, 1854-06-24
Indian TrOubleS---The recent
Murders and RObbericS at
Bellingham Bay.

statement as to the extent Of the rObberies
committed and murders perpetrated by the
northern Indians at Bellingham Bay, on
the oath aud 25th of May last, about which
We have made mention for two or three
weeks past. The circumstances connected
with the outragcS have been communicated
by Mr.. A. BENTON MosEs, Surveyor of the
port Of Nisqually, whO had, previous to his
arrival here, visited Alki, Seattle, Cove
land, Port Townsend, San Juan Island,
Vaneouver's Island and Bellingham Bay,
and who has endeavored to obtain oil the
facts in relation thereto.
It appears that on Saturday, May oath,
at about IL o'clock, NJ, two large northern
canoes filed with well armed Indians, made
their appearance in Bellingham Bay, appa-
rently direct from Vancouver's Island,
and landed directly opposite the house Of
Mr.. Clayton. Mr.. c. met them on the
beach, entirely unarmed, when the Indians
surrounding him, proposed to sell him some
blankets. Apprehensive that mischief was
meditated, Clayton, under pretencc of go
ing to the house after money to comply
with their wishes in the purchase Of blan-
kets, fed to the woods. He was pursued
by the Indians, but succeeded in making
his escape to the house of Capt Pattle
some five miles distant where some Lummy
Indians were procured to alarm the set
tlement and put the inhabitants on their
guard, Clayton, being Of opinion that the
Indians from whom be had escaped, would
strike bis trail, and pursue him, induced
Capt. Pattle, and some Eve others whom he
found there, ell unarmed, to embark in q
canoe, and anchor of in the bay opposite
the housc-being thus enabled to escape
should the Indians make their appearance
and attack them from the shore. The par
ty remained in the canoe until about 10
o'clock the following Sunday night, when
all but two, who remained on guard, went
ashore. In the meantime, the Indians hav-
ing given up the pursuit of Clayton, re-
turned to and robbed his house, then get
ting into their canoes, proceeded towards
Capt Pattle's. The night being quite dark,
they moved cautiously and noiselessly,
and as is supposed, were within fow rods
Of Capt. Pattle's canoe, when he and 9th
ers went on shore, and could not have failed
70 observe the movement. About 70 o'clock
at night one Of the party who had been
for some time Vainly endeavoring to dis
charge the only musket in their possession,
succeeded with coal Of Rrc in doing so,
when instantly the report of twenty-five or
thirty shots answered the report of bis gun.
The whites on shore forthwith retreated to
the woods.
The fate Of the two men left in the ca
noe to keep guard, can be readily under
stood. Immediately on the discharge of
the Indians guns, one was heard to say to
the other" shore of"--who replied" I
eanAOt-my arm is broken !" The Indians
soon after retreated, taking the canoe with
them, which was found the next morning
with considerable blood in It, and pierced
through both sides with eight bullet holes.
The names Of the two unfortunate guards
men were David Melville and G gorge Brown,
and il is supposed they were beheaded by
the Indians, in conformity with the custom
Of the northern tribes.
On Monday morning they fred number
Of rounds at the house of A. NJ. Poe, ESQ.,,
and on the evening of the same day, they
attacked the houses Of Captain Hathaway
and Mr.. Holbrook-( -(both gentlemen being
absent (Which they entered and robbed of
blankets, amunitisn, goods, groceries and
provisions to the amount Of about $500.
They then went through Hale'S passage
encamped two or three days, and finally
disappeared since which time. the houses
Of Capt. Fay, Brown and Ritchey, on
Whidby's Island, have been robbed Of their
entire contents.
The above war party, is understood to
be part Of the ten northern we'll manned
and armed canoes that visited Victoria,
VancOuver's Island. in the latter part Of
May, and reported in this paper of June
Sd, as having assaulted, as was supposed
mOrtally, Mr.. Charles Bailey, resident on
the Island. 1t is supposed that the two
cGhoes chat perpetrated all the outrages
in and around Bellingman Bay, came di-
rect from the Island, after the offense COM