Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1877-06-20
EUREKA DAILY SENTINEL,
THE IDAHO WAR.


peared q ~telegraphic item stating that
a fight had occurred between soldiers
aud Indians near Cottonwood creek,
ia the vicinity Of Lewiston ; also
that Ben. Norton and others had been
killed in a previous engagement. We
are now in receipt of all the details of
the outbreak, which seems to be a
rather serious affair. General Howard
in an official communication to Gen.
eral Sherman, which is transmitted to
the SENTINEL from Washington, ex-
plains that the trouble originated in
the murder Of an Indian by a white
man. The Indians in revenge killed
the murderer and seS eral other whites
ct the Same time. and soon a general
uprising ensued. 1t is the old, old
story of the white mans cruelty and
the red mans indiscriminate revenge.
Our dispatches tell us that the greatest
activity Is observable at military head
quarters on this coast. Troops are
already hurrying to the scene Of hos
tilities from all directions. Forts Hal.
leck and McDermit In this State will
each send a company to the front.
The Indians concerned in the
outbreak are composed Of two
divisions OF the Nez Perces tribe,
headed by the two chiefs, Joseph and
Eagle Of the Light. White Bird. men.
toned in our dispatches as having
been killed, belonged to Joseph's
band, and vas probably second in
command. Lewiston, the capital OF
Nez Perces county, is situated at the
junction OF Snake and Clearwater
sometimes called Clark's Fork rivers.
which in the main form the Columbia
river. Fort Lapwai the only garrison
in that section, is situated about
fifteen miles from Lewiston in an
easterly direction, and is distant from
the seat of war some forty or fifty
miles. also in an essterly course.
Camas prairie takes its name from tie
vegetable Of that name, q sort Of wild
or dwarfed sweet potato, which
abounds there in greatest profusion.
The Nez Perces have their regular
seasons for digging the camas, the
same as obtains among the Shoshones
In gathering pine nuts. The prairie is
probably twenty miles wide by
forty-ive long, totally devoid of
all vegetation, except camas and a
weed used by the Indians for smoking
called killikinick. This scope of coun-
try affords them an excellent view Of
operations and a considerable advan-
tage over their adversaries. At the
lower extremity Of Camas prairie there
is a deep and tortuous cany on, which
is difficult OF passage with Wagons. AT
the termination of this canyon is White
Bird creek. where, as it appears from
the dispatches, one Of the most deter
mined attacks was made.
A portion Of the Nez Perces Indians,
those living in the immediate vicinity
Of the Capital, are semi-civilized, and
number among them many well-to.do
farmers. They sell their produce to
the whites and devote the money thus
obtained mainly to the purchase of
clothing. being particularly fond of
dress. A chief of this portion of the
tribe, known by the name of Lawyer,
could read and write, and was general.
ly we'll informed. He always dressed
in the latest style. sporting q plug hat,
cane and ghves. Mr. Lawyer, we be-
lieve. died some years ago. 1t does
not appear that the more intelligent
branch of the tribe has yet taken a
hand in the hostilities.
We are disposed to think that Gen.
eral Howard's explanation of the or
igin Of the trouble does not date back
to the bottom facts of the case. Cor
siderable i'll feeling has lately been en-.
gendered over q portion Of territory
situated on the tributaries of Clear
water or Clark's Fork, probably 100
Ixlil0S 00Sb VA AO ASsOhs "a q CO0tSiA
meeting held some time ago at Fort
Lapwai the Indians refused to sign a
treaty ceding this territory to the
whites. and also declined to remove
their people therefrom. 1t was then
announced that Gen. Howard would
d-ispossess them by force II necessary,
and 1t was In this way. We pre-.
sumo, that the trouble began,
though we have no doubt that
active hostilities were precipitatsd by
. white man killing an Indian. as re-
ported to military headquarters by the
commanding officer. Our Geographic
advices say there are 1000 warriors on
the war path. This is probably an Ak
aggeratlon; but If 1t be true, why then
1t is quite evident that the intelligent
portion Of the tribe have also deter
mined to take o hand in the struggle.
And this being the case. it will be one
OF the most eventful Indian wars,