found the body of Laurence Rooney, our murdered companion, horribly muti- lated and entirely stripped of his cloth-
ing, and the cordwood he had been ( !: ' ting piled on top of him. His murderc :. had first hung him with a willow with. the same being left around his neck they had also mashed his face with th. ax he had worked with. We now call: out to our other comrades to bring !!! a blanket and carry the body down ... the blockhouse, where we soon made rude box and placed the remains there»:
Colonel Steptoe and his comman. proceded on towards the Lower ('a- cades in quest of the hostile renegade - and about one mile and a half below :1. blockhoue met Lieutenant Sheridan ans his small command, just as they ha : crossed the river from the Oregon . to come to the relief of the blockhouss But being that it had been relieved. I.c advised Colonel Steptoe to let him g. back to the island he had just left and capture all the Cascade Indians there . : that would get there after being aba !- doned by the fleeing Yakimas. Lic ::. tenant Alexander Piper, Third artillery of Colonel Steptoe's command was per- mitted to accompany him, and the along a mountain howitzer. All the 1:1. dians on the island were made prisont: - Nine of the principal guilty miscrean". that participated in the attack and mia- sacre at the blockhouse were tried by military commission and hung. as sta' by Mr. Coe.
After accomplishing that duty. Lic. tenant Sheridan and his command !! turned to Fort Vancouver, taking v ... them the remains of our murdered Cor. rade for burial at the military cemeter :
In conclusion, I deem it due justice . all those who shared the protection of : little garrison, men, women and ch: ren, to say that they showed courage ... fortitude worthy of admriation. which we soldiers were duly thankiu! such noble, uncomplaining conduct couraged us, and, moreover, gave perfect liberty to perform our dur To our decimated command of only : men and a sergeant was intrusted important duty of guarding those na derous savages captured on the islas
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THE CASCADE MASSACRE.
who received trial and execution. which, after having undergone the hardships of the siege and loss of sleep and rest. was indeed ,a hard duty for us to perform. But, considering the terrible torture and death which would have been our fate had we been caught; and in reverse cir- cumstances, we did all our duty without the least feeling of complaint. But at the end of two days we were relieved of the command by an officer of the Ninth infantry (I think Lieutenant Harvey), who had under his cominand a detach- ment of twelve men. A few days after- ward we were sent to join our company at Vancouver. Thus ends the history of the siege and defense of the middle blockhouse
ROBERT WILLIAMS,
Sergeant of Ordnance, U. S. A., Retired.
The following were the causalities:
KILLED.
George Griswold-Shot in leg close by middle blockhouse.
B. W. Brown and wife-Killed at saw- mill; bodies found stripped naked in Mill creek.
Jimmy Watkins-Driving team at mill.
Henry Hagar - Shot in Watkins' house; body burned.
Jake Kyle-German boy; killed near middle blockhouse.
Jacob White-Sawyer at mill.
Bourbon (Montoui) - Half-breed; died on the Mary, going to The Dalles.
James Sinclair-Of the Hudson's Bay Company. Walla Walla.
Dick Turpin-Colored cook on steam- . er Mary.
Norman Palmer-Driving team at mill.
Calderwood-Working at the mill.
Two United States Soldiers-Lau- rence Rooney and O. McManus.
George Watkins-Lived four days.
Jacob Roush-Carpenter; lived six days.
WOUNDED.
Fletcher Murphy, arm. P. Snooks, boy, leg. J. Linsay, shoulder. Jesse Kempton, shoulder. Tony Price, thigh. F. Bernauer. U. S. soldier. H. Kyle, German. Moffat. railroad hand. John- ny Chance, leg. M. Bailey, leg and arm. J. Algin, slightly.
OREGON HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
GEO. H. HIMES, Assistant Secretary.
During the time an effort was being made to deprive Dr. McLoughlin of his property at Oregon City, those identified with the movement sought in various ways to bolster up their scheme. His conduct towards the pioneers who were here, and had met and possibly had deal- ings with him was such that but few. if any, statements could be secured going to show that the Doctor was anything but a man of kindness, and of generous nature. Thinking, perhaps, that some of those who entered the field of the Pacific Northwest as competitors against the Hudson's Bay Company might have cause for feeling unkindly toward the Doctor, through the failure of their en-
terprises, letters were addressed to them in hopes of getting replies that would be of a character which would condenn him. In the course of time, some of these communications fell into the Doc- tor's hands. These were published on April 10. 1850, in the Milwaukie Star, published at Milwaukie, Oregon, to- gether with a defense of himself. The conrespondence is given below:
Chickopce. Mass., Nov. 16, 1850. Captain Nath. J. Wyeth:
My Dear Sir-You will excuse me. I am sure. whey I assure you I am from Oregon, and her delegate to the congress of the Uni- ted States, for addressing you for a purpose of interest to the country to which I belong.
INSISTER MORENO
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I desire you to give me as correct a de- scription as you can at this late period, of the manner in which you and your party, and your enterprise in Oregon. were treated by the Hudson's Bay Company and particu- larly by Doc. John Mclaughlin, then its chief factor. This Dr. McLaughlin has since you left the country, rendered his name odious among the people of Oregon, by his endeav- ors to prevent the settlement of the country, and to cripple its growth.
Now that he wants a few favors of our government, he pretends that he has been the long-tried friend of Americans and American enterprise west of the mountains. Your early reply will be highly appreciated, hoth for its information, and your relation to my country.
I am, Sir, yours very truly, S. R. THURSTON.
Cambridge, Nov. 21, 1850.
Hon. Sam'l. R. Thurston:
Dear Sir-Your favor of the 13th inst., was received on the 19th. The first time I visited the Columbia. in the autumn of 1832, I reach- ed Vancouver with a disorganized party of ten persons, the remnant of twenty-four who left the States. Wholly worn out and dis- heartened. we were received cordially, and "herallv supplied, and there the party broke I returned to the States in the spring of 1833 with one man. One of the party. Mr. John Ball, remained and planted wheat on the Willamette a little above Camp du Sable. having been supplied with seed and imple- ments from Vancouver. then under the charge of John Mclaughlin. Esq .. and this gentleman I believe to have been the first American who planted wheat in Oregon. I returned to the country in the autumn of 1834. with a large party and more means. having on the way built Fort Hall, and there met a brig which I sent round the Horn. In the winter and spring of 1835. T planted wheat on the Willamette and on Wappatoo Island.
The suffering and distressed of the early American visitors and settlers on the Colum- bla, were always treated by the Hudson's Bay Company's agents. and particularly so hv John Mclaughlin, Esq., with considera- tion and kindness. more particularly the Methodist missionaries, whom I brought out in the autumn of 134. He supplied them with the means of transportation. seeds, im- plements of agriculture and building, cattle and food for a long time.
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