New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-07-05
THE INDIAN VAR.
A WIDESPREAD CONSPIRACY.
G.. w. s..


REPORT or SECRETARY MILLS or MoNrASA-PREP-
ARATIoNs FOR An ALLIANCE or ALL THE wEsrERN
INDIANs-rHE OUTBREAK ON SALMON RIVER
PREMATURE.
HELENA. Mont, July 4i1S77.-Secretary Mills,
who has visited Mssoula returned aud reports to the
Governor in substance as follows:
The alarm in Western Montana caused by OF
IN outbreak Camas Prairie reaching there. AT about
the same time a Nez Perces Indian, claiming to come
from lewiston said the Nez Perces coming TO raid
the valley The settlers did not have the aGyices we had
here that Josephs Nez Percos had gone in another d.
recton A friendly Fathead privately warned come OF
his intimate white friends Of the impending danger
The Farheels began TO act differently, and became re-
served in their talk but eydcncing jubant spirit
Eagle Of the Light the d!sp0sed Nez Perces CHIEF, who
has been in TIC valley has ntmaed thaths band hadgone
to Igho 70 fight and in time would come back TO Bitter
Root Hs band in the valley consisting OF about thirty
LODGES now under a chief named Young Joseph, were
sent for from Idaho They tried get out By the Ncz
Perces trail at the head OF the valley bat failed, proba
bly, enCOuEterin came back % the L0lo tran ana
started over that IN great Lasse on the 22d OF June
About this time also the Caros Flatheads began to dis
appear and the 2sth Indians were to be seen in
the valley This is ono of the worst features Of
tho case rho reasonable result Of these concur
rent facts was 10 create general alarm.
Duncan Al Donald hnd Chiefs M!chcla and Arec on
the 18Th JuRe and they hat said they would no. fight
he whites. their might Kill them first. Mcdonald
Inferred the statement that their young men were
dsaected that tho Chiefs did not think they coult
courol them. The 81. IgnatCs Indians Informed
OF the Idaho troubles by two Pendoreilles. tho
c3d Their account OF the fight at White Bird
Canon was not received with full credit. Mcdonald
ays ht preparations have long been progressing for an
alliance Of all the Indians to gst the whites Iucden
til to this the Indians have aivices that the elbows are
TO make peace with the Sioux aud ally against the
whites They had word that Crow Chief would this
Spring refuse to go along wth the soldiers but would
osensiby 20 alone and fight the Sioux When near
the Sioux camp he would send ten to treat with
Sitting Bull for peace and alliance for an offensive
war Two Nez Perces Indians are now with lin.
The Pendoree say the Nez Perces rising prema-
ture one OF their chiefs has been opposed TO host-
ties Recently at a council he announced he was for
war and told his young men they must
make ample preparations by supplying themselves
with good guns and ammunition, they had trade
their horses after two OF them went 10 the trad
ug-post near Lapwai and of them desired to buy
gum Tue trader refused to sell IL to him. saying they
were bad Indians. The Indian pointing to the sun said
before it set he should have The trader came
around his counter TO eject the don when the latter
drew IL revolver and shot him through the head They
then killed another in the store and beat woman
to death with clubs Gong out they killed four settlers
and rode TO camp Their comrades then turned out and
sssacred all the people the Salmon River. These are
nation think probable that general aud preconeert
ed rising has been contemplation but the time hal not
arrived when the outbreak precipitated in Idaho
and they have since had time " agree upon plan
OF operations
1t is probable that Charles has gone to Idaho the
Iolo trail IL is 100 miles from Minnesota TO Cama's
Praes Charles is the ayOrte chief Of the dsafccted
Indians and il is estimated that he control 200
r,ors including MchellB and Arlec's young men. Half
the Indians called Flatheads. and Penderes are Nez
Prces or intermarrled until the is the only dis
tInction.
MichelIa a Pendoresilles chief, has about sixty
lodges four TO lodge, St. Ignatius Mission; Arlee
has fifteen OF twenty Lodges Of Flatheads Jocko
Agency Charles a Flathead chief, has from seventy
five TO ninety lodge- who recently made the Bitther
Root valley their headquarters. They have been very
snry since the soldiers Inyes Kooenai has forty
lodges at Flathead Lake.
Two companies, under Capt Rawn, are stationed four
miles from Missoula On Friday Capt Rtwn sent to
Bitter Root for horses with watch, If the settlers could
furnish Them he would post videtes the Lolo and
Nez Perces trails Settlers have been advised to
at central point to several farms.
where they could rally quickly and wths tand an attack
Sixty stand OF would reach Mssoua on Saturday,
and 40 stand Monday There should be at least $50
guns sent to MssOula county The infantry carry about
so guns and have 40 80 THIS would make
about 300 good rifles available for company
organized at Mssoua Friday and another at Stevens
Vile There may not be any hostllies IN Western Mon
ana and 1t does probable there will be mme-
The most experienced frontersmen. the coolest
and best informed, do like the present aspect Of
affairs. They regard the situation as grave.
.,v nppcora ppOwSED MAsaACuIveETTa