The daily mountaineer. (Dalles, Or.) 1861-1866, 1864-09-04
THE BIG SCARE.
WARN SPRING RESERVATION, Sept. 1s

miners of Quartzville VISIT with the evident
intention of destroying life and property.
We had already heard the particulars of the
affair which :" caused so much excitement on
the streets of Portland;" but refrained from
sending them to you, knowing that the brave
Web-footers would make "big thing of it,
and probably ask Gen. Alvord. for troops to
protect them. The unfortunate Indians
three men and one boy-who caused this big
scare to the braves of Quartzvile arrived here
about four days, since apd, made statement
of the affair, which is about as follows: They
hsd encamped in the mountains with their
families, for the purpose of hunting deer and
gathering berries, and on the morning of the
"scare," started out in search of game, but
being unable to find any, they concluded to
go to river close by, which we suppose TO-
be the Santiam, and catch some fish. They
had not proceeded far before they saw some
white men working, who, as they supposed,
were making a.road. They were met by the
whites in friendly manner. who. asked them
where they came from, where they were, 60
ing TO-, etc Having been answered satisfac-
toriy, the Indians begged some matches, aud
went on until they came to another party of
men numbering about twenty in ALL who ask
ed the Indians the same questions, and re-
ceived the same answers as did he first party
Of this party the Indians begged some to-
bacco, which they got and went on to the
river. After spending o. short. time. at the
river and being unable to catch any fish, they
determined to retrace their steps and return
to where their families were encamped They
had not gonefar however, before they noticed
three men with guns, following them, but
thinking that the whites knew they were
friends, they did not feel alarmed. The In
dians were soon brought to astand by being
asked that all-imporant question If they
were hungry2 to which they unanimously
answered "yes." They were then invited to
where man was cooking, who furnished
them with -four and having obtained that ar
ticle, were about to return to their families,
but the whites insisted on their staying over
night in their camp, to which they willingly
assented. They then dismounted, placed their
rifles against q tree, and one of them was
making bread, when they saw white men
coming from all directions, armed. They
were soon surrounded by about twenty five
whites who took possession of their rifles
with promise that they should he returned
to them the following morning. By this tlmt
the Indians began to think that the white.
were afraid of them, and they again assured
them that they were friends, that they be
longed on the Warm Spring Reservation, ant
that Mr.. Logan was their tie but all to N
purpose. The whites all collected togethe
and evidently held a council of war, at which
we suppose, it was decided to make prisoner
Al. IL IL Il,
over them until midnight, when they wou
all skedaddle for Salem. The Indians wer
taken short distance from camp, under
strong guard, where they were told they woul
have TO sleep. 1t was now the Indians tur
to become alarmed, and fearing, that tb
whites would kill them they made use. of a
the arguments they could bring to bear to as
sure the Bostons that they were not Snakes
that they were friends, At the appearance
of n rope one of the Indians became so badl
frightened that he broke and run through tb
woods, followed by three white men wb
were unable to catch him. He fell over log
and scratched his face badly. lie says hi
tun tum became so small that he could M
stand the sight ofa rope. The two men an
boy were then tied, their hands behind the
backs, while dozen white men held the
rifles to their heads, About midnight til
guard left them, with promise that the
would be back at sunrise to release then
In this predcament the Indians lay unit
noon the following day, waiting. for IL
whites to release them. The boys wris
began to swell from the effects of the rop
so they decided to unite him. This one
them did with his teeth, and when he Wi
free he united the other two. They RENAME
in camp until sunset, when finding that Il
Bostons left during the night, they conclud,
to make their way back here. The whi
men took with them the Indians four riff
and one of their horses, for the return.
which they promise nevo''. again to scare b