The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-02-16
COLvILLE NEWS.
Indian Authorities Stop Bridge Work
Successor to Tonasket to Be Chosen.


Successor to Tonasket to Be Chosen.
CoLvILLE, WASH, Feb. 4.-fSpeclal l.
About four years ago the citizens of Mar
Gus, on the Columbia river, in this county,
at the terminus of the Spokane Falls g.
Northern railway, subscribed nearly 81, GOO
for the purpose of constructing bridge
across wide slough on the opposite side
Of the river, on the Colyille reservation.
Most of this money was expended on the
proposed work. but recently the Indian
authorities have become so vigilant lest
the white man will lntrude upon the
rights of his Indian neighbor that they
have stopped any further work on the re-
serve, unless done by authority from the
department. The Marcus people have now
forwarded petition to congress asking
that an appropriation be made to build
this much needed bridge.
The Indians on the Colville reservation
are about to lose their favorite chieftain,
old Tonasket. The big chief has for long
time suffered from blindness. Last fall he
had one of his optics removed by an ocu-
list, in consequence of which his health
has been SO seriously impaired that he has
called the favored members of his tribe to-
gether at his big ranch on Kettle river,
and will surrender his leadership to their
choice. The coming ruler will probably
he Kolaskin. kolaskin is a middle-aged
man of good habits, and is also a great
favorite with the Indians. He will per-
will exhort his followers to cleave to the
example of frugality set by his ihustrious
predecessor.
The Colville Indians bring large quanti-
ties of eggs and poultry across to the white
settlements and sell the produce to the
merchants for cash, the eggs are 20 cents
per dozen and chickens at Is cents each,
a ma NJ
that.
A band of about 1900 head of horses of
various descriptions, and carrying brands
of almost every design, have recently been
driven over on the reservation by unknown
white men. 1t is thought these horses are
stolen property from settlements in the
more southern portion of the state.
w. II. Walters. the ferryman at Marcus,
has by some act incurred the disfavor of
the Indian department, and while he car
ries license from the civil authorities to
conduct ferry at that point, the Indian
agent, acting under authority from his SUI
perior, has ordered his arrest if he be
caught in person landing on the reserva-
ton soil, Mr.. Walters, however, operates
the ferry by employing Indians to do the
work, which is fair compromise, he peck
etlng the proceeds, as any ordinary busi-
ness man would under such circumstances.
Just why Walters has been selected to be
tantallZed by the authorities Is unknown
to people outside of official circles
During the past three months.sGodl
Fatzer, who owns small Touring mill at
Addy station, fourteen miles south of Col
vile on the Colville river, has had his mill
dam blown out with giant powder by in
cendiaries. The last charge was placed
under the water-wheel and the machinery
was nearly all wrecked by the explosion.
The acts of destruction have invariably
been done in the night. Two recent set
tiers on the land above the mill, and in
Guiding small area of the overflow from
back water from the dam, have been ar
rested and held to answer for the crime.
Thomas Tilson, prospector, who was one
of the parties arrested and remanded to
jail in default of bail, was discharged upon
proper recegnizance and Immediately
threatened Fatzer's life. The officers are
now in search of Tilson, who will prob
ably go to Jail on another charge. Fatzers
mill is one of the first in the valley, and
tor twenty odd years has done good service
for the large neighborhood of farmers sur
rounding. Fatzer is man who has few
enemies and he is seriously worked up
over the efforts against his life and prop
erty.. The parties doing the mischief evil
IDENTIFY wish to rid their overflow land of
the back water from the dam, and as Fat
ger has prior right to the water privilege
by score of years there is no civil process
that will remove the old mans mill or
DAM