The Leavenworth weekly times., 1878-07-18
TKEY COULDN'T Do IT.
The PIenipotentiaries Sent to In
duce the Nez Perces Now With
Sitting Bull TO Return,
Fail in Their Mission, as They Won't
go Anywhere but Back to Their
Old Reservation.
A Small Party. Of Them Start for
Their Former Home in Idaho,
to Remain There If They
Can.
THE Nsz PERCEs MISSION,

| Early last spring II was represented TO Gel
Sheridan that The Nez Perces Indians, VIII
had escaped 10 Canada, weIe desiIous of 7,
| turning 10 the American side of the line
| These people were said 10 number about ON
hundred and Twenty-Five They had desert
| ed Chief JOSEF during the fight with Mile,
| command, in the Bear-Paw mountains, las
| fall, and ned across the British line, TAX In
| with them about Onehundred andtiftypOnies
| They took refuge in Sitting Bulls camp, an'
| sent back word that they guessed they wOul
| try British rule for q while, and If they re
| turned at ali IL would be in company will
! the fngitiye sioux, by whom they had beei
ter reports were received, through half
breeds and scouts, that these N,z Perez
We're ready and even anxious to surrender Il
the United StOtes military authorities The,
compl aimed bitterly of the treatment they
had received at the hands of the Sioux
sitting Bull IA d ssed them with all imper
iDusness o manner that would not have beer
| tolerated by his own tribe. For imaginary
ofeuses some OF their number were unmer
ciiully whipped. They were also systematic
ally starved.
STORIES WE'RE BROUGHT
to the military that these people wanted Il
leave the camp of the hostiies, and asked fol
protection in making their escape to tn.
American side OF the line.
Finally, Gen. Sheridan decided to take of
ficiaI cognIZance OF the report, and, as a test
OF the sincerity of the Nez ferces. dispatched
two emissaries to Sitting Bulls camp To con-
Ter with them, the persons sent on this mis-
and Ben Clarke, Interpreter at one Of the
agencies in the Indian territory. They took
with them three Nez Perces OF Chief Joseph 5
own selection, from The camp here at Fort
Leaven worth, to represent The tribe. All
three are men of Influence in their band.
They were Instructed by their people Ia do
their utmost to prevail upon the fugitives 10
return to this country upon such terms as
might be offered them by the military au-
thorities. The rofiicer and his interpreter
were instructed to invite the Nez Perces to
surrender, and To promise them immunity
from trial, conviction and punishment.
From bismarck they followed the regular
trails to the northern country. The nrst It'd
ings from them since they left Bismarck
were contained in a telegram received at d.
vision headquarters a few days ago.
This intelligence comes from Ft. Benton
Montana, where, according to the telegram,
the emissaries had arrived, having left Fort
Walsh, in the British possessions, on The Sd
inst. Lieut.. Baird states that the three Nez
Perces who accompanied them across the
line communicated freely with those OF their
tribe north Of the boundary.
WHITE BrRD,
chief of the Nez Perces on that side the line,
and others of the band nearly a. prominent,
ed to return to the United States and rejoin
their people under Joseph, assuring them at
the same time that they would be treated
with the same lieiency that had been extend
ed TO the rest OF the tribe.
To these overtures they replied by dis
all wish for war with the whites,
ana expressing themselves AS earnestly ue-
string a reunion of ali the Nez Perces- But
they had been told by the Sioux and Chey-
ennes that IL they ventured upon the Ameri-
can side of the line they would be sent TO the
Indian territory. They did not want 70 go
there. II they could not be allowed to re-oc-
cupy their old reservation In western Idaho
they did not care to return to the United
States at all. Lieut.. Baird's instructions
could not be made to cover this question, and
he was therefore unable 70 make them any
promises. He says that II he mad been au-
To tell them that they might re-occu-
py their old homes he could have brought
back the entire band Of twenty-five lodges.
White Bird and the other Indians with
had never sent word TO the United States
military that they
WOULD LIKE TO SURRENDER
and return To this side of the line. All the
messages Of that nature was sent by few
Indians who really wanted to return, but
selves These mad left the northern camp
and had gone west sofneti me b. fore the Baird
party arrived. There were twenty OF these,
who, with their families, had started out
with the intention OF recrOssing the bound. |
lry west of the Rocky mountains, In British
and proceeding southward 10
heir o.d reservation, II they were not at |
acked and driven BACK or captured before
,om panied this party. The Indians told |
lieut. tird that II Josephs band was sent |
,ack to Idaho they would be joined by many
n those now with White Bird. Indeed.
here or not, some of those now in the north
Vould return 70 their old home, IL they were
Iot arrested or otherwise prevented from
Arrying out their plans
hree Nez PeIces who accompanied him re-
urned with him TO Fort Benton, one of
hem found his son and Induced him 10 come
long. Coils. Mcleod and Irvine, Of the |