The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1908-08-29

Moses CnleT want you 10 hls'~
what my Tum-tum is in regard to
my tribes and the white people. Al
most every day there come to me
reports that the soldiers from Walla
Walla are coming to take me away
from this part of the country. MY
people are constantly excited and
want to know from you the truth SO
can tell my people and have every
thing quiet once more among u.s.
Since the last war we have had re-
ports up here that l Moses am eolns
to fight if the soldiers come; TINS
makes my heart sick. l have said
will not fight, and l say to you again
| will not fight and when you near
the whites say Moses will fight. you
tell them no. have always nVeo
here upon the Columbia River. am
getting old and do not want to see
my blood shed on any part OF the
country. Chief Joseph wanted me
and nv people to help him. His
offers were numerous. told MIN
no-never. l watched my people
faithfully during his war and Kept
them at home. l told them all when
the war broke out that they should
not steal: if any of them did would
report them to Father Wilbur. Dur
ing all the past year l have not al
lowed any strange Indians to cone
here fearing they would raise all ex-
element with my Indians. ! am not
a squaw-I know how to light, Dut
/ tell you the truth. l do not want
to fight and have always told my
people 80. 1t is about time to begin
our spring work as we all raise lots
of vegetables and wheat and corn
and trade with Cinnamon and get
money.
wish you would write me and tell
me the truth so l can tell my peo-
pie 50 they will be contented once
more and go to work in their gar
dens. l do not want to go on the
Yakima reservation as | told Col.
Watkins last summer. / wish to stay
where | have always lived and where
!. my parents died wish you would
write to me and send by the bearer
of this letter And be sure am
| friend and tell the truth.
His
Signed: Moses x Chief.
Mark
I replied that the Bannock Indians
! were giving me much trouble. but
that when got back would arrange
a meeting. In the meantime would
depend on him to keep peace.
Now, during this time it was hard
for Moses, for two sets OF Indians
gave him trouble. The "Dreamers,"
led BY Smoholly, tried to make Mos
es think that he should join many
tribes and fight the white men. for.
said they, all the Indians who have
gone to the happy huntinglands Will
rise from the dead before long and
join us, so you must join, too. But
Moses would not fight. Then some
of those Indians who were fighting
crossed over the Columbia River and,
/; finding a family by the name OF Per-
kins living far from any settlement,
killed every member Of the family
|! and burned their house and barn.
Some Indians told the white men
| that Moses was q friend of these
dreadful warriors and was protecting
them. The white people of Yakima
City believed these idle tales and
| even accused Moses to me, but
| met him and we talked 1t over. ne
said that he would prove that what
he said was true. for he would help
find the three Cayuse Indians who had
done this wrong and give them Up to
the Yakima courts.
Always true to his word. he took
with him thirty-five Indians and be-
gan to hunt. One evening Moses
and his band camped for the night and
fearing no harm, were fast asleep
when a large body of white men sur
rounded them. These men seized
Moses and bound him with cords. put
ting irons on his wrists. but still
he would not fight and told all his
Indians to point their rifles to the
ground, and offer no resistance. He
said afterward that he gave up his
pistol, knife. and gun and prepared
to die, but instead he was taken to
Yakima City and put in the jail OF
"Skookum House." as the Indians call
it. Here Mr.. Wilbur promised enough
money to make them take on the
Irons, but still Moses was a prisoner
Then he said: LET the one-armed
soldier-chief. General Howard, know