The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1902-09-30

remarked to Mr.. Phelps that we
were hunting Indians, and from the out
look we had succeeded beyond our fond
est hopes.
From the high range of hills few
miles north of the river, we saw dust
rising and streaming behind like the
smoke from a locomotive. The objects
creating this disturbance were coming
towards the river, and as we dismounted
to watch, they soon came near enough
to the river on the opposite side for us
to make out body Of sixteen warriors,
their gun barrels flashing in the sun
shine and making an interesting sight.
They came down to the river to water
their horses and espied us two canoes
near by were hastily manned and most
of the party embarked. AS the canoes
neared the shore ! saw in the bow of the
first, Chief Moses.
As he stepped on shore we met him.
He looked searchingly at us for few
moments and then asked us why we
came. | told him that the people in
Kittitas and Yakima valleys had learned
that he intended to make war on the
whites and many had left their homes
and moved into fortresses the condi-
tions were such that some act of either
the whites or Indians would cause war,
and having known him for many years
l felt it was not his desire to bring on
war with all the bad results which must
necessarily follow, so we had come to see
him and talk over the situation, with
out fear of being killed by any of his
men. He told us to 90 up to Frank
Freer's store at the mouth of the We
natchee, and we would find Freer and
Sam Miller there we could remain over
night and ON the following morning, he
with some other smaller chiefs, would
come and have big talk. We rode on
up and found the Freer brothers and
Sam Miller at their store, feeling per-
iectly safe.
The few miles we traveled-between
the place we left Moses and the store
we counted 1870 lodges, and were told
that above, ln-no-mo-sech-a, chief OF
the Chelans, was encamped with 100
lodges, and still on up the river short
distance was the OkanOgans and San
Polls, numbering $50 lodges. Moses
camp of 200 lodges was at the present
site of Waterville. Each OF these
lodges would turn out about six war
riors, enough to have swept our valley.
morning with the following chiefs: Smo-
hal-la, OF the Priest River or Push-Wa
na-pum, ln-no-mo-seCh-a, OF the Che
lans besides some smaller lights. On
the fiat in front OF the store were many
Indians. was told that among those
present were five Nez Perces of Chief
Joseph's bands, which were at that
time retreating up the Clearwater i'll
Idaho, followed by Gen. o. O. Howard,
whom the Indians called Day-After-To-
morrow. Moses always received news
from the seat Of war earlier than we
did. Their line OF swift-riding couriers
would have been credit to any army.
Moses spoke first, saying that he had
no intention OF joining his cousin, Chief
Joseph, in waging war on the whites,
which could only end with the killing OF
many on both sides and the humiliation
Il &c nd
recognized the danger of small parties or
individual Indians committing outrages
upon the whites, he had at the begin
ming of hostilities, sent word Tor all the
Indians to come to him at once. Some
Indians had thought the order meant
war, and consequently on their way to
Join him, had done as he feared. After
he had all the Indians gathered round
him, he continually guarded them, not
allowing any to leave. Every day he
went around the circle that enclosed the
different ercampments to see that no
raiding parties had gone out during the
night. This had been his mission when
we met him the day before. lie told Us
to return and tell our people that Moses
was their friend who did not intend to
90 to war and who would hold the Indi-
ans where they were for a short time,
until he was perfectly satisfied that all
danger was past.
Having been On the ground at the
time and understanding the conditions
rs they were, believe that to the ener-
~ and foresight OF MOSES, coupled it'll