The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-19

had been left for dead, but crawled into
a canyon, where he was secretly fed by
squaw for more than three weeks. He
had saved the life of her papoose by per-
forming the operation of tracheotomy
for Group. Father Ravalli, at Senator
Vests instance, sent out runners to Char
lot, asking him to leave the mountains
and come to the mission with five of his
principal men, guaranteeing him against
arrest or molestation. Chariot appeared
on the following day. II was agreed that
five whites and five Indians should have
a talk over the troubles. They were to
meet without arms or means of offense or
defense.
The interview was very stormy. The
senator found Chariot exceedingly obsti-
nate and determined not to leave the val
ley He showed Chariot a copy of the
treaty as printed in Commissioner Walk
er's report, with Charlot's mark attached,
and charged him Yith violating his
ley This touched Chariot to the quick
Springing to his feet and pulling off his
ragged wooden hat, he dashed it to the
floor, and planting his foot on it, he
said:
Nov you have put your foot on my
neck but your people did not talk this
way when they passed through my coun-
try on their way to California. We had
many of the whites. But there Is not
drop of your blood on the hands of my
people. When Joseph. the Nez Perce.
marched through our reservation. al
though the Nez Perces were our relatives.
l made my warriors march on either side
of them and told Joseph If he spilled a
drop of white blood we would attack him
at once. Now you threaten to tie me on
my pony like a bag of NEAL but he
shouted drawing himself up to his full
height and looking the senator square in
the eye. you can take me dead. but
never alive! I have heard before of this
treaty which you have printed in the
book, and that my name was signed to it.
but never signed it! Never" he repeated
with emphasis And he" pointing to
Father Ravalli's cell, twas there when
| the treaty was made, and he knows that
I speak the truth. Your Great Father.
| Garfield, put my name to a paper which
I never signed. How can l believe you or
any white man after the way have been
| treated?'
| Senator Vest was so much impressed
| with Charlot's statement and manner
that he turned to his companions and sug-
| gested recess. 1t was evident that he
believed Charlot's statement. notwith-
| standing the asseverations and denuncia-
| tions he had heard from the settlers.
HE directed Captain Campbell, chief
| of scouts at Fort Custer, who had been
sent with him by General Sheridan, to
take the Indians up to the village tavern
| and give them a good dinner and to have
| them brought back to the mission at 2
o'clock.
'"Then the senator entered Father Ra-
Wallis cell After stating what had oc-
CURED, he asked the priest if Chariot had
! signed the Garfield treaty. The father re-
| piled that ne had heard of the published
| treaty. but had never discussed the mat
ter with anybody, as he did not wish to
be involved in difficulty with the govern
| ment or with any of its officials. Sena-
tor Vest told him the time had come
| when the truth must be made known, and
insisted that it was his duty to state tins
| facts so that an Indian war might be
averted. Such a war would, of course,
result in the entire destruction of Charlo1
| and his handful of followers. After much
hesitation Father Ravall finally said
| pointing to the CrucifiX above him:
at shall in a very short time be with
Him who died upon the cross and l must
speak the truth. Chariot did not sign
that treaty. and I do not believe tina:
President Garfield ever reported that he
did
When the Indians returned to the mis-
sion at 2 o'clock the senator asked Char
| lot whether he would not like to visit
| Washington and have, a talk with the
Great Father. Chariot finally replied that
if the agent and the Interpreter could go
| with him he would like to see the Great
| Father and have talk with him.
ION his return to Washington Senator
Vest went to see Secretary Teller. He
asked him to have the original treaty
and the original copy of Garfield's report
| hunted up. When this was done it was
| found that Chariot had not put his X to
the treaty, and that Garfield had not re-
| ported that he did. He simply said in ms
report that the second and third chiefs
Arlee and Adolf, had signed the treaty
but that Chariot had refused, although he
might be induced to sign 1t afterwards
Wilbur f. Sanders, one of the witnesses
also said that he never saw Chariot sigT
the treaty.
"At Senator Vests request, Secretary
| Teller had Chariot and his companion:
brought to Washington, accompanied BY
| the agent and the interpreter In an in
terview with Secretary Teller and the
| president Chariot absolutely refused Il
lsave the Bitter Root valley, where hi