Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1899-09-09
0rtune Awaited Them.

| hC tetotuN vi tue IoUatc SuuFt iASt
Monday reveal an Interesting story OF
war, tragedy and privation.
| An application for the guardianship p
of the heirs Of Robert M,,ses on that
occasion brings to mind bit Of history
aud the story of hardship and suffering
Of an unfortunate Indian family. Rob-
ert Moses was young warrior In Jo-
seph's ranks. He was what might be
called non-commissioned officer. He
and his young wife had royal blood IN
| their veins, and the infant sou John
was prince In line for the honor Of
chief OF. the great Nez Perce tribe. The
family linked their fortunes with and
gave up all hope for the cause cup
ported by Joseph In his terrible war
against tile whites. This family made
the famous retreat Of thousands Of
miles, and the husband aud father was
In the front rank In every battle. They
escaped to Canada when Joseph ana
the bulk Of his army were captured by
General Miles after the battle with
General Gibbon.
General Whitebird was perhaps Jo-
seph's most eflic' ent assistant. He, too,
escaped to Canada. Whitebird's infiu.
ence caused Robt. Moses to make he
mistake OF taking up arms against the
white people. This fact rank led Ia the
hearts Of the Moses family. The child,
prince had lost the prospect OF honors
as ruler of his people, and they were
banished from their lovely Lapwai
home.
Whiteblrd and NJ SIS joined the
| Blo0ds and Blacktet In Northwest
Territory, but they nursed their grief
Finally Robt. Moses killed old White.
bird In q fight, and the murder was
avenged by the law Of Canada by life
sentence In the penitentiary. Moses
died In about two years after his incar-
ceration. When hope ended death soon
released the proud spirit. The wife and
mother grieved herself to death In
exile, and she died Il few months ago.
Six children were left In extreme Dov-
erty. The longing for lovely Lapwai
was Inherited by the scions of Nez
Perces royalty.
When Miss Fletcher allotted lands
on the reservation and enumerated, an
uncle Of the expatrated family looked
after the Interests of his kinsfolk.
Their names were enrolled, fr
money and land. A good tract Of land
was selected and pro rata Of pa ayment
was withheld in Washington. ID. G.,
for the dead parents and the orphans.
| Until the sensitive mother died, how
ever, the family suffered In poverty In
that land of snow, while fortune
awaited them in their native land. For
several years after the disgrace Of the
family 10y conviction of the husband,
their relatives and friends kne "
nothing df the family.
In the meantime John, who had left
lapwai a babe, grew to manhood. The
family had few horses which had
been Vaiueless during the past year oil
hard times. These horses attained
some value and they were sold fol
money enough to pay passage for the
orphans 10 the home of their uncle al
Lapwai. When they arrived they Wert
striking examples of poverty. How
ever, they found awaiting them oyer
$1,000 in money and a section of th,
richest land In the Northwest, worth al
least $4,000.
The little orphans who were de
Ipendent upon the scant annuities o.
the Canadian government are trans
formed into aristocrats in a day.