The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1893-11-02

| auiSt tof thc Htttc eVoSh tHth iuhhiuB a.
large. The grass was over six feet tai
and very dense. Striking camp the next
lay We crossed the Simcoe mountains
| md came to the beautiful Simcoe valley
now embraced in the Yakima reservation.
On November we made our way in the
Mills through which flows the Yaki.Ds
river, then known as the 1.-TWO Butres"
Here the first active engagement Of our
campaign against the Sily and wicked
children Of the forest occurred. Our ad.
vance guards, consisting OF companies
commanded by Captains Cornelius, Hem.
brie aud Bennett, drove the Indians from
their ambush in the brush along the
river.
The savag,s numbered about $40. and
were disposed to be ugly.
Being driven from their valley. they
intrenched themselves in their rude forth
locations upon the buttes. A howitzer
was used in our first attempt to dislodge
| them, but the shots fell short and
charge was made upon the enemy by the
commands under Major Haller and Cap
tain Augur, assisted by corps Of volun.
teers. who charged up the rugged face OF
the mountain. forcing the Indians from
their position aud compelling them to flee
down the opposite side Of the butte in hot
haste.
Finding that the whites were deter
mined to force the fighting at short range,
II possible, the Indians made no effort TO
assist the elimination, and kept a safe
distance out Of range.
That night we camped at the base Of
the buttes, near the river, and the first
dawn Of the next day disclosed the unwel-
come sight Of numerous Indians lurking
about from place TO place upon the butte,
and to emphasize their presence they &C.
casionally sent stray bullet into our
camp. An order was at once given to
drive them from their vantage ground,
and our command separated, one COM
pany going up the face of the hill and the
remainder coming through the canyon
between the two buttes.
Just as we reached the north side an
Indian on horseback came at breakneck
speed around the bluff within fifty yards
of us, and as he passed, Lieutenant ID. b.
Hannah jumped from his horse and,
taking good aim with his rife, made an
angel OF that noble red man in less time
than it takes to tell it. 1t was near the
same place, on the side of the mountain,
that made the first notch on my trusty
rifle by swelling the number Of good In
dams in the happy hunting grounds.
A party of US went out, contrary to
orders, to see ii We could not have some
fun and reduce the number OF our foes at
the same time. Going to the top OF the
mountain, we were greatly annoyed by
an Indian who, from the shelter OF a large
rock in the gulch below us, was trying TO
play hand at our game. He would step
out in full view and fire at us, and before
we could bring to bear on him he was
safely ensconsed behind his natural
breastworks. Watching my opportunity,
slipped away from the crowd and rapid
ly made my way around the hill, out OF
sight OF lhe pesky redskin. Unsuspicious
of danger, he stepped out to try another
shot at my comrades, but before he could
get his gun in position let him have one
in the ribs and, throwing his arms above
his head, with wild yell he gently
passed into the spirit land. Years after
wards his skull was found by II. III.
Adkins, who died recently at Yakima
City, and it is now in my possession.
Having run the Indians from the hills,
We started on the 10th of Novembet to
follow them up the Ahtanum valley and,
in company with Joseph Buff and an In
dian guide known as Cut Mouth-J John"
l separated from the main body OF our
command and started around the noun
tains. We had not proceeded great dis
lance when our Umatilla guide called our
attention to an Indian who was coming
full tilt in our direction. The siwash rode
rapidly towards us, and as pulled the
trigger OF my gun. the horse rode gave a
sudden spring, throwing the muzzle Of my
gun in the air, where it was discharged.
Mr.. Indian came up within few feet of
me, swapping an old Hudson Bay COM
pany's pistol, about two feet long, right
at me, but 1t failed to 60 off, and our
dusky foe went whizzing by, followed by
my saddle animal and Cut Mouth-John
close behind. Our guide was riding a
good horse and soon overlook the fleeing
savage. Placing the muzzle of his gun
directly between the shoulders OF the In
dian, our John pulled the trigger and
blew a hole through that redskin that
a cat could crawl through.
| Twenty-seven years after the event re-
corded l met Cut outh-John in Pendle-
ton, Or, and We had great "wahwah"
about our campaign in the Yakima val
ley. Catching my own and the Indians
horse, and allowing Cut Mouth-John to
relieve the Indian OF his scalp, we returned
to the command. Our next stop was
within two miles OF the Catholic mission,
in the Ahtanum valley. Several Of our
men, myself among the number, went up
to the old mission and, arriving there, we
found that some one had preceded Ms. A
lot OF devilment had been done, by whom
it was never ascertained, and the place
was deserted Candles, cruCifixes, beads
and other Romish emblems were scattered
in ruthless chaos all around, and vandal
hands had worked irreparable injury to
beautiful paintings and other decorations.
A serious effort was made by our officers
TO discover the author of these impious
outrages, and it would have Jared badly