The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-07-18

treaty with the Chehalis .-hInonls
Cuenaiuit and ether hands If Coast ~,
dams. which failed through me arrersn.,,
of the Chehals chief. karkawap. ana his
son, Tleyuk, who wanted the reservation
on his land and induced the chiefs az an
the other bands 10 refuse 10 sign tn,
treaty. except the Quenaiult tribe. vher,
the reservation was finally made on the
lands Of that tribe. | was At that time
residing at Shoai Water bay and. during
the winter of 1854 l received from Gov.
Stevens a letter inviting me TO he pres
ent ST meeting 10 be heid or February
- 1855. on the claim of Mr.. James Pix
ington who had a clearing on the banks
OF the Chehaiis river. where the town Of
Montesano now stands.
On February a letter was brought to
ne from Col. Henry D. Cook, who was at
Grays harbor. experimenting the arrange
,ncnts for the forthcoming meeting, ir-
forming that he would meet me at
Armstrong;. now Hansen's point. on the
south side OF the entrance to Grays har-
hor. on February Il. and convey me up
the Cheaalis river to The treaty ground.
DIR. j. Cooper. who Was residing at capt
Charles RusselFs. making collections for
the Smithsonian institution, decided To ac~
company me. anu. while we were making
our arrangements 10 start Mr. William
3. Tappan the Indian sub-agent for the
southwestern section of the territory. ar
rived on his way TO the treaty camp with
several Chinooks and other Columbia
river Indians with him. Old Chief Toxic.
for whom Tokes point on Shoal Water
bay was named, with his family and other
resident Indians. joined our party and We
crossed the bay to Toke's point on the
afternoon of February %. and passed the
night at the house of Mr.. ]. r. Barrows
the Indians going to Toke's lodge.
February "A We started by sunrise for
Grays harhor. DIR. Cooper. Agent Tan
pan and / decided TO walk on the beach.
as the air was clear and frosty. The In
dams went in their canoes around from
Shoal Water bay 10 Grays harbcr. Afttr
a pleasant walk in the fresh, cold breeze
we reached Carcowan's lodge. near Arm
strongs house. on the point. Here We
found Col. CoCh and one of Judge Ford's
sons. They had fine meal prepared for
us of juicy roasted baked potatoes. hard
bread and coffee. and as soon as We had
finished eating We prepared TO start. and.
having crossed the harbor safely. We en-
tered the Chehaiis river just at shutdown.
The tide was moving out strongly and the
Indians decided to camp for the night. so
We went ashore. built big ire. cooked
some supper and soon turned in To sleep.
and at dawn the next morning we all
started. We had been joined during the
night by some fifteen or twenty canoes,
all filled with men. women and children.
We We're about ten miles distant from
The treaty ground. but we did not wait
for breakfast, but were socn on our way.
The Indians did their utmost TO see who
would reach camp first, so they padded
and screamed. and shouted and laughed,
and cut up all sorts of antics which served
TO keep them in glow. As we approach
ed the camp we all stopped at a bend in
the river a short distance from Pilkng-
tens claim, and all the natives washed
their faces. combed their hair and put on
their best clothes. The women arrayed
themselves in their bright. gaudy dresses
and shawls. and. having rubbed grease
on their faces. painted them with vei-
million and decked themselves out with
their beads and trinkets and in about
ten minutes We were gay looking crowd.
The appearance of the canoes filled with
Indians dressed in their brightest coiors
was very picturesque but | should have
enjoyed il better had the weather been "A
little warmer About Q o'clock a. m we
reached the camp, very cold and hungry.
Gov. Stevens gave us a cordial welcome,
and, after expressing his qualification ut
At the sight of so many canoes filled with
well dressed Indians. he directed us 10
the camp fort. where he hal ordered a
breakfast To be ready for us. and we soon
had a hearty mea! OF beef steak potatoes.
hot biscuit and coffee. and were then
shown 10 our tents. DR.. Cooper and |
had one tent assigned us, the next to ours
was occupied by Col Mike T. simmons
United States Indian agent. Judge Sidney
Ford, sub-agent. and Suh-Agent Tappan
After We had arranged our quarters we
took a look around to sec the lay of the
land
Tho camp ground was situated on a bluff
bank of the river. on its south side about
ten miles from Crays harhor. on the claim
Of MIR. James Pikinston. space of two
h. i
and brushwood which had been piled up
so 10 form An ohlonK squire. One great
tree which formed the southern side 10
the camp. served also as an immense
back log. against which our lgreat camp
FIRE and sundry small ones were kiudleI.
both to cook by and TO warm MS In the
center of the square. and next to the
river. was tho governors tent. and be-
tween IL and the south side OF the
ground were the commissarys and other
tents, all ranged i'll proper order. Rude
tables. laid In open air and huge frame
work of poles. from which hung carcasses
OF beef. mutton. deer. elk and salmon.
with cloud OF wild geese. ducks and
other small game gave evidence that the
austerites Of Lent were not 30 form any
part Of our services
Around the side OF the square were
ranged the tents and wiGwams of the In
dians. each tribe having a space allotted
W II. as coast iI8lAnS were placed at
the lower part of the camp; first The
ChinO0kT. then the Chehalis Ouenaiulta
Quects, Satsop. Upper Cheha!is and Cow
litz These different tribes had sent rep
res"ntatiFes 10 the council. about 81 Of
them. and the best Of feeling prevailed
among all. The white persons present
consisted OF only fourteen. Gov Isaac
Stevens. George Gibbs, who ofiici,ted as
secretary of the commission. Judge Sid
ney $. Ford and his two sons. Sidney and
Tom. who were assistant fnteruraters.
Lieut.-Col II. r. Shaw the chief int.rur--
ter: Coz Mike T. Simmons, United States
indian agent; Mr.. Tappan sub-agent: NJ.
Filkington the owner Of the cir.m; Col.
II. u. Coch, Dr. Cooper and myself and
iast, bIi ny no means the least Orring-
ton Cushman. our commissary orderly
sergeant. provost marshal chief story
teller, fGct0tum ard life 81 fhs partv
Nor must ! omit Green McCafferty. the
ccok. who had become famous for hts *
plots IN an expedition to Queen Charlotte
islands 10 rescue some sailors from ths,
Itstd1 Indians. lie was d good cook and
Kept IA well supplied with hot biscuits
and roast potatoes. hot coffee and ga.ory
disnfs from the meats and game
The chi2f interpreter. Col Shaw. had
not arrived and the governor conctui led
10 defer ths treaty until he came. as ne
was not only the principal means Of corn
munlcaticn with the Indians, but was 20
pFine some chiefs with him Col Coch