Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1895-01-04
Col. HoIton Tells Of an indian Up
rising in the Seventies.
BLOODY PLANS OF THE INDIANS
Duplici,y OF Moses aud the Capture of
the Redskins by Yakima's Gal
Iant Pioneers.

massacre of whites ever occurred in
this valley. but many pioneers still live
who realize how narrowly the settlers
escaped a bloody war and perhaps total
humiliation in the summer of 1878.
That 1t had been determined by the
Piutes Moses Indians and the meanef
and more savage elements Of several
other tribes to sweep the whites out of
what is now Yakima and Kittitas coun-
ties. there can be no doubt.
The campaign against the whites was
deliberately and skillfully organized.
Rumors of it's impending reached some
of the settlements weeks before the
movement was to begin. The people
of Yakima city notified the territorial
governor. Elisha i. Ferry, that they
anticipated n 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 infantry, 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
Umatilia. Moses and his band would be
between Wenatchee and the kittitas
valley, and Chief Smalley with his rem
egrades ond the upper Natcheez. Thus
located, Moses and Smalley awaited the
coming of n runner To inform them of
the safe crossing of the Columbia by
the Piutes and the hour for the muir
.ierous work to begin.
BLOODY PLANS.
The Piutes were to raid the lower
Yakima and Parker bottom, Moses was
10 clean out the Kittitas valley, cross
the Umptanum mountains and sweep
the Wenas, 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 Yakima city, the Ahtanum
and those who had escaped from the
other settlements.
In the meantime the settlers were
alert 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 han build
ing at Yakima city-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
di1iNtu AZ bIldliili III tilt itith VI tifit.
to hurl grape shot and canister into
the Piutes about to cross the Columbia
This tribe left the war path and re-
turned whence they came. AS a re-
suit, the grand hunt for scalps was
abandoned.
This uprising resulted in the murder
of two white people by the Indians.
Lorenzo Perkins, a brother of Mrs
l.. j May of North Yakima, had a stock
ranch on the Columbia near White
Bluffs. With his wife, Blanche. know
ing nothing of the outbreak, he started
on horseback for Yakima city to buy
provisions. They halted for lunch at
Rattlesnake springs. unsaddling their
horses. They saw party of five mount
ed Indians approaching. When little
way off the party halted and one came
to them and asked for food. He was
told they had but little, but that IL
should be divided with him. While Mr..
Perkins was getting the food for him
the other Indians crept into clump OF
brush and fired at Mr.. and Mrs. Per-
kins wounding Mr.. Perkins in the
hand. He quickly helped his wife upon
her bareback horse and they rode away
at a run.
BOTH SHOT.
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 We're over
taken and both shot. Their effects were
taken and their bodies covered with
rocks at the side 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 that they had gone to
Walla Walla for safety. On his way
back to his ranch Mr.. Duncan discov-
cred saddle blanket which he identi-
fled as having belonged to Mr.. Perkins.
and then succeeded in discovering the
bodies. which were afterwards removed
and buried at Yakima City.
1t was truly conjectured that the muir
derers had Joined Moses band. General
Howard was notified and proceeded 70
Priest rapids by steamer and held a
'wah- wah" with Moses. who agreed to
deliver the murderers, IF in his midst =
This he failed to do, claiming they We're
not with him. He continued to harbor
them until the winter of 1S79-S0 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.
TRAP SET BY MOSES.
Ten Indian police from the reserva-
ton accompanied the party. Nearing
the rapids the police became suspicious
that Moses had set "A trap for them and
they advanced cautiously. 1t was soon
discovered that the police We're right
Moses and his entire band We're there
in strong position, war paint on an,
armed to the teeth. The citizens go
into position and leveled their Winches
ters on the Indians. Eight or ten rifle:
were drawn on Moses and as many or
his brother A "wah-wah" ensued. L
a gun had been fired there would hav,
been bloody work Whether or not /
was a case of zone afraid and the othel
daren't." the fact remains that the.
agreed not to open the ball then ant
there, which was doubtless the pruden
course for Captain Splawn and his men
Moses retreated about Is miles ant
went into camp near Moses lake. TIL
Yakima boys followed later and abou
midnight surprised his camp, capturing
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