The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-08-08

Indians had held a war dance and were in
sympathy with the hostiles, has created some
needless trouble and alarm, and what was
first intended for fun has turned out TO be
no joke. Some few timid settlers became
alarmed and acted unfriendly to the Indians,
and they in return became uneasy, not fan
cying the idea of either being msrepresented
or made target of. On Tuesday all the In
dian men and a few of their wives came in a
body to Vancouver, to have a talk with peo-
pie here with whom they were acquainted,
and to come to an understanding III regard
to their position. They assembled at the
house of G.. W. Durgin, who has known
them all long time, and we attended the
meeting, there learning many facts concern
ing these people All told, there are only
fifty souls in this remnant of tribe, and
only twenty able bodied men. They all
dress as citizens, most of them own farms,
horses, cattle, and work for a living. Sew
eral of them belong to the Catholic church.
Every man who owns property pays his
county and road taxes, and all the males pay
their poll tax A number of them are voters
in this county, and all claim to be citizens,
recognize no tribal relations, and have no
chief Their farms are scattered along the
north fork of Lewis river among the farms
of white men. Surprising that they were on
the same footing as white citizens they were
much disturbed by the rumors that flew
round about them, knowing that no one
ought to think they would act otherwise
than as good peaceable citizens. Louis
Knighton, whom most everyone in Nancou-
yer knows, acted as speaker for the assem-
bly,, disclaiming all suspicious actions attrib-
uted to them, claiming the right to work
upon the property they own in fee simple, in
the same peace and quiet which their white
neighbors enjoy. They had no relations
with the hostiles, nor discontinued Yakima
Indians, and never held any communication
with them. On the Sunday referred to
when they were assembled on the Iacolt,
they were on a berry picking excursion, and
toward evening some of the children were
and hiarity. Two frightened and-hunters
in the vicinity at once concluded that the
Bannacks were after them, and made all
haste out of that neck of woods, never stop
ping to think of the consequences, and started
the rumors that commenced the trouble.
This would have been quoted by the older
for the publication of the rumors. During
the conference Albert Brown, one of the best
of these native farmers, in pretty fair En-
glish, eased his mind as follows:
ave do not like these bad reports; they
spoil our people by such stories. The In
dams never talk long, but they act The
Indians know the law, and they like to do
the same as the white men; are as peaceable,
and don't like to fight. They want to live
friendly like the white people, as brothers.
God made the land where we live, for every
body; the land is to give life to everybody,
for them to live on. | feel good to all peo-
pie and if they would feel so too we would
all be better. Long ago We fought, but it is
now over, and We want to live in peace.
The war dance was long ago, when | was
very small; war then; plenty Indians. But
now we dance because we feel good humor.
Long ago we quarreled, and killed, knew
nothing; but God sent us a letter, told us to
quit fighting, and we believed it; and now
we feel better and happy. We dance now
because we feel good, not to 60 to war. On
Sunday we feel happy now, and dance. y
Mr.. Reed, from the Chelatchie, and Mr..
Lawrence were also present, and when the
white men assured the Indians that they
were understood, and that they believed the
Indians wanted to live in peace with all men,
they seemed satisfied They requested that
the matter be made public through the pa
pers and broke up the conference. After
having some deeds recorded, and getting re-
ceeipts for their poll taxes, they departed for
their homes on Lewis river. They have al
ways lived ON this stream, on the upper por-
ton of the river. They belong to a tribe
which was always small, a branch of the
lower Columbia river Indians, going under
the name of Tite.nep- pun. In fact they
ceased to be Indians years ago, and became
citizens, retaining only their features, their
language, and desire to live where their
forefathcrs did. As they have adopted the
habits and laws of the whites, every white
man should encourage them in their efforts
To become peaceabe citizens, and there is
no. ,no ,,,one, this little hand that is not