Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-07-02
Pioneer "reminiscences.
by A. Ii. RR bb~son.
Written for the Standard.


In looking over my diary as kept
in 1855, 1 find the following account
of trip from Capt. Hays camp Oh
Nachez river to Steilacoom, as escort
to Express Messengers Major VIM.
Tidd and John Bradley. Believing
that it may be of interest to your
readers, l send you acopy.
On October 30th, Col. A. B.
Moses, DR.. Nj. p. Burns, Geo.
Bright, Joseph Miles aud myself, in
company with express messengers,
left camp at the first crossing of the
Nachez river, and travelled unmolest-
ed until we arrived at Bonnell prai-
rie, in the White river valley, at 3
o'clock Wednesday evening. Here
we met with party of Klickitat and
Nisqually Indians, numbering about
$50 warriors. Having there discov-
cred that Mr.. Connell's house had
recently been burned, we inquired
of the Indians, who Cat that time
showed no signs of molestation) had
burned the house, or if they knew
how it came to be burned. They
denied all knowledge of the cause,
and declared themselves entirely
peaceable, saying that their tun,-tums
were hyaS close copa Boston, j. 9. that
their hearts were right towards the
Americans. We talked will them q
long time, asking many questions
why they were there, and endeavored,
as much as words would do, to draw
them out and make them show their
true position, they all the while max
ing declarations Of friendship. We
then went to the place where we
supposed they intended to camp aud
endeavored to purchase some mocca-
sins from their squaws, and while
there, we saw and conversed q while
with their main chief, Leshi. In the
meantime all the first Indians were
gradually dispensing. but we did not
know at that time where. We then
mounted our horses again and pro-
ceeded on our route, about half
mile, to a deep muddy swamp.
There we received q murderous fire
from these very same Indians, who
had secreted themselves in ambush
behind US. Col. A. Benton Moses
received ball, entering the left side
of the back and passing Immediately
under the heart and came out
through the right breast, going
through the center of a letter in the
breast pocket of his overcoat. Mr.
Joseph Miles, of Olympia, received
wound in the neck, which unhorsed
him. He fell in the deep mud, and
was unable to regain his horses OF
get out without assistance. We di
rected him to take hold of his stirrup
leather, while we gathered hi'
horses Bride, and then putting
spurs 10 our horses we succeeded il
dragging him out of the mud. W.
found that he had become so fain
that it was impossible for him tc
mount his horse. He then told Vi
to leave him and make our escape, i
we could, as there was no hope To-
him. All this time the Indians wer,
pouring into US continuous fire
, not more than thirty yards distant
in which Major Tidd received thre'
slugs on his head, which did not pene
trate the skull. We were compelled
to leave Mr.. Miles, SO we put spur
to our horses and rode about a mil
and half when Col. Moses becam
so much exhausted in consequence
of his wound that he could not re
main on horseback any longer. w
dismounted and carried him som
two hundred yards and hid him il
the brush. We remounted and rod
at full speed to the first crossing Q
Finnell's creek. Here we discov
3 cred another ambuscade; whereupo
we dismounted and made a charg
into the brush, three of US on on
side of the road and two upon tn
other. Each of us discharging th
full contents of our revolvers, an
then using our sabres completed
routing the Indians, they not firin
. a gun. We must have killed quit
!, a number of them as none of US ha
to shoot more than ten feet, and Sc
eral times We placed our revolver
r against their bodies. Returning
Col. Moses for the purpose OF maxim
. him more secure and comfortable, v
took our coats and wrapped the
around him and left him, havin
rendered him all the assistance
our power that we were able und
the circumstances. On leaving hir
his last words were: Boys, If yt
:. escape, remember me-"
SO We returned to the edge OF Il
- bluff, going down to Finnelrs cre'
j. and discovered large body of Inc
ans on the opposite side of the pr
II rio, that lay close by, but our nul
bss being 90 few, We did not thil