, 1858-09-17
The Indian DinlcuIty at Skagst Head.

This difficulty, to which we made allu-
sion last week, it appears was Of a much
more serious and alarming character Tor
was likely 10 have been so), than was at
first reported; and in connection with
which, we have been furnished with the
following particulars;
On the Grst page Of tO-day'S paper will
be found an article from the Whatcom
Northern Light, concerning an expedition
made by Indian Agent Col NJ. 4. SIN.
MONS against the murderers Of Deputy Sur.
veyor HUNT, and others, in the Swinamish
passage.
Having been entirely successful in their
capture, the Col left Whntcom for bis
home, by way Of Skaget Head; when, upon
his arrival at the latter place, he found the
Indians very generally intoxicated the
Col. having had Mr.. BAILEY, assistant
agent at Skaget Head, and all the ayaila.
BILE force Of the department with him at
Bellingham Bay He at once arrested
two Of the most turbulent Indians, and
considered that things were becoming quiet
when he was informed that some Snoqual
mics were killing the Snohomish Indians
in the immediate vicinity. On receipt oil
this intelligence, the Col Immediately dis
patched Messrs. ARMSTRONG, BAILEY, and
PAGE, to the scene Of trouble, with orders
to arrest the refractory and threatening
Snoqualmies. These gentlemen were con.
veyed in canoe to the ground, by FIVE
Indians-(one of them well known here as
" Bob for long time a servant in the
Pacific House Upon their landing, the
agents endeavored to have talk with
them but they exhibited a hostile atti
tude, and refused to let the party referred
to come near them. Covering themselves
behind drift-logs, and pointing their guns
at their agents, they finally made an at.
tack. Fortunately, " Bob" knocked one
of them over at the first shot. His name
was Klenish Kanim the worst Indian
on Puget Sound
After exchanging some ten or twelve
shots on Shore-(the party had nothing
but revolvers with them)-the agents were
obliged to retire to their canoe and shove
OF but were fred upon as long as they
were within range
At this critical moment, Col SIMMONS
at once made a requisition upon Major
HALLER, commanding the garrison near
Port Townsend, for ten men, which was
promptly responded tO,-ths Collector Of
Customs, Col. NJ. H. FROsr, allowing the
Revenue Cutter JEFF. DaUis to be used as Q
means Of transportation. Col. s. also
made a statement of the facts to Colonel
CASEY, commanding at Fort Steilacoom,
who Immediately chartered steamer, and
sent Lieut. REYNOLDS with ten men to the
assistance Of the Indian Agent.
We are told that it is to the prompt
and decided manner in which the officers
commanding the detachments, (Lieuts
SCoTT and REYNoLDs), as well as the com
manding officers of the posts, and the gen.
temanly officers of the revenue service
acted in the premises, that Col. SIMMONS
attributes the happy termination of thi:
affair.
or the five Indians known to have fired
upon the gentlemen connected with that
service, one was klled-one escaped up
the river, and three were brought in by
the chiefs. Col. SIMMONS at one time
thought that there might possibly be
" Klickitat influence at work over here
but he is now happy to say, that he is en
tirely satisfied that nothing of the kind is
to be apprehendod that liquor is the only
thing that will induce our Puget Sound
Indians to the commission of such acts.
One Of the Indians captured is named
" Ne-qu-salt"-a SnOqualmie, who commit
ted murder in this place last winter. Ht
is half-brother to the one that was killed
and is very bad Indian. They were botf
" SkoOkum temanuous men, and thought
that they could not be shot but Bob ,
has convinced ono of them to the contrary
Col. SIMMONS and Mr.. ARMSTRONG arrived
safely at the Agency on Sunday last.
~ The steamer Ranger No. 2, Capt
Olu.z:a E.