The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1897-02-06

simplify things with the elector The in'elligen'
voter would have trouble in voting tor the OBJ
iect of his CHOICE but there mi ht be catchas
catch can, among tie Gel ddats for Tie Vote OF
the illiterate or the cheerful igno~amas.
CHIEF JOSEPH THE NEE PERRCCEz
Frontier Indian Life
Then, again. let US review the remarkable ca
recr of the second Joseph, chief of the Nez
Perces or Pierced Noses. of mountainous Idaho.
The son of an able chief-rsised up from infancy
in mission school, with daily lessons from Chris
tan teachings from habitua|ly devout teachers
this young man OF quiet way, became his peoples
chiettan, without military training or experience
But fragrant imPostions from white neighbours
and from whose injustice an appeal to the statutes
by the Nez Fierce, was net y an appeal 10 race
prejudice by the doninent and aggressive land
grabber their dspensa,ory hire!ings, with no
course left TO Eorn manhood Tut an appeal TO
the law Of a just res;s!trce TO a csuseess WIZ rs,
did he take up arms in the defense OF himself and
ope Within four months from the day of his
first resistance the military authorities repre-
sentng seventy millions of people, claiming the
most advanced stand in the grand march of mod
crn civilization this mountain chief acknowledged
with him and tc fall with him were less than two
1un lr-l men They were poorly armed, badly
provisicned ard sc3n,i]y c!o1Eed. They were
handicapped by the care of their families and their
herds Their natural allies had turned against
hem to fawn for favor from a race whose numbers
were as trees of the mountains, and whose wealth
was poured out in golden wreahs from cornuco-
plan horn. The Bannocks of the mountains sent
forth companies of scouts clothed in blue fight
the Nez Ferces from their lands The Noun
tain Crows-hghters by nature-were hired in
hundreds to intercept aud harass Joseph and his
people in their flight from their homes. Trained
SCOUTS from among the Aricarees and Chey-
ennes were hired 10 track them down in their
flight Besides all these hired mnions of their
own race ptted against the dauntless Nez Perces,
there came bearing down upon them tour seperate
.rmies Of great government, with their cannons;
their improved rifles; their filled caissons of ammu-
nilions and long trains of supplies. Each and
every one of these four separate commands OF
trained soldiers were led y veterans SCARED in a
more credtable s1rife-had double the numbers
Of fighting to pit against red )osesph. How
ard and his command had been met and checked
near Mt Idaho. Gibbon had been beaten back at
Big Hole. Gen. Sturges had been out-wtted and
out Unanswered along the Yellowstone. Weary
and faded, tired out with journey of several hun
dred miles of battles by day and flight by night,
Joseph and his men took a breath OF rest among
the dc1les of the Bear Paw foot hills. Gen. Miles
with men and horses all fresh and strong were
upon them. Joseph stood in dispairng quandry
His enemies, the white soldiers and their red
allies had his camp surrounded, and they were in
numbers, three to one, to his own fighting men.
Two days more, Gen Howard could reach there
They then would be <outnumbered ten to His
enemy had artillery He had none. The British
line was not far away. They could not reach it
now, but Sitting Bull and his incorrigable hosts,
we're encamped just across the line near Woody
Mountain They were allies in a like cause.
Scouts had already the ga, ntet of the enemys
Gordon, to apprse the. Sioux OF their dilemma.
Would help come? Meantime shot and shell
rained down on the hap1ess camp. Joseph's wife
lay dying on the ground beside hm-rnangled
and torn by bursting shell. Other wives than his
and other children than hi, were dead about him.
Under a flag Of truce he approached Gen. Miles
in two separate intervals of the strife for terms of
honorable surrender. Twice had he returned to
the fight But the painting bloodhounds of his
own rae. were g,rd.n<5 his cunp aid for the sake
of the helpless from, their heartless he went out
the third time-g',n in hand-and SURF lered.
From where the now stands said this
man of Spartan mould as he gave up his gun, Il
will fight no more forever" How we'll he. stood
by his word, let the story OF his captivity be the
answer