Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-11
AN INDIAN TRAGEDY
CONNECTED WITH THE DISCOVERY
OF THE PlNE-CREEK MINES.
How Three "NobIe Red Men" Were
Cruelty Murdered by United States
Cavalry for Supposed Crime.
ISL. Louis Globe.l


The Umatella Indians during one Of their
annual hunting and fishing pllgrimages IN
the Eagle mountains brought several
ounces OF gold TO trader at Walla Walla,
which indicated that il had been extracted
from quartz by the crudest and most i'm
perfect means. The trader and two
companions became wild with envy
a. each returning party, of Indians
displayed quantities of the same cha-
racter Of gold, and determined upon find
Ing the locality of the. treasure, secret |
audience with one of the chiefs was
arranged. BY means of liberal offers of
" fre-wator tho chief Yves finally per-
suaded to divulge the secret and lead the
three traders to the place from whence his
long and handsomely beaded purse had 40
often been replenished. When everything
was in readiness for the start one of the
prospectors was taken suddenly Ill. and, "a
the expedition could not well be delayed NJ
that time. two adventures. with the chief
and two braves. pushed through the Blue
mountains and camped at the mouth OF tho
Big Minnuc river to await the coming
of the TNOspectOr left behind. This was
in June, 1862. and as the two whites
and three Indians were known 10 have been
In camp together pGfty OF cavalry was
detached from a command then stationed
i'm Grande Round valley to inspect the
camp of these Indians. as 1t was feared the
prospectOrs had been invelgled into the
mountains and murdered by the sayGges.
Riding into the camp the soldiers inquired
for the white men, but meeting with no
satisfactory answer 10 their interrOgatOries
thoy killed the three innocent Indians
within hearing of the men whose supposed
death they had so cruelty avenged. After
rifling the camp they returned TO their
command. whore they were applauded as
heroes rs the trophies Oftheir victory were
displayed. Enough had been learned Of
the locality Of the treasures 20 enable the
prospectors TO push onward toward the
towering mountain peaks or the Eagle
range, and, as IL was not deemed prudent
for them TO remain longer in the neighbour
hood where their companions had been
murdered, they accordingly pressed for
ward into the very heart of the mountains,
where, twenty years later. the Northwest
was startled by the discovery of quartz
fabulously rich in gold. The gold-bearing
region was within but few miles otwhere
our weary prOspeCtors gave up the search.
The streams of these mountains were
alive with brook trout, and in the noun
tains deer. elk and mountain sheep were
20 be found on every hand, while bear and
panther often made themselves far too IA
miliar with camp life. For many weeks
the party wandered among the almost i'm
penetrable forests of tais mountainous
country. Placer prospects were found IN
nany places. but, like Ponce de Leon, they
sought fountain which they never found.
At last. however, they espicd the beaut..
ful WallOwa Valley. thcn the home OF
Chief Joseph and his braves. and imme-
diately repaired 10 the banks OF the lake,
where they pitched their tents. resolved to
rest their weary horses as well as them
selves before pursuing their journey. The
Indians. however. were not disposed 10
give them peaceful possession OF their ter
ritory, and ordered them 20 move on. his
they did reluctantly. but without cere--
mony, leaving Chief Joseph and ms band
in peaceful possession Of lake and valley.
Going down the Wailowa river they found
thor way into Graude Round Valley. where
they heard for the first time the news OF
the discovery Of gold in Boise Basin,
whittier they arrived late in the fall.
There is but little doubt that the gold
for which this thorough but unsuccessful
search was made IN 1862 WAS found IN 1884
with the discovery of the Pine Creek mines.
The "Red jacket" and other locations
there show unmistakable signs of having
been worked by the primitive methods
used bv the Indians. Pestles of flint and
cOncqye granite boulders. used as hand
mor.ars. have been found near the
ledges. while corroded iron bars. used
no doubt as picks and levers. have been
unearthed There is a tradition even now
among the few surviving red men who an
nually visit the mines of Cornucopia that
the Great Spirit was very much displ pleased
at the chef and his companions who at
tempted to reveal the secret of their gold
mine to the whites, and that he sent an
evil spirit to destroy them for their per-
fdy: that mighty earthquake swallowed
them up. and with them the gold lodges
we're also destroyed.