Evening journal., 1893-05-24
AN INDIAN TRAGEDY.
THE WORK OF eLooDTHiRsTY lN-
DlANs QUICKLY AVENGED.

Husband and wife. Early settlers of the
Great Northwest Effect Of Firewater ON
the Redslxin.
The death of John Bonser, one of the
earliest pioneers Of Oregon, az SauVie IS
land, near Portland, recalls one OF the
bloOdiest trsgcdies that ever occurred IN
King county, and one which Will so uo"n
In history as the greatest example the pi-
oneers had of the evil effect of giving whis-
kvtothe indians. The event is memorable
for another reason, and that is that the
daughter OF John Bonser, wife OF William /
Caste and probably the most beautiful /
vyorna1, in the territory, was victim.
II dont take much stock in the hand /
eouna charming women we read about"
said c b. Bagley yesterday, but Mrs. |
CASIO il placed in Seattle today with the |
fnte and form as when she came among us
81 1864 would be among the most hand
zome women in the city, and l shall never
forget the sensation created in our little
settlement when messengers arrived from
souak valley. where the Castos moved,
with the news that Mrs Casio, her hus-
band and John Holstead had been killed by
Indians. and that q friendly klickitat had
slain the murderers."
At that time there was no bluebook, and
in fact women were scarce. IL is not sur
nrisinq. then. that the arrival Of William
Caste. a man aged 3s years and a true rep
resentative Of the Kentucky colonel type,
with his young wife, the daughter OF John
Bonscr of Sauvie's island, Columbia uNer
near Portland, should have been mem
orable occasion. Mrs Casio was natural,
not an artificial, beauty-one of those wom-
en to whom all apparel adapts itself ana
becomes a part Of the wearer. She was ad-
mired by all and fairly worshiped by her
husband. In the spring Caste took up "A
ranch in the heart of SQuak valley, where
the Tibbetts farm now lies. Here he built
a small house, put in a garden and com
menced clearing In order TO create an in
come for himself and wife he opened asmall
trading post and carried on the manufac
ture Of hoop poles. The valley was pecul-
iary adapted to this business owing to a
dense growth of hazel bush, the very article
most desired White labor was scarce, but
Casto with an eye to business, employed
Indians. For a wonder they applied them
selves diligently and became expert work
men.
Caste had great influence over his work
men and was looked up TO 10y them as a
sort OF white "tyeen or chief He had one
fault. which goes hand In hand the world
over with n free heart-he loved liquor and
now and then drank too much. He also
got in the habit of giving il TO the Indians
in his employ. On several occasions the
true Indian nature, under the influence OF
etimulants came out and 1t required all
his authority TO avoid bloodshed. lis
neighbors, who could be numbered ON the
fingers of both hands, with some TO spare
cautioned him not TO give "a redskin whis
XIV and arouse the devil" but he laughed
at them. and when they warned him o
treachery thought they spoke nonsense
He would not believe that the men WHOM
he had treated so kindly and beiriended il
every conceivable manner would do hin
harm under any conditions. lie reasone'
that his noighhors did not judge the char
acter OF she native correctly ami underesti
mated his influence There was no reaso'
why he should not give his Indians liquo
# he SO desired. He acted ON this decisio
on the afternoon Of Nov. z, 1864, and the
went to his home for supper.
The Indians got gloriously drunk an
then commenced TO thirst for blood. In th
crowd were two of the Snohomish trib.
bloodthirsty brutes and still seeking t'
venpe for the death Of their tribesmen an
chief on the Snohomish river the summit
preyious Their resolve was made. Cnsto
life would atone for that of the chief b
wife and friend, John Holstead, for q
other two. They secretly took their gun
and went to Casto's house. The curtain
the room wherein all three were seated 4
the supper table was up, and the breast
Caste was in plain view of the assassin
There was no hesitation ON the part OF q
Indians.
The first shot crashed through the wi
dow and pierced Caste in a vital spot. /
arose TO his feet, staggered and fell upon
lounge. His wife sprang 20 his assistan'
but the rifle spoke again and She fell to
floor The third shot hit Iolstead, but n
fatally, and the Indians, determined
eomplete their bloody work, ran to {
front door. They were met by Holstee
who fought like a demon, but at lens
fell, his body stabbed in more than
places Not content with the slaughter
ready done, the bloodthirsty wretches drc
their knives into the body of Caste be-
,ifnl wife in q manner most inhuman lil
ing finished their bloody work they lctt
house. never for q moment thinking th
lives were in danger In this particu
they made q fatal error
The shots fired had attracted klicki
Indian named Aleck 10 the scene. He
a true friend to the white man and h
Casio. his employer, in high regard
took him but a brief period TO compreh'
the situation He concealed himself, Z
when the briites came out of the house
crept up behind them. One shot \
enough TO end the earthly career of ON
them. but the other took to his he
Alecls followed him with a hatchet he
drawn from his belt, aud being heetei
foot caught up. Then with one swift b
the skrll of the fleeing Indian was cl
and as he fell headlong TO the ground al
the bloody hatchet drank blood until
head that but q few minutes before
human shape looked like chopped pa
kin.
out Of the killing by Aleck Of the
snohomish Indians grew a feud whic
suited in the death of Alexis son.
old man was the one wantcc, but he
zoo quick with the rifle, and they nevei
MIN. He died a few years ago, aged ns
10 years.-Seattle Post-Intelligencer.