Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1861-11-02

tFdNAi VI Tear, WOuiu IOse IOT uIc tu9S
respect and confidence they now repose
in me. The secret Of my success with
these people is in the 5ple I always, fol-
low. never tell an Indian lie. even
in a joke. and l have never since have
been in this Territory, which is since
1852. carried a weapon Of defence with
me whenever Invent among them. l
have always found that civil tongue
is The best weapon | can use.
Now do not let me he misunderstood.
My missions among the Indians have
always been Of ii peaceful nature. hence
l have no use for pistols; dirks, or
knives know there are times when
shch things are not only necessary. but
indispensable. but the promiscuous wear
ing of firearms among Indians during
times OF peace is more likely to provoke
hostility than any thing I know. 1t
certainly does not inspire them with
confidence.
After the ceremonies were over, tho
Indians took up the heads and carried
them to the next village and performed
more of their savage orgies, and finally
went to Tsooez, or Suoz, village on
the Pacific coast Just below Cape Flat
terry, where old Cowbetsi' lives, there
the heads were stuck on two poles and
will remain till time or the crows knock
them down.
On inquiry found that the party
went up as far as Crescent bay where
Swell was murdered and stopped.
Two canoes were sent up to reconnoi-
tire and when off Elwha or Observatory
point, they came suddenly on the two
men who were engaged in killing scale.
These they shot, and after cutting of
their heads, and taking everything
they had in the canoe, returned to the
main body at Crescent bay. There
were number of squaws on the shore
gathering iish-egss from the rocks, who
saw the murder aud gave the alarm.
Tho Mackahs then held council,
when it was agreed, as they had killed
two to avenee Swcll's death, and as the
new Agent did not want them to 60
further, they would go back, which they
did, and | am satisfied that the remarks
of A. gent Webster were the sole cause
of Keeping them from burning up the
Elwha village, for they had made every
preparation for doing so, and had they
cone they would have met with but
little resistance, most ofthe Elwhas, hav-
ING gone to Hoods Canal. They told
me likewise that they could have taken
plenty of squaws for slaves if they had
desired.
Although it would not have been
proper for me to have encouraged them
by look or sign, yet am safe in assert
ing that ifthe Mackahs had burned up
the Elwha village and killed every one
of the inhabitants, there is not white
man on the Straits but would have been
glad. Tho Elwhas are band Of out
laws,-outcasts from tho Claim aud
Mackah tribes-murdcrers thieves, and
villains, who have committed many a
crime with impunity, and who are de-
tested by the white settlers in general.
| went into several lodges while
the party were absent, and every one
had feathers strewed over the floor,
and the sleeping place Of each man was
! =
filled with bushes covered with white
down. White flags and olive branches
in civilized countries are cmblems Of
peace, but with these people green
bouyhs and white feathers seem to be
an emblem of war.
This is the first war party that have
ever seen among the coast Indians, aud
l expect it will be the last, for il is the
determination of the new Agent to pre-
vent such scenes in the future, and /
have 40 doubt he will succeed.
Proinptncss aud energy on the Tart of
the government: and its agents, seco"d-
e! by the cooperation Of the white,
settlers will effectua,ly put a stop to
such horrid orgies as ] have witnessed
JAMES Il. swan.