Columbia gazette and the southern mines advertiser. [volume] (Columbia, Tuolumne County, Calif.) 1855-1858, 1858-07-15
Later from Oregon.
Battle between Indians and NIiners-Elrh1
and Retreat.

By way Of Victoria we have later
news from Oregon. The Panama on
her way to Puget Sound stopped at Port
land. The especial Travelling Cores
pendent" of the s. F. Alta, dating Vic
toria, July 9Th, contains the following
full particulars of fight between the
Indians and body of miners in Oregon /:
On the eth of May, a party of ad
venturers started from Portland, Oregon,
for the upper Frazer river country, by
way of the old trail of the Hudson s
Bay Company, to Fort Simcoe and
Okaue, and the Yackama river. They
numbered II men, armed with 81
Sharpe's rifles, and 80 animals. They
were so strong in numbers and so we'll
appointed, that they went with high
hopes Of success. After more than a
months absence, they returned to Port
land on the ist of July, being actually
driven back by Indians, after hard and
continuous fighting. One of the party
whom | met in Portland. gave me the
following account, which was corrobora-
ted by others Of the party who were
listening
From the Dalles, where they purchased
several animals. they proceeded north
80 miles, to Fort Simcoe, where they
procured an Indian guide, who led them
N. W. 80 miles, to Na,chez river, where
in crossing, two Germans, named HUT
mier and Hazelbery, were drowned
Thence northerly, through wild coun-
try, % miles, to the Yackama river,
which they followed for 20 miles, and
crossed at an Indian village where the
guide seemed to be well known, and
whom they did not see any more. The
Chief, Ojay, was friendly, so we're his
people, and many civilities passed be-
tween them. 10 this country the party
prospected several creeks and ravines,
and found gold i'll abundance.
! Thence they went on to the Winache
river few miles. whore they also found
coarse gold, and in quantities to satisfy
the cupidity of almost any man. They
were still followed by the Indians and
were suspicious of danger. On crossing
the river, Frenchman, wishing to ex-
!, change horses, laid his rife on the
ground, when it was seized by Ojay's
soa, who shot the Frenchman in the
shoulder The Indian then seized upon
the pistol and clothing Of the French
man and ran .away Unto this time
the Indians had been friendly, and they
had not missed their guide. They L.
supposed everything right
f5sy- now they found themselvss
rounded by numerous band Of savae
hardy, brave and suddenly hostile, w
threatened to cxterminate them. The,
I. came around aud fred at random. NJ
one Of the party was hit Finding they
& could not proceed and that they tat
been betrayed, they resolved to return
They recrossed the Winache, taking
with them the wounded man. The In.
dams followed and took post upon bill
which the party had to pass. They were
/ fred upon, and, the Frenchman wa.
killed, and also eight horses Two o.
:. the party were wounded; and in return
they killed with their unerring Sharpe.
rifles twelve of the enemy, and wounded
twenty five. The Indians then with,
drew In the evening the party threw
away their packs, and taking six days
: provisions, jumped upon their horses anc
rode all night to get into the prairie
At daylight they had nearly reached the
open country: they found the Indian:
posted upon the bill tops. They avoided
them, and kept on to the Columbia
where they camped and remained foa,
hours On packing for a start, they
were again attacked By some two hun
dred Indians. Here commenced run
: ming fight which lasted FIVE or six hours
during which twelve indians, including
the chief, were killed. The party hac
four men wounded by the careless shoot,
ing Of the Indians, and eight horse.
killed. The Indians then withdrew and
the party after resting, packed UP and
travelled down the Yackama Is miles
through canon, at the end of which
+, they left it to reach Fort Simcoe, where
: they arrived after two moro DAYS HARD
travel, during which time they had sew.
eral more fights with the same Indians
but with no result the Indians fought
shy, being evidently afraid of the long
shots from the inevitable Sharpe's rife
On the seventh day from the commence.
ment of the fight the party reached
Fort Simcoe again, having had six men
; killed and seven wounded; also, 2s
horses killed. Of the wounded three
were left at Fort Simcoe, and four
brought into the Dalles The party re-
NAMED at Fort Simcoe two days, g
received supplies from the Governmey
they returned to Portiana
inst. They are SO well sar
richness of the g9ldr
tile country, that's
party have resk
quer it. The pc
much interested ins
expedition, and have So
to fit it properly. The
! drcd men, and there is SO
asm on the subject that thos
will be ready to start on tie Nth inst,
1t is very fast ccdntry. Everybody is
on the q9s rire, expecting some grea;