, 1864-08-19

PHILLIPS RANCH, INDIAN VALLEY, OREeoN,
sir August 18th 1864,

PHILIIPs' RANCH, INDIAN VALLEY, OREGON.
yr August 18th, 1864,
EDS. STATESMAN The usual quiet of every
day life in this valley has been varied some this
week, in consequence of two Indians being
caught in the act of stealing ahorse worth $3.50,
the property of Mr.. John Kendall, resident
of Grand Ronde Valley. The circumstances
are ip~substance as follows Mr.. Kendall, with
his loaded team, was his way from Walla
Walla to his residence on this side of the noun
tains. He camped over night in this vicinity,
and next morning, August 8th, one of his horses
was missing. Search was Immediately institu-
ted, and after two hours spent in looking for the
missing animal, Mr.. Kendall called at this place
and stated that an Indian had his horse and
would not give it up, and wished some persons
to go and assist him. instantly got on horse,
belonging to Phillips Co.. and went with Mr..
Kendall about mile from the house, where we
came upon the Indian, he mounted apparently
in hurry, when pointed pistol at him. which
caused him to dismount, Mr.. Kendall taking
charge of his own horse again. then endeay-
ored to make the Indian understand that
wanted him to accompany us to the house. My
purpose in this was to find some person that
could talk with him. and understand him, to in
nterrogate him, in regard to his confscating the
horse, and my efforts to make him understand
were Intellectual. He, the while appeared dog
gedly determined, to choose direction the OPP
ouired any proficiency in vocal music and hav-
ING no instrument at hand, despaired in this
hope of Esoothing his savage breast, and adop-
ted Josh Billings preference of using "Colts
revolver" and accordingly brought mine into
use by knocking him down with it. Arepetitlon
of this coersive demonstration produced IN a
manner, the desired effect. Being now joined
by the second Indian who was riding one and
leading the horse belonging to the, other Indian,
7 caucad him to rnount. thew ridino side hV side
with Mr.. K. in the lead l discovered the first
one in the act of taking gun from the other
dsmounting quickly, secured the gun, hit him
on the head with my pistol and he fell to the
ground. To make the other let go, / found 1t
necessary to serve him in the same manner. Be-
ing now in sight of the house Mr.. K. led his
own, and one Indian horse upto make them fast,
my horse having got away from me, Twas on foot,
and both the Indians horse, they now
evinced a strong desire for fast riding against
which protested, and prevented them from do
ing several times by raising my pistol They
having got short distance in advance, and ta-
king advantage of some timber, turned their
horse, and urging him to his fastest speed
s'away they went"
Having no desire to in jure them much, less to
kill them, before | knew about them, l
called to the men at the house to get
on their horses and catch them -Four men
(packers) whose names did not learn, went in
pursuit. The Indians getting sight OF the morse
that got away from me, they soon captured him,
and put for the mountains So by leaving one
horse they took better one. One of the party
got close to them after they had got
possession of the horse belonging to Phillips &
Co., and discharged the loads from his pistol
and a shot gun at them, but without effect
The Indians skeedadled in the direction of the
Wallowa, or Fish-fsh, stream which lies to
the east of this IL miles. Thinking that the red
skins made their camping place on this stream,
Mr.. Phillips, myself and two others went in pur
suit. On reaching there undiscovered that they
had taken trail that went nearly straight up a
steep mountain on the other side. Here we
gave up the chase, for the present will here
say that these streams where we crossed was
at the junction of two branches look very favor
able for gold and resemble the head of the
north branches of the Yuba river. The water
is now low and the bed of the stream could easi-
ly be prospected by wingdaming.
On the evening of the 10th, an Indian brought
into the ranch the horse, saddle and rigging
complete, belonging to Phillips Il Co. the horse
looking like he had spent a term of probation in
III d SNOW GIrIJ Ur Oh sumo uafrefIT pre-
paratory to his final exit for horse heaven and
receiving in return the Indian horse, gun, and
traps, and supply of much d much which he ate
with qusto. He claimed to be Nez Perces
Whether this act Of returning the horse was
caused by desire to obFiate the chances of
raid against them, or simply because they con
sidered they had the worst end of the bargain,
am unable to say; but that the act was the re-
suit of one, or the other, or both, is obvious