, 1855-11-23
The KIi,kitat Indians near Vancouver.


We learn from letter, dated Fort Van
couvcr, Nov. Il, 1855, addressed to Gov.
Mason, that q portion Of the above tribe,
residing near the mouth of the Cathlapoo'
die river, under UHuTs and YAHo-ro-wIT,
were called in and encamped in the vicini-
ty of the fort, for the purpose of prevent
ing their Joining the hostile tribes, and of
protecting them. UMTUTs had before
proven his good will, by warning the whites
of the rising of the Yakima Indians. He
had accumulated much wealth for an Indi-
an-having numerous horses, blankets, &c,
and tried to initiate the whites. By
permission Of 1t. WTHEES, he went to his
old ground to dig potatoes, and was there
attacked by some whites, who had bccn
informed by LuKAH, one of his slaves, that
| UMTUrs was in communication with the
YakimaS. The whitcS-who were from
Oregon--took him and some of his people
to Milton, and they were kept in custody
till relieved by Lor WHIrcoMB, Oregon
special agent, and then brought back 70
Vancouver. Ills son had been shot at
during the affair, and two of his houses
burnt aud some Of his goods stolen-un-
doubiedy by this same Lukah
I4ukah was afterwards arrested for theft,
kept in the guard-house-and he charged
Umtuts with alliance with the Yakimas, in
a statement made to Lieut.. WIrHERs. Lu-
kah stated that, week before, two run
nerS had been sent from the Yakimas, who
stopt one night with Umtu;s, and he fur
niShed them with horses. Lukahs wife
corroberated the story. An interruption
taking place, the examination was post
poned till next day {; but the next morning
Umtuts started with his whole party and
remaining property, towards the Yakima
pass by way of Cheques. Yaho-to-wit and
his party refused to go, and remained in
camp. Lieut.. WrHERs detailed Capt.
STRONG, company A, LIST Regiment, w. T.
Volunteers, together with DR.. r. NEWELL,
and a few of his selected scouts, to follow
and bring them back. Dr. NEWELL, con-
jecturing that the Indians would go to one
of the upper prairics aud there take refuge,
advised halt until the Indians should
settle. This course was adopted, and
camping two days on the fourth plain, at a
point where they could intercept the return
Of the Indians, if they attempted any hos
tility, they moved forward to the Maukass
prairie, about 80 miles from Vancouver,
and encamped before the Indians were
aware of their presence. They found the
Indians well posted in a willow swamp, and
all well armed and Capt. STRONG now
learned that they had only given up q
small portion of their arms at Vancouver,
the rest being secreted.
The Indians were well fortified, and de-
termincd to fight if attacked. A short
parley was had that night, and the next
day appointed for full talk. The next
morning the Indians were persuaded to re-
turn forthwith to Vancouver-Umtuts as
senting very reluctantly. The Indians dis
charged all their guns, before leaving their
camp, as o token Of peace. Capt. STRONG
soon after sent two men with information
to Lieut. WrrHERs-who, after proceeding
some two miles, found tho dead body Of
Umtuts in the road, his horse standing by
him-evidently waylayed and killed by
some of his own people, either for his prop
erty, or because they were disheartencd
with the idea Of living in the woods through
the winter, which their hostility to the
whites would have compelled.
The Indians afterwards came in and
were disarmed. This occurrence caused
great excitement among the settlers, and
gave rise to many extravagant rumors.
But these alarms had ceased with the re-
turn of Capt. SrRoNG's command. This
expedition demonstrated that no hostile
Indians had yet crossed the Cascades, and
as the snow was then quite deep, there re-
mnined no reason for further alarm; Capt,
STRoNc and company soon after started for
the Dalles, and are now in the Yakima
country, operating with the command Of
Brig Gen. RAINEs.
t9- The revolutionists are succeeding