The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-26
A MEMORABLE DAY.
Thirty-Fifth Anniversary of
the Battle of Seattle.
THE ATTACK BY THE sAvAGEs.
The Gallant Defense OF the Infant City
Against the Indians-The De-
catur's Prompt Relief.

to recall the breakfast scene of thirty-five
years ago this morning in the little pioneer
settlement about the sawmill on Elliott
bay. While enjoying the blessings of
peace and comfort in the beautiful homes
of the splendid city that has spread over
the wooded slopes and gulches
Where the hunter OF deer and the warrior trod,
To his hills that encircle the sea-
They should commemorate the courage
and heroism of the rugged pioneers. who
by labor and sacrifice reclaimed the wilder
ness and made it TO blossom as the rose.
Early IN the morning of January 20,
1906, about each dwelling IN tie little city,
number of savage klickitats had secreted
themselves, awaiting the settlers breakfast
hour. At a preconcerted signal they We're
10 fire upon the unsuspecting dwellers
in the houses and utterly exterminate the
little community. 1t was a time of gen.
eral Indian uprising. All the tribes from
the California line to British Columbia
were on the warpath. The hostiles had
passed through the ghost dance stage, and
had actually commenced the war of ex-
termination. Mining parties journeying
beyond the mountains 10 the COlyllle gold
field during the preceding summer were
cut of by the wild Yakimas, Klickitats or
Walla Wallas. Unarmed immigrant par
ties had been slaughtered on the plains of
Eastern Washington. Indian Agent Bolon,
during the preceding September had been
murdered in the Yakima country while on
peaceful mission. In October the hor-
rible White river massacre had terrorized
the struggling settlements on the Sound.
The farmhouses of the surrounding coun-
try had all been burned, and the frightened
settlers had left their farms and taken
refuge in the larger settlements around the
sawmill.
Two block houses were built of hewn
timber, l2xf2, one on the knoll where the
Safe Deposit building now stands,
and the other at the junction of
Main and South Second streets.
The two were connected by a stockade,
which also extended from each blockhouse
westward to the harbor. The houses were
provided with safe quarters for the women
and children, with port holes above for
firing upon assailants.
In January 900 hostile kliekitats filed
through the Cascade passes and camped
on the east side of Lake Washin gton.
News of their arrival soon reached Seattle,
and the town hastily prepared for the
siege. The Indians on Lake Washington
ferried the invading Klickitats across the
lake. The shadows of the forest covering
the ridges between the lake and the Sound
concealed the skulking klickitats.
Fortunately for the settlers, the United
States sloop of war Decatur was riding at
anchor in the harbor, having been here
since October. Early in the morning of
January 20, 1856, while the Indians were
in wait to massacre the settlers during
their breakfast, Lieutenant Phelps, of the
Decatur discovered all the friendly and
neutral Indians in the town hurrying from
their huts TO their canoes. He as in
formed by one of them that the Kiickitats
had come to take the town. At O'Clock
In the morning Captain Ganesvoort called
his officers together on ship board and a
consultation was held. The conclusion
was that the attack would probably be
made on the following night. Accordingly,
at 80 a. M, the officers and men were
called on board and ordered to rest during
the day for duty during the following
night.
While this was transporting on shipboard
the savages were in hiding about the set
tiers cabins awaiting momentariiy the
signal of the breakfast slaughter Before
the signal was given, however, Lieutenant
Phelps ran upon the upper deck to take
look over the town with his glass. He de-
tected number of Indians CARRYING away
rolls of leather from the tannery in a little
ravine near the town. He reported what he
saw to Capt. Ganesyoort, who ordered him
to go ashore and fire the howitzer into
them. Within five minutes the order was
obeyed and the savages, who had planned
to surprise the settlers, were themselves
surprised and the town was saved. The
most terrific war-whoops and wells from
the secreted savages followed the
howitzer's roar. The settlers, who were
scattered about the town, rushed in terror
TO the block-houses. The women with
their children, leaving their hats and bon
nets behind, left their kitchens with
the steaming morning meals I'M
touched on the tables, aud ran
for their lives to the palisades,
The savages, from behind a thousand trees,
opened terrific fire on the fleeing men.
women and children Bullets whizzed
the Decatur, stationed in the block
house, returned the fire over the
heads of the settlers. The Indians, from
their sheltered positions behind trees or
stumps, kept up a rapid and continuous
fire all the forenoon. The Decatur poured
in broadside after broadside with fearful
execution.
About O'Clock in the morning Milton
G. Holgate, a brother of Mrs. A J Hanford,
stepped 10 the door of the stockade with
his gun in his hand, and Immediately fell
dead with bullet in his brain. The only
other fatality on the side of the settlers
was Robert Wilson, a stranger in the town.
Over TOO savages were found dead around
the settlement after the battle.
About noon the Indians ceased firing for
about half an hour, while they partook of
the cows belonging to the settlers. which
their women had killed and roasted. Dur
ing this lull in the battle. the women and
children in the block-houSes were taken
aboard the ship Decatur and the
bark Brontes. then lying in the harbor.
The men attempted to recover from the
dwellings the provisions they had left be-
hind. While they were doing this the In
dianS recommended firing and they were
driven back into the stockades Through
out the afternoon the Decatur continued 10
shell the woods IN which the savageS were
secreted.
After dark scouts were sent out from the
stoCkade TO reconnoiter. They found that
the savages were robbing the houses and
had placed Fleetwood around them ALL
preparatory to burning them. The fam
ing dwellings were 10 be the signal for the
Indians across the Sound TO Join them
in the siege of the stockade. They were
prevented from carrying out this design
10y vigorous Smelling from the Decatur
The explosion of the bombs while living on
the ground, excited their superstitious ter
rors, They paid but slight head TO rihe
balls or cannon balls but the fearful exc
cutiou of the shells filed them with con-
sternation, They held consultation and
decided to stop firing.
On the following day q substantial
stockade, protecting the principal street of
the town, was erected. The Indians
camped against the town for two or three
weeks, but never renewed the attack.
DR.. II. \. Smith, who was here during
the siege, in q newspaper article some years
ago. related what he saw as follows:
had rooms in Captain Falkers house, which
still stands near the water, on the south side OF
Jackson street and west OF Commercial. / was
in the southeast corner room of the second story
al clock a. m-- when heard heavy firing Of
cannon and musketry. threw up the window
facing Commercial street and saw
the marines OF the ship Decatur A l. : man