The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1873-02-14

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no great agricultural advantages, an
is not yet appreciated for grszing pul
poses. This was occupied by th
wandering bands Of Snakes and F
i Utes, who were hated by the north
ern tribes, and were at war with a
their northern neighbors. Anon
the Columbia River Indians, an
even as far north as British Columbis
were to be, even lately, found prison
ers from the Snake and Pitt Rive
Indians, who were reduced to slavery
by their captors, and made objects o
barter and trade. .-.... ..-.. .... -.
| The time came when the unknown
country had to be explored. Pros
pectors found gold in the Blue Noun
tsins of Oregon. The spring OF 1S6:
saw thousands. OF adyentnrers. from
California vending their way up the
Columbia River, having been lureC
north by the fabulous wealth Of Sal
mon River mines in Northern Idsho,
many of whom were induced BY
reports to turn southwark, and as {
result we sec the mining camps o.
Powder River, Bennett River, Granite
Greek, and Canyon City, all in the
Blue Mountains, the last Of which
served to deyelope the genius oi
joaquin Miller. But it was soor
seen that danger lurked TO the south
ward The next spring companies
OF prospectOrs in southern portions
oil the range were driven back by
Indians- bold and warlike savages
they were, who held their own for
eight years, and were only thea sub.
dued by a large force of regular
troops under a skillful General.
Gold discoveries spread south Oh
them in the Boise Mountains OF Idaho,
and in Southwestern Idaho also,
when the riches of the Oayhee Noun
tains gave great promise, and ali
these. camps and the ways leading tC
them were beset at times by hostile
hands of which that known as tht
Malheur band of Snskes was the
most vindictive The hostility o.
these Indians has been written in the
past in the slaughter of emigrant
trains on the Plains, and many scenes
of previous horror. The miners
raised company after company, aud
pursued the Indians to their en-
trenched caves in tie volcanic hills,
and always came back 10 some sense
discounted. The ssysges were on the
war-path in earnest. In Southern
Idaho, during this time, dead men
were. brought beck where the living
had gone bravely to the fight The
road leading from California vas for
q while strewn with corpses, and q
large company of emigrating Chinese
we're found brutally murdered along
the road.
The army under Gen Crook finally
reduced the rebellious bands, and
they are provided for at Fort Hall,
or on the Klamath reservation in
Southern Oregon, while some 600
decline to leave their old homes and
are subsisted near camp Hsrney at
the Government cost. The war is
ended, and the Modocs only remain
20 wage battle in Oregon. This band
originally consisted Of 325 individu-
sls, who were induced to go upon
he Klamath reservation in Decem-
Der 1859. In the spring 258 OF them
1nder Can't. Jack left the reservation
five remained there content
sdly. The others are said to have
objected that they could not live on
he same reservation with their
hereditary enemies-the Klamaths.
Several attempts were made TO in
luce them to return but they would
not. In August, 1871, in a talk with
Hon. A. B. Mescham, the Superin
,endent of Indian Affairs for Oregon,
hey SAID they were willing to go on
! reservation six miles square, the
yery sesne OF their late battle with
he troops, on the line between Cali
fornia and Oregon, and partly 10
zach Stste. Mr.. Meacham ably urg-
ID on the Government the need TO
,rea. with them to that effect, and
lis excellent suggestions ard argu
nenss are on record to show that he
uIly appreciated and understood the
ituaiion.
About 1870 the Indians on the
Warm Springs, Grande Ronde, and
reservations adopted the
ystem OF electiDg their chiefs This
vas q terrible blow to old customs.
Breaking up the power Of the heredi-
sry chiefs and making all officers
Elective, is the first snd best move
owsrd elevating the Indians. They
ire generally slaves TO the old Gus
oms, sud view lineage much in the
Iame light thst great nations do who
ire attached to the royal line. Being
nduced 70 elect their chiefs and en-
low them with Judicial, executive,
md ministerial powers, by the sd-
rice OF the Superintendent, the ex-
,eriment was found to work well.
Doe chief is 8 judge, other lesser
,nes are justices Of the pesce, and
,hey also elect officers TO serve a.
,beriffs and constables. The impau-
,ling OF juries was a new thing with
.bem. hut was safely accomplished,
and I am told that the system works
"a well as could be expected Inc
;rst case recorded OF Indian trlsl oy
nrx under this system, was for an
,asnse against chastity A jury OF
,;x was impaneled, the man was
onnd guilty, and the Chief Justice,
= Jostice Chief, sentenced him TO
,ix months of wood-chopping. Hls
,asd uss shaved, AMI q seyen-foot
was riveted to his leg, to
cen him within surveillance. and the
YORK was fully exscted. This oe-
,nrre6 on the Klamath Reservation,
md the indians managed the whole
flair with most serious intent, and
he dignity OF the law was fully sus-
aimed.
when the preseat MOdoc war ter
n;nstea We msy look for permanent
,ssce with the Indian Tribes OF Ore
yon. Washington, and probably Ida
3o A speck OF war might seem to
threaten upon Priests Rapids, on
he Upper Columbia. This place is