The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-02-04
OLD INDIAN CLAIMS.
Hardships Of Settlers in Secur-
ing Donation Claims.
suFrsRlSos or THE PIONEERS.


ley dursny the InEan dap-Htzs soxzS n
lxsS-s6 Is furcefnxiy recalled % nAssi by q
petition niei In the hard ONCE by Isaiah
W. Bryant asking that his dolatsssn czssm
rights be allowed. Mr.. Bryant represents
seszs he and his brother. Abraham #. Bry-
az<. dssaeasef. took up claims at the jnEse-
ton Of the White and Black rivers. but
were forced TO leave through the hosssE-
ties 0s the Irii2ns and that when peace
was restored they were unable 10 return
to their claims owing 20 ssrasShtenesi cir
cIusssanceS. The Bryants now desire that
the government wake up and settle those
old Indian claims. 50 long pEgeon-&osed.
In relating his experiences Isaiah Bryant
says that ne was born July .. 1850. n
Fountain county. Insiiana. and when q
Young man moved to Sacramento. Cal.
July s. 1884. he left California for WASH
ington territory 10 find his brether. who
he believed TO be there. ard who had
taken a Donation claim in the Waite river
valley. Continuing. ne says: 81 travelled
Esroush San Francisco and whistle there
deposited $50, all the means had. except
e few dollars for contsngent expenses. TO
be shipped to Olympia TO my brother
Abraham
.on the evening Of July 81. 1854 ar
rived at the mouth CT the Cowsstx river
ard alone ard ON foot commenced to
walk my way towards tha interior. folaow-
ing SUCH trails as I could find On my
way was stopped by Inklians who acted
IN amy but a friendly manner. and when.
after five hong days of tramparg reach
ei the cabin of William s. Brannan. ct
the Junction Of the White and Green rfv-
ers, was destitute and utterly ex-
halste1
The same night that reached the
cabin five Indians. one OF ws,om I after
ward found out to be ChEef Kitsap, came
in. They remained about five hours and
them took their departure. recognized
them as the same men who had inter
rupted my journey but dare not say amy
tling to Mr.. Brennan until they had
gone.
The following day made nay way
down the White river in a canoe TO the
forks of the White and Black rivers.
where found my brother Abraham, with
whom conmencesl work upon his claim
just below the forks OF the river.
August 50. 1854, I purchased William II.
Brannan's interest for ss5 in Iera1 near
the forks of the White and Back rivers
aud OF which the Bsack river formed the
Horts boundary. The land had been TIM
proved somewhat but extended the work
by slashing and clearing. ] also built a
house. Il by IA feet. with split boards and
then put in garden from which / rails
ed vegetables. etc. Then had the land
surveyed by William A. Stricken, pay
ing him IS for the work. and .asso a sgnun
plat April g. 1856, I appeared before JUS
tice OF the Peace c. c. Lewis and made
oath to my notification for fling en- my
claim and on April 8, 1856, personally
mailed at Seattle my notification 10 the
land Office at olympia
During all this year 1866, much ur~
easiTess was prevalent through the das-
tT5ct from fear OF an attack and out
break by the Indians. whom, 1t was conn
monty reported. were committing depre-
datao1s upon the person and property OF
white settlers. September Is. 1885, I IN
company with others went to Seattle and
commenced immediately to build q fort
for protection against the Indians After
this / was one of q party who went estt
to render such assistance as We could to
settlers UP the White river made sew
eraI attempts 20 reach my csaszn to obtain
Some of my personal effects. but the
woods were fla,G OF hostile Indians and
1t was more than any mans life was
worth TO make the trip. Ever an attempt
TO bury some os those wiaom we believed
to have been killed was frustrated by the
presence and tactics OF the hostile tribes.
II was now practically without means.
as the money lad transmitted from Cali
80
taared, efthougsa we had been to Olympia
after Ut. The AuuAiation OF tbs Adams
Express Company ended all prospects ard
hope OF obtaining the payment and neifn-
er or my brother have ever received a
cent
From the time OF my location on hand
until was forced to nee or be murdered,
/ was I'm continuous occupation with the
exception Of twenty days when and 9TH
ers were cutting and opening what Is now
known as the Snoqualmse pass. for the
purpose OF inducing Immigration TO come
Direct to this part of the country instead
OF BIZ the way OF Portland AL OF tbs
work was done without compensation or
money confederation
IT waited about Seattle I'm the hopes
CT being aide to get back 70 my claim
until the nazadie of November, 1855. when.
seeing no hope. the entire settlement hav-
sng been driven out and the military force
of the United States provfnsy unable 20
drive out the unfriendsy natives, owing
10 the woods and rough cordltion OF the
country. I and my brother left for Cali
snrnza and went sTsto the MINES II was
impossible 20 get employment IN Seattle.
and rry means were nearly exhausted
.sF-rum that time up 20 the present
~, ~, been constantly waiting for some