Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1878-07-06

What One Who Knows Says wa
the Cause = Friendly Indian
Starving on Q Reservation Be
cause Of the Dishonesty Of tn
Agents-An Extent Of TERRITORY
Larger than Three or Four New
England States Laid Waste-Th,
Il HOstiles in OregOn-Etc.
From the winnemucca Silver State, July O..
. Jerry, the Piute interpreter at Nal.
heur, and his cousin, chief Naches,
arrived here yesterday on the stage.
Jerry gives the following version OF
the situation at Malheur: At the time
of the Bannack outbreak the Indians
at Malheur Reservation were in a
starving condition, no rations having
been issued to them for some time.
Chief Egan and his band had a fish
trap on the Malheur river below the
Agency. Both bands lived princi-
pally on fish. Chief Egan got per-
mission from the Agent to trade his
pony for a gun, and had a written
permit to do SO. Egan was among
the last to leave the reservation and
go to the trap. While at the trap
twelve lodges OF Bannacks came
from Fort Hall and a report was cir
culated that two white men were
killed al Camas Prairie. At this time
two lodges of Bannacks came from
Camas Prairie. They said that one of
their best fighters and best scout had
been killed, and if anybody kept
ferry and would not let them cross
they would kill him. At this time
the Indian who had been carrying the
mail arrived at the fish trap, and said
he would not go out any more, as the
Bannacks were on the war path and
he was in danger of being killed by
the whites or Bannacks. Jerry vol
unteered to go in his place, and car
ried the mail one trip. Chief Oaitz
made up story and told his Indians
that the whole country was taken by
the Bannacks. Eagle Eyes band of
Weisars, branch of the Shoshone
tribe, then broke out. Chief Egan
tried to prevent them, but could not,
and when Jerry returned with the
mail he was asked by Egan if OATES
story was true. Meantime Eagle
Eyes band robbed white mans
house, stole lot of horses and join
ed the Bannacks.
A council of war was held, and
the Bannacks, who robbed the stage
and killed the driver near the Owy-
hce, arrived. Chief Egan talked
peace until he became hoarse, and
when he found that his efforts were
unavailing, he told Jerry to 60 to
Dayidson's ranch and tell the whites
to leave, and also told the Bannacks,
who now numbered thirty lodges, to
leave the valley. This enraged them
and they took Egan prisoner.
Naches arrived in Barren Valley,
where the hostiles were encamped
at this time, and taking in the stu
alton went to work to get the settlers
to leave as quick as possible, and
succeeded in saving the lives of
Crowley, Scott and others, by getting
them to leave for White Horse and
McDermit, just in time to escape on
their horses. Jerry says the number
of hostiles does not exceed thirty
lodges of Bannacks, and Eagle Eyes
band of Weisars, and a party of
Snakes, some of whom were deter
mined to escape on the first oppor-
! tunity. About 800 of the warriors
are we'll armed, and some 200 others
have poor guns and bows and arrows.
They said at the council, when chief
Oaitz, decked in paint and wearing
his war-cap, raised the war whoop,that
they intended to raid through the
whole country, take all the horses
they wanted, kill all the white men,
and the Indians who would not
join them, and clean out everybody
who opposed them. Naches and
Jerry are both of the opinion that
there are hostile Indians yet at Stein
Mountain, as fires have been seen
there nightly. Yesterday eight Pi-
utes with a white flag and letters
from Captain Thompson to any white
man they might meet, were sent ont
from McDermit to scout in the direc-
ton of Stein Mountain, and if pos
sible ascertain if there are any hos
tiles in the country. They are also
instructed to bring any stray horses
they may find to the post, where they
will be delivered to their owners.
These Indians are expected to return
in eight or nine days, and report what
they may see in the desolated region
west of White Horse.