The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1898-07-08
Old Indian Fighters Meet
There This Week
THE goth ANNIVERSARY
OF the Indian Battle of July
7, 1878.

Twenty years ago. on July z, 1898. th
battle with the Indians at Willo'
Springs, 2S miles south OF Pendleton, oC
CURED. On the twentieth anniversar,
OF the engagement, number of thos'
who participated in the battle assembled
at Willow Springs to talk over and cele
brate the event. call was published
recently In the papers throughout The
county, over the signatures OF Jacot
Frazer, ]. W. Salisbury and s. G. Light
foot, to this effect.
The following article, prepared by one
Of the brave settlers, who participated in
the battle, being among those seriously
wounded, is of striking interest at this
time:
The Fight at Willow Springs.
Rumors of the approach OF hostile
Pinto and Bannock Indians had been
rife for several days, but IL was not until
the 4th Of July, 1873. that well authen.
ticated report that the hostiles were on
their way to the Umatilla reservation
with view OF inducing or compelling
the Indians there to join them, reached
the settlers. Soon after settlers from
the threatened section, south OF Pendle-
ton, began 10 arrive in Pendleton with
their families and such household goods
as they could hastily gather up and load
on their wagons. This continued all
night and the next day until every avail
able camping place in town was occupied
and more were camped in the immediate
vicinity, Confusion reigned and 1t was
found impossible to secure any organiza-
tion TO protect the town from possible
attack. On the 9th Of July party of 10
or IL volunteered to go on scouting ex-
pedition into Camas Prairie where the
boaiiles were then supposed to be. The
next day, in the timber near the summit
OF the road, they chased and killed an
Indian who was evidently returning
from reconoitering, as his horse appear.
ed very tired. Unfortunately they al.
lowed the horse to escape from them,
which, running into the Indian camp,
alarmed the Indians and a party Of them
at once started to learn the capse. AS
the whites were largely outnumbersd
there was no alternative but flight.
They were closely chased by the Indians
one man named Perry was killed, and
several had very narrow escapes.
Sheriff sperry organized company of
volunteers to scout and guard against the
surprise Of the town. When he left
Pilot Rock he had party Of about 30
men. Here the party was divided,
about one'half escorting wagon that
was to bring out wounded sheepherder,
who was reported as lying in cabin
near High Bridge. This party on get
ting the wagon, started to return with
the wounded man, skirting the foothills
and joining the other party at Willow
Springs. All this was accomplished
without incident. Soon after both part.
les had reached Willow Springs mount.
ed sentrles were sent TO the higher
ground to observe report the enemy q
approach The remainder went into
camp, unsaddled their horses, eteer
that happened to be near was killed and
the meat divided,
All went we'll until nearly all had
cooked and eaten their dinner, wher
suddenly an alarm from the pickets ant
the clstterlng of many hoofs brought al
to realizing sense that they we're at
tackled. Every man ran for his gun
Many had to go considerable distance
BY this time the Indians had gottel
within 100 yards OF the camp, Firm
commenced, aud the Indians checke
their horses, which had been comm
under full run. They had been I'D
vancing In long line, and while thel
center was checked and began to retire
both wings, which were out Of reach {
our guns continued to advance and on
circle the camp. Before they could &C
compliah this, however, about 10 of ou
men, including the pickets who were a.
ready mounted, jumped on their horse
and made good their escape. Those re
naming sought shelher in sheep she
near by, constructed oi.poles and covere
with shakes. While this shed was no
imperylous TO bullets, the Indians, VIII
now massed on the opposite side OF th
canyon from the nhed, could not see u
and had to fire at random. While th
sides and ends, which were almost ope
gasea good opportunity to watch an
near approach Of the enemy and guar
against surprises, One man by th
name oil Lamar was killed before /
reached the ehelter of the shed an
eight had been wounded. One WI
wounded after the shed had been reacl
ed and one killed after We left the shes
All this had happened between 2 and
o'clock p. m. Soon after the ahed be
been reached the intense exCitemei
snbaided and the pros and cons OF th
probability oi relief, or chances of el
cape, began TO he discussed. and
was finally determined il relief di
not come before the moon went down
about II o'clock the wounded would b