Page:The Early Indian Wars of Oregon.djvu/266



The artillerymen were finally removed to Astoria, and the riflemen to Vancouver, where they were put to work constructing buildings on the ground declared a military reservation in the following October. In May, Major S. S. Tucker was ordered to The Dalles with two companies of riflemen to establish a supply post. He declared a reser vation ten miles square, and proceeded to erect suitable buildings about one mile back from the river. As the reservation at Vancouver covered a tract four miles square, and at Astoria included lands settled upon and improved, there was much dissatisfaction. But when Major Loring attempted to reserve for an arsenal the land of Meek and Luelling at Milwaukie, planted with the first fruit trees in the territory, the resentment of the pioneers reached a climax, and congress was informed that the Oregonians would hereafter fight their Indian wars alone, and the mounted rifle regiment could be withdrawn at any mo ment ! That these impositions were afterwards corrected did not lessen the indignation engendered at the time.

In the meantime, no attempt was made by the military authorities to arrest the Cayuse murderers, although Lane had, ever since his arrival, been carrying on negotiations with the Indians in the interior to secure their capture without compulsion. Immediately after his return from the Umpqua with the deserting riflemen, he received word that five of the Cayuses had surrendered themselves to be tried, and escorted by Lieutenant J. McL. Addison with ten men, went to receive them at The Dalles. He found there Tiloukaikt, Tamahas, Klokamas, Isaiachaiakis, and Kiamasumpkin, with their friends and relatives. 10 By what arguments they had been persuaded to give thern- f selves up has never been revealed. Blanchet says that they only consented to come down to hold a talk with the officers of the government; but that does not seem prob-

10 The witnesses at the trial did not always identify the murderers. They swore to seeing Tiloukaikt, his son Edward, Ishholhol, Frank Escaloom, Klokamas, Tam- sucky, Joe Lewis, I Tamahas, and Isiaasheluckus kill certain of the victims. Kiama sumpkin was not named by them, though he confessed his guilt by giving himself up.