Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1878-04-13
Beginning Of the Mes Perce Hostilities
Mr.. IDAHO. I. T. Dec. 22nd, 1873.
MAJ. HANCOCK. COMMANDING !
AT CAMP HOWARD, NEAR MOUNT :
IDAHO.

AT CAMP HOWARD, NEAR MOUNT
IDAHO.
Dear Sir
In compliance with your request, asking
for such information as I possess relativ.
to the early scenes Of the late Indian war
and what in my opinion was the immediat.
cause Of the same, ! submit the following
have resided in what Is now known a.
North Idaho. since Jnly, 1861, and am con
sequsntly familiar with the scenes sur
rounding what Is 10 fact the carly settle.
meut Of this country BY the whites. Il il
true that long prior to that time few Mis-.
sionaries lived here for the purpose Of civ
ilzing and christianizing the Indian. How
well they have succeeded late events have
demonstrated.
The discovery Of gold at.,Oro Elmo in
the Fall Of 1860, attracted large imi-
grafton Of miners and traders to that
place. During the following Summer
and subsequently,, other mining camps
were discovered, all Of which have been
worked more or less up to the present
time. These camps may justly be term
ed, tho key that unlocked this country
to civilized men, for the first who came
to any considerable number, were at.
tracted hither by the reputed richness
Of the same. Many however, when
here, after laboring to their satisfaction
in the golden fields, turned their atten.
ton to agricultural pursuits, and built
for themselves permanent and happy
homes, or what would have been, had
it not been for the treachery Of the In
dian. who laid waste some homes and
made the scene, the untimely grave Of
the inmates.
From the time Of the settlement of
this country up to the Nee Perez out
break, the whites and Indians have
with few isolated exceptions lived up.
on amicable terms ...
In August 1875, Samuel Benedict
who then resided with his family at the
mouth Of White Bird creek, killed an
Indian, under the following circumstan-
ces: Late at night, several drunken In
dams came to his house and demanded
admission; and upon being refused, com,
menced smashing in the windows and
bre king in the door, in the mean time
bis wife with her children, under cover
Of darkness esc'ped through u back
window, waded White Bird creek and
went to a neighhors house. Benedict,
in defense of his pro- er'y, and wat he
no doub; believed to be the life of him.
self and family, fred and killed. an In
dian and wounded one or two others.
afterwards had conversation with some
Of the Salmon river Indians in relation
to the matter. and they said that Bene
dict was right. and that they did not
blame him for the act Something like
year or more prior to this occurrence,
Larry OFT, who lived on the South side
Of Salmon river, had difficulty with an
Indian, which terminated in the death
Of the latter. The facts as | have been
informed, relative to the matter are these:
OFT was living upon and cultivatiug a
piece Of land that the Indian wanted;
and while engaged at work 10 his gar
den, the Indian came and struck him a
severe blow on the he,d with a rock
and was about to repeat the blow when
OFT shot aud killed him. The Grand
Juy impanellsd upon the part OF the
Utited States, had, Gas have heeu in,
formed by one Of their number, the
killing Of this Indian by OF, under in
vestigation, and were unable to find suf
fcient evidence Of guilt to justify then
in bringing in bill Of iudictmen
against him. Since which time OFT ha'
continued to reside in this country
travelling from place to place, aud fire
quently meeting Indians when al alone
far from any settlement, and they neve
have shown any disposition to modest. o
any indication Of harboring spirit o
revenge against him. And notwith
standing the false reports that were sen
abroad to the effect that he was anon,
the 6rst victems Of the late massacre, b.
is still alive, and living contradiction O
| tie report which was sent broad cast
that the killing of this Indian BY hin
was the cause of the late outbreak
The commencement Of which as near a
| | can ascertain vaa 1ato in the after