The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1848-08-09
From the Oregon Spectator.
AN INCIDENT AT WALLAWALLA.

AN INCIDENT All WALLAN ALLA.
Fort Wallawalla was one among the car
liest posts established west of the Rocky
Mountains bv The Northwest company. and
with the same Union of the two Compa-
nics it Of course passed into the control Of
the Hudson's Bay Company. With the
change of circumstances incident to tho more
extensive occupations Of The country. its i'm
por,ance has considerably diminished A.
Mckinley Esq. the agent ofthe II. b. Com,
panv in this city, was in charge OF Fort
WaIawalla for several years, and it is our
present purpose to speak of an exciting oc-
currenced that took place there d ring the
pcroi Of his administration OF its affairs.
The Indians around this post, Nozperces,
SkiuSes, (our own orthograDhv) ana Walla-
wallas, were Of brave and warlikc char.
ac,er; this latter feature has been considera-
bly, snfened, however by their contact with
civilization. Sill they are distinguished for
their courage, and the two former tribes for
s,mc traits nobcr than this Mr.. Panbrun,
tho predecessor ol Mr.. Mckinley, had ex-
perieuced some harsh treatment from Ina
in1!ans, having on one occasion peen over
powcd and bound Ivy them, in an endcavor
To obigc him to give higher price for The
peIlrics, in which however they failed; as
MIR. Paml runs metal proved decidedly supe-
rlor to his physical strength.
II was in The summer of lS43, we believe
that young chief, the son of Serpent jaime
(YeIlnw Snake) the principal chief OF the
WallawaIas. one day entered the fort and
appropriated to himself some article of little
vauc-a piece of wood if we mistake not,
from lot of which, lying therein, the lndI-
ans had been in the habit Of taking pieces
whenever they choose, for the purpose OF
making whip handles. This practice had
been positively forbidden. as the wood was
If particular kind, and of service to The
company. Itwas in an exposulati"n with
the young chief that young Mr.. +. a
clerk in the company's employ. received a
signal affront. which occasioncd a rcncoun-
ter and tho chastisement of the Indian.
At this time there were perhaps hall a
dozen whites at the fort; and although the
buildings were enclosed by "stocka'les," yet
there was no means sof efcc,ually securing the
entrances; the stockading was ofrecent CON
s,ruc,ion and the gates had not been made
nor were they until year after. Conse
qucullv it was, comparatively Iy speaking dc
fencecss position. Thus il was when. or
the next day, the Indians, some Of each tribe
came into the establishment To revenge
themselves in the death Of Mr.. E
Talking could achieve nothing. every con
sis,ent means was rcsnried to in vain to ap
pcase the turbulent multitude. The mcI
belonging to the fort were at work in the
field, even could their presence have effect
ed any good in the issue. The Indians were
brandislng their weapons, and seemed Il
be fully aware, of their superiority, and dis
posed to exercise it in summary mann"r
Already had MIR. MckinI'y suffered indig
mites, and Young Twas defending him
seIfas well as he was able with his back a
gainst the wall, when by one these brllian
and lucky thoughts generally occasioned b,
great emergencies, the whole appearance u
, things were changed, and the objec, Of lh
, savages defeated. 1t was at this junrtur
that Mr.. Mckinley suddenly parted from
the crowd that surrounded him. in The al
Joining room. the store room seized upon
S{cel anu Uillt, anu tetuI n'iIS INSTANTLY paw
f the keg in the centre OF the room. and knock
ed in its head--it was all the work Ola INC
ment. There he stood over the keg of po"
, der, with flint and steel in either hant
and dense mass of Indians around him.
Now" said he, "kilI him if you will
, pointing to Mr.. +, but that 'nomen
, IkiH you all. Two ofus cand die whe
l there arc 50 many bruucs to die with u.s.
f The proposed slaughter was on too exicI
, sve scale for the Indians; panic seize
: Them; they turned into dismay and rushe
e precipitaleIy from the house. Thus by pre-,
s cnce of mind and cool determination was II
d effusion Of blood prevented, and the au'h'
l. ily, Of Mr.. Mckinley, as chief of the pos
IS greatly augmented, 1t is needless to sta
5 that differences were soon adjusted, to Il