The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-07-13
CHIEF ]OSEPH'S WAR.
Some Account Of Its Origin and
Progress.
INDIANS PLANS AND PREPARATIONS
Aboriginal Spiritualists Dreaming Themselves
Into Hostility.
LEWISTON, |. T., Juno 2s, 1877

LEWISTON, l. T., juno %, 1877.
The causes OF Joseph's outbreak are chain OF cir
sumstances, which l present here as briefly as pos
uble In 1855 treaty was made by United States
with all the Indians In this section OF the country by
which they were relinquisb all lands. except the
reservation in consideration OF annues AND certain
specified presents Joseph claims 10 be non-treaty
Indian and that his father If he did sign the rclin-
ouishment OF lands, did so unknownely and told him
70 prior death. Joseph therefore would not
on the Ncz Perces reservation at Lapwai preferring
10 90 to buffalo country in the season and spend
he rest OF his time in the Walowa Valley. This val
lev about which there has lately been much trou
BILE IS in Oregon, close 10 the Idaho line, and is
small green patch in the mountains which is visited
by frost almost every night Very little grows there
rxcept the camas root, which IS eagerly sought by
Indians IN this section. The place is rather good for
grazing and here Joseph with ex-President
Grants permission, happy. For some reason
Grant revoked his tacit siit-perhaps some solitary
white man wished to dis.odse the fifty eight families
Of Josepn's band for his own bcnel-and after few
threats Joseph and his brethren gave up the land 10
settlement Last spring couple OF white men named
McNan and Finley lost caynse ponies, and sus-
pecng that had stolen them started Tor their
camp On the way they found two Indians whom they
dsarmcd ana were making preparations to leave when
snother Indian up, who also armed. They
ordered him throw up his hands, and, refusing,
struggle ensued, when one OF the two whites shot and
killed him.. 1t was very evident that these Indians had
not stolen the horses, and when Joseph heard OF the
murder he was very i.nant, had tho men Identified
md Immediately arrested. When the day arrived Tor
The preliminary trial before justice Joseph was un
ablc TO get lawyer prosecute his case, on account
o tho unpopuarlly of such course, and the
dismissed.
HOW JOSEPH TOOK IT.
This ranked IN Josephs BOSOM ana on leaving tho
court heard say that ian Indian can ind no
Just ice among white unless he makes 1t Tor him
Bel" Closely following this came the instructions
from Washington TO force this roaming band to the
reservation with the other Ncz Perces Joseph bus
tered considerably at Grst but General Towards
arrival there he promised 10 obey ORDERS and asked for
thirty days in which to gather his hocks and other
effects The request was granted, but the suddenness
with which Joseph accepted the situation leads old
Ifoutlersmcn IN his country say that he wished
merely pull the WOO! over General Howaros eyes IN
get 10 sena runners 10 all tue disaected
and non-treay Indians / the neighbornooa 10 the
effect that he intended to make an attack upon $50
o IsS se,l so do shna for nes at the
DalIcs Oregon, several hundred miles from
the scene OF the ourages Told week in advance OF
Tins trouble, and halt breed herdcr told Moore big
cattle buyer Eastern Oregon from the Willamette
Valley, very day OF the fight that there was plenty
Of shooting going III that moment on Camas Prarle
1t therefore likely that Joseph, eoaded on to
desperation by dwelling Oh the injustice done him,
wnERE CHIEF?
Joscphs Whereabouts arc unknown Shortly after
he night with Colonel Perry he and his warriors dis
appeared ana nave not since oeen hea,u ". ~. Mc-
Kay, a very intelligent halbreed, thinks the murder
ers hive gone the buffalo country rs they are well
acquainted with that section. The brother OF Lawyer,
the big chief the Ne2 Perccs, who recently or
nained Presbyterian minister at Portland, IS Of
similar opinion, saying that although the Sioux
looked jealousy at the Nez Perccs' entertainments on
their hunting ground duying the buffalo season, they
we're always glad them 10 trade buffalo robes
Tor the Oregon Cayuse PONIES, and that he heard that
Joseph had said tGa If tho troops attempted 10 iorce
him on The reservation he would seemingly acquiesce
suddenly come down on the settler 'iike vol
ioId," kill as many possible aud then hurry
to the SIOUX, with whom he would serve IN the wars
against the whites. On the other hand the white set
tiers about Lewiston are OF the opinion that the In
dams have but Just crossed the salmon River, and,
having nenchcd themselves there, will light 'till the
last armed foe expires. TO show how serious is their
,pinlon OF Joseph's proximity every night eighty men
patrol the town, and all women ana children for miles
around have been brought mere Tor protection.
According to Chez Lawyer Josephs band consists
pl about nlty eight fighting men, and there are
about one thousand nonireaty Indians in ldano alone
here strong prospect that he has greatly Increased
Mat number. Joseph and his followers are said to be
smokala lndans--that Is, Indians who believe IN the
doctrine taught by smokaila, an old Indian oil Wash
ngton Territory. The religion is crude spiritual
sin, by which the chiefs either fall into trance OF
pretend while in this comatose state tell their
hearers what Is best Tor them. These called
ureamers, in great measure the recent outbreak
can be Inscribed 10 them, as their dreams OF late nave
vi been OF warlGe character, and the red men m
Tarlably victorious. The Ncz Percc Indians proper
among settlers best friends. Many OF them
are wei educated, and nearly all OF them good farmers
Their name, signying 'p:erced nose. was gwen
Them by the French Canadian trappers in early days,
when they feathers and rings throrgn their
poses Joseph's band though belonging 10 The Nez
Perez tribe has always kept of he reservation, and
Lawyer says he giad OF II, us he does net want the
rouble OF taking care OF such turbulent braves and
loes not pretend TO nave any authority over them.
WAR TALK
General Howard has left Lapwai Tor the of the
Perry nght with all the avaiiablc troops expect
be with him ~ "a lew days. Colonel sandford OF tho
"A
Iaano Tor several consecutive summers, ana who
saId 10 be the best acquainted man IN the army with
thls nelghDorh0Ou. Ii now en- route from California via
Winnemucca to BOISE city, while the cavalry company
from Fort Klamath. in southern Oregon, IS expected
10 leave Portland Lewiston about the LIST OF July
being on the way between Jacksonville ana Rose
burg Colonel Tully, who IN 1862 called from the
Army OF the Potomac 10 whnNtuc sioux, VINO had
COMMITTED horrible ohtrages Mime
sota, ana winch he did SO admirably in The
Bad Lands OF Dakota, has been asked
not ordered) by General Howard TO take
command IN TINS campaign, with which request he
ias CALAMITY complied The people mere place much
dependence IN him, as he IS known throughout the
rmy Tor GOODNESS ana courage the great requisites
iora successful Indian fighter Around Fort Hail, In
The northern part o ldauo, there about two
drcd Coqullc Indians, who are SAID TO be very Impu-
dent threaten to nght rather than 20 rcserva
lion. General Howard mas sent instructions 10 watch
them very closely, the Impression Is general that
lhey VIII have a meeting with Joseph's followers
aep them IN their fight Chicf Lawyer, however,
lays there is nothing IA common between Josephs
band and the COqules, they beng acquainted and
that although the Coquucs are very impertiuent and
gwen 10 loud iakIDg, he does not think they could
iuiiclenty take Josepb's troubles 10 heart to risk
Their llvcs IN battling with the soldiers.
PREPARING FOR THE FRAY.
About three months ago all The Indians for miles
nound TINS part o Idaho iockea 10 Lewiston, where
With everything they could collect the way OF
skus ponies or gold dust, was exchanged Tor ammu-
uItIOn. AT the time the editor Of the Lewiston refer
prognostcaed trouble, especially the Indians were
very independent ~ their manner anu would givo no
satisfactory reasons for their purchases Two young
bucks OF the COsur d'Aicnc tribe killed all old white
stole bis horse the road IRON Lewiston 10
lac spokane counry on the 10Th Inst. The cnui has
sent II the whites VIII leave the matter To-
him he Will bring IN the culprits rs lhe
races and cnmas digging are over, not wishing TO
arrest them now, as their friends would hight Ion
them. II they not shortly delivered up the whites
threaten thai they viii arm and so and take them Tho
stage driver between Anota and Coiax w. r., SAYS
That Is reported That eight settlers have been killed
back Of the latter place In the last three days. The
reports, however lack confirmation. lie says tho cx.
there among people intense and danger