Page:The Early Indian Wars of Oregon.djvu/298

280 to him by Lane, he induced eleven of the head men and one hundred of their followers to consent to a treaty by which the Indians agreed to submit to the jurisdiction and accept the protection of the United States, and to restore the property stolen from white people. These treaty-makers belonged to what might be called the peace party in Rogue-river Indian politics,—a party which came into power whenever the war party sustained a defeat at the hands of white people, for several years in the history of Rogue-river valley. In return for their promise of submission they received back their captive families, whom no doubt the governor was pleased to be rid of. As an Indian's word was no better than it should be, the governor, when he returned to Oregon City, recommended that an agent should be sent among them, supplemented by a small military force. Thus ended the first military campaign in Rogue-river valley.

While these affairs occupied the attention of the few white people in the interior of southern Oregon, their brethren on the coast were having also their introduction to savage hostilities.

About the first of June, the Seagull, Captain William Tichenor, looking for a port south of the Columbia river whence the mails and miners supplies might be transported to the valleys of western Oregon, put a party of nine men ashore in the bay now known as Port Orford, and there left them, intending to reënforce them on the next trip of the steamer. They were supplied with provisions and arms, and were placed on a high point sloping towards the sea, with a four-pound cannon for defense in case of attack.

While the steamer remained in port the natives appeared friendly, but when the nine men were left alone in their midst, the temptation to despoil them of whatever they possessed proved greater than could be borne. At the end of two days they collected in force, held a war dance, and