Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1900-05-14
ABOUT JOSEPH AND REUBEN
Lew WiImot Calls Steve Reuben
a Spy and Joseph a MUIR
derer.
SOME NEW HISTORY WRITTEN
Some Secrets and statements From Well Known
Pioneer Volunteer Scout and All Around
Indian Fighter.

In recent letter to the Spokesman
Review County Commissioner Lew Will
mot of Ferry county, Washington, who
personally witnessed many of the atroci-
ties committed by the Indians in the Nez
Perce war of 1877, commented on the
part played by Chief Joseph. Stephen
Reuben, Nez Perce Indian who was ed
ucated at Carlisle. Penn, and who ac-
companied Joseph on his recent trip to
the national capital replied in defense of
Joseph. Mr.. Wilmot makes rejoinder in
the following letter:
KELLER, Wash, May Io.-To the Ed
itor of the Spokesman Review: 1t would
appear from the way Stephen Reuben
starts his letter, in your issue of the 9TH
inst, that l had taken an undue advan-
tage of his absence to assail his friend
Joseph. If SO it was unintentional on
my part. I think my letter was mailed
here more than week before it appeared
in the Spokesman Review.
However, that cuts but small figure
in the issue, and Stephen Reuben does
not deny the statements made in my let
ter, he only sets up the same excuse that
was brought forward by Archie Williams,
that white man on Salmon river had a
few years before killed an Indian, and
that some unprincipled white man had
sold the Indians whiskey and these In
dians began the massacre while drunk.
On the 18th of June, 1877, Joseph and
his band of braves were camped at the
head of Rocky canyon on Camas prairie,
which is at least forty miles from where
the Whitebird Indians began the massa-
ere that morning. Will any of Joseph S
friends or admirers tell us what excuse
could have, by beginning to massacre de-
fenseless men, women, and children
whom he did not know, and who had
never wronged him or any other Indian?
Joseph or his braves were not drunk.
Now, what excuse is there?
Stephen Reuben misquotes part OF
my letter, where he states that Wilnot
says twelve soldiers and the scout were
sent out to kill the Indians. made nc
such statement. The twelve soldiers and
the scout were sent out to the rescue OF
Blewett, whose horse had thrown him
and when last seen by Foster was run
ming for the brush. did expect that
some of Reuben's friends would chal'
lenge the statement, made by Foster
that Reuben was at the head of the wal
party that was coming up the hill.
The day before Blewett was killed Reu
ben was at Fort Lapwai. AS he was
friendly to the soldiers, he obtained con
siderable information that was valuable
to his friend Joseph. He learned tha,
Colonel Perry was intending to 60 to Cot
tonwood the next day with pack trair
loaded with supplies and ammunition
for the three companies of cavalry 10
Gated at that point. That night Reuber
and his friends went to Joseph's camp
which had been moved to within 81,
miles of the road leading from Fort lap
wal to Cottonwood. No odoubt this part,
had come out to ambush the Perry party
but something went wrong and the pacl
train did not get away until the next day
After killing Blewett the Indians trie,
to catch Foster, but failed. When Lieu
tenant Rains and the II soldiers who vol
unteered to go to the rescue came up tn,
Cottonwood hill, they were ambushe,
and not one got away to tell how it ha,
been done.
After the fight the Indians returned t
their camp, and the next day they move
their camp over on to Grimes cree
some four miles from Cottonwood, an
while they were moving Colonel Perry
and his train came through without see
ing any Indians.
Reuben claims that he is the friend c
Joseph. Well, Joseph might we'll sa,
Save me from my friends" From whs
| have seen l consider that Reuben an
his friends are the worst enemies thu
Joseph has ever had. 1t was throug
them that Joseph went on the warpa;l
1t was they who advised Joseph to refus
to accept the Bill Caldwell ranch, whic
was one Of the finest places in Nez Perc