The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1895-09-12

council, crept around as quietly as he
could. behind the indians. to the head
/ of the group. and sat down beside
Moses. He was hardly seated when
Moses turned toward him in anger
and said: ''Frenchman, what do you
want here?"
He told him that when he, Moses,
had finished his speech. he would tell
/ him why he came. Moses then pro
ceeded again with his talk. 1t was
! trying to SIT there and look on. In
/ the heart of our scout, Christian
though he was, danger seemed 100 i'm
minent to leave him unaffected. Great
anxiety and fear and apprehension Of
outrage made his heart beat fast; for
he well knew what Indians had done
and could do again, With abundant
beads around the neck Of some, with
arms in the hand, or near by, with
/ faces and necks brilliant from fresh
paint. and with feathers or wings of
birds for ornaments as on dress Occa-
sions. some with knives, some with
| tomahawks, some with repeating rifles
muzzles toward the ceiling; with
bright colorcd blankets everywhere
on shoulders or around their waists,
or used as cushions; the grouping was
picturesque indeed. enough to i'm
! press even the pre0ccupied stranger.
/ At last the grim Moses said: Now
Frenchman, speak.
He answered promptly: You know
me to be your friend, | have before
been with you in times Of trouble and
of peace. l have come to see what Is
wrong with you and your people.
My chief, Quota quiu, has sent nae.
He loves God and loves YOU
| Moses replied: The Nez Perces
/ has always been the friends Of the
whites. At the time of the Whitman
/ massacre one white man ran to them
/ for protection and got it.
They gIoried in never having killed
white man. Gen. Howard fought
the Nez Perces. [ did not take bad
heart then; did not go to war again
when the Bannocks and the Piutes
fought him, but kept out Of it all.
~ short time ago Gen. Palmer
told me and my people that We could
always dwell about White Bluffs,
/ Moses lake. Moses coulee. Grand con
! lee and Wenatchee. We were thcD
strong and there were few Bostons
| white settler5;) they We're poor and
afraid Of us. Now the jo5tons are
strong and don't want the Indians to
! live. What shall we do! We look
upon this land as upon the sln. 1t is
our father and mother. / take a bad
heart because they want our land,
and my people say, "Io part with my
land IS like parting with my flesh
/ lt is two months since Gen. Howard
aud [ spoke together. Has he talked
straight or has he talked crooked to
me?
NY people say. "You are an old
woman; you will never get any land,
You have swallowed bad medicine.
/ Gen. Howard AMI all the BostOns are
| laughing at you The white men all
around rs have taken bad heart be-
cause Of the Indians. They are get
ting ready to come and kill my peo
pie, The Indians have no friend to
talk strong to the great father at
! Washington. Does he know how we
are to be p1tied? Are not the white
mans blood and the Indians blood
both red? Do not we all turn our
/ faces to the sun? Frenchman, my
heart IS sick and heavy. Old men
and old women cry to Moses! Moth
! ers look for places to hide the little
ones, Young Indians have lost their
wits; they have become as wolves;
thew want to tear with their teeth the
white mans flesh and drink his blood.
Now help me to talk strong to my
people, that they may take the right
road"
Here Is our messengers prompt
reply:
"Yes, Moses you have many troub
les. and your grievances are great.
But YOU must take the peace! BY
war you VIII loose everything and
gain nothing" He showed them in
some detail the results Of every In
dian war against the government since
18i7. you love your wife and chill
drpn. and you care for your old men
and women. What in war will be-
come Of them? The settlers, some of
=, whom will be slain, viii Kill many of
your Young men. ard the rest viii at
last. like Joseph, and his people, be
carried into a far off country. You
4 ask the government for a reservation.
By beginning a war you make Gen.
Howard your enemy, and he must
fight YOU. Now. [ say before all these
| Indians. that If Won do not follow my
advice. you vii not have land enough
to stand upon"
Moses reioiued: The Bostons tie
. volunteers are coming very soon to
attack me, what shall do?'
Chambrean quickly said: IF the
settlers come here lay down yOT
arms. Do not fire a gun, even if they
make you a prisoner ard take you
, away"
Moses demurred: Il don't believe
my people will consent to that"
The scout cried: "Toey must !
They m1st, I shall stay ii they do"
| he then pleaded with his savage
OF doors and sometimes ms de. Some
, agreed: some We're vexed and sulky.
: bat the IVA wa went on all night.
About midday following, Moses
called my messenger ana said:
| Peace is maden
There would have been a horrible
, slaughter. like that of preceding
troubles of this kind. but for this
: bravo and timely visit; for there We're
| 800 or 800 warriors against thirty OF
| forty armed volunteers that first came
without support to Moses vicinity
= near Priests Rapids.
l He without striking a blow or firing
+. shot, let himself be taken prisoner