East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1912-05-30
UMATILLA INDIAN
INSPIRES GRAFTON


In the old world today. the Swiss
are the source from which springs the
vitality OF Europe. a free and hardy
race. a courageous. liberty loving peO-
pie. They were the mountaineers of
the Alps. In the new world the great
conquering race was the Shahaplian
stock OF Indians. The vast territory
around the Snake river and the mid
die Columbia from the Bitter Root
mountains TO the Cascade Range was
formerly theirs. Among the tribes
composing this dominating race were
the Nez Perce. the Kllkitat. the Pal
us, walla Walla, Yakima and Una
tilla.
As might be expected from their
environment and habits. they were
tall. muscular and well formed. anu
even now there may be seen in the
reservation some OF the finest men,
physically. to be met with anywhere.
They were hOrsemen and soldiers.
and as dangerous a race as the whites
ever encountered in their march
across the continent For three hun
dred years before the coming of
Lewis and Clark. the Umatillas had
possessed large bands of horses. and
when Hunt surmounted the smoky"
or Blue mountains in 1912 he found
the plains covered with immense
herds of cayuse ponies. A people
which rides horses is not easy to sub
due. but finally the ever increasing
tide OF immigration began replacing
the Indian. Their rowing liberty was
checked and in battles they were
gradually defeated. Chiefs OF some
OF the tribes predicted that unless
some treaty was made with the whites
their homes would be taken away
and they would be driven out for
ever. This seemed unbelievable but
the people slowly realized that it
was true.
In 1855. PeOpeomOxmOx and Wey-
atenatemany. and Wenap-snoOt,
chiefs of the three confederated tribes
OF walla Wallas. Cayuses and Una
tillas. met at Camp Stevens in Wal,a
Walla valley to make reaty with
representatives OF the government
They agreed TO csde to the L. ;
all the territory which they claimed.
providing that a certain amount
should be set apart as a residence for
the Indians. This was to include the
land inclosed within the boundaries
commencing in the middle of the
Umailla river. opposite the mouth OF
Wild Horse creek. up the channel TO
its source. thence southerly TO Lees
Encampment. now called Meacham,
thence in a line to the headwaters OF
Howtome creek. or now Mckay; west
10 the divide between Howtome and
Birch creeks. thence northerly to a
point west of William McKay's land
claim, or the Tanning place. and
thence to tsie place Of beginning
The treaty provided for the build
ing of homes for the chiefs. the pay
ment of money annually for twenty
years. and of certain smaller grants
which pleased the Indians. as well as
| a promise of educational institutions
The value Of the reservation lands is
best shown by the fact that the Una
tillas. who well knew the favored
| parts of the vast Inland Empire. chose
for their homes this spot on the UNA
tilla river.
Perhaps this rowing tribe did go
/ to the Grand Ronde OF WallOwa val
/ leys in summer to Craze their ponies
or camp for a time on the banks OF
| the Columbia. but when the snow
storms came. the lOrdly river lost its
| charms, and they hurried back TO nes-
I tie comfortably in their tepees along
/ the banks OF the Umatilla. The In
dams were wise in their day and
proved il when they chose a land.
/ 80. 900 acres of which produces at the
/ present time twenty-five to fifty
/ bushels OF wheat to the acre and is
valued at over $40. aggregating So
/ SOC. 600. The 100000 acres which is
not tillable consists OF timber and
grazing lands and is valued AT about
/ $3.50. OO0
But not until recent years have
the merits OF the land been so fully
| tested. for the Indians could not sup
press their liberty loving nature. In
I the summer OF 1875. when the Ban
nocks and Piutes invaded this cOun-
try the citizens feared the reserva-
| ton Indians intended uniting with
| the hostiles. The Umatillas deter
mined to show their loyalty. They
captured the chief of the enemies.
drove them away and returned. flush
/ ed with victory. to the white forces
/ concentrated at the mission. A pro-
cession of all the Indians on the res
ervation was formed and passed in
review before the L. S. troops which
! had arrived.