The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1877-07-26
RLOODY NEZ PERCES.
Something AJout the Rebeltions Ihdians
of Oregon.


Something AJout the RebelttOns IndtanS
of Oregon.
Helena Mont. Ter.) Cor. New York Herald.]
The outbreak of the Nez Perez Indians
is causing in the West and will no doubt
cause all over the country great excite
ment. This band of Indians inhabit the
eastern portion of Oregon, and have a
reservation on Snake river. They num-
Der 2,S05, of whom 1920 are males and
fully 400 capable of bearing arms. They
are considered a very brave and intelli-
gent people, and if they go to war in ear
nest are capable of giving the United
| States great trouble. Their agency has
been well managed, and they have ad-
vaneed more rapidly in ways of civiliza-
ton than their neighbors. On the res
ervation there are two boarding and one
day school, attended by forty male and
twenty-nine female Indian children.
These schools are kept up ten months in
the year, and the children learn well, the
average attendance last year having been
ffty-fve scholars daily. There are 140
Nez Perez Indians who can read and a
dozen or so who can write. No less than
fifteen Indians at the agency learned to
read last year. They have two
churches, with attendance of TO church
members. The whole reservation con-
sists of 746, 651 acres, much of which is
tillable. The Government cultivates for
them forty-five acres, and the Indians
till 5000 acres. Last year they broke
900 acres new land. The Nez Perces
own 1000 head of horses, 10 mules,
5000 head of cattle and 500 head Of
hogs. Last year they raised 20,80O
bushels of wheat, 2, $50 bushels of corn,
1, $50 bushels of barley, 3,025 bushels of
potatoes and other vegetables, and 60
tons of hay. They have saw-nilI
which they work themselves, and last
year sawed 1000 feet of lumber. They
have almost given up hunting, and dur
ing the past year only took $3.50 worth
of frrs. Five hundred full-blooded In
dams are engaged at civilized labor, and
244 families last year were represented
as engaged in civilized occupation. OF
the whole tribe Is per cent. obtain their
living in civilized pursuits and 25 per
cent by fishing and gathering.
| They are now almost self sustaining,
and the Government issues few, if any,
rations.
The Nez Perces entered into treaty
with the United States June 8, 1868, by
which their present reservation was given
the following stipulations: First-to pay
them five instalments of 81, 900 each, at
the discretion of the President. Second
Twenty installments of 81 200 each. tC
pay and keep at their reservation two
schools, one superintendent, two teachers,
one farm superintendent, two farmers,
two millers, two blac1smiths, two gun.
smiths, one timer, one carpenter, one
wagon and pillow maker, one man to KEEP
in repair tools, saw and grist mill, one
physician and pay Of head chief. Third
Sixteen installments of So, 900 each fol
clothing, and to maintain a board
ing school for children, to clothe
the children in civilized dress. to pur-
chase the necessary furniture, to buy
tools, wagons and teams. Fourth
Salaries for two subordinate chiefs.
Fifth-Eifteen installments for repairs
of houses, mills and shops. Sixth
Salaries for two matrons for schools.
two assistant farmers and two millers.
OF these moneys the tribe still has COM
ing from the United States, under article
1 three appropriations of $4,000 each,
under article 2 three installments d
ST., 200 each, under article five install
ments Of $4,000 each, undei, article 4
five instaliments of 200 each, under
article 5 five installments of 50, SOC
each, under article 6 five install
ments of $1,000. The payments, OF
course, are forfeited by the rebellion OF
the Nez Perces, and by going to wal
with the United States they Will lose in
cash over 100000.
The scene Of their outbreak is almost
on the boundary line between Oregon,
idaho and Montana. The murders took
place only one hundred miles from Mis-
soula, one of the largest and Oldest settle
ments i'll Montana. Every year the Nez
! Perces come into Montana to hunt and
fish, and it is now feared they may raid
the Missoula settlements. They frater-
nize with the Flatheads, Pen d'Oreillas.
Ceur d'Alenes, Calispels and Kootenais,
and Umtillas, with whom they are
reported to have formed a coalition
! against the whites. All these tribes
have been restless and dissatisfied
for years, and, together, they can
put in the field fighting force of
/ 1000 warriors.