Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1879-01-24
ARREST OF MOSES.
Causes, Full Particulars. Sc, by the
Men who Accomplished II.


letter addressed TO the. u. s. Attorney
and U. S. Marshal OF Washington Ter.
ritory in reply to circular threatening
the arrest and punishment Of persons
disturbing peaceable Indians. We find
it in the Oreqonian of the 7th, aud we
are Of the opinion that its narration Of
events discloses more fully aud forcibly
the real animus Of Moses than all his
fulsome professions Of friendship for
the whites:
YAKIMA CITY, W.T., Dec. 90, 1873.
To J. b. Allen. q. s. Attorney, and
Chas. Hopkins, U. s. Marshal,
Olympia, W. r.:
GENTLEMEN:--We are confronted to.
day by Deputy u. s. Marshal W. P.
Frazier with an order from Attorney
GeaeraI Devens to j. B. Allen, U. S.
Attorney to ''prose cute, &C., all persons
who have made war on peaceful In.
dians."
1t appears from this order that in
formation has reached Washington that
party or posse had gone to make war
on Moses, which we are happy to in
form you is not the case, as will appear
from the following facts: Father Will
bur came to our town on the 9th or
10th inst. Tor the purpose of enlisting
some white men to accompany Eneas,
captain Of the reservation police, fifteen
10 number, to be reinforced by FIVE or
six Indians furnished by Moses, to be
furnished on their arrival at his
(Moses') camp on the Columbia river.
After two days stay here, this
place responded with 80 men who were
to proceed at once to the Columbia river
under the direction and by the author
ity Of J. H. Wilbur, Indian agent.
The object Of the expedition was the
arrest of the Perkins murderers anu
such horse thieves as might be fouod
in that country and supposed to be con
gregated on crab creek.
Deputy Sheriff J. A. Splawn was one
Of the party, having in his possession
warrants for the arrest Of the murder,
ers. aud who was to act in conjunction
with Eneas, who was clothed with au
thority to assist in this matter.
On the morning of the 18th inst.
after perfecting arrangements, we started
for our objective point, Moses camp on
the Columbia, about IL miles above the
rapids. Before reaching that point VIZ
were notified by two Indians sent ahead
to act as spies that two Of the murder
ess were fifteen miles below the rapid
on the opposite side Of the river. which
necessarily changed our tactics ant
caused us to 60 to the rapids instead o
Moses camp to cross. Moses preceded
our party "a hours from Yakima il
order to notify his people Of our ccmin!
and be prepared to cross US on our ar
rival in conformity with his arrange
ments with Mr.. Wilbur.
In order that Moses should be duly
notified of the change of plan Enea
dispatched an Indian for that purpos
and with instructions to Moses to NEE
us at the rapids with his five men. an
if Moses did not intend to send tn
men to report the same to US. In tn
meantime Eneas had gone to ohapp'
camp, five miles above the rapids W her
he expected to meet his courier on hi
return. This messenger came down t
So>happs, whore, meeting Eneas. toll
him he could not get tn, desired info,
nation, but had learned that Moses wa
coming with about 100 men. Enea
and the messenger remained at tn
camp until Moses came down, who,
seems, preceded his men. Eneas aske
OF Moses il he was going down wit
him, but received no answer at frs
but finally told him he could 90 on an
he would follow. Moses conduct a
this time aroused Eneas' suspicion, an
he came on down aud informed US tina
Moses acted very strange aud woul
not talk to him. Eneas was very muc
excited. as was his Indians, and said b
thought Moses intended to fight us.
aboat 2 p. M. We had about finishe
packing mp preparatory to movins
Captain Splawn was not IN camp, br
wac ouV0e l0uc gctVW WucIo uc uu
gone to get some grain. He returne
TO camp shortly after Eneas' arrIa
who told him Moses was coming with
large body Of men, and that he though
i there was danger ahead and to get h
men in readiness.
Captain Splawn at once made know
the facts to his men, who were in .
wise prepared for such intelligence, b.
as fast as the danger Of the situatic
could be made manifest, each and ever
member Of the company prepared hin
self against impending danger Fl
the news had fairly spread througho'
the company, Moses was seen comm
over an eminence about half mi
away. As thu Indians raised the EN-
hence the war.whoop was heard, an
they were soon swooping down on US Q
IL 4