Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1910-04-01
GALICE BLOCK
HOUSE INCIDENT
CHIEF JOHN AND HIS WARRIORS
ATTACK MINERS
BLOODY THREE DAYS FIGHT
A Part Of the History Of the Wonder
full Mining Camp Of Josephine
County.

] N''~N N>HN Wv A5hN AuhuiV llNil
awaits that camp, makes all matters
OF Its past history Of more or less
value. An incident occurred in the
latter part Of 1856 which shows that
the little hamlet Of Galice was at that
time a scene Of warfare of no ordin-
airy character. Chief John, of the
Rogue River tribe, had been making
war on the white settlers and had
/ killed many Of them along the stage
road leading to California in the
/ Illinois valley and the full length Of
Rogue river. Chief John was a war
rior Of great ability and gave the
whites battle at every opportunity.
Volunteer companies were at times
In the valley, but for the most part
the settlers, including miners and
farmers, had to protect themselves
One day word was brought to the
camp that the Indians were coming
and as they were on the warpath
every white man knew their errand
and consequently arms and ammuni-
tlon were gathered up and 1t was
determined to give the redskins a
warm reception. Unfortunately on
ly thirteen muzzle-loading guns and
the same number of revolvers were
to be found In the camp, and as there
were forty men In the party these
arms would only go little more than
half way round, There was an old
building, rooted and sided with
shakes, standing on the ground
where Barlow's old barn now stands
There were several loads OF flour
which had just been brought to camp,
This flour was in sacks and Il was
piled In the building on both sides
and ends and this made fair pro-
lection against bullets. The defense
had only Just been completed when
Chief John and his warriors came in
sight on the opposite side of the
river The chief took his position
directly in front of the improvsed
fort OF the white men and directed
his followers to cross the river both
above and below. When the men
had gained the southern shore, Chief
John directed them to charge the
position OF the white men. The
miners received them with a fusllade
from their rifles and revolvers and
not few OF the Indians were wound
ed by the fire and they retired
At this point a miner named Pick
EFT claimed that he could go out and
make peace with the Indians and
started out of the building to do so.
but had not gone more than a hun
dred yards when he was shot through
his lett side, he was brought back to
the fort and all was done for him
that could be, but he died during the
day Another man named Sanders
was killed by a bullet which CAME
through the building \ man named
Adams went ont Of the building for
some purpose and was shot I'm the
knee. Another miner went ont IN
help him In and received o bullet I'm
the Jaw ne Indians made uumer-
ous charges against the position of
the white men. but they were as
often driven back and quite NUM-
her Of them were killed by the
whites.
Chief John kept mp the reht for
three days hut finally gave up the
contest The miners did not suffer
the loss OF as many men as ala the
Indians and they made splendid
defense considering the small number
of arms they had at their disposal
The writer has heard many incidents
connected with that war which han.
pencd around the Calico district but
space viii not permit these stories
TO- be told at this time
A fayorto resort for tho Indian,
during the SOS was alone Romo
river below tho present Ga,Ice post.
office, on tho grounds owned hy the
Consolidated Mines company Thcv
were familiar with every nook and
corner ON both sides of the river IN
the locality mentioned. At the time
OF the visit ot Chlpt John and his
warriors lhcre were quite a number I
OF white mon working the \lmela
bar, and the Indians knowing this :
went down the river to attack them
Out fortunately the miners AZ that p
point had received word that the 4
saNaSes werc coming and retreated to =,