Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1889-04-12
A SCRAP OF HISTORY.

lons ed and why it Was they were
placed there was rife and for a time
the matter was wrapped in mystery
Now, however, the problem has
BEEN solved by the publication in the
Ch. halls Bee of an account that is ex-
ceeding,y interesting as Indicating the
trials and tribulations OF the early set
tiers of this county and the means
they had to resort to in order to thwart
the redskins CT tn S section in many
of their frequent attacks on the whites.
The story is ;old by Henry Miles, of
Cheh Ills, and is worth repeating as
many of our readers and residents are
n t CONVEX SAINT with the facts.
"I can remember about it. During
tha Indian wais of 1866, was living
on the Cowlitz river, and at the time
he guns were " "stor> d away" was a
member of the Second regiment,
Company L, Washington Territory
Volunteers. Our captain was +. d.
Warbass, now living on San Juan
Island. The Indians from Southern
Oree on TO British Columbia were
eli her in arms or were lowering in such
an uncertain state that We were in
constant fear of those who were not in
actual arms against us. General Wool
and Governor Stevens had decided
that the Indians in our locality were
good Ones yet we knew their chief
had met the Nisqually chiefs in coun-
Gil on Toutle lake, and were harboring
and holding Constant communication
with those who were actually on the
war path. The whole country was
terrorized, and men, women and child
rem fl cked to til. forts. The fort at
Cowlitz landing then contained about
all the people Of that section. Among
,he Cowlitz and Klickitat Indians
wee many good guns, and after their
meeting with the Nisqual.y chiefs the
soldiers and settlers concluded that it
was not good policy to slow the In
dians to remain in possession OF
firearms until hOstilit.es ceased.
So ac'ing On this resolution we pro-
ceeded to take away their guns
whenever and wherever found, brin,-
ing them to the fort for .safe keeping,
and p omi>ing TO return them when
the war was over. This had been 60
ipg on until we had some forty odd
guns cf all descriptions. However
many If the Indians had hid away
their arms for fear of this, and there
was many q gun never captured. This
matter coming to the ears of Governor
Stevers, he having previously decided
with General Wool that the Klickitats
and Co~li, were good Indians, dis
patched Colonel Ford with an order
for the guns TO be returned to them.
This order was received with great
consterna,ion at the fort, and the
women, citizens and volunteer soldiers
joined in urging Lieutenant Hender-
sou 10 60 to Olympia to induce the
Governor to rescind the order. Hen
dersOn returned without having &C.
c mplish ng any good, having ridden
all day and night in his anxiety to get
back 10 the fort, and was completely
worn ont with his trip. We weie de-
termined however that those guns
should not be given up to the Indians
and while the Lieutenant was asleep
alter his long ride, party Of about
Twelve ii il ms and soldiers repaired 10
the wood- near by to discuss the mat
ter. Governor Stevens having ordered
that goo Indians .hould be allowed
u keep their fire arms, We resols ed that
the good ones we're deaf snd therefore
had No use for guns, and that those in
Our possession should not be given up
under any circumstances. So COM
mittce of three was selected to attend
to the business and we returned to the
fort.
"Tbe contraband arms were stored
in house inside the fort, and to get
then out without being seen we con-
trived to have the guard Stationed
where a convenient window was not in
lis range of vision. One of us then
went in and passed the guns out at
the window to the other two, who then
carried them to q small canoe on the
river, and they we're taken acrO.s TO
he o her side. Being well acquainted
with the locality, I directed Our steps
to dense vine maple thicket near by,
where We 'hid down our arms and
proceed d to destroy the shooting
qua tiles of every gun We had. We
bent the barrels, broke the stocks and
demolished the loeks of them all.
Some were really fine guns, and it
ee, med almost tCo bad to destroy them,
but I'll were t'eated alike, and were
tossed into the thicket for the good
Indians We were not .ng about the
wo;k, and SOON returned 10 the fort, as
Stunning our wOnted occupations as
though nothing out of the usual line
had occurred. Our lieutenant being
worn cut by his journey Was still
asleep, and those who knew the secret
could be dep nded on to keep it. In a
day or TWO the c.ptain set about obey
ing the order TO retain the guns, and
discovered their absence. Search Was
i,.ti;uted, the rivers and adjacent
wood. secured, bu, nothing was found.
Governor S evens offered 5000 re-
ward for detection of the guilty par
ties, but with no avail. Afterwards
tOIu MIN 1 knew WnO ulu ~, uut 1c-
fu Ell to Inform him. lieutenant
Henderson was threatened with
court-mar,ial, but it finally died out.
OF Curse everyone in the Cowlitz
country was glad the gus were mi g.
ing. There was real cause for alarm:
the indians were insOlent and detiant
Of authority, were holding consulta-
tions with and no doubt giving sup
pies 10 the hostiles, and it was the
height Of folly to allow them them pos
session Of such weapons. 1t is gener-
ally believed that our capture of their
firearms was a potent factor in keep
ing them from going on the war path.
"WelI, that was long time ago, and
many chanees have taken place." and
MI. Miles almost sighed as he said it.
at is q little strange, too, that the
story has never leaked out, as the
three participants, l believe, are still
alive. One Of them lives somewhere
in Oregon, and one near Freeport, w.
T. / have visited the latter several
timee, but rot word has ever passed
between us on the subject. This being
the case do not feel at liberty to give