Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-02-28
A SCRAP OF HISTORY
which Reaches Back to IN Early isdi.p
Wsr.


The following account Of the murder Of A 3
BoiAn, Indian agent At Fort Simcoe. SAYS fhe
Head River Glacis-. was given by an old Indlsn
now resident az White salmon. Wash. WHO
had il direct FROM the lips 81 Chief Gwhi's ssn
jus; before his execution. who. with his iso
companions. was hung by Col Wright a; siaB-
coe agency for tins most nnrrovoked and cold
blooded murder
War and rumors Of war were rife vssae
nneasiness rested upon the isolated families 20
eastern Oregon. The government with 10
usual sympathy and criminal negligence. haa
tailed 10 provide any adequate protectiaa
against the numerous hordes OF savRge- LAT
roamed the eastern pl.ins. The fss stracglias
companies % blue coats tina, were within reseh
were ss rule poorly oficerea and totally unsr-
quainted with Indian tactics and ~.r. held 4.
supreme contempt by their dusky oppouents
Numerous murders had been committed "a
the frontier and there were onninous sigtts n
an impending storm, a general uprising Of tiss
tribes Of eastern Oregon and Washington thas
the coming spring only too surely fufll.A
Col Wright IN his helpless Indignation uttered
threats OF direst vengeance shonia the red msn
persist m his little game Of scAlping and tite
certain result Of Indian war. with its usual
accompaniment Of rapins and murder, Vs.
upon Ms in our helplcssness.
On September IS 1885. Indian Agent Rolau
left the bslles on horseback for the agency as
trip TO the Willamette valley aud was hurrVit.s
back on account ~ the restless condition Of tao
faklmas. some OF whom had heen accused q
participating IN some OF the recent murders.
AT the Dalles he WAS urged not "a undertake.
the trip alone. but fearing no personal violenls
be started alone and unarmed. On his wsv
through The khckltat valley he overlook three
Yakima Indians accompanied by three sqaays
ell on their way toward his destination. The
trail ran somewhere near where the presellt
Lilo
Simcoe mountsins. The distance, eighty mies
being too great TO make that dAy canip
was struck on one of the numerous streamltts
that run down the mountain side.
NJ. Bolan dismonnted. unsaddled and stskad
ms horse, and. returning 80 the fire divided It's
scanty store of biscuits and butter with hss
dusky companions. little dreaming OF the awfsl
fate so close before him. The conv.rsatlun
turned upon the recent murders and Very uu-
wisely Boan reiterated Mrights pouderotss
threats OF vengeance and determination.
Then, and not till then. WAS BolAns des.A
decided upon. Two of the three quietIf
stepped behind him and pinioned HI. arms.
while the third seized him around the less
and threw him Co thc ground, where he was 60
curely tied hand and foot. When this was sS-
oomplished his captors held a consultation 90
to the the disposition TO he made of she captive
Bolan pleaded piteogsly for his life. but n
hearts that knew pity. One Of the savag,as
seized him by the halr and drawing his h.sa
across his Knee. cut his throat from ear TO oaf
The body was then placed upon his horse and
carried some distance below the trail. where
the horse was also killed. and both bodies coz
cred with brush and lett. The remains we're
not found until after the murderers were
caught by members Of their own tribe Hua
handed over 90 tie military for puuiShmcuf.
Then one of the three disclosed the location II
the body, which was taken 10 Vancouver for
burial Bancrofts version state that the
murderers tried to destroy both bodies d.
burning. This statement IL incorrect. the bodies
we're not burned.