The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-10-04
FAMED LAKE CHELAN.
Dr. Minors E1cursion With
Gen. John Gibbon.
RICH AND PRODUCTIVE aec,on.



GENERAL John Gibbon. C.. S. A. Commando
OF the department of the Columbia. Ae-
companying General Gibbon and ar
Minor were Colonel Lee, chief cuar.ermas-
Ter, and Lieutenant Lowering. aide-ie-
camp.
The party left Tacoma on the n,o.u;neof
september Is, going TO ElIen.bury.
stage was there taken and the Journey
maae across the picturesque Elensburg
mountains TO Steamboat landing. inst
above Rock Island rapids. on the Colum-
o'A- inere the steamer City Of Eliensburg
vas boarded, and the excarsionists went
up .oe cclumbia to Casino, arriving on the
h,ght oil the i7th- Casino is the point
where the stage 10 taken for the Oksnogan
mines. On the following day the party re-
turned 10 Cheian landing and crossed over
20 Lake cheian, where Captain Swig r. Z.
:. a. with troop of cavalry was en-
campcd. The cavalry had been brought
across tue mountains from Vancouver, and
was on It's summer campaign
On the morning of the 18th the party
started on an excursion around the lake,
and devoted q week in hunting. fishing
examining glaciers. exploring mountain
passes and infiowing streams, and viewing
and admising the famed scenery of magni-
ficenf Lake Chelan. The Rainbow fails.
So feet high. were amongst the places
visited.
The Lake Cheian country has developed
surprisingly" said Dr. Minor yesterday.
1t Is surrounded by splendid agricui-
tarai country and at..the upper end of the
iaEe, around Pierce river, is q mining re-
gion, that, when worked, | am satisfied
VIII yield richly. Prospectors and locators
are on the ground nov and they speak
highly OF the outlook. | do not think I
ever saw better agricultural country than
that about the lake and tributary to the
upper Columbia and wenatchee rivers.
The country is settling up very fast ard
when railroads come it will be an import
ant part OF the state. A sawmtIi has been
established at Ghelan. on the lake. and they
need a postosiice there. As it is now, SET
tiers have 10 send thirty miles to Water
vile, over bad road for their mail
The most interesting event of the whole
trip was visit made at Chelan TO General
Giobon by Chief Joseph, the famous head
Of the Neg Perez Indians Joseph was in
formed that Genera! Gibbon was in the
country, and he came down from his place
on the Moses reservation. 100 miles away,
10 visit him. In 1877. you remember.
Joseph led an Instruction of Nex Perez
Indians against the whites. He was de-
feated by General Howard and the United
States troops. and then he began the most
remarkable retreat ever made In the history
of Indian warfare. He lied before General
Howard aud his men, with his braves.
women, children, old men. and, In fact. nil
his tribe and camp equipage from Oregon
up through Washington and Idaho and
away into Montana. At Big Hole Joseph
was intercepted By General Gibbon and a
small force OF men. fierce battle ensued,
and the Indians were worsfed. They man.
aged 10 escape, however, and again re-
summed their arduous journey through un-
frequented Montana trails and across bleak
deserts until they were finally captured by
General Miles. In all. Joseph and mis- fol-
lowers, altogether 900 in number. had gone
600 miles, and il took three brigadier.
generals and a large proportion of the
United States army 20 capture them.
This was in 1877, and Joseph had not
seen General Gibbon since. The meeting
between them was very affecting. They
had long interview. and talked over the
battle of Big Hole and of the famous re-
treat for several hours. He considers Gen.
erai Gibbon his friend.
Joseph, who is as ne-looking and
manly an Indian as I ever saw. told a
woful story OF the manner in which he and
his Indians have been treated by the gov
eminent. Among other things they were
promised sawmill and lumber TO build
houses tor themselves. The sawmili was
finished two years ago, hut no one has ever
been sent to the reservation to run it. The
Indians have all this time been spending
their winters in uncomfortable tepees and
huts, and they are very much dissatisfied.
The agent appointed by the late admins
tration never made an effort 10 help them !:
but now a new agent has been appointed.
and the Indians hope for better things.
Chief Moses also visited General Glib
bon. Moses. whose father was the noted
chief and friend of Joseph, had little COM
plant 10 make OF his treatment by the gov
eminent. He was somewhat disturbed.
however, over the death of n sub-chief Sus-
sepkin who left considerable property be-
hind him. Moses charges the adm'nis,ra-
tors, appointed by the probate court of
okanogan county, with managing the eS-
tate 70 their own profit. The administra-
tors should have been appointed from the
heirs of susepkin."
DIR. Minor returns In excellent health.
and With pleasant recollections of an en-
joyable excursion.