Marshall County Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1855-1859, 1856-04-10
From Washington Territory and Puget
Sound.

By the arrival OF the schooner Whitman
tic, AT San Francisco from Puget Sound,
which poin: she left on the els: OF Zebra :
AIRY, we are placed in possession Of addi-
tional facts relating to the Indian war, now
raging in Washington Territory. On the
day Of the schooncr's departure, large
body Of Northern Indians IN war canoes,
each containing from Sky to seventy men,
landed on san Juan Island. in Pugei
Sound, and Immediately afterwards made
an attack upon Whidby's Island, situated
at the entrance of Admiralty Inlet.
They first assaulted the UniteI S.a.es
Custom House. in charge of Col. Ebey,
which they robbed of several valuable ar,i-
cles, besides stealing everything belong
Ing to the revenue boat. Some cattle on
the island, belonging to Captain Sayward,
We're killed and carried away, after which
a systematic descen. WAS male upon the
house Of Capt, Robinson. The whole ex-
petition was conducted with singular abil-
ity, and appeared to have been thoroughl;
organized. The news spreading, the in
habi,ants collected, armed themselves, and
pursued the murderers; but upon overtak-
ing them the party were restrained from
firing through the Interference of minis
ter of the gospel The thieves thus escaped.
The exac. force that landed is moi known.
The majority OF the Indilns remained on
San Juan Island, which is yet i'll dispute
between the British and American govern
ments. From this point they are enabled.
TO make rapid and secure descents upon
the surrounding country, as well as to sec
every steamer or vessel of war entering the
Sound This attack has been long antici-
pated by the inhabitants of Puget Sound.
The Indians are hardy, brave and intelli-
gent. They often possess the latest i'm
provemen in firearms, and are well sup
piled with weapons of all kinds. OF pow
der and shot they have aa abundance.-
There are numerous causes assign d for
this attack, among which Is counted the
killing Of celebrated 'tyee' or chief, by
some hunters A chief is reckoued among
thea as equal in value TO ght white men.
They boast of having already killed five,
and the remaining three they are deter
mined to have. Previous TO the present
war The tribe to which these belong was
employed on the Sound; but with the
breaking out of hos lilies, the Governor
ordered the au hoIi les to forbid their en-
tering the Sound--which order being zig
idly enforced, has perhaps assisted in pro-
ducing the present state of affairs.
The canoes, propelled by from ffy to
seventy oars each, are of great length and
are very strongly built. They carry regu-
lar armchests like naval vessels, and are
equipped to degree of efficiency scarcely
to be expected among savages. a very
bad feature is, that the canoes contained
no women, evidently showing that the WIS.,
it was intended as an extremely hostile one
1t is thought that with the opening of the
spl ing months, the United States vessels
nov employed in our northern waters will
have enough to do in subduing the savage
tribes of Puget Sound.
The friendly Indian Chief, Pat Cannon,
recently had a fight with the Clicktats.--
He left his camp en- Snow gully river, and
fell in with five of the Clicktat Indians, and
they refused to answer his questions; SO he
behealed two of them, and sent their heads
into Seattle. The remaining three, to save
their lives, agreed to give him all the in
formation they could, so he took them
along as guides. He, with one hundred
warriors soon overlook a large body OF the
enemy, surprised and routed them, killing
a great many. He had four of his men
killed and was himself wounded.