Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington, Part 85

Author:
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: Spokane, Wash. : Western History
Number of Pages: 992

USA > Washington > Chelan County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 85
USA > Washington > Ferry County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 85
USA > Washington > Okanogan County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 85
USA > Washington > Stevens County > Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington > Part 85

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).

the executioners quickly disbanded. The victim of this lynching was only an Indian, yet he was the sole one, so far, to suffer the death penalty, either legally or at the hands of vigilantes, in in Okanogan county.

Then followed the "Indian scare," a feverish dream which was subsequently ridiculed by all persons of broader judgment and less excit- ability. In the east, throughout the Dakotas, in the neighborhood of the "Bad Lands," and in the vicinity of Wounded Knee, Sioux Indians had been ghost dancing and participating in the superstition of the "Messiah craze." Alarm had, consequently, extended west; the muttered threats of Okanogan "braves" were taken for much more than they were worth ; the wings of rumor carried many direful prognostications ; the press from Spokane to the International Boundary swelled the fateful chorus.

The day following the hanging of Stephen, friends came in after the body. George Monk was engaged to carry it to the Indian reserva- tion. An Indian by the name of Smitkin ac- companied him. He was, doubtless, the most influential "tyee" among the Okanogans. The simple funeral cortege was met by a party de- scribed as "hostiles." It is stated with little indication of probability that Smitkin had the task of his life to prevent the killing of Monk. But the Indians sullenly admitted that Monk was pretty badly scared. He passed the night, however, in safety, and in the morning he and Smitkin returned to the Okanogan river. For two days the obsequies of Stephen were accom- panied by dancing. Old Loop Loop was mas- ter of ceremonies. No white men were present ; their movements, whether hostile or peaceful cannot be definitely given ; it is known only that for two days and nights dancing continued. At the termination of that period the remains of Stephen were buried in the Catholic cemetery at Omak Lake. This dancing resulted in send- ing sixteen of the bravest of the Okanogan tribe to Dakota. On this occasion there was a good "potlatch;" thirty-two of the best Cayuses to-

501

HISTORY OF NORTH WASHINGTON.

gether with ample "chickamun," blankets and other valuable commodities were provided for their expedition. And then the more timorous spread the story that Messiah had already ap- peared to the Indians once and that on his sec- ond appearance they would not again dance, but would take the warpath, drive off the "Bostons" and regain their lost lands.

The territory tributary to the town of Ruby was supposed to be in the greatest danger. The city council held a special session at which it was decided that, so alarming was the situa- tion, a call should be made for assistance. The following telegram was prepared and sent to Acting Governor Charles Laughton, Mr. Irwin Baldwin serving as courier :

"Owing to the lynching of Indian prisoner at Conconully, Indians are congregating in very threatening manner. Lives of settlers and citizens are in danger. Send troops if possible at once. Petition by mail. George J. Hurley, Mayor; W. J. Dorwin, C. F. Webb. H. A. Huntley, J. W. Jewett, councilmen."

Subsequently a detached petition signed by a large number of responsible citizens of Okan- ogan county was forwarded to Olympia, read- ing as follows :

"Ruby, Okanogan County, Washington, January 10, 1891 : "To His Excellency, Governor Charles Laugh- ton, Olympia, Washington :

"Sir :- Events are transpiring in our midst that demand prompt action. Therefore we respectfully petition you as the executive of this state to send to us troops, also arms and ammuni- tion. This we ask may be done without any delay. You know our defenseless state. At this moment there are fewer men and more women and children here than at any time dur- ing our history. Our reasons of this pressing request are these :

"A short time since a white man by name of Cole was murdered on the verge of the reser- vation. Two of his murderers have been taken ; one endeavored to kill the officer when being ar-

rested and in self defense the officer shot him dead. The other was arrested and placed in jail, but on the night of January 8, persons un- known to us did by force take the prisoner from jail and hang him until dead.

"The people who did this are wholly un- known. It is unnecessary to say we do not ap- prove of the act ; but it has brought down on us, who are innocent, the threatened vengeance of the dead Indian's relatives and friends and other Indians, who have been in the late dance on the reserve, and at this time they are gather- ing in force near Cumming's ferry. If we were supplied with arms and ammunition and our families and those of others were not here we would not ask aid; but aid we must have.

"Every indication is that there will soon be dirty work here. Settlers on the Okanogan are asking for reinforcements tonight. Old Indian fighters here say the signs are serious. Send us aid and avert, if possible, this threatened cat- astrophe to these settlements. The probable force of Indians we may have to contend with will be about 400 bucks. The number now col- lected is about 100 fighters."

Yet within less than a week from the time this appeal was forwarded to Acting Governor Laughton the people in the section involved had arrived at the conclusion that the alleged Indian demonstration was simply a "scare." In fact the Okanogan Outlook admitted as much, say- ing on January 16, 1891 :

"It is not at all likely that there will be any serious trouble with the Indians at this season of the year, and we do not apprehend that an outbreak will occur at this time. The Indians have been sullen and apparently "out of sorts" for some time past, and no doubt have contem- plated, or at least have had some idea of making the whites trouble, but we do not believe that they intend to make any demonstration until spring. The lynching of the boy Stephen un- doubtedly greatly excited and angered them, and for a time under their excitement there is no doubt that danger of immediate action upon

502

HISTORY OF NORTH WASHINGTON.

their part existed, and we do not believe that they have wholly abandoned the idea, and our citizens should be on their guard at all times and not relax their watchfulness."

At Olympia the affair was regarded more seriously. The following dispatch was received by the Spokesman-Review, published at Spo- kane, and printed January II.

Olympia, Jan. 10 .- The official information of the Indian trouble in Okanogan county was contained in a dispatch received this afternoon by Acting Governor Laughton from the sheriff and county commissioners of Okanogan county. Upon receipt of the report Gov- ernor Laughton summoned Adjutant General O'Brien and a conference was held. The governor thought that, as the appeal for aid had come from such a high source, something should be done, and it was decided to ship 200 stand of arms and ammunition tomorrow.

Governor Laughton then notified Brigadier General Curry, of Spokane Falls, by telegraph that the arms would be sent, and told him to see that they were deliv- ered to the chairman of the Okanogan county commis- sioners and receipted for. He was explicit in his in- structions that there should be no bloodshed unless necessary, but peace must be preserved at all hazzards. Governor Laughton thought that the disaffection would be over in a few days. He said it would not be difficult to put down an uprising among the Okanogans, but if they were determined to fight they would send out couriers and enlist British Columbia Indians in their cause. In that event there was much to fear.

Representative Smith, of Okanogan, received a tele- gram requesting him to call on Governor Laughton and urge him to send arms. He did so, and the governor assured him that steps had already been taken. Speaking about the disaffection Representative Smith said to- night :

"The Indians who threaten to go on the warpath are the Okanogons, who live on the Colville reservation, near the mouth of the Okanogan river. They have always been peaceful, took no stock in the Messiah craze, and all the trouble has been caused by the lynch- ing of the murderer, which I think was very unwise. The Indians number 150. If Chief Moses and Chief Joseph, who have as much influence among them as Sitting Bull had among the Sioux, join them, their numbers would he increased to between 300 and 400. and if the British Columbia Indians take their part they will have nearly a thousand. I doubt very much whether Moses or Joseph will urge them to go on the warpath. as they had no end of trouble in their day and were punished by the government. If prompt action is taken there is nothing to be feared."

General A. P. Curry and staff, Lieutenant White, Byron Swingler, Frank Howard and Mr. Westren, accompanied by Sheriff Rush and posse who met the general's party at the Columbia river, arrived in Conconully Satur- day evening, January 17. They brought 180 guns and 3,000 rounds of ammunition which were turned over to the chairman of the board of county commissioners. General Curry and party remained in Concontilly over Sunday and left Monday morning for the reservation to hold a pow-wow with the Indians. Indian Farmer Thomas had been instructed to call the Indians together for a conference with the general on Tuesday, and a large number of them congregated opposite Cummings for that purpose.

General Curry reported that the Indians strenuously denied any intention of going on the warpath, and the following is his report to County Commissioner McGillivery :

"Dear Sir : We had a conference today on the reservation with about seventy Indians, including all the chiefs in this part of the coun- try. They were told through the interpreter by me, that the bringing of guns into the coun- try did not mean war, but to insure peace. That the white people were determined to defend their homes and if there was any outbreak on the part of the Indians, there would be a war of extermination; that the citizens and state troops, and if necessary the regular army, would make short work of them. But if they behaved themselves and controlled their young men, the whites would treat them kindly and no soldiers would be brought in. That they must discontinue their dances and stop carry- ing guns, except when hunting, and do all in their power to assist in ferreting out white men or Indians who sold liquor to the Indians.

"To all the above a sacred pledge was ex- acted from chiefs and all young bucks present. They promised to take no further action in re- gard to the hanging of the Indian Stephen,

503

HISTORY OF NORTH WASHINGTON.

and make no threats, but let the matter entirely rest for the action of the courts. I am entirely satisfied from the earnest way in which this matter was discussed, pledges exacted, earn- estness of the answers, that all of these prom- ises will be carried out in good faith. So they well understand that if they break these pledges to me, that no mercy will be shown to them and the entire tribe will be held responsible for the action of any of its members. I have pledged for the white people kind treatment to the In- dians, and also their assistance to bring to jus- tice those who so far forgot themselves as to sell liquor to an Indian, and I earnestly request that the citizens of Okanogan, as well as Doug- las county, use their best endeavors to carry out these promises.

"Yours respectfully, "A. P. CURRY, "Brig. Gen. Com'd., N. G. W. "Per J. J. White, A. A. W."

The outcome of this Okanogan Indian ex- citement is summed up by the Outlook as fol- lows :

"It is probably a fact that, as usual, the vigalantes made a mistake and hanged the wrong man when they stretched the boy Ste- phen up by the neck a few weeks ago. It has cropped out that the lynchers supposed that another Indian (not Stephen) had been ar- rested and was confined in jail, and working upon that hypothesis enacted that dreadful tragedy. There is now but little doubt that the real murderer of Cole is still at large and the fact is probably as well known to the lynch- ers as any one else-a fact which will probably not be conducive to pleasant dreams."

The failure of Okanogan county to secure public surveys became a source of grevious complaint in 1891. For this failure there were many reasons assigned. One of them was that the many petitions forwarded from citizens of the county were not drawn in accordance with instructions from the land department. An- other reason advanced, and one apparently di-

rectly opposed to the facts, attributed the delay to the "apathy and indifference" of settlers in forwarding any petitions whatever. It is quite likely that the former reason is the most plaus- ible. Therefore County Auditor Baum took it upon himself to see that new sets of affidavits and petitions were prepared conforming strict- ly to instructions of the land commissioner. This action was in compliance with the fol- lowing letter to the editor of the Okanogan Outlook :

Olympia, Wash., Feb. 26, 1891.

"Dear Sir: I am advised by our congress- man, Hon. John L. Wilson, that the delay in securing a survey and extension of the stand- ard lines in Okanogan county is caused largely by the apathy and indifference of settlers in forwarding their petitions for such survey. If through the columns of your paper you can present the matter to our citizens and urge the necessity of an immediate compliance with the rules of the department respecting their peti- tions, I believe that by combined effort we can have a large corps of United States surveyors in Okanogan county during the coming sum- mer. To this end, pray command me at all times.

"I have the honor to be, very sincerely, your obedient servant,

"CHARLES E. LAUGHTON."

The matter not only received attention in Okanogan county, but the people of Spokane became interested. There were many Okano- gan property owners in the latter city. The Chamber of Commerce of Spokane threw its influence in favor of early surveys. In reply to a letter from John R. Reavis, secretary of the Spokane Chamber of Commerce, asking for information as to the status of public sur- veys in Okanogan county, the surveyor general. Thomas H. Cavanaugh, replied at length. He said that everything possible had been done to extend the surveys in Okanogan county in or- der to meet the necessities and convenience of the settlers of that county. He added that the

504

HISTORY OF NORTH WASHINGTON.

surveyor general was invested with neither power nor discretion, simply acting as a trans- mitting medium of the Interior Department at Washington, D. C. Without a petition from the settlers in any given township, such as in its preparation complied with the instructions of the department, no surveys whatever could be considered, no matter what might be the wishes of the surveyor general or the needs of the settlers. The status of the surveys in Okanogan county, Mr. Cavanaugh said, was this :

The districts containing the settlements were distant and not connected with the exist- ing public surveys already completed. Accord- ing to the instructions of the department, the township desiring to be surveyed must be con- nected with the existing public surveys, or no application for a survey could be considered. Therefore the settlers in Okanogan county had been advised to petition the land office there, as required by law, but such petitions as had been received were not drawn in accordance with instructions.

Apparently Surveyor General Cavanaugh was not in the least to blame in this matter. He had made a straightforward statement, which, however, plainly exposed the red tape of the department at Washington, D. C., and let it go at that. He could do nothing further. Representative John L. Wilson, seems to have taken the same view of the matter. He appears to have investigated the matter of surveys in the state of Washington, and ascertained why they had not been made. A special to the Spokesman-Review, of Spokane, dated Febru- ary 26, says :

"He (Wilson) says he is strongly of the opinion that the peculiar methods of Inspector Horbinson, now investigating surveyor, are the cause. From an examination of the records here it looks as if Cavanaugh had done every- thing possible to secure surveys. He has made application to extend the base and standard lines in Okanogan county, and was refused by the

commissioners of the general land office. It was absolutely necessary that these lines be ex- tended before the township lines could be made. The instructions sent to Cavanaugh by the land office have been very explicit, and he has had to follow them in spite of all the demands of the people."

In March, 1891, the people of Okanogan county were rejoicing over the supposed fact that the greatly desired surveys would soon be made. Only those interested in such matters can fully appreciate the inconvenience suffered by settlers by the injustice perpetrated by the government in regard to this important branch of the Interior Department. No settler felt justified in making improvements on land which might be taken from him on the completion of a survey. Consequently the growth of Okano- gan county, as well as many other portions of the state of Washington, was greatly retarded. The Okanogan Outlook jubilantly said :

"The settlers of the Methow and Okanogan rivers and the people generally throughout the county are jubilant over the prospect of hav- ing the public surveys made this summer. The surveys of the standard or base lines have al- ready been ordered, and this work will probably be commenced without further delay. Settlers have been notified to make application for sec- tion lines and subdivisions, and as soon as this has been properly attended to it is promised that these surveys will also be ordered and made."

But again were the people doomed to disap- pointment: Surveying projects dragged their slow length along in the dusty corridors of the Interior Department at Washington. Promises were made which were not fulfilled for years. The Okanogan county settlers continued to suffer. Even Surveyor General Cavanaugh was fed with false hopes. In a letter addressed to County Auditor Baum, dated February 13, 1892, he says :

"I am in receipt of your letter of the 20th ultimo with seven combined petitions and affi-

505

HISTORY OF NORTH WASHINGTON.

davits for the survey of townships 32, N. R. 24 E, which are placed on file for due considera- tion. I expect to award contracts for surveys in Okanogan county for the following town- ships : Townships 28 and 34 N. R. 21 E., townships 28 and 33 N. R. 22 E., townships 32 and 36 N. R. 24 E, and township 33 N. Ranges 25 and 26 E, the surveys to be complete the coming summer."

For nearly two years Mr. Baum had been actively engaged in trying to bring about the surveying of the agricultural portions of the county. Consequently this letter was eminently satisfactory; but it was in the nature of an ignis fatuus. Nothing was accomplished "the coming summer," as suggested in the letter of Mr. Cavanaugh. The settlers of Okanogan county were doomed to bear their disappoint- ment as best they could. These long promised surveys became a "hope deferred which maketh the heart sick." Agricultural properties were involved in exasperating complexity. And the Interior Department at Washington, D. C., slumbered on. But at last the hopes of the set- tlers were rewarded with fruition. September 30, 1893, the following appeared in the Out- look :

"E. D. Hooker, of Spokane, who was awarded the contract for township 36, range 24. came in Wednesday with a crew of men and established a camp about three miles north of town. This is the township which embraces Lieut. Governor Laughton's stock ranch and D. E. Wilson's saw-mill site. It is situated north and west of Conconully, the southwest corner being about a mile from town. There were to be several other townships surveyed this fall, but there seems to be a hitch in the pro- ceedings somewhere and the season is now so far advanced that contracts, if they were let, could not be completed this fall."

Indeed there was a "hitch in the proceed- ings ;" several of them had occurred since agi- tation for land surveys nearly three years since. From this time on the work proceeded in a

desultory manner, and one by one the settlers of Okanogan county came into their own; arrived at a condition in which an energetic govern- ment department could have placed them years before, and saved much time and wasted oppor- tunities.

The increase of the taxable property in the county, as shown by a statement published in September, 1891, was considered quite encour- aging. The value of all the property in the county, assessed for the year 1890, was only $460,000 against $790,616* for 1891, an in- crease of nearly 72 per cent. This was nearer the full valuation of the property than had ever before been obtained. The tax rolls as finally corrected by the board of equalization, gave the following values of property throughout Okan- ogan county : For Ruby the total valuations were $81.763: for Conconully, $97.761. Real estate was shown to be as follows :

Farm lands, $56.937: improvements on farm lands, $4,470; patented mines, $16,500; Northern Pacific railway lands, $11,112; im- provements on mines, $1,000; Ruby real estate, $42,069; Conconully real estate, $27,592: Che- lan Falls real estate, $72,075: Loop Loop real estate, $28,095. This gave a total valuation for the real estate of the county of $258.850. The number and value of all stock assessed was as follows : 3,647 horses, valued at $125.323 ; 5.740 cattle valued at $111.740; 158 hogs, $831. Total valuation, $237.894.

The value of improvements on lands held under the laws of the United States was $113 .- 486. The value of all other personal property was $180,363. There were 201 men who were heads of families and entitled to an exemption of $300 each. The rolls showed 43 Indians who paid taxes on a valuation of $31,313. There were also two Chinamen on the rolls. The rolls further showed that 162 people paid taxes on an assessed valuation of $558.859. leaving 530 people to pay taxes on $231.757.

In 1892 the pernicious practice of "lot and claim jumping" obtained an ascendancy in the

506

HISTORY OF NORTH WASHINGTON.

county that evoked violent protest. The matter culminated in February when an indignation meeting was held in Loomis, on the 16th, and the following resolutions adopted :

We, the miners, prospectors and business men of Okanogan county in mass meeting at Loomis, Washing- ton, do ordain and resolve as follows :

WHEREAS, Certain ill-disposed persons have re- cently come among us, and,

WHEREAS, By their actions since they came have endeavored to, and have to a certain degree, caused dis- sensions and strife to arise among the hitherto peaceably disposed people of the town of Loomis and vicinity, greatly detrimental to the interests of all the people of Okanogan county, and particularly to the interests of the people of the town of Loomis,

WHEREAS, Said persons have by artifice and fraud jumped and caused to be jumped certain mining claims upon which large and extensive work is being done and have, by trickery and fraud endeavored to jump the townsite of Loomis and thereby greatly jeopardizing the interests of innocent purchasers and holders of prop- erty within said town, and,

WHEREAS, We believe that if said evil disposed per- sons are allowed and permitted to continue in their nefarious designs, great and irreparable injury will re- sult to the business interests of said town, and many honest miners and laborers will be thrown out of em- ployment. Therefore, be it

Resolved, That we deprecate said action upon the part of said evil disposed persons. And be it further

Resolved, That we utterly condemn and look with disfavor upon all unlawful endeavor to dispossess the rightful owners of any mining and other property of the citizens of said county, and that we will ever lend our aid and support in every honest and lawful endeavor to suppress said lawlessness, and that we utterly despise and condemn the professional jumpers and seekers after blood-money by compelling honest holders of property to buy off and pay said jumpers money for their un- lawful holdings, and we do hereby request the said evil disposed persons, townsite and claim jumpers, for mer- cenary purposes, to at once repair 'the wrong they have done to the rightful owners of the Black Bear and other mining claims.

In addition to these resolutions the prime movers of the industry of "lot jumping" were requested to leave the country, which they did. Their friends and co-workers were given to understand that any continuance of the trouble would not be tolerated.

June, 1894, will be memorable from a series

of disasters by floods. The Similkameen, Col- umbia and Fraser rivers reached the highest mark known, with the exception of Indian traditions, which the settlers of this county had long since discovered were quite unreliable. Fences, hay, dwellings and barns in the Similk- ameen valley were floated off. Nearly every stream in the county lost bridges, and great damage was done throughout the county. The northern portion of the state suffered generally, and railway communication was paralyzed.

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.

Illustrated history of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties, state of Washington, Part 85

Author: Publication date: 1904 Publisher: Spokane, Wash. : Western History Number of Pages: 992

Author:
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: Spokane, Wash. : Western History
Number of Pages: 992