The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-12-26
A NOTABLE INDIAN.

Jonas Stanup who died at his nome Oh
the Puyaliup river. IN Pierce county, be-
cernher Is at the ripe old age OF - years
was the last survivor among me more
noted members OF his tribe who 1908 q
prominent part In bringing acoae lhS
treaty OF 1854 He was equally active N
the war with the whites which followed
soon after, and was one OF the leading
spirits in the final peace making. he
was the father OF Hon. Peter {. Stanap'
who met an un,imsly and violent aea'h'
and who is supposed to have been muir
dered by political enemies Of his trioe-
Jonas Stanup Was born at oyster BAY
in Mason county. early N the century
and from boyhood was noted as great
hunter, an athlete and warrior. AT the
time Washington Irving visited the west
and during the sway Of the HUDSON bay
Company he was among the most prom
inent Indians of America. IL was aiteE
the exciting times incident 10 the trans
ition from the dominion OF the HUDSON
Bay Company TO the United States, and
the setting apart OF the Puyailup reser-
walton that Stanup married the daughter
Of one of the leading families Of his tribe
for nearly half century.
During his prime he was second to no
warrior for bravery. although he was
never noted for reckless killing, and IN
the history Of his people none is credit
ed with having possessed more influence
over the tribe. or with having seen more
clearly the future Of the native born
Americans after the first encroachments
OF the whites. When the Indiana rrst
realized that white men were taking from
them their lands. killing their game and
herding sheep where elk and deer had
formerly grazed. and that the time must
come when they would be crowded from
their own property. they reasoned that
by killing these whites they would put an
end to the trouble: but stanup from the
frst advocated making terms with tho
white men. He proposed that certain
lands be reserved to the Indians and that
the whites be allowed to settle upon all
other lands. and held to this idea through
war and trouble. II required several
years OF bloodshed TO convince his
friends and trihesmen that he was right.
and that the number or the white men
was las trees In the forest" but In the
end his conception Of what should be done
was proved wise and practicable. After
having used all his power of oratory and
having worked increasingly he finally
brought about the treaty he 80 earnestly
believed in. and succeeded in having the
Puyallup reservation set aside for his
people by the government.
From the day the land was declared q
L.
resisting the many attacks upon It which
have since been made by land grabbers
and by the government as well. and his
only son, Peter, ably seconded his father
in thus defending their rights. The son
was murdered May 10, 1898, at midnight
at his own doorstep. This was the night
succeeding the attack upon the Indians
by Capt. Carpenter and company OF
troops while the Indians were 1T work
grading a railroad through their lands
under the direction Of Frank c. Ross.
This fight is memorable incident in the
history Of the tribe, and how the troops
made bayonet charge, being repulsed
by the Indians rolling logs on them from
the hill above. and how finally the troops
were placed under arrest by the sheriff
matter Of history. Peter Stanup was the
leader Of the Indians at that time and be-
fore the troops began their attack made a
stirring speech TO them, warning them
not to try to interfere, as the Indians
were engaged in q lawful enterprise on
their own lands. The night after this
trouble young Stanup went home late and
is said to have been killed as he stood on
his own doorstep. His neck was broken
and his body then thrown into the Puy-
allup river. The father never recovered
from the shock caused by the death Of
his boy. and from a vigorous and hearty
man soon declined into i'll health, rapidly
growing weaker and more helpless until
the day OF his death. when he said to
his old wife: Il will now sleep"
Old stanup was always enterprising ana
progressive in business and tribal Affairs.
lie was a warm friend OF several of Ia
coma's more prominent citizens in years
gone BY. ard worked in conjunction with
Col c. p. Ferry in securing the right OF
way for the Northern Pacific railroad
through the reservation. The first Fourth
Of July celebration ever held upon Com
mencement bay was arranged by Stanup.
who was the orator OF the day. Col. c.
p. Ferry having acted as president OF
the gathering and reader OF the declara-
ton OF independence. Delegations of In
dams We're in attendance from all parts
OF the Sound country, a big feast was
prepared. and nearly every resident OF
the then sleepy little village OF Tacoma
was on the scene to participate in the
exercises and to join in the feast. Old
timers here still tell OF this celebration.
how they had horse and foot races and
games, and how old Stanup held them all
entranced by his magnificent grafton.
The Indians OF the tribe had for years
looked upon old Stanup as father and
adviser at all times. ana his death Is sin
cerely mourned by all. Last summer a
portrait Of the historic old character was
painted for the Ferry museum, where II
now stands. but it Is the picture OF a
feeble old man. showing only faint traces
OF the iron will. rugged honesty and re-
markable intellect OF one who was prob
ably the abest OF all the Indians nm