, 1890-11-06
WAS LONESOME THEN
The Chief Talks With a Re-
view Reporter.
HIS CHILDREN ARE DYING
He Likes the Ways of the Whites.
and Wants to Go to
Washington.

Moses, the Chiet OF the Columbia trio
of Indians. was the most noticeable man
IN the city or at the exposition Thurs
day. lie Is rather fine-looking old
fellow about six feet tall, and OF gener-
Gus proportions. His head is large and
set close to the shoulders, the forehead
is high but narrow and retreating, while
the lower part of his face is very broad,
On the whole Moses Is commanding
looking Indian.
His costume is very striking and at.
tracted n great deal of attention where.
ever he went. He wore long buckskin
coat ofa beautiful shade of tan, heavily
beaded and fringed and trimmed with
otter skin. Around his neck was his
chiefs collar embroidered in the beaded
symbols of his Indian amc, u crescent
above a star, meaning "rhe half moon
that never wanes." From his shoulders
hung a gorgeous tobacco sack, and his
legs were incased in buckskin leggings,
beaded and fringed in the height Of bar.
baric style.
Moses has Just come from his home
in the Nespelim valley. with Indian
Agent Hal Cole, to see the exposition.
Through AN interpreter a REVIEW re-
porter had the following conversation
with him, somewhat disconnected in
places, but in the main interesting:
Yes | am glad to see Spokane again.
1t is splendid.
when / think of the way it looked
when / was here before IL makes me
feel how lonesome it must have been
then.
81 am not surprised at the electric
cara / have been to Washington, and
am no longer surprised at anything.
"Ges, | should like to go again to
Washington. My heart is glad when
ever | think of the great city, and the
way the great father treated me. l am
only sorry that did not ask for PEN
sion for my son when | asked for my
own.
"My son died two years ago. He was
not like me he was big, fine looking
man.
DO remember the Ncz Perce ware
Yes, and | came very near joining them.
i sometimes wanted TO, and sometimes
j did not. | had many more warriors
than Joseph, but at the time most of
them were over on the Nesqually "a
river west of the mountains)
"My children; | have about 500; are
dying oil rapidly; they arc sick all
the time. l do not know how long they
will last.
"My people do not so to sch pol, but
farm some.
Long ago, before Joseph went on the
warpath, | was at the falls OF the Spo.
kane, and IL was very lonesome then,
although did not at that time think
so; but | have seen 10 many white men,
and so many fine cities that have for
gotten quite those days, and like to be
in the great cities with the white man.
! only wish my people could last long
enough to learn how to build such fine
cities; but | am afraid the end of my
people is not far off. l have seen sixty.
two SHOWS, and have watched my people
dwindle from many more than | could
count down to 500. Sickness seems to
kill ALL"
Chief Tonasket of the Okanogans has
been at the hospital for three weeks,
having an operation performed OH his
eyes. Moses called to see him yester-
day, and the two old fellows, who are
great friends, fairly wept over each
other. Moses says he is very sorry for
Tonasket who, 1t is feared, will have to
lose both Of his eyes; one has already
been removed from his head.
THAT Is WAR;"
After the exercises Chief Moses went
NIL over the building, and was veiy
much interested in what he saw. lie
had his photograph taken at one of the
galleries, and had his ill Of clans and
oysters.
The old Indian was greatly interested
with the pictures, and was especially
pleased with the Remington paintings.
Standing before "The Lull in the Fight"
the old fellow broke out with;
THAT is good. That is war"
He then went into u brown study and
looked as If he was calling to mind the
old days, and was perhaps wonder
ing III he was one Of the
band of numbering redskins seen
lowering in the distance, like vultures,
watching and waiting for the death gasp
of the now stricken monarch Of the glen
that they might feast on his entrails.
When he saw the Coup de Grace" he
stopped, and grim smile played across
his features as he fairly gloated over
the revolving scene. He seemed TO hall
imagine that 1t was himself astride the
frightened horse, and with poised spe ar
was about to ad minister the death blow
to some already defeated foe. When
shown tho masterpiece, questionable 10
Companions" he merely passed 1t by