The west shore., March 01, 1885, Page 69, Image 9

THE WEST SHORE.
GO
to bo given poison, or a pistol with which to end thoir
misery. Both of them suooeeded in wriggling off from
the animals they rode; and their oomrades, cutting them
free from the lashings, left them lying on the ground, and
rode away into the darkness unmindful of their pleadings
for something with which to end their misery, and Bavo
themselves from the tortures of their oruel pursuers.
One by one the wounded, such as could not take care of
themselves, were loft behind, and the men hastened for
ward, intent only upon putting the swift current of Snake
River between themselves and the cruel enemy in thoir
rear. Seventy miles were traversed in twenty-four hours,
when they reached the river near the mouth of the
Alpowa, where lived Timothy's band of Nez Tonxk
Summoning his people, the chief placod the warriors on
guard in the rear, while the women ferried the exhausted
soldiers, with thoir animals and effects, across the stream.
It took a day to accomplish this task, and thon they
moved on to the Pataha, where they were mot by Captain
Dont with supplies and reinforcomonts. Here, also, they
were overtaken by a war party of Noz Porc6s under Law
yer, who desired them to return and give the Indians
battle; but thoy wanted no more fighting for the presont,
Bnd the maroh to Walla Walla was continued. Two
officers and sixteen men were loft upon the fluid or along
the line of the rotreat, while more than ft score of those
who found safety by orosBing Snake River were Heveroly
wounded
Intelligence of this disaster was conveyed to General
Clark, successor of General Wool in command of the
department, and he ordered b11 available troops on the
Coast to assemble at Walla Walla, for the purpose of
administering to the Indians such a castigation as would
teach them the powej of the Government This force
was placed undor the command of Colonol Wright A
base of operations, named "Fort Taylor," was established
on the south side of Snake River, noar the Tukannou,
and on the 27th of August, 1858, Colonol Wright moved
forward with C80 soldiers, 30 Ness Forc6 allies and 200
packers, herders, eta On the 1st of Septorabor he on
countered the hostilos near Medical Lake, and whipped
them severely. They were drivon from the timber and
bills by the howitzers and a charge by the troops, and
attempting to make a stand on the oon plain, were mowed
down by the fire of the steadily advancing trooj, who
were armed with long range guns for the first time in
their euoounter with Indians. Whon they broke, 200
dragoons, under tlw command of Major William N. Grier,
swooped down upon thorn, and they flod in a panic, the
oompauios of the dead Taylor and Gaston taking grim
revenge upon the fleeing savages. How many were killed
is not known, as all but thorn who foil during the butt
charge were carried from the field. Sovontoon bodies
were left upon the ground, which was strewn with blan
kets, robes, guns and the miscellaneous paraphernalia of
Indian warriors. Not a soldier was killed in tho battle.
Four days later the command reachod 8okane River,
six miles below the falls, having driven the hostile before
them for fourteen miles, killing many of them. This was
the end; the Indians flod in torror, and darod not again
offer battle to such a terrible fop. Colouol Wright pushed
on toward the Ccour d' Alone Mission, and was mot by
Uearry, chief of the Hpokanes, who askod for peace. The
stern avongor told the suppliant ohiof that ho came to
fight, not to make peace; that he had force enough to
whip the combined tribes of that whole region; that he
offered no terms of peace; the Indians, men, womon and
children, must come in and trust to his moroy; othorwise
he would exterminate the tribe. On tho 8th Wright cap.
turod 98G horsos from the Palouses, and knowing how
vital thoy wore in Indian warfare, he ordorod ovory one
of thorn to be shot This was more than thoy oould
endure, and tho oonourront appoaranoo of a brilliant
oomot in the heavens mado thorn think Colonel Wright
was a scourge sent by the Gront Spirit, who hung his
flaming sword in the sky as a sign of his anger. They
sued for poaoo.
Councils were hold with the various triboH, at which,
upon the demand of Colonel Wright the mon who had
commonced the attack upon Colonol Htoptoo were deliv
ered up for puuishmont and hostages wore given for
their future gxxl conduct Twelve of tho guilty onos
were hanged, among whom was Qualchion, who had begun
hostilities in 1855 by murdering Indiant Agent A. J.
Bold!). His father, Owhi, sooond ohiof of the Yakimas,
was a prisoner, and attempting to escapo, noar Fort Tay
lor, was killed by tho guard. On tho 7th of Ootolior tho
bouos of thoso who full in Stoptoo'a battle were buried at
Fort Walla Walla, and Wright then held a council with
the Walla Walla tribo. Ho groat had become tho fear of
him, that whon he called for all those who had taken part
in the battle to stand up, thirty-five warriors promptly
rose to thoir feet Four of thoso were selected for execu
tion, and thoir hanging was witnossod by thoir pooplo
with fear and trembling. This was Uie end, and until
Chief Joseph and his imnll baud of No Porous broke out
twenty years later, not an Indian of all thoso tribes wout
again upon tho warpath agaiust the whites.
. Colonol Wright was promoted during the Civil War
to the rank of brigadier-general, and commanded tho Do
pnrtmont of the Pacific. His energy, watchfulness and
sterling patriotism kept down the ever-rising flame of
treason, and held the Coast loyal to the Govornmeut
throughout the bloody strugglo. Ho leoame very dear to
the ooplo who had so long relied upon him for protec
tion, and it was a day of mourning whon tho soil nows
came that he had found a watery grave. With his family
and staff he was engulfed in the stormy water of the
Paciflo, whon, off Crosoeut City, on the !M)lhof July, lHfift,
the Iirother Junnthnn carried her human cargo to a rest
ing place beneath tho billows. HAliny L WcLLH.
Tub average size of farms in the United Stata de
creased frotn 203 acres in 1850 to 131 acres in 1880; the
percentage of unimproved bind decreased 01.6 per emit
to 49.9 jxr cent As the population pushes Westward
the numbor of small farms will iucrease, the great ranches
be divided, and the "evil" remedy itself,