The Benton democrat. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1871-18??, 1873-01-18
THE INDIANS ON YAQU1Na BAY ,
Indians Still Dancing.-People ON the
Bay Getting Alarmed.--IHaes settlers
Building aFOrt.<-FamfEies
Fleeing for Safety
Torch of Hostility
Lighted.

l .
that there was no undue excitement .
Newport, and that no trouble with th
Indians was apprehended. Since the1
however, affairs have assumed NOR
portentious aspect. The savages sti
| continue their wild dances, in the hop
OF bringing back to earth their dea
braves, and pretend to have received
message from the Great Spirit to the ef
feet that their friends will not return
until some whites have been killed. Peo
pie around Elk City are getting alarmed
at the conduct of the Indians, and sew
eral families have come into this valley
for safety. The settlers in the vicinity
of Toledo arc building a block-house
fort, for their protection. A gentleman
who arrived here from Elk City last
Tuesday, informs us that the Indian
wives of old trappers who refuse to
1 join in the barbarous dance, are sorely
frightened, and cannot be induced to re-
main at their homes, unprotected by
their husbands. On Saturday night
last, the fine residence of E. N. Saw
telle, three miles below Elk City, was
laid in ashes, it is supposed by Indians.
We subjoin the following, from the pen
of a reliable citizen, which portrays
reasons for serious alarm:
Elk CITY, Jan. 12, 1873.
EDITOR DEMOCRAT
Quite an excitement was created here
last night, by the burning of the dwell
ling and outhouses on the premises of
E. N. Sawtelle, a few miles below this
place. Men, women and children were
at once alarmed, and, for safety, the lat
ter were placed on board the schooner
Lizzie, Capt. Lee giving them the sole
use of the cabin. Messengers were at
once dispatched to Pioneer, and Capt.
Kellogg Immediately got steam on the
Oneatta, came down to this city, and
moored alongside the schooner. The
excitement became intense, and men,
armed with Henry rifles, guns and pis-
tolls, were picketed upon the outskirts
of the town. No Indians were seen.
This morning a meeting of citizens was
called, at which DIR. Garter presided,
and Henry Ahpel. acted as Secretary.
A committee was appointed to bring in
all the Indians suspected of firing the
house. The following testimony was
adduced:
On Friday, the 10th inst, Digger
by the name of California Jack, who |
was chopping wood for Mr.. Kistler, did |
not come to work until late in the day.
When asked by Mrs. Kisler to explain
the cause of his hardness, he replied |
that he was sick at his heart, as he
had spent the whole night in talk with
the Siwashes at Old Sambo's camp"
Mrs. K. urged him to state what trans
pired, when he made the following dis
closures The Indians were mad, and
would break into one house and steal
" ictas," and also kill one man. In an
swer to the question what man, he said
he dare not tell, for, if he did SO, the
Indians would kill him. Finally, when
asked if the man referred to was Saw
telle, he replied "Yes." He further
stated that a general outbreak would be
made; the Indians would kill all the
whites, and appropriate their property.
lie said he had refused to consent to
this proposition, and asked if the whites
would protect him When examined
6efore the committee of citizens, this
Indian denied the whole statement he
had made to Mrs. Kistler, as narrated
above. 'e''
Now, Mr.. Editor, it is pitiful to see
women and children frightened almost
to death by these savages, and compel
led to leave their homes, at the dead
hour of night, and seek safety in rude
forts. Weare isolated here; with onlv
weekly communication with the outside
world. Something must be done by
the Indian Department., OIL. the State
authorities, or you will see Yaquina Bav
waste, and the labor and hardships
endured for seven long years come To
niaught. LIS there no remedy for this
Are we not tax payers, as well as others
In Benton county Have we no RIGHTS
to be protected This little town IS
full OF people, from Toledo, Pioneer
and all parts of the Bay. We men can
endure all this, but our women and
children are the sufferers. I shall not
dwell longer on this subject; but time
will tell hope for the best.
BRUTUs.
AT the meeting mentioned above,
Hon. d. Carlisle was selected to 90
to Salem, and represent this state of ae
tairs to the Governor and Indian Super
ntendent. In response, Governor Gro
yer promptly forwarded number of ;
Springfield rifles and quantity of am.
nunition to Hon. John Burnett, County
Judge, and stands ready to call out a |