The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1878-08-02
From the oregonisn. !
KAGAs's DEATH.
An Aeeount Of the KiIIIns Of che ns.sIs.
Chief.


An Account Of the RiIIIns Of tke nesfae
4 Chief.
There are many rumors a60at as 10
the tribal relations Of the Indians en-
gagged in this war, and while scine men
acquainted with the Indians generally
in the country are inclined to Eelie4a
that the hostile camp Is mainly COM
posed Of Snakes, Bannacks and Pintes,
there is no doubt large sprinkiing Of
other tribes among them, and Il might
be difficult matter to find any tribo
from the Central Pacific r. r., On the
south, to Snake river, On the north,
members Of which are not with the
enemy
The Umatilias have claimed 10 be a
together friendly, but it seems that
some Of them have been acting with
the hostiles for some time, but having
had enough war, are now back on tlleir
reservation. The reason ard manner Of
their coming back involved proceed
ing which resulted in the death Of
Eagan and three Of his warriors, and
the capture of four more AS before
stated about 40 UmatiIl@s vic, were with
the hostiles, desired to desert and rs.sHr1s
to their reservation, but were afraid
their participation in the war would be
punished IN some way. Their friends
still on the reservations comm nnieatesl
the fact that these hostile Umatilhs
wanted to come back to Maj. Conoyer
and Capt Miles, who gave assurance
that they might return provided they
brought Eagan, the noted Malhenr
chief with them. Under this arrange
Inents on last Monday, July l5,about 40
friendly Umatillas went In the forenoon
to the camp of the hostiles and intinl.
ted to Eagan that they had come to
join him, but privately tsId their pes
pie who were with him the conditions
upon which they would return TO their
reservation. To the terms, all the
Umatillas, friendly and hostile, agfeed
and Eagan with seven others Of his
personal followers was called outside
Of the hostile camp, ostensibIy for the
purpose Of parleying over the condi-
tion of their union with him. When
all parties had reached spot ont Of
reach of bullets from the camp of the
main body of the Indians, Eagaa was
sliced and informed that he was 10 be
carried to the camp of the Bostons.
With the seven followers he resisted
and attempted to escape. Instantly
over half hundred rifles were leTeled.
and Eagan, the terror of the defenseless,
the contempt of the brave, with three
out of the seven followers, Bat the dust.
The other four Malheurs' were brought
TO Capt. Miles, command rs prisoners.
Eagan and his dead were sealped and
the Umatillas returned TO Miles com
mand with theStrophies of their success,
their erring brethern returning with
them. Capt Miles told the Indians
that as there might be some dispute as
to the identity Of Eagan's scalp it
might be well to bring in some other
part of his body, and they again vent
to the scene of the killing and brought
in his head and his left arm. The
arm was found TO have been recently
fractured shove the elbow by a bullet !.
and was inclosed In splints and baud
ages and bound to his breast. This
wound was probably made by hall
from the gun IN the hands Of 8Ir. Robe
at the time Eagaa and his party called
on Messrs. Robie & French for their
horses near Stems Mountain about
three weeks before
Eagan was man rather below the
medium size of white men. about 10 or
40 years of age and was born devil,
having only been restrained from con-
slant murder and pillaee by fear.
While not brave, he was skilled IN the
arts of Indian warfare, cpnning and
treacherous. His taking of aud its
slanner were doubtless subjects of great
perturbation in the hostile camp, as he
was regarded as the leader of the whole
force, though others ranked with him
IN command. Some whites profess to-
feel a digust at the action Of the Una
tillas in sedueIng Eagan from his camp
under false pretenses and then taking
his life but while we might condemn
the theory of their condact, we have
reasons to be satisfied with the results.
The villain would not fight armed men,
but his savage propensities led him to
the utmost cruely to the defenseless
who fell into his hands Honsely,
sub-ehief of the Umatillas, claims and
is reported to have fired the.shot which
killed Eagan, and viii probably set the
81 900 reward offered BY Mr.. Robie for
the scalp of the reprabate.
The UmatiIla Indians report that
Eagan had frequently been ON their
reservation, and that in his arguments
to them to join him IN war on the
whites he stripped himself naked aud
showed 2S distinct scars ON his person,
which he said had bees made by knives
or bullets in the hands of the " "Bossons,"
and claimed that he was bullet proof,
that the Great Spirit had told him he
never could be killed by. the whites.
But "Birnam's wood has come to Dun
shame" for him, and though the white
mans bullets had marked his body
from head to foot, he would have ter
minated his career of deviltry long
since had the whites all been as good
shots as is Homely the Umatilla.