, 1889-04-11
THE INDIAN GUNS.
The Mysterious Discovery Fully
Explained.
Story Of an Emergency of
Thirty Years Ago.
Kecolieotions Of One of the Men who De.
coissd tho Governor for Pruden-
tial Reasons.
A Chehalis special to the Tacoma Led.

thirty odd years ago down on the Cow.
htz." remarked Henry Miles Saturday
evening. after reading u brief dispatch 10
the Oregonian of that date. "Yes; wnat
do you know about these guns3" we
am one Of the ,hen who @ pat them there |
think know all about them" Henry
Miles 10 one Of the oldest settlers of Wash
in9ton territory and Lewis county, and
has In many ways had a hand In the
making of ana been connected with its
early history. He was here during the
early Indian wars, took hand in the
tight. and did his share in subduing the
willy red-kins as well as shaping the early
legislation OF the territory. So we knew
tached to those guns he no doubt could
tale unfold.
CONTRABAND GOODS.
Mr.. Miles consented to tell what he
knew about this find" and proceeded to
relate its history somewhat as follows;
That WAS u long time ago. said he,
'and my memory does not serve well in
regard to many minor Incidents, but will
tell you what | can remember about it.
During the Indian wars Of 1855 6 l was
living on the Cowltz river. and with my
neighbors had enlisted, being at the time
the gums were ''stowed away" a member
Washington Territory volunteers. Our
captain WAS Il b. Warbass, now living on
San Juan island. The Indians from
Southern Oregon to British Columbia were
either in arms or were lowering in
such An uncertain state that we
we're In constant fear of those who
were not 10 actual arms against us. Gen.
eral Wool and Governor Stevens had de-
cided that the Indians in our locality were
yaf pa kpa hat h taf bot "A
met the Nesqually chiefs in council on
Toutle lake ana we're harborinv and mold.
ing communication with those who were
actually on the war.path. The whole
country was tprrorized, and men, women
and children focked TO the forts, The fort
at Cowiiiz landing then contained about
all the people of that section. Among the
Cowlitz and Klick tat Indians were many
good guns, and after their meeting with
the N-squally chiefs the soldiers and set
tiers concluded that it was not good policy
10 allow the Indians to remain in posses.
sion of firearms until hostilities ceased.
THE IEDIANs DIsARMHD.
30 acting on this resolution we pro.
oeeded to take away their guns whenever
and wherever found, bringing them to
the fort for safe keeping. and promising
TO return them when the war was over.
This had been going on until we had
However many Of the Indians had hid
away their arms TO fsar of this, and
there was many a gun never captured.
This matter coming to The ears OF Gov
ernor Stevens, he having previously
decided with General Wool that the
klickitsts and Cowlitz were good
Indians" dispatched Colonel Ford with
an order for the guns to be returned TO
them. This order WAS received with
.ta- 10, , e..
women, citizens and volunteer soldiers
Joined. urging Lieutenant Henderson to
90 TO Olympia and endeavor to induce the
govern to rescind the order. Henderson
returned without accomplishing ANY good
having ridden all day and night in his
anxiety to get back to the fort. and WAS
completely worn out by the trip, We
were determined, however, that these
guns should not he given up to the In.
dians, and while the lieutenant was
asleep, fter is long ride. u party of
about twelve citiaeus and sodiers re.
paired to the woods near by to discuss the
matter. Governor Stevens having ordered
that good Indians" should be allowed to
keep their firearms. we resolved that the
good ones were dead, and therefore had
no use for guns. and that those in our pos.
session should not be given up under any
circumstances. So a committee Of three
vas selected 10 attend 10 the business, and
We returned 10 the tort.
- THE GUNS DESTROYED.
THE contraband arms were stored In Il
house inside the fort, and to get them out
without being seen we contrived TO have
the guard stationed where convenient
window was not In his range OF vision
One or US then went In and passed the
guns out ~ tne window to the other two,
Who then carried them to small canoe on
the river, and they were taken across to
the other slde. Being we'll acquainted
4 dtrANta,I IN "A