The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1894-12-20
HISTORY Of EARLY DAYS
An Account Of The Indian Uprising In
The Seventies.
MASSACRE OF The PERKINS FAMILY
Col. Chas. m. Hsisen Tells the story
OF the Dupiicity Of Moses and the
CaPssre OF she Redskins by Yak
iua's Gallant band OF Pioneers.

terestinR 10 many OF It's features. IL is
not the least SO as to the relations Of the
Indians and early white settlers. No
general massacre OF whites ever occurred
in this valley, bnt many pioneers still
live who realize how narrowly the settlers
escaped bloody war and perhaps total
annihilation in the summer of 1873.
That it had been determined by the
Piutes, Moses Indians and the meansr
and more savage elements of several
other tribes to sweep the whites out Of
what is now Yakima aud Kittitas coun.
ties, there can be no doubt.
The campaign against the whites was
deliberately and skillfully organized
Rumors of its impending reached some
Of the settlements weeks before the move
ment was to begin. The people of Yak
ina City notified the territorial governor,
Elisha p. Ferry, that they anticipated
serious outbreak of the Indians, and
asked his aid. Governor Ferry, ever
prompt in the performance OF duty started
at once with General Howard some in
fantry, cannon and other arms, on a
steamboat, up the Columbia.
As planned, the Indian campaign con-
templated the Piutes-then in eastern
Oregon-would cross the Columbia at
Umatilla. Moses and his band would be
between Wenatchee and the Kittitas val
ley, and Chief Smalley with his renegades
on the upper Nstcheez. Thus located,
Moses and Smalley awaited the coming
of a runner to inform them of the safe
crossing OF the Columbia by the Piutes
and the hour for the murderous work to
begin. The Piutes were to raid the lower
Yakima and Parker Bottom, Moses was
to clean out the Kittitas valley, cross the
Umptanum mountain and sweep the We
mas, and Smalley was to do the bloody
work in the Natcheez and the Cowychee !;
and the three divisions were to meet for
a grand slaughter of the citizens OF Yak
ina City, the Ahtsnum and those who
had escaped from the other settlements.
and prepared to sell their lives at the
highest figure. Stockades were built -
one where Ellensburg now is, one in the
Wenas valley and one in the Ahtanum
The Bollman hall building at Yakima
City-t the building now known as the
Centennial hotel at North Yakima-was
fortified, and the women and children
gathered there. Such was the situation
when Ferry and Howard arrived at Una
tilla in the nick of time. to hurl grape
and canister into the Piutes about to
cross the Colum bia. This tribe left the
warpath and returned whence they came.
As a result, the grand hunt for scalps was
abandoned.
This uprising resulted in the murder of
two white people by the Indians. Lo-
renzo Perkins, brother Of Mrs. L. J.
May, of this city, had stock ranch on
the Columbia near White Bluffs. With
his wife, Blanche, knowing nothing of
the outbreak, he started on horseback
for Yakima City to buy provisions.
They halted for lunch at Rattlesuake
springs, unsaddling their horses. They
saw party of Eve mounted In,.ians APP
preaching. When a little way off the
party halted and one came to them and
asked for food. He was told they had
but little, but that it should be divided
with him. While Mr.. Perkins was get
ting the food for him the other Indians
crept into a clump OF brush and fred at
Mr.. and Mrs. Perkins, wounding Mr..
Perkins in the hand. He quickly helped
his wife upon her barebacked horse and
they rode away at run. Had the horses
been saddled they would have escaped /;
the ponies OF the Indians, who pursued
at once. being jaded from hard riding.
But, not used to riding without saddle,
Mrs. Perkins fell from her horse and, her
husband stopping to aid her, they were
overtaken and both shot Their effects
were taken and their bodies covered with
rocks at the eide OF a canyon. The muir
der was unknown to the whites for two
weeks. Finally Adam Duncan, who also
had ranch near the bluffs, came to
Yakima City and asked Mrs. May what
had become OF Mr., and Mrs. Perkins
She supposed they were at home. They
then concluded they had gone to Walla
Wslla foi safety. On bis way back 20
his ranch Mr.. Duncan discovered a saddle
blanket. which he identified as having
belonged to Mr.. Perkins, and then sue
| ceeded in discovering the bodies-which
were afterwards removed and buried at
Yakima CITY.
1 II was truly conjeetured that the muir
derers had joined Moses band. General
Howard was notified and proceeded to
Priest Rapids by steamer, ard held a
"wah.wah" with Moses--who agreed to
deliver the murderers 'f in his midst 4"
This he failed to do, claiming they were
not with hin. He continued to harbor
/, them until the winter of 1880, when
about all the able-bodied men in and
around Yakima City formed company,
with William Splawn as captain, for the
purpose OF going to Moses camp on the
Columbia near Priest Rapids to guard
the murderers to the county seat-Moses
having agreed to turn them over. Ten
Indian police from the reservation accom-
panied the party. Nearing the rapids the