knewjhw.html

for a "prequel" to these articles, read the article titled: Columbus Landing, In The Pioneer Days, 1878

The Klickitat County Agriculturist, Goldendale, WA., March 17, 1933, page 4
"Late Local Intelligence Of Town And Country"

I failed to make any comment on Mr. Brocks account of early day Indian troubles for fear of being accused of contradicting. Leon Curtiss has given good corrections, but I may add that I was well acquainted with the country about Columbus and the Columbia river from The Dalles to Wallula from 1860 and there never was any battle within the precincts of Columbus. In July 1878 there was 7 or 8 horses belonging to a party of Indians who attempted to cross over from the South bank were killed by troops on a patrolboat. I was one of a party of 22 scouts who examined the dead horses and the grounds the next day. The Indians reported afterwards that 2 Indians and one White men were killed, but I don't think there were grounds for the report. The Indians were a party of hunters with no special tribal connections and were getting to the North bank to steer clear of any connections with Buffalo-horn's raiders, who swung around over Eastern Oregon that year.
That small band of Indians were pretty generally supposed to be the ones who killed Perkins and his wife, who were murdered a few days after the crossing. There were many who thought the murder was committed in revenge for the assault from the boat. A short time before this two Indian women crossed the river just above Columbus. One was sick and died. Ed. Richardson, who had a store there furnished material for a coffin box and assisted in the burial.
There was no connection with any trouble, but might furnish source for Mr. Brock's incident of the dead woman.

The Klickitat County Agriculturist, Goldendale, WA., March 24, 1933, page 1

KNEW FATHER J.H. WILBUR SAYS W.F. BROCK, HISTORIAN
(For The Agri.)

R.M. Graham of Yakima, an old Indian scout who has known Klickitat county since the 60's, in your paper of March 17, furnishes just the evidence that I was seeking, vis: that General Howard's gunboats fired upon a party of non-combatant Indians who were crossing the Columbia river just above Columbus in July 1878; that the Indians were a party of hunters with no special tribal connections, (renegades) who were trying to escape from association with the Bannocks who were on the warpath in the Blue Mountains. He goes on to say:
"That small band of Indians were pretty generally supposed to be the ones who killed Perkins and his wife, who were murdered a few days after the crossing. There were many who thought that the murder was committed in revenge for the assault from the boat. A short time before, two women crossed the river just above Columbus. One was sick and died. Ed Richardson, who had a store there, furnished material for a coffin box and assisted in the burial."
This evidence from a living scout confirms my recollections as to events at Columbus, but puts a different interpretation on the number of Indians and horses killed by the two gunboats that went up and down the river shooting at all Indians who attempted to cross from South to North.
Father J.H. Wilbur, for over 30 years agent of the Yakimas, died in my father's arms in Walla Walla. In his retirement, he lived within a stone's throw from our home there. He spent much time in our home and we spent much time in his home. I remember that he said that the Indians who killed the Perkins Family confessed to him, when he called on them in jail at North Yakima, that they mixed with the Perkins family in revenge for the murderous assault made upon them by the gunboats. On count of this killing being an act of war, Father Wilbur tried to get the death sentence of those Indians commuted to life imprisonment, or a stay of execution until fresh evidence could be obtained. But the whites who wanted the Indians exterminated would not consent to leniency.
I remember that in that day both whites and Indians were divided upon that subject, as are the pioneers who survive. This debate has brought out the fact that a bad mistake was made by the gunboats, as bad mistakes are made in all wars. Those who differ with me in this fresh discussion of this subject simply differ as to the extent of the mistake: the number of horses and Indians killed by the gunboats.
The principal in my contention is that a wrong policy has been pursued, from start to finish, in our National attitude toward the American Indian. It is time we correct it. The Indian never should have been robbed of everything he had and then put on a dole, for the dole has demoralized him, as it will demoralize any white men. Every human being should be given any equal chance to earn a decent living and then stand or fall by that.

WILBUR F. BROCK

----------------

To the Editor:

I want to thank you for the splendid manner in which you show appreciation for my contributions to the Agriculturist. Your typographical artistry pleases me and will please the friends and scholars to whom I sent samples for the sake of Northwest history.
During the seven years and that I was with the Oregonian I had your paper saved for my desk every week, for it was wholesomely different from other weekly newspapers. Always it was well dressed in language and appearance. And it carried the IT that the movie people talk about when they notice well marked personality. Further, and of importance always, it was expressive of the thoughts and events of its locality.
Today I am sending a copy of the article in question to T.C. Elliott of Walla Walla, an historian specializing in locality history between Idaho and The Dalles; also to Mr. Harley Horner, Beaverton, Ore., who is historian that of the Wallowa Historical Society, and who has been writing of the Nez Perce and Bannock wars. These gentlemen may see fit to call me down through your columns, also; if, so, the better for sifting down of facts to make them come out of the wash accurately.

Wilbur F. Brock.