The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-07-25

Oregonian gives the following account
Of the character of the notorious
Piute chief Egan, and the manner of
his taking off, which was thorough
Indian transaction, of their usual
treaeherous way:
There are many rumors ahoat as
to the tribal relations of the Indians
engaged in this war, and while some
men acquainted with the Indians
generally in the country are inclined
to believe that the hostile camp is
mainly composed of Snakes, Ban
nacks and Piutes, there is no doubt
a large sprinkling of other tribes
among them, and it might'be diff
cult matter to find any tribe from
the Central Pacific on the south, to
Snake river on the north, members
of which are not with the enemy.
The Umatillas have claimed to be
altogether friendly, but it seems that
some of them have been acting with
the hostiles for some time, but, hav-
ing had enough Of war, are now back
on their reservation The reason
and manner Of their coming back in
volved proceeding which resulted
in the death of Egan and three of
his warriors, and the capture OF four
more. As before stated, about 40
Umatillas, with the hostiles de-
sired to desert and return to their
reservation, but were afraid their
participation in war would be pun
ished in some way. Their friends
still on the reservation commune
Gated the fact that these hostile UNA
tillas wanted to come back to Major
Cornoyer and Capt. Miles, who gave
assurance that they might return,
provided they brought Egan, the
noted Malheur chief, with them. Un-
der this arrangement, on Monday,
July Is, about 40 friendly Umatillas
went in the forenoon to the camp Of
the hostiles and intimated to Egan
that they had come to join him, but
privately told their people who were
with him the conditions upon which
they would be allowed to return to
their reservation. To the terms all
the Umatillas friendly and hostile
agreed, and Egan with seven others
OF his personal followers were called
outside Of the hostile camp. ostensi-
bly, for the purpose of parleying over
the conditions Of their union with
them. When all parties had reached
spot out of reach of bullets from
the camp Of the main body of the In
dams, Egan was seized and informed
that he was to be carried to the camp
of the Bostons. With the seven fol-
lowers he resisted and attempted to
escape. Instantly over halt a hun
bred rifles were levoled, and Egan,
the terror of the defenceless, the con-
tempt Of the brave, with three out
of the seven followers, bit the dust.
The other Malheurs were brought
to Capt. Miles command as prison
ers. Egan and his dead were scalped
and the Umatillas returned to Miles
command with the trophies Of their
success, their erring brethren return
ing with them. Capt. Miles told the
Indians that as there might be some
dispute as to the identity Of Egan's
scalp, it might be well to bring in
some other part OF his body, and they
again went to the scene OF the killing
and they brought in his head and
his left arm. The arm was found to
have been recently fractured above
the elbow by bullet, and was en-
closed in splints and bandages and
bound to his breast. This wound
was probably made by ball from
the gun in the hands of Mr.. Robe at
the time Egan and his party called
on Messrs. Robbie q French tor their
horses near Stems Mountain about
three weeks before.
Egan was a man rather below the
medium size of white men, about 40
or 10 years Of age, and was born
devil, having only been restrained
from constant murder and pillage by
fear. While not brave, he was skilled
in the arts of Indian warfare. cum
ming and treacherous. HIS taking
off and its manner were doubtless
subjects of great perturbation in the
hostile camp, as he was regarded as
the leader of the whole force, though
others ranked with him in command