The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1896-05-23

ceeded, as he thought. in exploding many
OF the foolish and inflammatory rumors
which messengers of the disaffected tribes
were circulating concerning the soldiers
and also concerning himself. He says:
II saw Colonel Steptoe. made him ac-
quainted with the disposition of the In
dams, and the mistrust the presence OF
the troops would inspire and how l had
been kept from going to inform him in
the spring.
He told me that, having heard by
letter from Colville, that the whites had
had some difficulty with the Indians. he
had at first resolved to go there with a
few men to talk with the whites and In
dams and to try and make them agree.
but, having learned that the Pelouses
were badly disposed. he had determined TO
take a stronger escort; that had he known
the Spokanes and Occur d'Alenes dreaded
the presence of the armed force, he would
not have come without having notified
them, etc.
A conference was brought about be-
tween the chiefs and the "chief of the
soldiers with every prospect of arriv-
ing at a good understanding. "A half
hour or an hour afterward," says the
priest, what was my surprise to learn
had prevailed and when Jacques, an ex-
cellent Indian. we'll beloved, and Zach
ara, brother-in-law of the great chief
Vincent, had been killed, the fury of the
Indians knew no bounds"
At,er further details of the causes OF
the fight the father says: IF the war
commence now it is probable it will ter
inmate only by the extinction of all these
tribes 1t will cost thousands of
lives and all for an affair unprecedented,
and for which the Indians feel much re-
greet. You will easily believe me, my rev.
erend father, when l tell you | would
purchase back with my life this unhappy
event. not on my own account; l have
BEEN and will be, much slandered; but
what are the judgments of man to me-
when God is my witness that / have done
everything in my power to preserve
peace? Your reverence knows very well
that we have always threatened our In
dams to quit them if they exhibit them
selves hostile against the whites. .
TIC quit them actually would be to deliver
them to the deceit of Kamiakin, and to
light, I think, a universal war throughout
the country. What pains me is to see the
ruin of so many good Indians. What
breaks my heart is to see Colonel Step
toe. the jealous protector of Indians. ex-
posed to the blame which ordinarily at
aches itself to bad success; however in
the eyes of rejecting men who know his
situation. his retreat will do him infinite
honor. 1t is not, 1 think, the first Off
Ger (meaning every officer) you will
meet who could thus have drawn himself
out from so bad a situation, surrounded
~ an army of ferocious beasts, hungry
after their prey; of Indians sufficiently
numerous to relieve each other. and VINO
| had always the means of procuring fresh
| horses"
| These extracts wiz serve to show the
views of a noncombatant of the causes of
! the memorable battle in the vicinity OF
! the mountain since known as Steptot
Butte, and in which victory so fired the
he arts of the more rash advisors among
the red men that the later campaign oil
Colonel Wright into this country was nee.
essary before farther advance of civil.
zation could be made.
Incidentally, also they show the ad
mirable character of the missionary, who
rev an octogenarian, and too feeble tC
WIS.,, Spokane of late years, still lives
among the good results of his early sac
rifces, and is referred to by both Cath
Ole and Protestant of the early time a,
"a good old man."
From Colonel Steptoe's own official re-
port of his campaign we make the fol
lowing extract, dated Fort Walla Walla
May %, 1858:
Major: On the I'd instant l Informed
you of my intention to move northwart
with part of my command. Accordingly
on the 9th LEFT here with companies c
f and II, First dragons, and F. Ninth in
a,l 81,
1872 enlisted men. Hearing that the hos
tile Pelouses were near Al-pon-on-we,'
| (AlpowaD lin the Nez Perces land,
moved to that point and was ferriet
across Snake river by Timothy Nei
Perez chief. The enemy fed toward tn,
north. and l followed leisurely on tn,
road to Colville. On Sunday morning, the
10TH when near the To-hoto- MINNIE. il
the Spokane country. we found ourselve,
suddenly in the presence of 1000 or 1900 In
dams of various tribes Spokanes, Pc
louses, Occur d'Alenes. Yakimas and SOM
others, all armed. painted and defiant.
moved slowly on, until just about to en-
ter a ravine which wound along the base
of several hills. which were all crowne,
with the excited savages. Perceiving tina
it was their purpose to attack us in thi
dangerous place 7 turned aside and en-
camped, the whole wild, frenZied mas
moving parallel to us, and, by yells
taunts and menaces, apparently trying L
drive us to some initiatory act of violence
Towards night, number of chiefs rod
up to talk with me, and inquired wha
were our motives in this intrusion upol
them? I answered. that we were passing
on to Colville and had no hostile inten
lions toward the Spokanes. who had ii
ways been our friends, nor towards an
other tribe who were friendly, that m