The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-07-05

settlement Is on small peninsula, back
of which runs marsh. since filled up. The
bridge is on the line of Jackson street; the
street through the peninsula is now Com
mercial, and the one down to the water Of
the Sound in Yesler avenue. Yesler's lit
tie mill is at the waters edge, and short
distance back of it is the old cook house.
The wooden stockade extends between two
blockhouses, one on a knoll at the foot of
Cherry street. and the other at the end of
the bridge, near the corner of Jackson
street and South Second. At the end of
the bridge nearest the Indians is the tam
merry, set on fire just as the battle began.
The gas works now occupy the site.
The peninsula ended about where
the track runs out to the
Oregon Improvement Company's coal
bunkers. One of the smallest houses
shown in the picture IS that of Dexter Hor-
ton. The Hanford house is close to the
swamp, which comes nearly to the side of
the Occidental block. The "White church"
stands where the Boston block does now,
and next to it is the house of the pastor,
Rev. ID. f. Blaine. Curiously enough, Mr.
Blaine is still living, and the church is
standing. 1t has been moved to form the
rear end of clearinghouse on Cherry
street. Any one who will walk through
the alley from Cherry to James, between
Second and Third streets can see the front
of the old structure, with IN. f. church.
1855" painted on the glass above the door.
The battle was fought January o. 1856.
Most of the tribes between the California
line and British Columbia had been on the
war path, and in Eastern Washington. as
well as IN the Puget sound district, num-
4 4 Il. Ill
against possible attack the two block
houses of hewn timber had been
built at Seattle, and the stockade erected
between them.
In January a thousand Kllckitats had
fled through the passes of the Cascades,
and had camped on the east side of Lake
Washington. The Indians there had fer
ried the invaders across, and the forest on
the hill above the little settlement con-
cealed the hostiies until the time for the
attack. Fortunately for Seattle the United
States sloop Of war Decatur was riding in
the harbor. She it was who saved the day.
for the kIickitats were the fierce Indians
of the plains, and they had resolved to
wipe the settlement on Elliott bay from
the face OF the earth.
The Indians had planned to massacre
men, women and children at breakfast
time on the morning OF January %. The
best shooters were to come down close 10
the houses and fire volley or two. The
whites would return the fire and the In
dams retreat. Then the whites following
the Indian skirmishers, would be led
against the great body of Indians hidden
little way up the hill.
Rut Lieutenant Phelps at about 10 o'clock
in the morning saw the Indians carrying
rolls Of leather away from the tannery,
and then Captain Gansevoort, Of the De-
catur, ordered the howigzer 10 be taken 10
the bridge and shot aimed st the tannery.
The nrst discharge of the howItzer vas
followed by terrific war whoop and
voiley from the whole line Of the chap
parel skirting the village. Everybody ran
| heller sketes 10 the block houses for pro-
lection, and the steaming morning meals
were left untouched on the tables Had il
not been for the fact that the rifles in the
hands ot the Indians had been generally
empIied by the first yolley many OF the IN
hab.tants would have fallen on the way 10
place of safety. Fortunately all escaped
without injury. The smoke from the
rifles indicated that the front line held by
the Indians at the beginning OF the attack
extended along where Third street now