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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (July 12, 1890)
.WEST SHORE. 871 A NEZ PERCE EPISODE. ONE evening in the summer of 18 I camped at Colonel Craig's ranch, on the Nez Perce reser vation. The kind old man, after looking at my jaded animals, asked me to remain with him for a week and recruit my Btock. The bunch graps was waving knee high on every hill and the pretty valley of the Sweetwater was lovely in its wealth of verdure. My horses were turned out to be herded by the Indians and I was, by virtue of the social standing of my host, tendered the freedom of the land of the red men. The Nez Perce tribe at that time was a strong nation and their long pursued peace-policy in relation to the white men was universally extolled. Their smoke-stained tents of pyramid shape fairly dotted every smiling glade between the grass covered hills and the rippling creek that zigzags through the nar row valley. The willows waved in refreshing breezes and the stately cottonwood trees shaded the lawns about the lodges where the rollicking children played horse and bear and wolf like white boys and their idle parents watched with pride their antics like white men and women. A favorite saddle horse which had served me faith fully on my journeys was looked upon covetously by the observing young vaqueros. Every proposition to trade other horses for my good Banquo was refused. I had been offered, before the end of the week, as many as six good Indian horses for the one. I firmly refused to part with my favorite saddle horse. From that moment I had enemies among the peaceable Nez Perces whom I avoided, for I believed the offense of refusing to trade horses with them was regarded as one to be resented. However, my timo to depart had arrived. I so informed the good hearted colonel, and he forthwith ordered the Indian herders to bring in . my horses. After an hour a long line of dust far up the mountain informed us that the herd was on the way to the corrals. They came at full run down the steep, rocky hill with a rush as irresistible as an ava lanche. They spread out over the narrow valley and whirled about like an eddy in a swollen torrent. A thousand head of wild horses were surging back and forth, trying to escape the vigilant herders, who sat like centaurs upon bare-backed, foaming, gnashing, Colonel William Craig wai an Amerloan trapper of the early time, Who wai to pleased with this region that he lottled among the Net Fercee in 1840, where he wai living at the time of the Whitman matitacre, in 1848, hia influence being mott valuable at that crifia, at it wai during the groat war of KM and 18M, when the Nei Peroei not only remained the firm friend of the whitei bnt aided them materially. In the tummer campaign of 18S0 Colonel Craig Joined the volunteer! with a company of liily Net Peroee; led by Spotted Eaglo, and wu ehoeen Lieutenant Colonel of the regiment commanded by Colonel D. F. Bbaw. He wu Indian agont for many yean at the Lapwai agenoy.-Eo. eager horses. The horses and riders were white with foaming sweat tossed about by fretful heads. The dexterous reinmen fairly lifted their hurrying horses from side to Bide, swinging their riatas at tho samo time, so that they moved the surging mass with com plete control toward a narrowing alley between hedges of wild thorns and willows. They passed into a thicket of tangled briars, and the thunder of many hoofs was heard no more. The herd was in a corral securely enclosed by woven brush and briars. They could stampede and surge against the hedge fence, but all their wild fury could not break it down. One by one five of my gentle horses were led out, but Banquo, my favorite, was not forthcoming. I observed some confusion among the little knot of Indians gathered at the corral, but still suspected no treachery, as my friend Craig had restored my confi dence in the queer people he knew so well. Young Joe Craig, a burly half breed, stood by my sido and he, having noticed the absence of the favorito steed, demanded an explanation from ono of tho frowning herders. Immediately a terrible rage possessed tho young son of the good colonel. After ho realized that I did not know tho nature of tho embarrassment he explained that tho Indian had told him in his nativo language that my horse was missing and most proba bly stolen. After it was established that such was tho case, I was compelled to remain to give time for tho thief to be captured and tho horHo returned, it de volved upon young Craig to play tho part of tho detective. He possessed enough of the Indian char acteristics to make him a veritable sleuth hound. At the end of three days Banquo wus returned to me. He was lame and I could not proceed on my way. I questioned the successful trailer about tho incidents attending the recovery of tho horso. Ho simply told me that he had run tho thief down and brought back the horse. Even when questioned about tho treatment of the offender ho simply informed mo that my horses were safe thereafter on tho Nez Perco reservation so far as Indian thieves wero concerned, implying that I should accept that fact without enquiring into details. Two days after tho return of the stolen horse young Joo Craig was arrested. A sheriff's posso came to the house disguised as prospectors and engaged tho young man to act as interpreter. They pretended to bo in need of a horso and wanted the accommodating half breed to assist in buying one from tho Indians. Tho young man went along and was soon in irons on his way to jail. Ono of tho officers told me tho charge was murder. A few minutes after tho depurturo of tho officers and their prisoner mounted messengers rode tho length of that pretty valley, and the idle, peaceful red men of an hour before were in war paint. Colonel Craig, bent