The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1917-06-28
A PIONEERS TRIBUTE
TO INDIAN GEORGE

Hood River was stirred to intense
feeling when II learned of the tragic
death of old Indian George, the last
link between the pioneers and the first
and real owners of this beautiful
country. AS he passed in and out
among US he became more and more a
part of the past era. He came here
with his father and uncle when he was
a little boy. No white people were
here then to crowd them on the bank
of the Columbia as they have been
since.
He, with few others, kept up an
interest with the whites and claimed
them as their friends. Nellie, Susan,
Joe Eleck and George have all been
frequent visitors to the Boston Men,
as they call the whites, and if we have
divided bit with them as their needs
appeared, it has been a small recon-
pense for what we have taken from
them without so much as thank you.
For an Indian to have faith in one
for years counts for much. as they are
a people who have been treated unfair
ly by our government and it is no won
der if they feel their wrongs deeply.
When faith is once broken by dishon
est act it is seldom mended.
/, for one, shall miss him, as he has
come for rs years with his troubles
and his joys, as well as any news from
among the Indians that he thought
might interest US. Our summer people
have learned to care for him and the
children would inquire for him with an
interest that was real, and many
learned the blessedness of giving to an
unfortunate one of Gods creatures.
He has been a medium of communica-
tion between the whites and Indians in
many vexed question and always
sought peace.
About year ago he came with an
original treaty made in 1867 with the
Warm Springs Indians and signed by
Andrew jackson, president of the
Unite States, giving the Indians the
right to hunt in the mountains and fish
in the rivers. 1t seemed the game
warden had threatened to put them in
Jail for fishing during the closed sea-
son. But their needs knew no closed
season. / conferred with our prosecut-
ing attorney and told George to tell
them to fish as they had need of food,
and if they got into Jail to let me know.
When handed the paper back to him
he said, alright, you all same law
maker, me go tell them."
For man to have lived an honest
life when hunger and cold have been
his close companions, is not common
place life, as he has been feeble and
almost blind for years.
He often talked of going to the Great
Beyond and spoke reverently of the
good God. George was a regular at
tendant of the Methodist church. Some
one of the Sunday school girls would
lead him to seat and take off his hat
and very reverently would he sit
through the service until the last note
of the organ would cease.
A few years ago when Susan was
buried | was at the funeral and just as
they were ready to start on their long
Journey to Klickitat with her body a
long freight train pulled in so they
could not get out. AS they were all
waiting and knew there must be some
delay, | asked their minister the cause
and he pointed to the freight train. |
looked in his face for bitterness or re-
sentiment, but found only resignation
to fate. When Susan came here 60
years before as young bride, there
were only calf or pony trails.
Now the same wheels of progress
have crushed the life out of the last of
our old Indians. 1t brings sadness on
those who have been interested in try
ing to restore little of what the many
have taken from them.
The pioneers will all miss him and
will be glad if by word or deed they
have tried to Tighten heavy load.