The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-07-19
THE INDIAN WAR IN IDAHv.
Interesting Account Of It's Origln--Tha
Caugc - tt.G Endian's HATRED to the
Government--AIarm Seriousncss
Of tho Outbreak.
Cure,pondent Of Me Me,e York .g,.u.


The uprising Of tho non.treaty Nez
Percea and other wild tribes of Indians
in northeastern. Idaho, close TO the Ore,
gon boundary, threatens to grow into q
foImidabie waT, involving heavy loss OF
life, vast destruction Of property, and un-
usually large outlays of money. Already
O pitched battle hns been fought between
troops and q band Of sayagos, under Chief
Joseph, who ia the leader of the hostiles
in this new field of trouble. The whites
were defeated. with the loss Of one officer
and thirty-two men killed, and since the
fight, about three weeks ago, there have
been several engagements, in which the
Indians have shown stubbernness. Over
twenty settlers-men, women and chill
dren--weTe cruelty slaughtered ut the
outbreak, and the terror excited by these
tragedies spread over wide region, ex-
tending to Montana and Washington
Territories. Hundreds of fomilies a6an-
bonded their homes and sought places of
safety. Some shut themselves up in
block houses, rifle pits were dug in front
OF the small towns to keep off the savages,
and there was scarcity Of arms that left
the people in measure defenseless.
When it IL considered that the country
swarmed with renegade and disaffected
Indiana we'll equipped with breach-load-
ing weapons, and snarting under what
they deemed continued wrongs, the gen.
erel aanse Of imminent danger that pre-.
vailed iB' notsurprising. The movement,
there was good reason for knowing. was
no. temporary outbreak, but o measure
that had been EiatITed on the basis &C
agreement between the tribes, and under
taken to be fought to the bitter end un-
less the government accedes to demands.
Caneral 0. 0. Howard is in command
Of the department. of Columbia, in which
the territory lies where hostllities broke
out. BE had bean in the immediate vi
cinisy in communication with Joseph
and other chiefs, TO bring about O peace
the Wallowa valley. The Indians had
never give mp the tract, and they told
the nEe Of force To plhra them on resarva.
tions when he actually had only hand
fal of inenae his disposal, and the hos
thousand warriors, thoroughly equipped
and anxious for fight. The General
had permitted them to roam around the
country upon the pretext Of gathering
up stock, when In fact they were prepar.
Ing to take the warpath. Joseph and his
councillors smiled at Howard's speeches,
saying, however, thas he would never
persuade them to give up their old haunts.
The temporizing policy of the govern.
ment is also much to blame for the pres.
ent condition of anairs in idaho. The
course pursued toward tho Indians has
neither been firm nor consistent. Their
reservations were continually trespassed
upon by. whites, who would sell whiaky
and otherwise demofaiize them. Repre-.
sensftions were made at Washington in
order that soma change might be made.
The wishes Of the Nez Perces and othe:
bands received no attention at the De.
partmeat of the interior, and discomfort
increased day after day among them.
The Rev. Father Mesplic, the chaplain
at Fort B0ise, was informed short time
ego by Howlish Wampoo, chief of the
Uhaatiiias, that they had made up their
minds that there was nothing 10 hope
from the government, and they would
Join ,Jrasp on Salmon River. j.. He added
that il the government had attended to
ticit Just Complaints iIl time evefythingi
.nIgne ia va ueeu amiCariy arranged, anu
o confederated force Of fully FIVE thousand
warriors would not now be on the war
path. l,g ,,is sr,ait,lt5.., Y..o Il
.. Tho main cause OF the outbreak, as In.
timated, Is 6 dispute oyeFa rich and OK.
tensiye tract OF land, known 80 Waiiowa
valley, on. tlA west bank of Snake River,
In Union County, Oregon. Il. extends
beyond She boundarylli line Of iuaho. and
is Ia tho vicinity OF Lewiston. The Ne5
RerceS have reservation of $50 900 acres
aecnrad to them by the treaty Of 1888,
hinh fsift thef EtiI tteti Llie 'tisie they
acquired In 1856 10 the land. a portion
o siiAa tribe poe souls arersestIed end
partly csyi ICED rome Of tnem Geiag prog.
perotls farnIers and stock raisers. The
Dfher bali, under Joseph, are uomads,
aisd Esy Es s. enssrkd f1t5 any tEeats
Va elths Unitea States fns the iS ssrrSnSicr
d sS59iE = rs: = c;ss. 5ssAs;; y ssS
los parties t1 the agreement Of 1868, and
rofnsa to Be bound by lee terms. For
tfany ea gIltsa Que & t3sny held on afltt
hunted cyeg tho WalIoWa valley, no ono |
sputing thasr. tiElo, which. Ask was adj, |
bacSs f6 Tie Iadian Department. ram
ard IA ST eh55 5ount ntfygl
,case Nv hts aak=5ii "a could bs III any
sEotible n eliprts' saa ttiep
slozeIlls, VINO tsTs 70 bs ar nAui
ncn.tfeaty Indian, 90 so On d reserEati6 i6i15
ne 4 - As!4l tless. 1Io was clayked v;th
Efforts TO induce Tic sstsesyaii6n
Nez RetGe 90 iessye fIleir iissaih and ioiy
htn2 aTfs 81 beg is$rand dersng tribes Ia tiaeir
.RIltlral hsnkt The aettlonagnls made In
the valley which had been for & lone time