Chronicles of Camp Wright, Part I [pp. 24-32]

1887.] Chronicles of Cant~ Wr:gkt. 27
upon the Indians were openly, and in one The Indians have destroyed some of H-'s
or two instances, successfully resisted. stock in Eden Valley. All the stock that
Early in the year 1859, a memorial, is lost is charged to the Indians. His stock
signed by a number of the white in- is not herded. The Indians have killed
habitants of Round Valley and the sur- some, it is true, and the manner of killing
rounding country, praying for protection has indicated plainly that it was done in
against the Indians, was addressed to Gov- retaliation for the gross outrages practiced
ernor Weller, and referred by him to the on them ome of the stock which the
commanding general of the department; Indians were accused of having killed, has
who, in turn, referred it to Major Johnson, since been found. Persons traveling through
commanding at Fort Weller. Major J9h~- the Indian country are not attacked`at
son returned it under date of May 1, 1859, sight.' I have repeatedly sent single exwith an emphatic report denying the asser- pressmen through the country who have entions of the memorial. camped in the Indian country without mo "The Vukas have not been," says the lestation. Men go alone almost daily
report, "for the last two years, nor are they over and through the country, looking for
now, at open war with the whites; but the stock and hunting, and I have not yet heard
whites have waged a relentless war of of one having been attacked. No man
extermination against the Vukas, making travels through this country without arms
no distinction between the innocent and of some sort, but whether armed or Unthe guilty. They have ruthlessly massacred armed, it is false that any men have been
men, women, and children. That the In- attacked by these Indians. As to the statedians in a few instances have retaliated by ment that the citizens, having exhausted all
killing some stock is true; but so far from means of defense against the depredations
killing`twenty whites at least,' as falsely of the Indians, entertained the idea of
represented, they have never, since the first abandoning the country unless speedily assettlement of the country, killed but two." sisted by the State authorities, it is regarded
The report here states the circumstances of by all as simply ridiculous. The object of
their death, as given above, and goes on: the statement is palpable. The memorial"These were killed some two years ago, ists wish a company of volunteers called
and not a man has been killed since. It into the service for the purpose of exteris difficult to say how many Indians minating the Indians. This work has been
were killed by the whites within the time going on since the first settlement of the
specified, but it is asserted and believed country, but not fast enough to suit the
that some six hundred have been killed views of certain unscrupulous speculators
within the last year. The statement that and stock-owners, who would gladly see the
the Indians have, within two years, killed last Indian sacrificed to their insatiable
forty thousand dollars worth of stock in avarice and cupidity. The inhabitants are
Round Valley is believed to be a gross ex- fully able to protect themselves without the
aggeration One of the largest stock owners aid of volunt~ers. The Indians, and not
in the valley has within the last few days the whites, need protection. If the Indians
denied the statement, and says that he does were let al6ne, we should not hear so much
not believe the Indians have ever killed a of Indian depredations. If they.were altenth part of the amount stated. Several lowed, in common with the brutes, to eat the
other citizens of Round Valley have denied acorns, roots, and clover of the valley, inthe statement and scouted it as ridiculous. stead of being killed and driven to the fast