East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1909-04-02
INDIAN EXCITEMENT,
(From the East Oregonlan of July
G, iSTS.)


(From the East Oregonlan of July
G, 1SfS.)
Pendleton is at present pretty
lively; some zoo families help count
its population; families from down
the river, Meadows and Happy Cam
yon, Butter creek, Willow creek and
in fact all through this Northwest
and West country, they have all
cleared out, leaving their cattle and
sheep to the mercy of the Indian and
wolf; the pigs and calves in the pen
and corral, having had no time il
seems but to make haste for Pendleton
and Walla Walla, The excitement is
great Teams arriving at all hours
during the night and up to late
hour Wednesday morning. Campers
on every street: school houses are
filled and the rest take shelter where
opportunity offers. Calico was on
every fence corner wondering what
next. A company was organized to
guard the town and another of 10
which took their departure for the
scene of war. Several joined at Pilot
Rock and started in company with
several Umatilla Indians
The Indian excitement has been at
fever heat for several days. Sever
al families felt for Walla Walla and
other places. On Tuesday Major
Cornoyer, who had gone out on the
North Fork of the John Day to have
his Indians return, found them fight
ing the hostiles and holding them in
check The major Immediately sent
an Indian courier to Pendleton to give
the alarm and to notify citizens in the
country. on the arrival of the cour-
ier at 'Pendleton a courier was sent
out TO notify the citizens on the
Umatilla river below town and an
other sent with the news to Walla
Walla and to notify the people at
Weston. A company was immedi-
ately formed and what arms could
be had placed in their hands3 Ten
men thus armed started TO the as
sistance of our brave Indians who
were holding the hostiles in check.
Another company was formed at Pi-
lot Rock some ten or IL of whom
also Immediately went to the front.
The settlers from Birch creek and
the Umatilla nearly all came to town
during the night. Another company
was formed to patrol the town and
a vigilant watch kept up during the
night. on Wednesday morning two
friendly Indians arrived who had |
been in the engagement and re-
ported a loss of three of their num-
Der and two others missing. Several |
volunteers and four Indians left on
Wednesday morning for the scene OF
action At about 10 o'clock a. m. |
Wednesday morning the courier sent |
to Walla Walla returned with dis
patches from Col. Wheaton stating |
that he had sent all of his available |
men to Umatilla but that he would |
recall them by telegraph and push !
them forward to Pendleton immedi-
ately, he also stated that two COM
panies of cavalry would be at Walla
Walla in two or three days and that
as soon as they came they would be
sent forward.
Note:-The battle of Willow
Springs was fought on the day the
above article was published In the
East Oregonian. In this fight COM
pany of white volunteers, under
Captain ]. L. Sperry, sheriff of the
county was attacked with the result
that several of the company were
killed and many wounded. While re-
treating toward Pilot Rock Captain
Sperrys men met with a squadron
of regular cavalry under Major
ThrockmortOn. Shortly afterwards
the Piute chief, Egan, was betrayed |
and killed and the hostiles driven
out of the CONTEMPLATION.