The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-01-06

Major John y. Kress, Capt. OF Ordnance,
returned home from San Francisco yester
day.
Capt. $. p. Jocelyn, DIST Infantry, started
on Monday to return to his post at Fort
| Townsend.
An extension of three months leave of alb
| scnce has been granted Lieut.. VIM. {.
Brown LIST Cavalry.
Gen. o. d. Greene is having constructed
4 "Catamaran' sailing craft of goodly di-
mansions, wherewith TO navigate the saucy
| Columbia river.
| In another column will he found a
| sprighty description of Il dramatic enter
t4.Ament given by the officers and Ladies' at
Fort CWur Il Alene
Lieut. W. j. Turner ID Infantry, arrived
up from san Francisco Tuesday with his
| family, stopping in Portland day or two
before proceeding to his post.
Gen. II. a. Morrow, Col. DIST Infantry,
| in command OF the post, has been ordered to
| New York, on ourt-martial duty, and will
depart i'll few days for san Francisco.
The A1uy apd Nary RcyiTer says Lieut..
| L. g. Rheem. Dist Infantry, and Surgeon c.
| L. Hickman, L. :. A., left Washington for
their homes in Pennsylvania to spend Christ
mas.
| Gen. Frank Wheaton is now in command
of the Department of the Columbia, but will
not return from San Francisco to headquar-
ters for 4 week, perhaps two weeks, having
official business at Division headquarters.
The steamer LH,j;ac on Monday evening
carried away from Vancouver Barracks the
family Of Gen. O. o. Howard, Capt. j. y.
| Sladen and family, and Lieut.. G. +. :. Wood
and family, who sailed on the San Francisco
steamer ON Tuesday.
a note we received from Lieut. +. II. +.
| Ebstcin, DIST Infantry, now Oh recruiting
detail at David's Island n y, states that
he and family are well, but they are still
signing for the Green shores and mild climate
of the lordly Columbia.
The promotions of officers in this, Depart
ment which we have published this fall were
all confirmed by the t. :. Senate on the
18TH December, a full list of these and all
promotions being given in the Army amt
| NGcy Joa,Wai of Dec. 18th.
Surgeon e. Vi. :Sternberg, T. S. A., for
merly stationed at Walla Wala, had a
slight difficulty with one DR.. Burns in New
Orleans, which resulted in the latter grossly
insulting him. Friends prevented personal
collision, and the matter was afterwards
alnicaby adjusted. Dr. Sternbarg was not
to blame in any way.
There was not the usual calling and recciv-
ing OF calls at the garrison ON New Year 5
day. but instead the ladies' of the garrison
held a reception at the house OF Gen. Nor
row in the evening. in honor of TIL day and
the departing families of officers ordered to
the east. The affair was rs brilliant and
pleasant as it was successful.
Three Indians were brought as prisoners
to the Barracks on Friday last, from the 81
lctz reservation in Oregon. They are
charged with murder, 1t seems that 4
''medicinc man. having failed to cure pre-
vailng sickness III the tribe these three In
dams killed him, in accordance with an an
cicut custom. As the Interior Department
does not recognize that ancient cure or Kill
custom the men were arrested, and are held
awaiting further orders OF the department.
The AImg ami Nary Jouraai says what
ever may b. Thought as to the superior
claims of other officers on the score that they
are older ii not better soldiers, 1t Is not tC
be denied, that Nelson l. Miles will make
an excellent brigadier lie has shown fine
capacities AZ an officer he has excellent
sense is young fall of ambition, and is not
likely 10 rest upon his honors II an opportu-
nifty offers to distinguish himself. IL is
greatly to be regretted that others whose
claims to promotion cannot he questioned,
should fail To receive Il, but this is matter
SO wholly within the discretion oI the 'resi-
dent, that the only serious criticism that
could be made upon him would be that he
had appointed an Incompetent or an unfit
man.
The following generous but deserved trib-
ute to Gen. Miles. who has lust been as
signed to the command of the Department OF
the Columbia is from the Bismark TribuHe,
and will be read with interest by our read
ers: ''rhc north west loses in the person OF
Miles one of its truest friends. His inter
view at St Paul shows that he never neg
lects an opportunity to speak kindly OF the
people of the great north west, of its people
and It's prospects Because this is so. il is
possible that being called to a higher station
he may he able to do us more good than h,
could have by remaining. Crackers may
say what they will, the Indian troubles are
practically ended. 1t only needs common
sense in management aud justice i'll treat
mcnt to end forever the Indian troubles OF
the United States, and Gen. Miles deserves
much credit for the long strides made by oul
government toward the point where this
hope may be realized. Give the Indian
something to live for, and punish him GER
tainly and severely for his crimes, and his
thoughts Will turn from war to home and
family. There are no people on earth more
warmly attached to home and friends than
the Indians, and none have greater pride in
their possessions Gen. Miles has taught
them to respect the government; urged them
to learn labor. and encouraged them to break
their tribal relations to be men; to become
~. l..