The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-19

os1 Al14aE FiltaSe on the other bank,
winch they id with evident reluctance
Nothing OF the former habftatiors remain
60 save the huge beams with which these
ihc+ans constructed the frames OF their
houses IN the center OF one of the lodges
were the ashes OF campfire which tudg-
81 70 nave been made by white hunters
from the remains OF tea leaves and pieces
Q, newspaper mixed up with elk and deer
ZONES. While the squaw was kindling a
fire. Tom and took our guns TO shoot
some ducks. and had fine sport. killing as
many as we could pack. The sand on the
Deach was covered with tracks OF wolves
and bears. and recent inprints o, the
roofs OF elk and deer. The little stream
flowed through q beautiful meadow. and
Tom told me II was a great place for sal
mon at certain seasons OF the year.
on our return to the lodge ! found out
why this party were so afraid OF the Elwha
Indians. and they had good reason to dread
their vengeance. / noticed a pile OF old
boards and firewood. as I supposed. lying
In corner, and taking up piece threw
IL on the FIRE. The Indians Immediately
took Il OF and commenced talking In an
excited manner. / asked Tom what was
the matter. That said he, lis the dead
mems wood, and under the pile are the
bones OF twelve men we killed in this very
house" He then related to me that few
years before he had come up with party
~ SidkaHs 10 eaten salmon at this place.
He was a mere boy. and accompanied his
father ard uncle. The latter. old Klo-klo.
beb. was one Of our present party. The
Elwhas were very insolent, and refused
20 let them catch salmon in their river.
The Makahs left, but during the night they
returned secretly. and while the Elwhas
were asleep they attacked them. killing
twelve men and taking prisoners all their
women. They cut off the heads OF the
slain as trophies. and. collecting the bodies
together. covered them with boards and
firewood. and made good their escape. Old
klokiobeb was particularly active in this
butchery, and the Elwhas had a special
hatred of him. To satisfy myself / re-
moved some OF the boards. and, sure
enough, there were some OF the bones as
he had said I thought 10 myself that
had certainly got among a pleasant party.
Here were the murderers and the remains
OF their victims. and I could well under
stand why they were so anxious TO keep
clear OF the relatives OF the deceased.
This. too. was the reason why they had
come here under pretense of getting din
ner. for had we proceeded We should have
come In sight OF the Elwha village, and
they were afraid 10 pass II In the daytime.
SO we waited till near night and then
started. thinking 10 reach Edz hook be-
fore morning.
We now had to pass around a dangerous
rocky point. where high bluffs descended
precipitously into water eight or ten faith
oms deep. a heavy swell was dashing
against the cliff, and its rebound caused
a narrow passage between a bed OF the
gigantic kelp and shore. through which
our canoe was stored. so near the rocks
at times that I was wet with the spray,
which flew around US as I'm a shower of
mist The moon shone family through
the scud. serving 20 dimly light the scene,
at once wild and appalling from its dan
ger TO any but the most skilled navigators.
But we succeeded in passing safely round
the point into smooth water in Fresh wa
ter bay. The wind. which had hitherto
been light. now commenced 10 blow vio-
lently from the east, with a squat OF
snow. and we were forced 10 haul the
canoe on the beach and remain. The mis-
cradle. guilty wretches dared not kindle
a fire. as we were within a short distance
OF the Elwha village. and they could have
seen the light SO I was obliged to turn
into my blankets without fire or supper,
while the Indians kept watch in the cold
all night. An uneasy conscience. IL seems.
can trouble an Indian at times. as well as
a white man.
AS soon as the tide began TO food. which
was probably o'clock in the morning,
we started. hoping TO pass Elwha before
daylight. but. the wind being ahead and
very cold. the Indians crept slowly along
close IN shore. reservtng their exertons
til we should come 10 tho Elwha river. at
the mouth OF which was their village.
when they hoped. by laying on their
strength. 20 hurry past unobserved AS
we neared the mouth OF the river We
saw by the dim light OF the early dawn
that no one was stirring In the camp. IL
being too early and too cold for the Indi-
ans TO get up. AT last, just as we had
passed the village and were out OF gun
shot reach. we saw an Indian mount on
he a rfaffnrfn n al f~
watch tower and wave n white cloth FOR
rs 10 return. This / gladly would have
done Not so, however my Indians who
panic-stricken. redoubled their exertous
at their paddles and kept on at a lively
pace till we reached the spit % Edlz hook
where we landed and hauled our canoe
over into the beautiful bay OF the present
harbor OF Port Angeles. the best anchorage
ground on Fura strait.
We soon reached the log cabin OF three
giant mariners. Messrs. Wlnsor. Holmes
and Sampson. wet. cold and hungry. Capt.
Rufus Holmes was fortunately at home,
and speedily furnished me a savory break
fast OF elk meat and fried onions and
cup OF real captains coffee. Uncle Ruff :
remarbng that he always gave his friends
a captains coffee. but gave second mates
coffee. which Is nothing bat swspes. 20
Indians and hunmers. Capts. Winsor and
Sampson. with Jack Dunn. first mate. were
of IN tho schooner Thornd.ke after SAL
mon.
The Indians we're so entirely used ~ that
they declared they must remain all day
and night. Nor did I object. for I was get
ting rather tired OF sitting erampei up in
the canoe 80 long. so I gave them my con-
sent 20 remain. Then we had a ludicroEs
scene. I noticed on landing that there were
more Indians than usual about the prem
ises. and on asking one Of them the
cause. he said they we're Elwha Indians,
that they had come up TO his place. IS
many OF their children had died and many
others were sick. and they thought II bet
ter 20 leave the Elwha river for few
months Here. then. rere ths very party
that nv Indians were in such dread OF.
and whom We had been lodging the past
two DAYS. They looked At each other with
anything hut expressions Of pleasure. pgt
the presence OF white men kept them
quiet
these savAxes arouad your house,"
These are they" he replied. who have
come out % much trl5ulat'oa. their chill
drcn have died. and they have come here
for change Of ar
told hlm thai my party were afraid ot
them.
Indians bad better sleep N tie wootsae4
next the house. 50 that X tse Elwhas a.
tack them "e can 'S Es9~S - 1'''e 1-e-a
OF"
7 ga not Appreherd any attack. as 7
Nas as-ertalned from the ElNhAs that
,hev had no intention ot ire kind. "toT.'
"a thav the Makahs are taking yca
70 Port Townsend. ard = We kil them
>-o, VII have the soldiers from Port
'rournsens down 20 kin Is, but = We csa