The silver state. [volume] (Unionville, Nev.) 1870-1903, 1880-07-10
THE PHUTE INDIANS.
Exodus or the ExiIes from Yakima.

j
other members of the tribe, who we are
assured remained peaceable, were taken
as prisoners Of war hy order of the IN
dian Bureau to Yakima Reservation,
Washington Territory. Naches and
Old Winnemucca have been endeavor-
ing to get permission from the Govern
ment to have them return to their own
country. This permission has been
granted them, and it was understood
that they were to have an escort, but
the Indian Agent at the reservation de-
MES it. The Yakima Record of late
date says it is a fixed fact that the Pr
utes are going. escort or no escort, in
spite of the inducements held out to
Sarah Winnemucca to remain. The
Record had call from Sarah and her
brother Lee Winnemucca, who besougLt
it's aid to the extent of informing the
people OF Eastern Oregon and Northern
Nevada that they were determined to
return to their own country. Sarah
says that she has been told that the
people of Eastern Oregon would kill
her people il they attempted to pass
through that country. The Record
goes ON to cay that she does not believe
this, bnt if it is true the piutes will 60,
prefe,ing to he killed quickly rather
than encounter another season OF lin.
gering death at Fort Simcoe. Sarah
pledges her life for the peaceable inten-
tions and good conduct of her people,
and hopes the whites will not modest
them on their journey. Their destina-
tion is Fort McDermit, unless the Nal
heur Agent meets them with supplies,
in which event they will 60 to the res
ervation. The cause of the exodus is
given in the following communication
1--WE, the Piutes, started here during
the Winter of 70, and arrived on the
10th of February. 1879. Our people
were all well supplied with clothes, the
men especially with such clothes as
they had obtained OF the soldiers at
Camp Harvey, Oregon, before We left.
We were here but a short time when
some of my people went to work for
the Indians living here. They went to
work on the promise that their work
would be paid tor in horses. They were
to work from 8 to 10, Is, 20 and as high
as 80 days for horse. They went to
work, and some were paid and others
not. Those that were not paid were
told that they had eaten the amount Of
work they had done. Those that did
get paid some other Indians would
come and take the horses away from
them. A good many OF our people have
bought horses with their own blankets
and saddles which they had when they
came here. They have been taken too.
Some of our best horses which we
brought here have also been taken. All
this has been told to Mr.. Wilbur and
still he can't help us. When we go to
church our blankets and ropes are taken
while we are inside. All this has been
done to us since we have been here,
and to-day We are poorer than when we
came. Yes, poorer in clothes. Poorer
in horses. Poorer in victuals; in every
thing. We have lost ~ 81 head of
horses, and have left 257 head. Our
sick have been poorly cared for, and
many have died for want of something
to eat. Now, can amy one blame us for
wanting to so back to our own country?
1.-THE Doctor was telling me that all
We have had belonged to the Indians
here. That is beef and flour. That the
Government had not given us anything.
There is something here now which he
saysis onrs, but which has already been
paid to those who have worked.
ooh, we one and all pray of our
white brothers TO not be so hard. heart
ell against us. We all want to 60 back,
and viii leave Fort Simcoe on the Sd OF
July. We don't know what time We
will get to The Dalles and good many
of us will have to walk
The above is signed by Sarah, Lee