The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1894-08-23
STORY OF A CHIEF
How He Died an Outcast in the
Land of His Birth.
HIS PART IN THE WAR OF 1858
He Was IA Good Indian and Always Kedt
His Promise, Although He Was
Greatly Abused.

Olu Cnlel Oarryf WHOSE portrait III
oil will adorn the walls of the art gal
lery of the Tacoma fair. alongside
these of Seattle anG other noted In
dian chiefs of early days, was born
within sound of the cataracts of the
Spokane. When yet a STRIPPING he
was taken under the care of the Hud-
son Bay Company and sent up TO old
4 ort Garry on the Red river, whence
his name. He remained there num-
Der of years. and returned a fair master
of the English tongue.
81 first saw Garry at Spokane bridge
in 1872" said M. M. Cowley, as he
dropped into u reminiscent mood.
HE must have been about 80 when he
died. Garry was never a troublesome
Indian. His was IA peaceful nature,
and there was little fight in him."
"How came it that lie was "a wan
derer with his people.up TO the time of
his lonely death in tepeo on the
banks of Hangman?"
81 will give you the story. Some 10
years ago the war department. sent
General Howard TO Spokane 10 treat
with Garry's band and persuade them
to go upon one of the surrounding res
ervations. With the general came
Governor Ferry and Lieutenant Will
kinson. who then had charge of the
Iudian training school ut Forest Grove,
Or. Moses had just made his peace
with the government, and was brought
along, resplendent in broadcloth and
silk hat, us living example of the
generosity of the government to its
obedisnt wards. 1t was not u polite
thing to do, for Garry hated Moses.
and would not take him for example.
General Howard opened the confer
ence and made u speech urging the In
dams to go upon one of the reserva-
lions already established. The govern
ment, he said, was opposed to creating
any more reservations, but if Garry
and his people would go eisew here
they could Lave their choice and would
be guaranteed every advantage ex-
tended to any other band.
Governor Ferry followed General
Howard, and after him spoke Lieute H.
ant Wilkinson. Wilkinson told the
Indians how he loved them, even bet
ter than the whites, because their
hearts were as those of little children.
Now, why can you not be good In.
dians like Moses?' he asked. See
what the great father has done for
him.
Garry's Great Speech.
'Garry rose with great deliberation.
He understood the custom of the coun.
ellis, he said, and that ordinarily he
would be expected to reply to his white
brothers in the order they had spoken,
but in this Instance he desired to make
an exception. For the words of the
last speaker were still ringing in his
ears, and he would answer them while
they were fresh In his memory. Years
before, he said, there was gold ex'
element OH the Frazer river, and q
large company of miners had passed
through this country on their way tc
the mine'. They slept one night in
the Grand Coulee in the Big Bend
and the following morning one of the
party was lett sleeping in his blankets
and the purity pressed on. An Indian,
who Lad been hiding in Tie brush
stole upon the sleeping miner, cut his
throat and took all his property. THAI
indian said Garry, was NJ oses, YOU
good chief. If he is q good Indian
then is Garry bad one, fol
Garry never killed white man. On,
no! There is no blood upon these
hands. | was born by these waters,
he went on. The ear.h here is m,
mother. If the great father will no
give me land at this place, / will no
go TO another reservation, but will
stay here until the whites push me out
and out, and out, until there is no NOR,
OUT"
From this decision Garry never wav
cred; and that Is how he and his peopl,
became vagabonds in the land that haC
given them birth.