USA > Washington > Benton County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. I > Part 28
USA > Washington > Kittitas County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. I > Part 28
USA > Washington > Yakima County > History of the Yakima Valley, Washington; comprising Yakima, Kittitas, and Benton Counties, Vol. I > Part 28
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111
"During the Summer of that year Governor Stevens met several head men of the different tribes, including Ow-hi, leader of what was then known as the upper Yakima, extending from Nah-cheez River north to the headwaters of the Yakima. Stevens told him that he wished to hold a council with all the interested tribes in eastern Washington and eastern Oregon the following year to talk over the purchase of Indian lands. Ow-hi replied that the Indians did not want to sell and wished to be left alone. He was assured that, if the Indians would not sell, the whites would take the land any way and the Indians get no. return ; also, that if they refused to make a treaty with him, soldiers would be sent into their country to wipe them off the face of the earth. Stevens requesed Ow-hi to communicate this fact to the different chiefs, which he did without delay.
"When the words of Stevens were repeated by Ow-hi to Ka-mi-akin, the latter had exclaimed: 'At last we are face to face with those dreaded people,
.234
HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY
the coming of whom was foretold by the old medicine man, Wa-tum-nah, long .ago. Peu-peu-mox-mox, who has been in California, says that the Indians .there are fast dying off. I have traveled through the Willamette Valley since its settlement by the whites and found only a sad remainder left of the once powerful Mult-no-mahs and Cal-a-poo-yas. So it will be with us, if we allow the whites to settle in our country. Heretofore we have allowed them to travel through unmolested, and we refused to help the Cay-uses in their war with them, for we wanted to live in peace and be left alone; but we have been both mistaken and deceived. Now, when that pale-faced stranger, Governor Stevens, from a distant land, sends to us such words as you have brought me, I am for war. If they take our lands, their trails will be marked with blood.'
"Ka-mi-akin requested Ow-hi to bring to his village in two weeks Quil- ten-e-nock and Apashwayiikt (Looking Glass), war chief of the Nez Perces, to summon him to a meeting at the village of Peu-peu-moxmox, near Wallula, at once. This done, he rode to the Catholic Mission, St. Joseph, a few miles below on the Ahtanum to tell Father Pandosy of the message sent by Governor Stevens. The priest replied : 'It is as I feared. The whites will take your coun- try as they have taken other countries from the Indians. I come from the land of the white man far to the east, where the people are thicker than the grass on the hills. While there are only a few here now, others will come with'each year until your country will be overrun with them; your land will be taken and your people driven from their homes. It has been so with other tribes; it will be so with you. You may fight and delay for a time this invasion, but you cannot avert it. I have lived many Summers with you, and baptised a great number of your people into the faith. I have learned to love you. I cannot advise or help you. I wish I could.'
"Mounting his horse the chief rode back to the village. What passed through his mind at that time can only be surmised. Was it then that he worked out his plan for a confederacy of all the red men west of the Rocky Mountains for a last stand against the hated white race ?
"With his brother Skloom and another trusted man, as well as a few extra horses, along, Ka-mi-akin then set out for the home of Peu-peu-moxmox, where A-pash-wa-yi-ikt, the Nez Perce soon joined them. Here Ka-mi-akin repeated the words of Governor Stevens, as told him by Ow-hi, and unfolded his plan for a confederacy of all the tribes from British Columbia to the south- ern boundary of Oregon, for the purpose of resisting, if it became necessary, the occupancy of their lands by the whites. Both of these influential chiefs gave their approval. After a day and night spent in consultation, a definite plan was agreed upon. A council should be called to meet in a month. The message from Governor Stevens was to be spread broadcast and tribal councils called to select head men to attend the grand council. The meeting place was to be the Grande Ronde Valley of eastern Oregon, a rendezvous selected both because of its remoteness and in the hope that the Snake tribes might be in- duced to join. In order to keep the whites from learning of the proposed gathering, strict secrecy must be observed.
"Couriers were sent speeding to the south at once to spread out among the different nations, while Skloom, with another Yakima, went to the Warm
Courtesy of L. V. MeWhorter
MAID OF THE FALLING LEAVES
TOKIAKEN TWI-WASH OR TOM SMART LOWIT
235
HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY
:Springs, Des Chutes, Tihghs and Was-co-pams, with the intention also of visiting the Klickitats on their return to Yakima.
"Ka-mi-akin returned to the Ahtanum alone. Shortly after, Ow-hi, Quil- ten-e-nock, Sulk-talth-scos-um and Qual-chan arrived in response to his sum- .mons and were informed of the result of his meeting with Peu-peu-moxmox and Looking Glass. The Yakima chief urged them to busy themselves in the north, east and west, in the work Skloom was doing in the Des Chutes country and the couriers in the south.
"These bold men were pleased with the plan and eager for action. An understanding was soon reached. Quil-ten-e-nock and Sulk-talth-scos-um were to go north; Qual-chan to Puget Sound to meet Leschi and others who would look after that region; while Ka-mi-akin and Ow-hi would go east.
"Well equipped with tough and wiry horses, and a few men along to look after them they were soon on their respective ways, full of hope. To the head men of each tribe they dwelt on the menace in the words of Governor Stevens and insisted that their only hope was to stand together. If soldiers were sent into any part of the Indian country and a battle fought, it should be the signal for a general uprising from every quarter.
"The council which met in the Grande Ronde Valley in 1854 was the most noted gathering of red men that had ever been seen in this vast territory. It lasted five days, during which speakers were heard from nearly every tribe. Only Hal-halt-los-sot (Lawyer) of the Nez Perces, Stic-cas of the Cay-uses and Garry of the Spokanes were in favor of making a treaty with Governor Stevens and selling their lands. The Sho-sho-nees, as well as other tribes not directly interested in the treaty, said: 'We have been for many years in almost constant warfare with the whites and are in a position to begin hostilities at any time. If you decide on war and begin to fight, let the signals flash from the mountain tops and we will do our part; but we will fight only in our own .country.' The Flatheads were not represented in this council, though many ·of them fought in the war later on. Lawyer and Stic-cas hung out strong for a council with Stevens, taking the view that if all were in a position to hear directly what the emissary of the whites had to say, war might, perhaps, be avoided ; but they were much in the minority.
"All of the interested chiefs, except these two, then met and concluded to mark the boundaries of the different tribes so that each chief could rise in council, claim his boundaries and ask that the land be made a reservation for his people. Then there would be no lands for sale, the council would fail, and the contention of Lawyer and Stic-cas, at the same time, be met. The bound- aries were agreed upon as follows:
"Ow-hi, for the Yakimas, Klickitats, Wick-rams and So-kulks, should have the territory extending from the Cascade Falls of the Columbia River north along the summit of the Cascade Mountains to the head of Cle-El-um, east by Mount Stuart and the ridge of the We-nat-sha Moutnains north of the Kittitas Valley, to the Columbia River and across to Moses Lake, thence south to White Bluffs, crossing to the west side, and on down the Columbia to the point of beginning, including all of Klickitat, Yakima and Kittitas valleys.
236
HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY
"To-qual-e-can, for the Wenatshas, that country north of Ow-hi's boun- dary to Lake Chelan and east as far as Grand Coulee.
"In-no-mo-se-cha, for the Chelans, that country north as far as Methow, then east to Grand Coulee.
"Se-cept-kain, for the Okanogans, all north of the Methow to the boundary of British Columbia with the Okanogan River for the east boundary. All of the above boundaries extended west to the summit of the Cascades.
"To-nas-ket claimed for the Kettle Falls tribe of the Okanogans all that country between the Columbia River and the east bank of the Okanogan north to the boundary of British Columbia.
"Chin-chin-no-wab, for the Colvilles, asked for the land east to To-nas-ket's boundary, including the Spokane and Colville valleys.
"Lot, for his tribe of Spokanes, wanted the land east of that claimed by Chin-chin-no-wah to Spokane Falls.
"Garry and Po-lat-kin, for their following of the same tribe, wanted that east of Lot's land from Spokane Falls to the summit of the Cœur d'Alene Moun- tains and about twenty miles south of Spokane Falls and east of the Palouse country.
"Sal-tes, for the Cœur d'Alenes, claimed that part known as the eastern portion of the Palouse country south of Garry's and Po-lat-kin's holdings, with the Snake River at Pen-e-wa-wa for the southern boundary.
"Three Eagles asked for his band of Nez Perces the land south and east of Sal-tes' claim to the summit of the Bitter Root Mountains and the north side of the Clearwater.
"Looking Glass' and Lawyer's following of the same tribe claimed all lying south of Three Eagles' land, including Kam-i-ah, Craig Mountain and Camas Prairie.
"Joseph, for the Salmon River Nez Perces, spoke for the main Salmon and Little Salmon rivers and the headwaters of the Weiser, Payette and Wallowa valleys.
"Five Crows, of the Cay-uses, wanted the Grande Ronde Valley, Umatilla and as far down the Columbia as John Day's River in Oregon.
"The Warm Springs, Des Chutes, Was-co-pams and Tighs asked for the land from John Day's River to the Cascade Falls of the Columbia and south along the summit of the Cascade Mountains to Mount Jefferson, then east to the John Day River and down that stream to the Columbia.
"Thus a circle was completed, including practically all of the lands in eastern Washington and a large portion of eastern Oregon, thereby leaving no lands to treat for with the Government. If Governor Stevens now asked for a council it was agreed that they should consent, but should give up no land.
"The spirit of war was now thoroughly aroused; the fire smouldering ready for the first breeze to fan it into flame. During the Winter of 1854, many councils and feasts were held among the tribes, at which the talk was all of war.
"The leading spirit and master mind of this confederacy, Ka-mi-akin, with an endurance that seemed to have no limit, flew from tribe to tribe, dispensing that fiery eloquence so potent among the red men.
237
HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY
"Reviving the memory of their wrongs, he said: 'We wish to be left alone in the lands of our forefathers, whose bones lie in the sand hills and along the trails, but a paleface stranger had come from a distant land and sends word to us that we must give up our country, as he wants it for the white man. Where can we go? There is no place left. Only a single mountain now separates us from the big salt of the setting sun. Our fathers from the hunting grounds of the other world are looking down on us today. Let us not make them ashamed! My people, the Great Spirit has his eyes upon us. He will be angry if, like cowardly dogs, we give up our lands to the whites. Better to die like brave warriors on the battlefield, than live among our vanquishers, despised. Our young men and women would speedily become debauched by their fire water and we should perish as a race.'
"With such words he had no difficulty in holding the compact solid.
"When the snow had left the valleys, but was yet hanging low on the hills, a small party of white men rode into Ka-mi-akin's camp on the south side of the Yakima River, a few miles below the present town of Zillah. The leader proved to be James Doty, sent out by Governor Stevens to arrange with the various tribes for a grand council to be held May 20th. The Yakima chief gave his consent to the plan, and named Pasha, a spot in the Walla Walla Valley where now stands the city of Walla Walla, which was an ancient coun- cil ground, for the meeting. Doty also visited the Walla Wallas, Cay-uses and Nez Perces, all of whom agreed to hold the council where Ka-mi-akin had suggested.
"The utmost effort was made by the Indians during the Spring and Sum- mer to gather and store all the food possible. Every woman and girl was digging roots, while every man and boy was catching and drying salmon, as well as killing and curing meat. This activity continued throughout the season.
"But from the time of the Grande Ronde council, there had been a subtle force at work to defeat the aims of the confederacy. The Nez Perce, Lawyer, had notified Indian Agent A. J. Bolon of this council and its purpose. Lawyer was a far-seeing, cunning and ambitious man. With the education and knowl- edge gained in travel, he was the best posted Indian in the Northwest in regard to the strength and power of the whites. He knew that the Indians could not cope with them in war and that the inevitable result would be the defeat and humiliation of the red man. By showing his friendship for the whites he thought to gain advantages for his own tribe and promotion for himself. Poli- tician that he was, he played into the hands of the enemies of his race. White historians will applaud him, but from the standpoint of the Indian he was as much a traitor as were the Tories in the war for American independence. It turned out as he expected. By his perfidy he gained a large reservation for his tribe and advancement for himself."-Such is Mr. Splawn's account.
Such was the state of mind among the Indians when Governor Stevens met them at Walla Walla. It is not surprising, therefore, that they ratified the treaty with a large mental reservation. It is suitable to record here, how- ever, that Mr. Splawn repudiates the story of Lawyer that there was a con- spiracy among the Yakimas and Cayuses to exterminate Stevens and his
238
HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY
soldiers. He believes that story to have been invented by Lawyer purely in‹ his own interest.
About a month after the Walla Walla council Kamiakin had a conterence - of the principal chiefs at his place near the present Tampico. At this confer- ence war was practically agreed on and the warriors waited only for an occa- sion. The aim was to line up all the Indians of the Northwest and make a clean sweep of the "Shweyappos" (whites). Qualchan, who seems to have- been the Achilles of the tribes, as Kamiakin was their Agamemnon, had been to the Sound to rouse Leschi, whose mother was a Yakima.
OUTBREAK OF WAR
The occasion was soon offered. Gold had been discovered near the Cana -- dian boundary on the Columbia. Indians or no Indians, eager adventurers at many points were making ready for a rush into the "diggings."
Among others a party of six white men from Seattle were making their way in spite of warnings through the Yakima Valley. At a point said by Mr. Splawn to be near the present dam of the Cascade mill company Qualchan with a party of five relatives overtook the whites and after a little "wawa," as the whites were just ready to ford the Yakima, fired upon them, killing four. The- others were followed and soon dispatched. Mr. Splawn mentions five of the slain, Jamieson, Walker, Cummings, Huffman, and Fanjoy. In an address at the meeting of the Oregon Historical Society at Portland December 19, 1914, Mr. Thomas W. Prosch states the details a little differently, to the effect that there were seven men in the party, that three escaped and reached their homes ... and that the four killed were Eaton, Fanjoy, Walker, and Jamieson.
It was generally believed that other miners lost their lives. Whatever the exact facts, white men were murdered and the flood gates of a desolating Indian war were open.
BOLON MURDER
A. J. Bolon, Indian agent at The Dalles, upon learning of these bloody deeds, started for the scene. He knew many of the Indians and seems to have been very friendly with Showaway, a brother of Kamiakin. Being a brave and resolute man and having great confidence in his power over the Indians, Bolon went alone, expecting to pass on from Yakima to Colville and thence to meet Stevens on his return from the Blackfoot country. Leaving The Dalles, Sep- tember 20, 1855, Bolon reached the lodge of Showaway on the Toppenish, and there the chieftain urged him to return at once, declaring that his life was in danger. Bolon followed the advice and the next day set forth on his return.
While in the Simcoe hills at a point about twenty-five miles from the present Fort Simcoe, Bolon was overpowered and murdered with peculiar atro- city, his head being hacked from his body. There seems some difference of opinion as to the perpetrators of this dreadful deed. Mr. Splawn regards it as the work of Mecheil, the son of Showaway. The author has derived from Frank Olney of Toppenish the statement that five Indians attacked Bolon while one Indian fought for him. Bolon was a very powerful man and made a gal -- lant fight but he and his Indian helper were finally overpowered and his head 1
239°
HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY
was severed from his body. The place where it occurred became known as. Twenty-five Mile Creek, on account of being that distance from the point where Fort Simcoe was afterwards located. Chief Stwires (Waters) gave a vivid account of Bolon whom he knew well, though he had no direct knowledge. of the murder. He said that Bolon was red-headed, very strong and could outrun a horse,-"good man." It must be noted that the usual account, which we have been following, is not sustained by the only living witness. This wit- ness is an Indian and he has declared to L. V. McWhorter that no Indian fought with Bolon, that Bolon's head was not severed from his body, nor his body burned.
BATTLES IN YAKIMA
The necessary and immediate consequence of these murders was action by the military authorities at The Dalles. Major Rains directed Major Haller to . proceed at once to Yakima with eighty-four men, and at the same time he pro- vided that Lieutenant Slaughter go from Steilacoom with a cooperating force of forty men. These orders led to the famous battle on the Toppenish, on October 5, 1855. Major Rains in a communication to Governor Curry speaks of the battlefield as on the Pasco River.
Mr. Splawn gives a vivid account of this battle. It lasted from 3 P. M. on October 5th till the night of the 6th. Kamiakin was the Indian commander, and urged on the attack with great daring. But Haller's men held their ground. doggedly and during the afternoon began to push the Indians across the north side of the stream. Kamiakin, having perceived the danger of a scattering of his soldiers by the solid massed attack of the civilized men, had sent a swift messenger to urge the coming of Qualchan whom he knew to be somewhere in the Selah region with two hundred well mounted and well armed braves. The messenger met Qualchan at Pahotecute (Union Gap), and under the impulse of impending disaster that bold warrior (the Indian Murat, Mr. Splawn calls him) urged his command across the plain with such vehemence that they burst like a thunderbolt into the battle just in the nick of time to save the day for the Indians. Surviving Indians contradict this and say that Qualchan was in the . battle all the time. Night fell upon an undecided field, but Haller perceived that the odds were too great and during the night he sent "Cut-Mouth" John to The Dalles for help. The messenger managed to elude observation and reached Major Rains to report Haller's desperate situation. Rains sent a mes- sage at once, October 9th, to Governor Curry of Oregon and acting Governor - Mason of Washington to hurry volunteer reinforcements to the inland country.
Meanwhile on the morning of the 7th, Qualchan began a violent attack on Haller's little band. When night came again the Indians, confident of vic- tory in the morning, ceased their attack. Haller stole away in the darkness and by morning light was far up the sides of the Simcoe hills. In the Klickitat Valley they met reinforcements sent on by Rains in response to Cut-Mouth John's message. But believing the united force too small to meet the formid- able array of Kamiakin and Qualchan, Major Haller continued his retreat to The Dalles. He had lost eight men killed and seventeen wounded. Mr. Prosch says five killed and nineteen wounded.
240
HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY
While this repulse of Haller was in progress, Lieutenant Slaughter with his cooperating force from Steilacoom was overtaken by a message while he was on the Cascade Mountains, that outbreaks had begun on the west side and that he must return. Obeying the order he went back to his death at Auburn by Indians a few weeks later. The author received from Judge Milroy of Yakima a thrilling story of Col. H. D. Cock, well known as first marshal of Yakima. Colonel Cock was in Slaughter's command, and when the order to return reached the command, he, with one other man, was ordered to go to the Klick- itat to warn settlers. The two men set forth on their perilous journey down the Naches and across the Ahtanum and Toppenish. Cock's companion was killed by Indians, but he, having a fast horse and marvelous good fortune, as well as much address, managed to elude them. He would alternately ride and run beside his horse and then hide in the tall marsh grass and bushes. By these tactics he finally made his way across the hills of the Satus and reached the Klickitat unharmed.
Needless to say that when Haller reached The Dalles and reported the strength of the Yakima Indians, it was seen that the military, both Regular and Volunteer, were going to be taxed to the utmost. There has been much bitter criticism of the United States Government by writers and pioneers for alleged remissness in preparation for such a crisis. In the "History of the Pacific Northwest," of which Elwood Evans was editor-in-chief, page 535 and on, there are quotations from the reports of Nathan Olney, Governor Stevens, and General Wool, indicating their comprehension of impending dan- ger. Governor Stevens refers to the warning which he received earlier from Rev. Father Ricard, then superior of missions in the Yakima and Cayuse coun- tries, that the Indians meditated violence at the Walla Walla council in May. The Governor, however, seems to have believed that he had thoroughly cowed the Indians there and secured their acquiescence in the treaties. Mr. Splawn quite severely criticises the Governor for his inability to see from the sullen and brooding silence of all the Indians, except the Lawyer faction of Nez Perces, that they were dissatisfied with the treaties and had no intention of adhering to them.
Upon the call of Major Rains to the two governors for volunteers, those officials acted with promptness and energy and two companies from Washing- ton and nine from Oregon were mustered in.
The Oregon companies composed one regiment and J. W. Nesmith, subse- quently United States senator from Oregon, became its Colonel.
DISCORD BETWEEN VOLUNTEERS AND REGULARS
Throughout this war there was an unfortunate failure to maintain har- mony between the United States Regulars and the Volunteers and state gov- ernments. These bitter controversies would constitute a book in themselves and we can devote no more time to them than to say that they gave a certain form and direction to the events of the entire period.
The two companies of Washington Volunteers were mustered into the service of the United States, but the Oregon regiment declined this disposition
Courtesy of L. V. M. Whorter Photo by J. W. Langdon YES-TO-LAH.LEMY, WIFE OF LU-PAH-HIN
Copyrighted and loaned by L. V. MeWhorter Photo by J. W. Langdon STE-CLAH CHE-POS-TO-COS: "OWL-CHILD"
LU-PAH-HIN
24
HISTORY OF YAKIMA VALLEY
and maintained independence of action. Governor Curry, indeed, enjoined upon the Oregon force that they should, "so far as practicable, act in conjunc- tion with Major Rains, chief in command of the United States troops, and, at the same time keeping your command a distinct one, afford him a cordial coop- eration.". In order to avoid the awkward situation fromn Major Rains having a rank technically inferior to that of Colonel Nesmith, acting Governor Mason commissioned Major Rains as Brigadier General of Washington Volunteers.
On October 30th, Major Rains set forth from The Dalles with 350 men, regulars, among whom was Lieut. Philip H. Sheridan, and volunteers, the latter consisting of a company from Vancouver under William Strong and a company from the Willamette under Robert Newell. Colonel Nesmith with six com- panies of volunteers acted in conjunction with Major Rains, though maintain- ing the independence of the command. There was a total force variously stated at from 600 to 700 men.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.