, 1879-07-26
Yakima Letter.
YAkIaa Clrr, W. T., July 9, 1879

| EDITOR SrATESMAN :-lhe ith passed of
very quietly at this place our people had
made preparations for public dinner and a
general display of patriotism on that, tn.
great birth day of American liberty, bu,
our calculations were badly frustrated by a
heavy rain and hail STERN On that consecra.
led day, an unusual thing at this season Of
| the year yet while our folks were deprived
Of the enjoyment of the day. the country was
greatly benefited BY the rain, crops and veg.
etation having never been better. The wheat
crops ON many farms Is so rank that the
grain is lodged to such an extent that ma
chinery will be Intellectual TO save it In many
places.
A sad case of suicide occurred about 20
miles west Of this place on the 9th inst. A
German lady by the name Of Herkey, whose
husband was absent from home, and report
says that she had for the past few months
shown sigma of insanity. and about midnight
she took her infant child, about four months
Of age, and weat out to the creek and told
her older children TO come on, that she was
going to cross the river aud was going To
Heaven; the children followed her TO the
bank, and she threw he little child into the
stream it INSTANTLY passed cut Of 81 shts and
has not yet been found. She then went into
the stream herself, and told the other chill
dren to follow they saw her washed away
also, and then went back to the house and
one of them ran down to the Catholic Mis-
sian, about mile below, and conveyed the
intelligence, obtained assistance and re-
turned to the dreadful scene, md sooh found
the mother lod-cd IN some brush; she was
taken out and buried the next day. The
neighbors and friends OF the family made dill
ligent search for two or three days, but as
Yet have found nothing Of the lost child.
Our people have for the frs. tune iu the
past three summers been permitted to enjoy
peace and quietude, having had no outbreak
nor disturbance from the red man this Sea-
son, which Is no doubt owing to the presence
Of troops qUartered IN o. : country, which,
continued as perlaueuts ". would III
sure peace and tranquility, ana allow this
section al country to be settled up, and our
County would be enabled soon to recover
from the past troubles. But alas We are
informed it Is the policy OF Ger. Howard to
move the troops up To the Okanagal rver,
ON tine eastern side Of Muses. reservation,
which movement would again leave Yakima
county out In the cold, as defenseless as ever,
com ,.aratIyely between two fires; the Yak
ina Indians on the south and the Muses. In
dians on the north, and no military protec-
ton nearer than the Okanagan, distance
of 30 miles, and the troops al Walla Walla
a distance OF $50 miles, and that with the
Columbia river between us. the change now
contemplated would leave all this vast scope
of country west Of the Columbia river, ex-
tending from Fort Vancouver To the Okana-
gan, a distance Of about four or five hundred
miles, without any protection whatever, and
all the wild, rowing bands OF Indians could
traverse this vast space of country with lIn-
puuitv, and RON, murder and steal to their
hearts content before the military cou.d pos
sibly reach the scene of action from any of
the points above mentioned and further,
it would be attended with very great ex-
penss to the government to establish and
maintain garrison at Okanagan, that point
being So remote from navigation, AID no
wagon road over which 10 hip goVcrnment
stores. Now what We might say or do III
the premises perhaps will be like pitching
straWs against the wind, yet our people are
bitterly at the proposed change,
and We feel that their grievances should be
heard and considered by the military III conl-
mand. Since the troops were stationed
among us the settlers have been disposed to
think that Gov. Ferry and the General were
disposed to favor us In the Indian matters,
but are now circulating petitions winch are
being unanimously signcd by the people, en-
tering protest against the proposed change
of troops, and asking that a permanent gar
risou te established IL this county, While
We are not disposed to dictate TO the mill
tary and government authoritles. yet while
We are directly interested iu this matter, Tor
the peace, saIety and future welfare and
of the country III which we hive,
and being well acquainted with the country
and the Indians to be controlled, We do most
earnestly insist that to do the most good,
and to furnish protection to the most people,
that end would be must et1ectually accom-
plishei by establishing troops IN Yakima
county, on the intermediate grounds between
the Yakima and Moses reservations, which !
would place the settlements immediately m !
der the shadow and protection of the troops. |
who could then watch the movement of In |
dians on either side. YAKIMA