The Ely miner., 1932-09-09

worthy 10 be remem-
Joseph bered with that Of
Xenophon's Ten Thou
sand" is always recalled when Jo-
seph's name is spoken
He was born in Oregon about 1910,
and was g hereditary chief Of the
Nez Perce. His natural gift for or
atory was Of considerable use in his
dealings with the white men, and
though il is said that he never spoke
in English, his translated speeches are
worthy Of notice, and have been quoted
many times.
His father, Joseph the elder, was
careful 10 teach him not TO sign trea-
ties nor 70 sell the land Of his peo-
pie. This principle was faithfully ad-
hered TO by the chief, and ii was the
cause Of the war between his people
and the white men. According TO Jo-
seph's own story, Nez Perce called
Lawyer assumed rights which he did
not possess, and sold the Wallowa
country belonging 10 Joseph's band),
with all the rest Of the Nez Perce land
outside the Lapwai reservation, 10 the
whites.
The elder Joseph and his son, who
did not want 10 part with the land,
had no share in this treaty and felt
that they were wronged- Then the
old chief died, and was buried in the
beautiful valley where he had lived,
and this was one more tie binding Jo-
seph to his country: Il love that land
more than all the rest of the world.
A man who would not love his fathers
grave is worse than q wild animal"
More and more sternly, the white
men demanded that the Nez Perces
should leave the valley and 90 on
their reservation. Each time the In
dians reiterated that they had not sold
the land and continued 10 live there,
hoping for an adjustment in their IA
vor. The white men moved ever clos
er, and took more land. The Indians
complained, but were told 10 90 on the
reservation Finally. affairs came 10
q climax. Both sides were guilty Of
attacks and depredations. War was
declared. The whites suffered severe
losses at first, as Joseph's generalship
and use of tactics were brilliant
Il later became necessary for the In
dians 10 retreat, and this movement
Is one OF the most famous in the his
tory Of Indian warfare With about
800 warriors, their wives and children,
the band started for Canada, hoping
to join Sitting Bull. Behind them was
General Howard and Colonel Sturgis
and his Indian scouts were on their
flank. Colonel Miles, that adept in the
art Of Indian warfare, was rapidly
marching in 10 intercept them before
they could reach the border.
Almost 1000 miles through enemy
territory, the remarkable leader
brought his people. Their few war
riors were opposed by nearly seven
times as many soldiers. Their con-
duct was praiseworthy, as they did
not commit depredstions, fighting only
when they encountered troops.
Finally, fresh troops in front COM
PEELED a halt, and for four days the
Nez Perce battled against the soldiers.
General Howard had come up TO join
Colonel Miles, and the odds were too
great 10 be longer resisted.
Eighty-seven warriors, almost half
Of whom were wounded, 1S4 women
and almost as many children were the
remnant who submitted TO the white
soldiers. Joseph sent a message OF
surrender, in which he lamented the
woes Of his people, and closed by say
ing, Hear me, my chiefs, my heart
is sick and sad. From where the sun
now stands, 1 viii fight no more with
the white man."
After their surrender, the Nez Perce
were taken 10 Indian territory, where
they longed for their Idaho lands, and
about half of them were later allowed
10 return, but Joseph and the rest were
sent TO the Colville reservation in
Washington. Here he became inter
esIed in the advancement of his peo-
PIE under government rule, and bent
all his energies TO furthering the cause
Of education and discouraging drunk
enness and gambling.
In 1897, worried by encroaching
whites, the grand old chief went to
Washington, on behalf Of his tribe.
However, General Miles, the only
white man whom he trusted, promised
him that his people should remain IN
molested, and he returned to the res
ervation, confident Of peace.
Six years later, Joseph made another
trip TO the Capital This was a friend
ly visit, during which he took part in
an Indian exhibition. This was to be
his last journey, for he died Septem-
Der -, 1901
Cyrus Townsend Brady, writing Of
the famous chief, has described his
death as follows: "The other day a
gray-haired old chief, nodding by the
fire, dreaming perhaps OF days of dar-
ing and deeds Of valor, by which, saw
age though he was, he had written his
name on the pages of history, slipped
quietly 10 the ground and fell into his
eternal sleep"
&C. 1882. Western Newspaper Union-l