Page:Oregon, her history, her great men, her literature.djvu/139

Rh advice he gave to his warriors when they returned at the time designated. The treaty of peace was signed, and Governor Lane gave the Indians slips of paper guaranteeing them the protection of the whites. As a token of respect for Governor Lane the old Chief requested the Governor to bestow his name upon him; and the Governor and the people ever after knew the chief by the name of "Joe."



The Battle Rock Incident.During nearly a year the Indians observed the treaty with Governor Lane. However, numerous depredations were committed in the vicinity of Rogue River, which were attributed to the Indians. One of these occurred in June, 1851, at Port Orford on the Coast and about thirty miles north from the mouth of the Rogue River. Nine men had been landed by the steam coaster "Sea Gull" to open a trail for pack trains from that place to Jacksonville. The Indians ordered them to leave; but it was too late, since the coaster had sailed. Thereupon, on the 10th of June, the men carried their effects to the top of a great rock near by, and loaded a small cannon which had been the signal gun on the boat. After a spirited harangue by the chief, a half-hundred Indians rushed up the rock upon a narrow trail, at which time the carefully aimed cannon hurled them into eternity. The remaining warriors were put to flight, and the wailing in the Indian villages for the dead