The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-12-19
TIE INDIAN war OF la55-a-


After ten days spent in talk, the coun-
ell adjourned without day, and without
definite results. The following night a
dance was INDUCED in by the Indians,
aud TO such Of US as had never been
privileged 20 witness a like spectacle,
il was entertaining, If not edifying. Nor
have I since wondered at the potency Of
these heathenish exercises in raising
savage blood TO fighting heat. I'm
agine five OF six score savages, be-
decked with fiuttering rags and feathers,
bedaubed with difierent-cOlored paints,
armed with war-clUbs, hatchets and
knives, excitedly chasing around in cir
cles, or all at once vaulting high in the
air, braudishing their weapons above
their heads, while whoops and yellssuch
as only they can emit are aggravated
by outlandish tom-toms, bone rattles
and villainously discordaut wind iustru-
ments; but I shall not attempt to de-
scribe an Indian war-dance; words fail
me.
A few days subsequent to the ad-
journment Of the council, Colonel Step
toe, with two or three companies Of the
9Th United States Infantry, arrived at
our camp, aud relieving Us, we started
toward The DalIes. escor,ing a train OF
OK wagons.
Turning out our animals az small
prairie creek, six miles from the council
grounds the first evening, we COM
meuced preparing our suppers, when a
number Of mounted Indians were seen
slowly approaching from the direction
Of our late camp. Surprising that they
were band Of the parasitical drones
that had infested our camp for weeks
together, we expected at most but a
friendly visit, but Judge of our surprise
aud disgust when, putting their horses
60 their greatest speed, they came DASH
ing toward as with the same demoniac
yell that had become so familiar 10 our
ears, and pouring a volley in amongst
rs, sped by, out OF harA's way, with the
velocity of the wind. Their aim evil
IDENTIFY was to stampede our horses, but
their failure was complete.
Night was az baud, and as we Nun
bered less than one hundred, teamsters
aud all, and were confronted by thrice
that number Of fsavages, the prospect did
not look more than ordinarily cheering
But Richard Takatooattis stole out
through the darkness, and an hour later
the musical notes Of a mountain howit-
zer fell upon our ears, and We realized
for the firsttime since the Yakima cam
paign twelve months previous, that the
regulars and volunteer troops were not
enemies, but friends. During this short
engagement, two OF our comrades lost
their lives. c. X. Riggs, o. s, and
Elijah Hall, private. The former, be-
sides being brave and efficient officer,
was a gentleman Of scholarly attain
meuts, aud was held in the highest es-
TEEN by an, and the latter, though but
youth, had, while with Us, earned a
a reputation for gentleness and probity
that endeared him alike 10 all. And
this was the work Of those Indians who
had, at the council just closed, declared
themselves tired Of war and ready for
peace on any terms, bat just so soon as
they imagined that we were of our
guard they fell upon Us, and but for
the timely assistance Of the regular
troops not a man Of US would have
'e. OF their treachery. I
have thought, when contemplatinc tba
JUST Indignation that wellei mn from, tr.o
neaT's oil. the American people over rbe
killing Of the noble Canb, ana -rbon,as 80
by the 1Todocs, how is in ~. ''--s ''',i '''
heard Of the murder Of Riggs , Ne, rg,
in Waua Walla under similar ,,r.a-, M
stances?
But have probably already wri,,oo
more of history Of this, the most nro.
longed Of any Indian war in this coast
than will be generally read, certainl,
more than / intended when I began il
but when we remem Der that the citizens
Of Northern California, Of Oregon an,
Washington Territories equipped them
selves, aud quitting their avoeations
went forth amid untold hardships anC
privations for twelve months without {