History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. I, Part 26

Author: Lyman, William Denison, 1852-1920
Publication date: 1919
Publisher: [Chicago] S.J. Clarke
Number of Pages: 1134

USA > Washington > Benton County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. I > Part 26
USA > Washington > Kittitas County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. I > Part 26
USA > Washington > Yakima County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. I > Part 26

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A week later an event occurred which brought most forcibly to the minds of the settlers the need of better organization. This was the death of Ewing Young, one of the most prominent men of the little community. He left con- siderable property, with no known heirs and no one to act as administrator. It became clear that some legal status must be established for the settlement. Another meeting was held, in which it was determined that a government be instituted, having the officers usual in an American locality. The work of framing a constitution was entrusted to a committee, in which the five different elements, the Methodist missionaries, the Catholics, the French-Canadians, the independent American settlers, and the English, had representation. The com- mittee was instructed to confer with Commodore Wilkes of the American Ex- ploring Squadron, just at that time in the River, and Doctor McLoughlin, the Hudson's Bay magnate. Wilkes advised the settlers to wait for added strength and for the United States government to throw its mantle over them. The committee decided that his advice was sound and indefinitely adjourned. Con- stitution building rested for a time along the shores of the Willamette.

In 1841 and 1842, two hundred and twenty Americans reached Oregon, doubling the population.

The Americans were ill at ease without a government, and kept agitating the question of another meeting. But the English and the Catholic influences opposed this. Some diplomacy was needed. The irrepressible Yankees were equal to it. They determined to draw the settlers together under the announce- ment of a meeting for the purpose of discussing the means of protecting them- selves against the ravages of the numerous wild beasts of the valley. W. H. Gray was the leading spirit in this enterprise. In a most picturesque and valuable account of it, John Minto has developed the thought that the founding of the Oregon State bore a striking resemblance to that stage in the Roman State, subsequently celebrated in the festival of Lupercalia, wherein the first organiza- tion was for defense against the wild beasts. So the Willamette witnessed again the gathering of the clans.

Americans, English, French, half-breeds, Catholics, Protestants, Independ- ents, all coming together to protect themselves against the bears, cougars and wolves. The meetings were usually known thereafter as the "wolf meetings."

James O'Neil was made chairman of this historic gathering. With the astuteness characteristic of American politicians, a previous understanding had been made between Mr. O'Neil and the little coterie of which Mr. Gray was the manager, that everything should be shaped to the ultimate end of raising the question of a government. As soon, therefore, as the ostensible aim of the

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meeting had been attained, W. H. Gray arose and broached the all-important issue. After declaring that no one could question the wisdom and rightfulness of the measures looking to protecting their herds from wild beasts, he con- tinued :

How is it, fellow citizens, with you and me, and our wives and children? Have we any organization on which we can rely for mutual protection? Is there any power in the country sufficient to protect us and all that we hold dear, from the worse than wild beasts that threaten and occasionally destroy our cattle? We have mutually and unitedly agreed to defend and protect our cattle and domestic animals; now, therefore, fellow citizens, I submit and move the adoption of the two following resolutions, that we may have protection for our lives and persons, as well as our cattle and herds: Resolved, That a committee be appointed to take into consideration the propriety of taking measures for the civil and military protection of this colony; Resolved, That this committee con- sist of twelve persons.

There spoke the true voice of the American statebuilder, the voice of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. The resolutions were passed and the committee of twelve appointed, mainly American. The committee met at the falls of the Willamette, which by that time was becoming known as Oregon City. Unable to arrive at a definite decision, the committee issued a call for a general meeting at Champoeg on May 2d.

Pending the meeting, there was a general policy of opposition developed among the French-Canadians in the interest of the Hudson's Bay Company and England. This opposition threatened the overthrow of the entire plan. It was, however, checkmated in an interesting fashion. George W. Le Breton was one of the leading settlers and occupied a peculiar position. He was of French origin, from Baltimore to Oregon, and had been a Catholic. His existing affilia- tions were with the Americans. He was keen, facile, and well educated. He discovered that the Canadians had been drilled to vote "No" on all questions, irrespective of the bearing which such a vote might have on the leading issue. Le Breton accordingly proposed that measures be introduced upon which the Canadians ought to vote "Yes." These tactics were carried out. The Canadians were confused thereby. Le Breton watched developments carefully and, becom- ing satisfied that he could command a majority, rose and exclaimed, "I second the motion !" Jo Meek, famous as one of the Mountain Men, stepped out of the crowd and said, "Who is for a divide? All in favor of an organization, follow me!" The Americans speedily gathered behind the tall form of the erstwhile trapper. A count followed. It was a close vote. Fifty-two voted for and fifty against. The Americans would have been outvoted had it not been that Le Breton, with two French-Canadians, Francois Matthieu and Etienne Lucier, voted with them. The defeated Canadians withdrew, and the Indians, who lined the banks of the River to discover what strange proceedings the white men were engaged in, perceived from the loud shouts of triumph that the "Bostons" had won. Though the victory was gained by so scanty a margin, it was gained, and it was decisive. It was one of the most interesting events in the history of Oregon or the United States, for it illustrated most vividly the inborn capacity of the American for self-government.

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The new government went at once into effect. The constitution formu- lated by the committee and adopted by the meeting at Champoeg provided that the people of Oregon should adopt laws and regulations until the United States. extended its jurisdiction over them. Freedom of worship, habeas corpus, trial by jury, proportionate representation, and the usual civil rights of Americans were guaranteed. Education should be encouraged, lands and property should. not be taken from Indians without their consent. Slavery or involuntary servi- tude should not exist.

The officers of government consisted of a legislative body of nine persons,. an executive body of three, and a judiciary of a supreme judge and two justices of the peace, with a probate court and its justices, and a recorder and treasurer. Every white man of twenty-one years or more could vote. The laws of Iowa were designated to be followed in common practice. Marriage was allowed to. males at sixteen and females at fourteen. One of the most important provisions was the land law. This permitted any individual to claim a mile square, pro- vided it be not on a town site or water power, and that any mission claims- already made be not affected, up to the limit of six miles square. This law was framed upon the general conception of the proposed Linn bill already brought before Congress. The land law allowed land to be taken in any form,. but since there was no existing survey, each man had to make his own survey.

The first elected executive committee consisted of David Hill, Alanson. Beers, and Joseph Gale. Within a year an amendment was made to the consti- tution providing for a governor. George Abernethy, a former member of the- Methodist Mission, was chosen to fill the place.

Outer things were pretty crude in the little colony on the Willamette,. though brains and energy were there in abundance. J. Quinn Thornton ex- pressed himself as follows on the "Oregon State House," which he says was in several respects different from that in which laws are made at Washington City ::

"The Oregon State House was built with posts set upright, one end set in the ground, grooved on two sides, and filled in with poles and split timber, such as would be suitable for fence rails, with plates and poles across the top. Raft -- ers and horizontal poles, instead of iron ribs, held the cedar bark which was. used instead of thick copper for roofing. It was twenty by forty feet and there- fore did not cover three acres and a half. At one end some puncheons were put up for a platform for the President ; some poles and slabs were placed around' for seats; three planks, about a foot wide and twelve feet long, placed upon a sort of stake platform for a table, were all that was believed necessary for the use of the legislative committee and the clerks."

There are several facts in connection with the inauguration of this Pro- visional Government of Oregon which are almost equal to itself in interest. One of these is that Peter H. Burnett, a lawyer and the most notable member- of the emigration of 1843, rendered the opinion that, by the spirit of American institutions, the Provisional Government might be regarded as possessing valid" authority. Going in a few years to California, Mr. Burnett incorporated the- same principles into the government of that state and became its first governor.

Another most significant fact was the attitude of the Hudson's Bay Com- pany. That great organization was of course opposed to American ownership>

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.and to the Provisional Government. At first, the management under Sir James Douglas (Dr. McLoughlin had been superseded by Douglas because of his sup- posed leaning toward the Americans) affected to ignore the government framed at Champoeg, declaring loftily that the company could protect itself. Doctor McLoughlin, in his very interesting account of this, says that the Americans adopted in 1845 a provision in the constitution that no one should be called to do any act contrary to his allegiance. This provision struck him as designed to enable British subjects to join the organization. Doctor McLoughlin was so pleased with the wise and liberal spirit which this evinced that he prevailed on Douglas to join the Provisional Government. The family was now complete. The American farmers and immigrants and missionaries had triumphed over the autocratic government of the great fur company. The American idea-gov- ernment of the people, by the people, and for the people-was vindicated. The local battle was won for the Yankee.

Before leaving this great epoch of the history of Oregon, it will interest the reader to know that Doctor McLoughlin, so conspicuous in the story thus far, removed to Oregon City, and became an avowed American citizen, living on the claim on which he filed at the Falls. Much trouble subsequently arose between him and the Methodist Mission people represented by Rev. A. F. Waller. Harder yet, Congress was led by Delegate Thurston of Oregon, to exclude him from the benefit of the Donation Land Law. The final result was that the great-hearted ex-king of the Columbia lost the most of his claim on the ground that he was an alien at the time of taking it. The Hudson's Bay Com- pany directors chose to disapprove his acts in bestowing provisions upon the weary and hungry and ragged American immigrants, and they charged him personally with the cost. This, in addition to the loss of his claim, rendered him almost penniless and sadly embittered his old age. He said that he sup- posed he was becoming an American, but found that he was neither American nor British, but was without a country. It is pleasant to be able to record the fact that the Oregon Legislature restored his land in so far as the state ·controlled it, but this was only just before his death.

CHAPTER VIII

PERIOD OF INDIAN WARS

MEEKER-STEVENS CONTROVERSY-WAR CHIEFS OF THE INDIANS-THE CAYUSE WAR-"LAWYER"-DIAGRAM OF RESERVATION AND ORDER OF WITHDRAWAL- OUTBREAK OF WAR-BOLON MURDER-BATTLES IN YAKIMA-DISCORD BETWEEN VOLUNTEERS AND REGULARS-WALLA WALLA CAMPAIGN-VICTORY OF THE VOLUNTEERS-AFTERMATH OF THE WARS-THE DEATH OF LESCHI-A NEW ORDER OF THINGS-STEPTOE'S DEFEAT-END OF THE WAR-NEZ PERCE WAR IN THE WALLOWA, IN 1877-THE PERKINS MURDER-STORY OF EARLY DAYS: CHIEF MOSES SHOWN IN HIS TRUE LIGHT-TREATY WITH THE YAKIMAS, 1855.

The coming of "superior races" among barbarous ones,-which in case of Oregon, meant mainly the British and Americans-has been followed by the inevitable tragedy of war. Neither of the two parties has been able to com- prehend the view point of the other. To most whites, eager to seize and de- velop land, and impatient of the blind and childish incapacity of the natives to understand the nature of civilization, those natives seem but obstructions to be gotten rid of like any other "varmints." To the native, accustomed to bound- less areas of pasture land and game runs and fishing streams and seasonal mi- grations, the whites, at first a subject for wonder and superstitious fear and almost worship, became later a pestilence and an all-absorbing flood of tyranny and rapacity, whose main aims were to seize the Indian's land, grasp his be- loved game and fish preserves, outrage his women, and kill his men. The most tragic part of our "Century of Dishonor," as Helen Hunt Jackson has it, has been the fact that the real criminals on both sides were not usually the ones that suffered due punishment from the avenging hands of the other. Some lawless bunch of white desperadoes would rob some Indians or run off with their women, and then the outraged Indians would go on the warpath and with blind fury waylay some innocent train of immigrants or fire a lonely cabin and scalp the helpless women and children of some frontier settler. In turn a new band of white men, this time probably the best of the genuine American settlers, would rouse themselves to defend their families and bring swift retribution upon the midnight marauders-and so they in turn would raid an Indian village and shoot down a bunch of men, women, and children, who had no part in the former atrocities and not the slightest conception of what it was all about. And so the blind and sorrowful history of "Indian troubles" has see-sawed back and forth, the criminals on both sides starting the ball rolling in order to gratify their lust for land or plunder or women, and the innocent victims on both sides paying the penalty. But what can we do about it? Philosophy breaks down

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in trying to solve the problem on ethical grounds. Obviously this splendid land with its limitless resources could not have been left wild simply to accommodate a few thousand Cayuse ponies and maintain hunting grounds for a few thousand primitive natives. It is easy to say that if men were rational and patient and philanthropic, all could have been peaceably adjusted. Undoubtedly. But that is just what most men, even of the American nation, are not. They are not rational, nor patient, nor philanthropic. And so there you are! Without un- dertaking to express a judgment on a subject of which many greater philos- ophers than the writer have failed to find any satisfactory solution, we may venture one suggestion. It is this :- It is a just assertion that in the conflicts that have tormented humanity, the higher contestant should be held to the larger responsibility, the severer judgment. That is just the opposite of what is generally done. But we submit it as an essential basis of ethics (if there are any ethics in this poor, blood-soaked and outraged world of the year 1918 of the so-called Christian era) that the civilized man should be held to a higher responsibility than the savage. Generally speaking, in case of trouble between capitalist and laborer, the former is to blame. As between teacher and pupil, the teacher is usually to blame. As between parent and child the parent is usu- ally to blame. As between educated and ignorant, the former must be held gen- erally responsible. In countries so much in the dark ages as to have kings and lords, it may be said that the kings and lords are always to blame for popular troubles.

MEEKER-STEVENS CONTROVERSY

A good deal of the literature of crimination and recrimination about Indians in this state or territory has raged around its first governor, Isaac I. Stevens. Gen. Hazard Stevens, known and honored by many in Yakima and other parts of this region, whose brave and useful life ended while these pages were in preparation, has given in the life of his father, a masterly sum- mary of the policies and achievements of that initial administration. Ezra Meeker, known also and respected all over the Northwest as one of the great pioneers, has presented in "The Tragedy of Leschi," his reasons for severe criticism of the Indian policies of Governor Stevens. The great majority of pioneers in discussing this controversy support the governor and condemn Meeker's criticisms as unjust and some even say malicious. Without under- taking to express any opinion on this vexed question it may be said here that the honored first governor of Washington Territory,-with his great ability, his. tremendous energy, his far-reaching vision as to the future of this region, and his devoted patriotism, which he sealed with his blood on the field of Chantilly,-was a typical white man in the sense of which we have spoken.

That is, he, like practically all the white men in the Northwest at that time, did not get the point of view of the Indians. He and they contemplated this country solely from the standpoint of their own race and civilization and took into account little or none the problem of any permanent development of the Indians. The two views of Governor Stevens and his Indian policies, when divested of prejudice and acrimony, may be found to coexist in a measure. For there can be no question as to his large and beneficent aims, his lofty ambi- tions, and his unflagging zeal in the development of the country. It is doubt-

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less equally true that he was oblivious to the inner workings and sentiments of the Indians, and thought of them as merely incidental to the great task of making a new commonwealth of what he saw truly was one of the most richly ·endowed of all the new lands of America.

WAR CHIEFS OF THE INDIANS

The story of the early Indian wars of the Inland Empire is divisible into three stages: First, the Cayuse War following the Whitman Massacre; second, the Yakima and Walla Walla War of 1855-56; third, the Yakima and Spokane War of 1858-59. These in a way constituted one war. Moreover, while the two latter were in progress, there were Indian wars in southern Oregon and on Puget Sound. It would perhaps be an accurate summary to say that the twelve years, 1847 to 1859, composed the great period of Indian wars in the Northwest. As we shall see, there were two very considerable later wars, the Nez Perce War of 1877 and the Bannock War of 1878. The Yakima Indians took a lead- ing role in the War of 1855-56, and were connected with the others to a greater or less degree. Among many famous leaders of the natives several may be .considered as their most conspicuous-Kamiakin, Owhi, and Leschi, the Yakimas, though Leschi's field was mainly on the Sound,-Peupeumoxmox, a Walla Walla, Looking Glass and Halhaltlossot (Lawyer), the Nez Perces, and in the wars of the seventies, Hallakallakeen or Joseph of the Nez Perces, and Sulktalthscosum, or Moses, of the Kowahchins. There were many other Indian chiefs worthy of mention, some admired, others hated by the whites, but these eight may perhaps be justly considered as nearest fulfilling the ideal of the typical Indian chief both for good and evil.

It is fitting that some space be given here to each of these wars with a view of the results of each. First we speak of

THE CAYUSE WAR

The Whitman Massacre was a prelude to the Cayuse War. It should be 'remembered that. the year before the massacre, the Oregon country had, by treaty with Great Britain, become the property of the United States. No reg- ular government had yet been inaugurated, but the Provisional Government :already instituted by the Americans met on December 9th and provided for sending fourteen companies of volunteers to the Walla Walla. These were im- migrants who had come to seek homes and their section of land, and it was a great sacrifice for them to leave their families and start in mid-Winter for the upper Columbia. But they bravely and cheerfully obeyed the call of duty and set forth, furnishing mainly their own equipment, without a thought of pecu- niary gain or even reimbursement. Cornelius Gilliam, an immigrant of 1845 from Missouri, was chosen colonel of the regiment. He was a man of great energy and courage, and though not a professional soldier (none of them were) had the frontier American's capacity for warfare. The command pushed rapidly forward, their way being disputed at various points. At Sand Hollows the Indians, led by Five Crows and War Eagle, made an especially tenacious :attempt to prevent the crossing of the Umatilla River. Five Crows claimed to

' urtes . r. L. V. Mt Whorter LOUIS CHARLES MANN

Courtesy of L. V. Mcwhorter

REBEL CHIEFS OF THE YAKIMAS

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have wizard powers by which he could stop all bullets, and War Eagle declared that he could swallow all balls fired at him. But at the first onset the wizard was so badly wounded that he had to retire and "Swallow Ball" was killed. Tom McKay had leveled his rifle and said, "Let him swallow this."

The way was now clear to Waiilatpu, which the command reached on March 4th. The mangled remains of the victims of the massacre had been hastily interred by the Ogden party, but coyotes had partially exhumed them. The remains were gathered by, the volunteers and reverently, though rudely, buried at a point near the mission, a place where a marble crypt now encloses the commingled bones of the martyrs. A lock of long, fair hair was found near the ruined mission ground which was thought surely to be from the head of Mrs. Whitman. It was preserved by one of the volunteers and is now one of the precious relics in the historical museum of Whitman College.

The Cayuse War dragged along in a desultory fashion for nearly three years. The refusal of the Nez Perces and Spokanes and the indifference of the Yakimas to join the Cayuses made their cause hopeless, though there were several fierce fights with them and much severe campaigning. In 1850 a band of friendly Umatilla Indians undertook to capture the chief band of the Cayuses under Tamsaky, which had taken a strong position about the headwaters of the John Day River. After a savage battle Tamsaky was killed and most of the warriors captured. Of these, five, charged with the leading part in the Whit- man massacre, were hanged at Oregon City on June 3, 1850. It remains a ques- tion to this day, however, whether the victims of the gallows were really the guilty ones. The Cayuse Indians were quite firm in their assertion that Tam- ahas, who, by one version, struck Doctor Whitman the first blow, was the only one of the five concerned in the murder.

Thus ended the first of the principal wars in the Columbia Basin. It was quickly followed by another, which was so extensive that it may well be called universal. This was the War of 1855-56. This was the greatest Indian war in the entire history of the Columbia River.

The first efforts of Governor Stevens were to secure treaties with the Indians. Having negotiated several treaties in 1854 with the Puget Sound In- dians, the governor passed over the Cascade Mountains to Walla Walla in May, 1855. There during the latter part of May and first part of June, he held a great council with representatives of seventeen tribes. Lieutenant Kip, U. S. A., has preserved a vivid account of this great gathering, one of the most important ever held in the annals of Indian history. According to Lieutenant Kip, there were but about fifty men in the escort of the daring governor, and if he had been a man sensible to fear he might well have been startled when there came an army of twenty-five hundred Nez Perces under Halhaltlossot, known as Lawyer by the whites. Two days later three hundred Cayuses, those worst of the Columbia River Indians, surly and scowling, led by Five Crows and Young Chief, made their appearance. Two days later a force of two thousand Yakimas, Umatillas, and Walla Wallas came in sight under Kamiakin and Peu- peumoxmox. The council was soon organized. Governor Stevens and General Palmer, the latter the Indian agent for Oregon, set forth their plan of reserva- tions, all these speeches being translated and retranslated until they had filtered (15)

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History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. I, Part 26

Author: Lyman, William Denison, 1852-1920 Publication date: 1919 Publisher: [Chicago] S.J. Clarke Number of Pages: 1134

Author: Lyman, William Denison, 1852-1920
Publication date: 1919
Publisher: [Chicago] S.J. Clarke
Number of Pages: 1134