The Portland daily press., 1878-07-10
The Troops Toe Few to Fight the Say
ages.

PORTLAND, Oregon. July 9.-At a meeting
last evening, measures were taken to aid the
settlers in eastern Oregon. -Four militia com
panies of Portland volunteers will start for tht
scene OF the Indian troubles, if their service
are required by Gov. Chadwick, The Cover
nor telegraphed that plenty Of men can be OBJ
tanned in eastern Oregon, but there is grea1
need OF arms and means. If the citizens de-
sire to lend assistance, they could do SO more
effectually by forwarding arms and money thar
to send men. To-day volunteer company of
20 organized This company with the other
four military organizations will hold themselve.
in readiness to march should their services be
needed There Is great excitement there oyeI
the alarming condition of affair.
a Walla Walla despatch of yesterday says
The steamer Northwest left this afternoon,
She will be used as patrol boat between here
and Umatilla. She is commanded by Capt
Wilkinson, who has 20 men hired and 70 sol.
diers we'll armed There is Gatling CUR
aboard, and he will receive two howitzers from
vancouvers. Capt. Wilkinson feels confident
that he will catch the Indians crossing the rv
er between here and Umatilla tonight.
1t is stated that Gen. Sheridan will start for
the Black Hills in q few days 10 personally
direct the campaign against the Indians.
WASHINGTON, July ga letter has been re.
ceived by the acting Commissioner of Indian
Affairs from the agent at Lapwai, Idaho, reser-
Walton. stating that on the night of June 24th
several Nez Perce Indians of White Birds
band returned to the reservation aud reported
white Bird has sick heart" and is very
desirous OF returning to that section of the
country, but is afraid. They also reported
that part OF the band would soon return to their
reservation and take their chances as to the
result.
There were at the agency $50 Nez Perces who
could be relied upon to fight the Bannocks
should they come that way.
San FRANCISCO, July GA Silver City des-
patch says despatch to the Avalanche from
John Day Valley, speaking of recent depreda-
tlons there by savages, says the latter are
monarchs OF all they survey. The area of terri
tory now invested by them embraces some 1000
square miles, combining all the natural facili.
ties for prolonged war. There are hardly 800
people in Canyon City and less than 100 Of the
male adult population are armed. The main
street of the town is within easy rifle range of
the surrounding eminences, which afford num-
erous points of vantage for the attacking party,
and the whole village is completely at the
mercy of an incoDsiderable number of the
savages, were they disposed to sack it, The
terror-stricken Inhabitants have taken refuge
for several days in huge tunnel built for
mining purposes, which affords the only safe
retreat in the town. John Day Valley, in the
immediate vicinity, is about As miles long and
the greater portion has been completely de-
vastated by the savage hordes. In all of the
engagements that have occurred the savages
outnumbered the volunteers to 1. Even
when Howard gets up, his force will be wholly
inadequate to cope successfully with the
savages.