, 1892-07-25
INDIANS COMING!
They Move on Olympia from East
of the Mountains.
settlers Pouring Into the Capital TO
save Themselves From Massacre.
AtLeast That is what They Did
Thirty-Seven Years Ago.

'CeeASA y pAAAh AhAp AhS OARAbaA -
save Themselves From Massacre
AtLeast That is what They Did
Thirty-Seven Years Ago.
Urban E. Hicks, the first auditor of thu
territory of Washington, father of Gwir
Hicke, who was the only native son mem
Der of the constitutional convention, says
in the Tacoma Ledger of Sunday in a long
and interesting story of the early days in
Washington:
October 30, 1856, was residing on do.
nation land claim on Chambers prairie
six miles east of Olympia. My wife had
given birth to baby the night previous
About 10 O'Clock in the morning A. NJ
Poe, county auditor Of Thurston county,
came rapidly riding past my cabin door
with the startling information that the In
dians west of the mountains had broken
out on the war path and were numbering
the white settlers and families as fast as
they came to them, and warning us to fee
to town as quickly as possible. He was
one of the escaping messengers from
Eaton's party on the Puyallup. An OK
team and wagon was procured and
with assistance of neighbors my wife
and baby were lifted into the wagon,
bed and all, and hauled to town
over new road just opened. On
arrival at town in the evening, great
excitement prevailed. The settlers for
miles around were fast crOWding into the
small village and every available shelter
was sought TO protect the women and child
rem. Two and three families were crowded
into one small room, and others found
shelter in Woodsheds and outhOuses. 1t
was then manifest how utterly unprepared
the whites were for such an uprising. Men
and women, with banched faces and ter
ror-stricken countenances, appealed 10
each other for help and protection. I'm
necessary alarm no doubt, was felt, but the
lack of arms or means of defense, the un-
certain number of hostile Indians or their
locality, the scattered settlements and re-
stricted means of communication all com
bined to present difficulties not previously
anticipated.
A small home guard was quickly formed
under command of Captain Isaac Hayes,
brother of Judge Gilmore Hayes, picket
sentries placed on the hills above town
and every precautiOn taken to prevent
sudden attack. Within a few days about
two blocks Of the town we're stockaded by
placing split logs, ten or twelve feet in
length, on END close tOgether, with con-
venient portfolios and bastions from which
TO shoot should occasion require. Every
piece offirearm of any use Was hunted ~
and loaded. Powder and shot immedi.
ately arose to fabulous prices. l bought a
small Kentucky ride, paying $40 cash
which did not cost at the factory above S6
and Colts revolver, second d-hand, for $24
not worth So. Arms and ammunition
we're very scarce, the Indians having
bought up all they could before the war, as
it was the habit Of merchants and traders
to sell to Indian hunters such supplies
without reserve, as war WAS not dreamed
of. They had also procured from the Hud.
son Bay company large quantities of mus
kets, powder and ball and sheath-kniye'
without suspicion, perhaps.
After time matters quieted somewhat
for the winter. The farmers returned tC
their homes TO look after stock and pu
things to rights some fortified their homes
and returned with their families.