Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1861-03-30
Murder of Wha.lathl, or Swell" one o
the Mackah Chiefs, by tho Elwha Indians
near Old Dungeness.

near Old Dungeness.
The recent murder of Swell, one of
the Cape Flattcry Indians, is worthy of
more than passing notice.
This Indian, so we'll known by the
citizens of this portion of the Territory,
as wei! as by the Indian Agents, for his
faithfulness, honesty, and firm friend
ship to the white man, was shot about
midnight on the 10th of March, while
proceeding from Port Townsend to
Neah Bay, with a large canoe filled
with valuable goods belonging to IL.
A. Webster 4 Co.. of Ncah Bay, Capt.
w. w. Windsor, keeper Of Tatooclle
Light, and other persons connected
with the lighthouse department and
Webstcr's settlement.
There was also in the canoe all the
Mail matter for the lighthouse keeper
and others at the Cape, that had been
accommodating for two months or more
at Port Townsend.
Swell had been at Port Townsend
expressly for the goods, and left Oh the
26th of Feb. for Old Dungencss, where
he took in quantity of potatoes, and
some more packages that had been left
at the house Of Messrs. Holmes and
Thompson, to be forwarded to Ncah
Bay.
After taking in his load he left Old
Dungcncsss at Z P. NJ, on the evening
of the 1st Of March, and proceeded
down the Straits as far as Crescent
Bay, which place lie reached about
midnight, when, seeing fire on the
beach, he went on shore, thinking that
a party of his people were calnpcd
there. but hardly had lie landed Oh the
beach, when he discovered that he was
mistaken, and turned to 60 to his ca
noe, simply making the remark, ~
thought that Mackahs were campcd
here" No sooner had he turned his
back, than one Of the Elwla Indians
named Met so-nack, and known as El-
wha Charley. shot him through the
back. and he fell dead instantly. His
people pulled him into the canoe and
put off. But the Elwha's followed
them. and fired another shot. which
took effect in the back of one Of the
men. wounding him severely, but not
disabling him. The Makah's then,
finding it impossible with their heavily
laden canoe, to make their escape, ran
ashore and, their canoe striking the
rocks heavily, Nor there was long
rolling swell hrcakin" over thcm,) split
in two parts and all the contents went
overheard.
There were four squaws, two men
and boy in the canoe, beside Swell,
who all succeeded in getting into the
woods and made their way home to
Neah Bay, where they arrived i'll three
DAYS after the disaster.
The Elwha Indians, on the following
morning, seeing the goods belonged to
white men, became alarmed, and sent
word to Messrs. Holmes and Sampson,
who dispatched Mr.. John Dunn on the
Sd inst, with a party Of Clallams. to
recover such goods as they could find.
They succeeded in getting portion,
but in very damaged condition, from
salt water, and being beaten in the surf.
They also recovered Swclls body,
which they brought back, and box
being made for it by Capt. Thompson,
it was rolled up in two new blankets
and nailed up in the box to be sent to
Neah Bay. On the evening of the
5th of March, I received information
of the attack by the Elwha's on the
canoe, and Immediately made prcpara-
tions to 90 down, and if possible recover
some valuable letters and documents
which l had forwarded by Swell. A
gale of wind from the northwest how
ever prevented my starting until the
morning of the 7th, when left Port
Townsend in a canoe, accompanied by
the Duke Of York, head chief Of the
Clallams and three other Indians, and
proceeded with them to the Elwha set
ilcmcnt, stopping on the way at Dun
gencss, and the camps at Yennis, and
Chewitscn on Old Dungcness bay, for
such information as l could gather con-
cerning the affair.
Iarrived at the Indian village at the
mouth of Elwha river, on the morning
of the 9th. We left our canoe Mt Old
Dungencss on account of the heavy
surf beating on the spit, and walked
to Elwha, some four or five miles dis
tant. The Indians had been apprised
of our coming and were assembled to
meet us.
The Duke of York then told them
the purpose for which had come, and
made them a speech to the effect that
they must give up any and all of the
goods they had in their possession.
particularly the mail matter.