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 Correspondence of the Oregon Superintendency 1887 News articles and Southern Oregon-related correspondence with the Oregon Superintendency for Indian Affairs. Click here for Superintendency correspondence 1844-1900. The Klamath Reservation.
Bids for the resurvey of the Klamath Indian reservation have been
received at the general land office in Washington, but action thereon
has been suspended at the instance of the Commissioner of Indian
Affairs. A talk with the commissioner fails to show the exact grounds
on which he bases the request for the suspension, but the main thought
seems to be that he wants time to assure the Indians in advance that
the survey is not ordered with a view of depriving them of their lands.(Oregonian, Jan. 10.) Gen. Atkins says he will instruct the agent at Klamath to state his views to the Indians and in turn ask their views on the project of the survey. The office is in receipt of information that the feeling in Klamath County is so intense on the relocation of the eastern boundary that the utmost caution must be exercised to prevent either an uprising of the Indians or lawless acts by the settlers and swamp land claimants. The Indians claim the land should be carried from ten to twenty miles further east, and the settlers claim the line is in its proper position, or if not, the line should be carried west, and thus lessen the reservation. The treaty between the Indians and the government described the line by natural boundaries, and the dispute is in what constitutes these natural boundaries. A dispatch of Jan. 5th says: Representative Hermann of Oregon is endeavoring to secure a large detail of soldiers at Fort Klamath. It was stated some time ago that the War Department intended to abandon the Klamath post, but so many urgent protests against that course were received that the plan was given up. The recent report to the Oregonian that a special commissioner was en route to Klamath to investigate the matter of the disputed boundary of the reservation turns out to be erroneous. No commissioner has yet been sent out for that purpose. This should be done, however. It is the best way for the department to reach a knowledge of the true situation. Ashland Tidings, January 14, 1887, page 3 Remnant of the Modocs.
The Modoc tribe of Indians are fast disappearing from the face of the
earth. Since their removal to the Indian territory their ranks have
been greatly thinned by the grim visitor. One of the fighting chiefs of
this bloodthirsty band, Bogus Charley, when asked several years ago how
the tribe was progressing in the territory, pointed pathetically to the
Indian burying ground and said in broken English: "Only a hunner; all
over there." Charley himself was a short time after gathered unto his
fathers; he having died in LaGrande about six years ago, while on his
way to visit his sister in Walla Walla. He had been granted a permit to
make this visit, and papers found with him at his death directed that
in case he died before reaching his destination all personal effects
should be forwarded to the said sister, his only surviving relative.
Bogus Charley was buried in the old cemetery on the hill, and his grave
is marked with a headboard on which is inscribed his name and the date
of his death.(La Grande Gazette.) Ashland Tidings, May 6, 1887, page 3 THE DEATH OF A NOTED INDIAN CHIEF.
Democratic
Times, Jacksonville, June 3, 1887, page
1
Died at Siletz
Indian Agency, May 5, 1887, old man Joshua, head chief of the Joshua
tribe of Indians, age about 90 years.
Tyee Joshua was one of the noted chiefs that took an active part in the Rogue River war of 1855-6. He and his warriors fought long and terribly for their homes and country, but were finally overpowered and conquered by the white man, and compelled to surrender and submit to his control. Joshua, with his people, were present at a great council, held in a beautiful valley of the Rogue River, which lasted ten days. At this council Joshua advised his people to surrender and go upon the reservation. For two years they had fought with all the power of their wild and savage nature, their signal fires of war had blazed upon almost every mountaintop in all that country; the war whoop and war dance were heard to resound through the valleys and around the grand old mountains of Rogue River, making the scene grand and imposing, and never to be forgotten by those who took part in that memorable war. The Indians knew that when they gave up the struggle they would lose their nationality and everything they held sacred. This seemed to crush their proud spirits, and they have been a sad and despondent race ever since. The few old Indians that still remain on the reservation complain and brood over the wrongs done them by the whites in taking their country from them and compelling them to go on reservations, where the process of civilization has well nigh exterminated the race. In his younger days, Chief Joshua was a fine specimen of his race; a fine form, sturdy, supple and strong in war, and the proud possessor of ten wives, all of whom have long since passed to the "happy hunting grounds," and in his old age he was blessed with a young wife, whom he had bought while on the reservation. Old Joshua was quiet, peaceable, industrious, and gave the authorities no trouble during his long stay upon the reservation. This makes three noted Indians that have died during the winter, viz: Tyee Joe, old man Shellhead, and Joshua. They have gone to take up their positions as tyees in the happy hunting grounds, where they will not be troubled with the white man and his reservations.--Yaquina Post. The contract for surveying the Grand Ronde Indian Reservation and allotting it to the Indians has been let by the government to J. D. Fenton, of McMinnville, and H. S. Mahoney, of Sheridan. "Oregon News," The Eye, Snohomish City, Washington, August 13, 1887, page 2 Telegraph Poles Wanted.
Sergeant G. H. Willson, of the signal corps, located at Fort Klamath,
calls for bids for the contract to furnish, deliver and set up 1781
telegraph poles along the government line between Ashland and Fort
Bidwell, to be distributed as follows: Between Ashland and Linkville,
378 poles; between Fort Klamath and Linkville, 383; between Fort
Klamath and Bly, 601; between Bly and Lakeview, 256; between Lakeview
and Bidwell, 163. Bids will be received in duplicate up to noon
Tuesday, Sept. 6th. Full information may be had on application to
Sergt. G. H. Willson, Fort Klamath, Or.Ashland Tidings, August 19, 1887, page 3 JAMES BROWN, better known as One-Armed Brown, one of the messengers of the U.S. Senate, died Sunday at Washington, from the effects of wounds received during the war. He was a one-armed veteran from Oregon, and was recommended by Senator Dolph. His remains will be forwarded to friends in Canada. "Editorial Notes," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, August 26, 1887, page 2 There was a row at the Indian camp on the McCully hill last Sunday evening. Some of the participants were arrested and two fined by Recorder Huffer. "Local Notes," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, September 2, 1887, page 3 The Salem Statesman reports that the Commissioner of Indian Affairs has appointed Col. H. B. Compson, of Huntington, principal teacher of the school at the Klamath Indian agency, and J. W. Brandenburg principal teacher of the Yainax school upon the same agency. "Here and There," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, September 2, 1887, page 3 Several Klamath Indians have been in town during the week and did considerable trading. They sold a number of ponies to the youngsters about town, and the festive cayuse is abundant again. "Here and There," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, October 28, 1887, page 3 REFORM IN INDIAN SCHOOLS.
Mr. Superintendent Riley in his report advises the appointment of a
commission to inquire into the whole subject of schools and schooling
for the Indians, and to prepare some comprehensive scheme for Indian
education. That means the invitation of several needy Democratic
gentlemen to spend two or three years in educating themselves on the
"Indian question"--just as Mr. Riley has been doing with moderate
success. After the necessary delay and expense these gentlemen would
devise about as good a system as Mr. Riley ought now to be able to
construct. Why doesn't he set himself to work and present the country
with such a scheme as he thinks someone else ought to furnish after a
while? That would seem to be the business of a superintendent, and if
Mr. Riley doesn't feel competent, his place should be filled by someone
who is.There are many persons in the country well qualified by natural gifts and experience, men who have studied and labored in the cause for years with zeal and intelligence, They may not be found in the Department now, because they have mostly been supplanted by Tennesseans and Mississippians--friends of Mr. Atkins and Secretary Lamar. An Administration which advertised itself as devoted to the principle of civil service reform should have promoted some faithful official who would have known what his duties were and how to perform them when he took the office. There was William T. Leeke for one, whose efficiency as a teacher and rare common sense made his school in Southern Oregon not only a model among those of the Indian country, but an admirable one for spirit and discipline in any country. In Mr. Harrison's "Latest Studies on Indian Reservations" the quality of this school and its teacher is clearly set forth, and the little book has passed through more than one edition, so that a great many people outside of the Indian Bureau as well as within it have been able to judge what can be accomplished in the way of training Indian youth by one who is apt to teach, Mr. Leeke was not selected. Mr. Riley was, and although he might have seen a live Indian at some time in a show, he certainly had no experience to fit him for his place. Mr. Leeke was not only not promoted, but like many another good man, he has lately been superseded. As the head of the Educational Bureau, Mr. Riley should have protested against depriving the cause of the benefit of such rare gifts. Instead of asking for more appointments, Mr. Riley denounced such crippling of his force by substituting untried adventurers for skilled and devoted laborers. If Mr. Riley has no power to prevent such outrages and no courage to protect against them, he can render the cause of Indian education but little aid. And yet it may be that Mr. Riley is a most suitable man to be connected with the Indian service as at present constituted and conducted. New York Tribune, November 17, 1887, page 4 Last revised August 29, 2026 |
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