The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1877-06-27
A Catholic Missionary's Story.

A Catholic Missionary's Story.
Boise City, June 26.-Rev. 7. Mesplie,
for 30 years a Catholic missionary
among the Indian tribes in Oregon,
Washington and Idaho now stationed
at Fort Boise as chaplain Of the United
States army, gives the following intel
ligence to Indian matters. In October,
1875, he was at Umatilla agency to
meet the chiefs on that reservation at
Il council held there, at which about
forty Indians were present, including
the principal chiefs of the Umatillas,
Cayuses, and Walla Wallas. There
were at that time residing on the reser-
walton sever hundred Indians, the
whole number of whose nominal home
it was couldn't he less than thirty
seven hundred, the remainder being
scattered throughout the surrounding
country, the majority of them being at
present at the rapids on Columbia riv-
er. At the council the Indians were
very near unanimous in the wish to
| cede the Umatilla reservation to the
government and be allowed to go into
Wallawa valley, where they had been
invited to come and live by chief
Joseph. The chiefs signed dispositions
to this effect which they intrusted to
Father Mesplie, and which were by
him forwarded to Senator Mitchell to
be laid before the authorities at Wash
ington. The Indians represented that
their reservation was being continually
trespassed upon by the inhabitants of
the adjoining white settlements, who
would sell the Indians whisky and 9TH
erwise injure and demoralize them.
If they were compelled to remain there
they would find themselves obliged to
fight from some cause. This wish Of
the Indians received no attention at
Washington.
Some two months ago Howlish VAN
poo, n of the chiefs, who had been
present at the council, and who is II
| principal chief of the Umatillas passed
through Boise City. The chief told
Father Mesplie, at that time, that the
Umatillas were dissatisfied, and had
made up their minds to leave, as the
silence and neglect of the government
had left them nothing to hope for from
that quarter, and that they would join
| chief Joseph in the Wallowa valley,
who had already resolved to go to a
He added, if the government had at
tended to this matter in time, every
thing might have been amicably settled,
DuU LOW IL Was lOO ldle, uS tut llltlttilS
would certainly go to war.
Five weeks later, Howlish WampOo
again passed through Boise City, on his
return home, when he told Father
| Mesplie that a war would commence
he thought before he could peach home,
AS he had met runner from the NeZ
Perces who had come to confer with
the Bannocks and other tribes.
The inflammation fhnQ appunirpS
Father Mesplie says he communicated
to Gov. Brayman and other citizens
here.
In speaking of Gen. Howard, Howl
ish Wampoo said the the Indiann
laughed at. the General and his fine
speeches, saying they never would be
~pursuaded TO give up Wallawa valley,
which they were resolved to keep at
every hazard.
Father Mespliea says the chiefs and
principal men who inauguratedthis was
are rich and influential, and they will
be able to draw to their support all dis
affected Indians belonging to various
tribes, and these constitute a majority
in every case. He is of the opinion
| that the war will be general and pro-
longed, as the Indians have been long
celebrating and preparing for it, and
have staked everything upon the issue.
The father says the Nez Perces number
in all about four thousand. Of this
number about one hundred and fifty
| will remain friendly or inactive. He
| estimates the number of warriors which
the Nez Perces can bring into the field
at one thousand. Chief Occur de Ale
mas, whom Father Catalo and some of
the chiefs some time since relied on, he
has no doubt will be found in the same
category. Occur de Alenas can fur
nish 500 Spokanes and confederate
tribes inhabiting upper Columbia basin,
1000 Colville Indians and their allies,
1900 Yakimas and confederates, 1900
Umahillas, 1000 Warm Spring Indians,
and, besides these, there are their con-
federates in Montana, with whom the
Neg Perces are in close alliance. These
are able to furnish 1900 warriors. He
obtains his data from accurate knowl-
edge acquired by long residence among
the Indians. He regards the liberty
allowed the Indians to remain off the
reservations and the unrestricted
intercourse allowed between them and
/ tho uhffoa ~ tho nripcipo1 cnuaa nf the