The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1889-11-07
YAKIMA IN EARLY DAYS.
How This Beautiful Valley Was Made
Safe for Settlers.


Early in the fall Of 1855 the Indians on
the northwest coast began q series Of dep
relations in the sparsely settled regions
Of Oregon and Washington territory, and
became 30 bold in their devilty as to
make life almost unbearable to the pio-
neer frontiersman. Matters reached such
q crisis about the middle Of October Of this
year that Governor George L. Curry oi
Oregon determined to try and subdue the
savage cohorts, and to this end made O
call for volunteers. A large force, con-
sidering the population at that time, i'm
mediately responded and ninety-three Of
US from Clackamas county enrolled our
names under Captain James X. Kelly,
Company @, 1st Regiment Oregon Militia
Volunteers. On October l5, 1885, we
started to the front, arriving at the end
Of four days at The Dalles. Crossing the
Columbia river at that point, we made
camp six miles to the north, where we
were informed it was necessary 10 elect q
captain, as James X. Kelley had been
promoted to the colonelcy. Samuel B.
Stafford was elected our captain and
Charles Cutting was chosen fagbearer.
The other officers were D. B. Hannah,
first lieutenant, and James A. Pownell,
second lieutenant. All preliminaries be-
ing completed, we then took to the field,
arriving in the Klickitat valley Noyem'
Der Q. We had seen no fresh meat since
leaving Portland, and the killing Of fine
fat COW by one Of our company was hailed
with delight by all. The Kllckitat was
then q veritabIe paradise for the few
stock running at large, the grass being
over six feet tall and very dense. STik-
ing camp next day, we crossed the Sim
coe mountains and came into the beauti-
full Simcoe valley, now embraced in the
Yakima reservation. On November 0 we
made our way to gap in the hills, through
which flows the Yakima river, then
known as 1.-TWO Buttes." Here the first
active engagements of our campaign
against the willy and wicked children Of
the ioresc occurred Our advance guaro
consisted OF companies commanded by
Captains Cornelius, Hembrie and Bennett,
who drove the Indians from their ambush
in the brush along the river. The saw
ages numbered about SOO, and were dls-
posed to be ugly. Being driven rom the
valley they entrenched themselves In
their rude tortihcations upon the buttes.
A howitzer was used in our trst attempts
TO dislodge them, but the shots iell snort
and charge was made upon the enemy
by the commands under Major hallol
and Captain Augur, assisted by q corps ol
volunteers, who charged up the rugged
face OF the mountain, forcing the Indians
from their position and compelling them
to tiee down the opposite side Of the butte
In hot haste. Finding that that the
whites were determined to force the light
ing, at short range II possible, the indiana
made no effort to assist the elimination
and kept at sale distance out OF range
That night We camped at the base Of the
buttes, near the river, and the first dawn
OF the next day disclosed the unWeicome
sight Of numerous Indians lurking about
nom place to place on top OF the butte
and to emphasize Their presence they oc-
casionally sent Q stray bullet into our
camp. An order was at once given to