The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1896-05-23
INCIDENTS LEADING UP TO THE
WRIGHT CAMPAIGN.
Repulse of Colonel Steptoe by the
Confederated Tribes of East
ern Washington.

of Military Road from Fort Walla Walla |
TO Fort Benton" and "A Typographical
Memoir of Colonel Wright's Campaign |
Against the Indians in Oregon and Wash |
ington Territories The lover of romance
and adventure, however. may safely skip, |
for once, over the list of well-thumbed |
fictitious narratives, and be sure of find
ing plot, incident, climax and even lit
erary fascination in these recitals of
dramas, of which our own soil once
the theater.
1t was not until after "the Indian war
of 1855 and So which converted each
mans home in Oregon and Washington
into block house" and Forced to quick
contamination the navigation of the head
waters of the Missouri and Columbia riy-
ers, that Lieutenant Mullan again took up
the work begun in SO.
Arrived in the field in May. 1885, he was
Immediately obliged to abandon road
making and join in a welcome campaign
which Colonel George Wright was Or
ganizing against the Indians of this upper
country, who had just differed violently
and successfully with Colonel Steptoe up
the question of the white mans inva-
sion. AT this distance it is safe for to
follow his depression and witness the mil
llafy SuDJuSdllOn Dy winch the neafl Oh
the red man was made good, and the
local tributary Of our beloved river OBJ
tanned the euphonious name of Hang
man.
Lieutenant Mullan first gives an account
of the attack upon Colonel Steptoe and
the hostile spirit of the Indians. which
necessitate6 the later campaign. He cites,
with full endorsement, an explanatory
letter upon the situation. written by Faith
er Josef, to his superior. Rev. Father
Coregioto as follows: DO not think, my
reverend father, that i am beknowing to
all the affairs of the savages; there is a
great deal wanting; they come to us about
the affairs of their conscience, but as to
the rest they consult us but little
Even among the Occur d'Alenes there IS
a certain number that we never see, that
/ do not know in any manner.
j have heard the Indians insinuate sew
eral times that they had no objection to
the Americans passing through their
country in small numbers, but much to
their passing in force. as If to make laws
Last winter Michel said to me: Father
If the soldiers exhibit themselves in the
country (of the mountains) the Indians
, will become furious"
Among the rumors circulated by tribes
hostile to the white people, according to
Chief Vincent, was once to the effect
that five hundred soldiers were on the
road to Colville, and that they were but
the advance guard of a host who were to
''chase the Indians from the country"
Also that "a white man had said Poor
IDdiansi You are finished now"
Vincent and most of the chiefs and
leaders Of the Indians under the fathers
care seem to have been reasonable men,
and peaceably disposed. but the priest
distrustful of the young and hot
headed. who might be made prosylites-
In the first moment of irritation-by that
horrible Indian. Kamiakin." who never
ceased TO repeat that the father is
white like the Americans; they have but
one heart"
To digress from the PRIESTS narrative,
at this point, and quote Lieutenant Null
Ian himself, upon the origin of the name
Occur d'Alene" may throw additional
light upon the character of this really
admirable type of mountain savages, and
tie delicacy of the situation in which their
spiritual adviser was placed Lieutenant
Munan says: THE version given me,
and which would appear reliable, is as fol-
lows: When the English trading corpora
ton, known as the Hudson Bay Company,
monopolized that whole region of oregon,
their success in establishing trading sta
tions among the Indians was Of most
marked character. No tribe, however
hostile or numerous, had been ever known
10 interpose any obstacle in their way
until they made the attempt to establish
a station or post among this small band
of Indians about 500 all told. who, te-
pacious of their rights. and loving their
mountain wilderness. said to this COM
many We are willing to barter our furS
and peltries for your powder and ball.
and such things as you bring for traffic.
but we can only make the exchange at
certain points. named by themselves;
within the limits of our land you cannot
enter, but on the banks of yonder river.
which marks our border. we will meet
you at stated times. and there, and there
only, can we trade and traffic"
Their determination, to which even up
Z, this day they have most steadfastly
clung, became the law OF the company,
and they so persistently maintained it
that the Canadian voyageurs. employees
OF the company, Immediately called these
savages Occur d'Alenes," Indians hav-
ing ''hearts of arrows" and hence often
called POINTED Hearted Indians" and the
mission 'Pointed Heart Mission"
1t was between Indians of this brave
and infiexible character on the one hand
and the willy Indian politician on the
other that the missionary was compelled
TO mediate in favor of the suspected white
man and his invasion of the country.
To go back to the letter of Father 10
set He states that on the 18th of May
Colonel Steptoes force having advanced
=, the vicinity of Vincents camp. some
d, on miles from the mission, that chief sum