The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-02-20
THE BATTLE OF OKANOGAN.

The reluctance exhibited by the Indians
to part with that part of the great Okano-
gan reservation lying at the mouth of the
Okanogan river was owing to the fact that
great burying place was located on the
river bottom, on the site of the present
town Of Swansea. . fact that is well
authenticated by the large number of HUI
man bones found in making excavations
Tor foundations, cellars, etc. 1t is said by
the old Indians living along the Columbia
that many years ago, when old Fort
Okanogan was destroyed by the Indians
and the Hudson Bay Company employees
massacred, the Indians thought that they
had settled the hated King George men
forever. but they reckoned without think
ing of the long arm of the old COM
pany. When the news of the mas
sacre reached headquarters at Vic
toria orders were soon speeding by
special courier to tough old Alexander
Ross, who commanded the company's
post at Vancouver, now . United States
military post in this state. to take instant
measure to punish the Indians and rebuild
the post. With his usual energy Ross
gathered his forces and with a we'll
equipped party of voyagers and fiotila
OF batteaux carrying q few brass four.
FOUNDERS, the outfit started on their long
voyage up the Columbia. After the weary
portage around the Cascades they finally
arrived at Rock Island, where now tho
Great Northern railroad crosses the
Columbia. Here they had their first
encounter with the Indians, who were
soon driven of, and the party, after
another portage around the rapids. COM
menced the last stage of their journey to
the ruins of Fort Okanogan. The Indians
made great preparations to drive back
the invaders If their hunting grounds.
With all the canoes that could be
gathered from the Methow, Okanogan
and upper Columbia rivers, the fighting
strength of all the tribes lay con-
cealed in the backwaters of the Okanogan,
where it joins the Columbia, awaiting the
arrival of the hated King George men.
when they would sweep out and utterly
annihilate the unsuspecting enemy, but
Ross, being cunning leader. was not to
be taken by surprise. A close watch was
kept as the outfit proceeded up the river,
and they finally arrived opposite the
mouth of the Okanogan, where they be-
held the swarm Of Indians issuing from
their place of hiding, and in answer to the
directed fire Of musketry soon turned the
tide of battle in favor of the whites. while
the crash of the shots from the four
Founders told of broken canoes and SWIM
ming Indians. Eager to inf1ict q much
merited punishment on the Indians who
were thus providentially placed within
their grasp, the Hudson Bay men pursued
the flying Indians, who now anxious for
nothing but to escape, made what haste
they could to reach the foothills and
safety. The whites. with their artillery
and musketry, shot down all who could
be reached without mercy. Ross, in his
report of the occurrence. says with the
brevity of our own PEBBLE: II met the In
dians at the Okanogan and buried 11S on
the spot where they fell. Those that were
not buried foated down the river" While
working on the grade at Swansea on Sat-
urday last . much rusted sphere of iron
was turned up on the sidehill facing the
site of the battle and burial place. This
bit of old iron, which is undoubtedly one
of the cannon balls fired at the Indians, is
in the possession of Mr.. A. E. Baird, at
Swansea, who intends to present it to the
State Historical Society. Okanogan Out
Ionk