Page:History of Oregon volume 1.djvu/798

Rh being lodged on the head of Abiqua Creek where it debouches from the Cascade Mountains. The Klamaths and Molalles began by robbing the cabins erected on land-claims at some distance from each other; and growing bolder, entered the houses of families, ordering the women to cook for them; or killing their beef-cattle. As these acts usually preceded a massacre, the settlers became more and more uneasy.

At length, one afternoon in the early spring, a large party from the encampment above mentioned surrounded the residence of Richard Miller, a prominent man in Champoeg County, making insolent demands and uttering the soul-harrowing warwhoop, at the same time endeavoring to cut off the passage of a, neighbor of Miller's who was seeking refuge at his house. It happened that Knox, from whom Knox's Butte in Linn County was named, was riding within sight of Miller's, with the first United States mail that was carried up the Willamette Valley; he took in the meaning of the demonstration at a glance, and quickened his horse's gait to a run, leaving information at every house on the road. Others mounted and rode, spreading the story, and by morning sixty men and lads were gathered at Miller's, the Indians having in the mean time retired with threats. An organization was immediately effected, Daniel Waldo being elected colonel, and the volunteers, horse and foot, set out for the Indian encampment; the mounted men crossing the Abiqua and proceeding up the north side under Colonel Waldo and Captain Davy, while Captain Geer marched on foot up the south side.

As soon as the Indians discovered the approach of