Page:The Early Indian Wars of Oregon.djvu/342



the river. An Indian present seemed to be in a great passion, using the words u God damn Americans " very frequently.

Mr. Thomas Lowe corroborated the above statement.

Mr. Malcolm stated that yesterday (the twenty-sixth instant) the Indian chief John shot into a crowd of men standing in front of the ferry-house at that time.

Mr. Thomas Lowe and Mr. Whike corroborated the above state ment.

Mr. Whike and Thomas Lowe state that early this morning ( the twenty-seventh ) they discovered the rope by which the ferryboat was tied up to be cut in two, having been done in the night of the twenty-sixth instant. The boat would have been lost had it not been buoyed out. 8

Mr. George H. Abbott stated : I came here yesterday evening (the twenty -sixth ), and finding difficulties existing between the whites and Indians, and having an interpreter with me, I sent for the chief for the purpose of having an explanation. He returned for answer that he would neither explain nor be friendly with the whites on any terms. I sent back the Indian the second time, insisting on an explanation. He (the chief ) sent back word that he would not come, nor give any explanation whatever, and that he would kill every white man that attempted to come to him, or go to his village; that he intended to kill the men at the ferry and destroy their houses; that he was going to rid his country of all white men; that it was no use talking to him, and that if they ( the whites ) would take out his heart and wash it, he would still be the same.

Mr. George H. Abbott, interpreter: Interpretation of the above corroborated by John Grolouise ( half-breed).

.Resolved, That the Indians in this vicinity are in a state of hos tility toward the whites from their own acknowledgements and declarations.

Resolved, That tomorrow morning, the twenty -eighth instant, as early as possible, we will move upon and attack the Indian vil lage.

By vote, Geo. H. Abbott is elected captain of this expedition, A. F. Soap, first lieutenant, and Wm. H. Packwood, second lieutenant. (Signed.) A. F. SOAP, Chairman.

WM. H. PACKWOOD, Secretary.

Continuing the narrative of the proceedings following the meeting above reported, the following is an abstract of Captain Abbott s official report to Governor Davis: The Indian village (the same where T Vault s party was attacked in 1850), was situated on both sides of the river,

8 The above-mentioned persons are the ferrymen at the Coquille river.