The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-07-04

appropriated 70 improve the reserved
lands for the Indians
The Indian signatures - the treaty in
ciaces Tse-kaawfl. head chief OF the Ma
kan tribe and forty-one other sue-chisfS.
headmen and delegates There are few
curious names. One s,ih-chief Of the
Makah tribe is signed Klah-pe-an-hte. or
Andrew Jackson. One delegate from
the Neah village signs '|Tchoo-quut-lah-
or Yes. Sir" Another delegate from the
same village signs. Swell or JEFF Davis.
Remember this was January 81 1904 or
several years before the Yankee boys
were singing the command 10 hang that'
distinguished gentleman 20 a sour apple
tree.
Th7 witnesses 20 this treaty are given
IS NJ T. Simmons. Indian agent: George
Gibbs. secretary; b. r. Shaw. interpreter;
c. NJ. Hitchcock. NJ n. E. s Fowler.
Or Fington Cushman and Robert Davis.
Mr.. Cushman must have been a very poor
peniHan- The government printers ar
washington City made out MS
first name 20 read .st~Iavington' on
the NisquaIly treaty. Darlington on the
Duwanish treaty and "Orvington' on the
Makah treaty
THESE treaties comprise all that were
made with the Puget sound Indians II
must have required skill and planning 10
accomplish so much in so short a time.
The GATE of the first was December p,
iNt ana the others followed on January
y p and 81 $50 1t is only an additional
evidence Of the push vsor and thorough
ness of Gen. Stevens
j. G. Swan, in his book on the North
west. tells or another treaty that was TO
nave been ns2fe with the Indians on the
Chehaiis river and the coast OF the Pa
CHIC ocean The treaty ground was on
the claim Of James Pilkingtoa on the
Chehaiis river. ten miles zap from Gray's
haroor- comfortable camp was pre-
pared and ample arrangements made 10
notify all the lndlan tribes. Mr.. Swan.
j. q. Cooper. IF the Pacific railroad sur
Sey, George Gibbs and others were In
Vited TO bee present at this treaty max
ing. Mr.. Swan says that r. r, Shaw as
interpreter would give the governors
speech in jargon 20 an interpreter for
each tribe, who would proceed TO repeat
il 10 his people, slow but sure method
of conveying his meaning
II. H Bancroft volume NNXI page 100
gives the result of this council as follows:
But after week OF negotiation. in the
latter case. the council broke up without
coming TO any agreement on account 81
each of the fragments of tribes. five in
number. desiring a separate reservation.
TO which Stevens refused his consent"
The Wa!ia NaIIn Council
BY far the most imposing and import
ant of the Indian councils held by Coy.
Stevens was the one held at about the
present site of the city Of Walla Walla.
The place was called Camp Stevens,
The council assembled on May 20. 1855.
and on June two treaties were con-
Guided, one with the Yakima nation"
and another with the 'Walla Walla. Cay
uses and Umatilla tribes and bands OF In
dians in Washington and Oregon terri
tories" Two days later. on June II. at
the same camp a treaty was also con-
Guided with the Neg Perez Indians.
Bancroft says that the treaty ground
was selected by kamaiakun. head chief
of the Takimas. because IL was an
ancient council ground of his people. Ar
rangements had been made for Coy. Stew
ems and Joel Palmer superintendent Of
Indian affairs in Oregon territory, to act
Jointly as commissioners of the United
States at this council Large quantities
of goods for the customary presents 70
the chiefs and headmen had been sent on
from The Dalies and stored a Fort Walla
Nalla in charge of James Sinclair. of the
Hudson Bay Company. AT The Dalles
the commissioners secured military es-
cort consisting of forty dragons under
Lieut.. Archibald Oracle. Accompanying
the latter a guest and spectator was
Lieut.. Lawrence Kip Of the third artil-
extended account of this expedition In a
book entitled The Indian Council at
Waila Walla." II was published in San
Francisco in 1855. and have long search
ed in vain for copy of IT, Bancroft
makes frequent illusions TO. and quota
lions from this work.
BaGard Stevens, then boy i3 years OF
age accompanied his father on this expe-
dition and he has told me that the i'm
50 ~
Walla Walla were OF such a nature as to
impress his mind indeiibly. Every feature
of the transaction remains fresh in his
memory. Part of hts story of the council
is as follows:
There were about s0r0 Indians assem-
bled at the camp. and not more than sixty
in the camp of the white men. The fore
moons were devoted 10 treaty talks. the
afternoons TO races and athletic games
for the amusement OF the Indians. Then
the chiefs would consult with Gov. Stey-
ems. They had Indian maps of the sur
rounding country drawn on prepared
skins. This kept up for three weeks.
one day knew something serious was
taking place. for old Lawyer, head chief
Of the Nee Perez nation, came 10 my
father. made a speech. and soon moved
his family tents into my fathers camp
/ afterwards learned that the sensational
cause Of this move was rs follows:
'Piopiomoxmox or Yellow Serpent
head chief of the Walla Wallas and the
head chief of the Cayuses had been de-
Hvering oratioEs 10 their tribes advising
them not to sell their mother meaning
the lands. and after stirring up senti-
rnent they conspired Ia kill off all the
white men present. and To prevent any
others from coming into their country
Only two Of our party knew of this con
spiracy. They were &. +. Higgins. the
packmaSter who was afterwards a citi-
zen OF Missouia, Mont. and James n0ty.
who committed suicide in Olympia in
1857 The secret was communicated 10
father. When Lawyer. chief Of the Neg
Perez nation. heard Of the conspiracy, he
gave his address 10 father. which was
something like this: They say kill White
Tyee. Lawyer move his tent IN camp If
White Tyee Their they strike White
Tyec, they strike LAWYER As soon rs
the others saw Lawyers move they
fastened To profess friendship and the
treaties were at once concluded"
Bancroft claims that Lawyer was tina
greatest diplomat Of them all He too
wanted - rid the country Of the whites
hnt he got the hest ~ this bargain by
winning the friendship ~ the whites, and
hoped TO drive them out OF the country
later.
This version does not coincide eith The
uniform record Of frieudiiness made by
this race - Indians They were the good
Choppunlsh Indians of the Lewis and
Clarke expedition ard each subsequent
visitor gave them @ splendid reputation
This Is the race that produced chief
Joseph who demonstrated 10 the world
At