The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-08-01
THE INDIAN WAR OF 1866.


thousand miles in width a few years be-
fore. aroused hundreds of the pioneers
Of Oregon and Washington Territories,
and impelled them forth into that wild
region. The country between Fort
Colyille and The Dalles at that time
was inhabited only by Indians, many
Of whom were living ia the quiet possess
sion Of everything that their unsophis-
tlcated natures Gravel. They owned
immense bands of horses and horned
cattle, and while the mountains fur
nished an abundance Of game, the
streams Of water an inexhaustible sup
ply Of fish, the hills and valleys yielded
spontaneously eseulent roots and deli
cious berries. Here was a perfect In
dian Paradise. Here, among the boun-
ties Of nature, the "nOble red man"
could live in perfect cOnsonance with
his indolent shiftlessness, and here he
would probably have continued to live
until the present time unmolested by
the jostling "pale-face," only for the
discovery Of the tempting ore within
the limits Of this extended domain.
But the white race never could resist
the allurements Of gold. Nor could the
hardy pioneers Of this country see why
unlimited wealth should lie buried in
the dark chambers of earth anywhere
within their reach, even though in seek
ing it they must traverse the pasturage
or hunting-grounds of nomadic red
men, or if in the prosecution of their
work in gathering it they must disturb
the limpid homes of the trout or sal
mon. Hence, during the summer al
luded to, adventures might be seen
pressing toward the gold region by
scores and hundreds, generally in COM
panies Of a half-dozen or more, but not
infrequently single individuals, with
temerity unaccountable, would brave
the dangers Of the trip alone, many sue
cessfully. But not a few during the
summer disappeared forever from the
walks of men, no one knowing where or
how they met their fate. Some Of their
bodies were subsequently found, plainly
disclosing the fact that they had been
slain by Indians. So common did
these stealthy murders at length be-
come, especially in the Yakima cOub-
try, that Governor Stevens dispatched a
special agent TO the leaders of that tribe
to inquire into the matter, and If pos
sible to arrange for the safety of citizens
while peaceably passing over that eoun-
try. This was in September, 1850.
This agents version of his interview
with the Yakima potentates will never
be known, for he met the fate that those
who knew him feared he would-he paid
for his temerity with his life. But ]
have since heard the Indians account
Of his visit to their village and of its
tragical termination, which may or
may not be quite correct.
He arrived at their village late one
afternoon, and was met at night by the
chief men Of the tribe, whom he charged
with countenancing, If not instigating,
the cowardly killing of his countrymen.
This they denied, assuring him that II
such murders had been committed in
their country, the perpetrators were
"young menu whom the rulers could
not control, but that they would try
not only to prevent the recurrence oi
such acts in the future, but would en-
deavor to ascertain who the guilty
parties were and severely punish them
Bolen, however, as they charge, was no
satisfied with their explanation no
their promises, but declared with grea
warmth that the tribe should be re
sponsible for these crimes, and that, !
they did not give the murderers up Il
, the United States authorities at once
the army would fall upon them ant
either exterminate the whole tribe, o
leave them stripped Of everything, OF
as old Skloo expressed it, "leave then
as naked as their fingers" With thi
threat the agent left them to returl
alone to The Dalles, distance of owe
forty miles. He proceeded to a sprin
. that now hears his name on mountain
overlooking the Yakima Valley. Her
he lit his campfire in n driving rain
storm, and spent the night after leavin
the Indian camp. Early next morn
ing as he sat by his campfire, QUA
D chin, a young chief Of the Hakimas, &C
e compauied by two or three other Indi
y ans, came galloping up, and asked hin
II he still intended to execute the threa
> of vengeance he had pronounced agains
> their tribe the day before. They agre
J that the intrepid Bolen betrayed n
signs of fear, but emphatically reitel
o ated the threats he had imprudently ut
p! tered while at the Indian village, not
witbstanding he knew that not singl
e narson Of his race or color was nearer
u him than two score miles, while angrl
; armed Indians swarmed all aroun
j him. At length one Of the savages al
proaebed him from behind and knocke
e bir, senseless with a club, aud, di
u Matching him, left his shockingly NUT
II lated body to be eaten by the wolve
This is the account of the tragedy as
cot IL from the Indians themselves, AT
Is probably about correct
,e The agent not returning when e.
II nacted. Major Haller, taking with hi
about 100 men, proceeded fiom 70
Dalles to inquire what detained biz