The New North West

Duncan McDonald, the author of this series of papers, is Agency Trader at Jocko, and is a relative of Mr. McDonald, the author of this series of papers. Looking Glass and White Bird. Last summer, at the week's trip to British America, for the purpose of obtaining correct particulars of the campaign from White Bird. The data thus obtained is being presented in these articles, and can be relied upon as authentic from the Nez Perces standpoint.

THE PASSAGE OF THE LO LO BARRICADES-

WHY THE NEZ PERCES MOVED "PEACEABLY IF THEY MIGHT, FORCIBLY IF THEY MUST."

When the Nez Perces camp reached the Hot Springs on the Lo Lo trail, not far from Bitter Root valley, three Indians met them in their camp. One of these Indians was a Nez Perces, but his home was in the Bitter Root valley. He told Looking Glass there were some soldiers on the trail watching for them to come.

THE INDIAN IDEA.

Looking Glass said he did not want any troubles on this side of the Lo Lo range; that he did not want to fight either soldiers or citizens east of the Lo Lo, because they were not the ones who had fought them in Idaho. The idea among the Indians, uneducated as they were, was that the people of Montana had no identity with the people of Idaho, and that they were entirely separate and distinct, having nothing to do with each other. If they had to fight they believed it was Idaho people they should fight, and not Montanians. Looking Glass therefore gave orders to his warriors that in case they should see any white men, either citizens or soldiers, on the Lo Lo, not to molest them unless, as they had compelled him in Idaho, these citizens or soldiers should compel them to fight in self defense. He said: "We are going to buffalo country. We want to go through the settlements quietly. We do not wish to harm any one if we can help it."

THE COUNCIL WITH CAPTAIN KINNEY.

The chief then sent an Indian called John Hill and two others in advance of his camp while coming down the Lo Lo. These three came to a post of four or five white men. This was Captain Kinney's camp and this was the night John Hill was arrested and taken to camp. Hill told Kinney the chiefs had sent him ahead to ascertain if the Nez Perces camp could pass through peaceably. Hill was sent back to invite the chiefs to come to the white man's camp, saying that these white men wished to see the chiefs. This was on Wednesday. Looking Glass immediately started down with a band of warriors to meet Capt. Kinney of the volunteers. When Looking Glass reached Kinney's camp, the chief reiterated to him that he did not wish to harm the whites east of the Lo Lo mountains; that it was true he had fought the soldiers in Idaho when he was compelled to; that he did not want to fight any more, and that he only wanted permission to go through to buffalo country. At this time the Nez Perces believed that Sitting Bull still retained possession of the Yellowstone country and that if the soldiers still pursued them they could join Sitting Bull. Kinney replied that he had no authority to treat with them but appointed a council for the next day in the afternoon.

A TRIBUTE TO LOOKING GLASS.

By this time Captain Rawn was preparing in the Lo Lo a splendid trap for Looking Glass and his band. Looking Glass knew nothing about this trap. He only thought the soldiers were camped in the customary manner, and had no idea of entrenchments being prepared to obstruct the passage of himself and warriors. Readers, I do not wish my motives misconstrued in giving Looking Glass the leading position in these movements and councils. I am no censuring Joseph when I do not give him preference, nor am I influenced by kinship with Looking Glass. My statements are simply the truth of history. I know it was understood, and probably is yet, by nearly all that Joseph was the commanding chief of the Nez Perces force during the war and that he really is the man who should have credit for the good work in restraining his warriors from excesses in their passage into and through Bitter Root. It is an error. Joseph was a good man but he had nothing to do with the camp, after Looking Glass joined it near Cottonwood, only by following it to shelter himself from the retributive hands of the white man. It was Looking Glass who saved many a white man's life during the campaign: he was commander: as he ordered, camp was moved or remained stationary and what military credit is due for the conduct of that campaign is due to him. Knowing Looking Glass to be well known to many whites, and that he was entitled to his reputation as a really good, kind-hearted Red Man, I submit these facts, incidentally, to correct a popular error. White Bird was a fighting cock, but, with the exception of an instance on Salmon River, he awaited orders from his superior chiefs.

THE COUNCILS WITH CAPT. RAWN.

Capt. Rawn's camp, where he had erected rifle pits in the canyon, was about sixteen miles from Missoula and about four miles above the mouth of Lo Lo. The mountains on the south side of Lo Lo are precipitous and densely covered with standing timber, so that escape on that side was impossible. On the north side grassy ridges stretched away from the stream, allowing a passage in almost any direction.

On Thursday Looking Glass and White Bird met Captain Rawn and a few armed men and shook hands with Rawn. Of course the latter wanted the feather in his hat and told Looking Glass he must give up his arms. Captain Rawn and Looking Glass then appointed another day to have a talk.

THE INDIAN COUNCIL.

Looking Glass returned to his camp and told his warriors the conditions demanded for them to treat upon. By this time they well knew about "The Corral," as Looking Glass termed Rawn's fortifications. The Indians thought it was ridiculous to give up their arms to their foes. White Bird made a speech and said: "We remember a big war that took place once on the Columbia river. The United States troops fought against the Yakimas Kayuses, Umatillas, Spokanes and Coeur d'Alenes. Colonel Wright was the big chief of the soldiers. After many battles the Indians were defeated. Colonel Wright told the Indians that if they would surrender he would treat them well and hurt no one but the murderers. On these conditions the Indians surrendered. Then Col. Wright hung many innocent Indians. Some of them deserved hanging, but many others hands were clear of white men's blood. These soldiers camped below us are of the same kind. How do we know but that Joseph, Looking Glass and others will be hung immediately after we surrender? The officer tells us he does not know who will be hung; that the government has to decide on that question." There were manifestations of approval when White Bird had spoken.

Looking Glass said, "Yes. We do not want to fight. I tried to surrender in Idaho but my offer was rejected. The soldiers came upon my camp and the first thing I knew the bullets were flying around my head. The soldiers lie so that I have no
The Nez Perces, however, concluded to have another council and try to make peace without giving up their arms-the Indian way of making treaties. On Friday Capt. Rawn made his appearance about a half mile below the Indian village with about 100 men and halted. An Indian by the name of Pierre, a Flathead was sent forward by the officer. When Looking Glass saw so many men near his camp he thought they had certainly come to fight. Looking Glass returned word by Pierre that he would meet Captain Rawn, unarmed, half way between the forces. The council was held and Looking Glass proposed to surrender all the ammunition of the camp as a guarantee that the Indians intended to go through the country peaceably. When told that nothing but an unconditional surrender would be accepted, he asked for another meeting next day to give him time to consult with the other chiefs. Captain Rawn told him that any further communication he had to make must be made under a flag of truce at the fortified camp.

On considering the matter further the Indians determined not to trust themselves under the condition demanded. They thought perhaps the white man was anxious to make peace, but still they feared treachery. I remember hearing Delaware Jim, the acting interpreter, relate that when Rawn met Looking Glass and demanded the surrender of the Indian guns, Looking Glass replied through the interpreter, "If you want my arms so bad you can start in taking them. I made up my mind before leaving Idaho that we would talk with the white man only through our guns. When I promise I fulfill and do not lie as the white man does. When a Chinaman travels he carries no arms. Do you think I am a Chinaman? It is foolish to think of a whole camp going to the buffalo country and not carrying a single gun."

PASSING THE FORT.

On Saturday Looking Glass ordered camp to be raised and directed the women to travel on the north side of Lo Lo until they passed the "Nez Perces Corral," then cross the Lo Lo and turn in a southerly direction up Bitter Root Valley. The warriors were to cover the movement. The camp moved. The soldiers and volunteers got into position in the earthworks and while they were uselessly standing to arms the Indians passed deliberately by without any fight whatever.
While the camp was moving in this manner the Indians captured Henry McFarland, Jack Walsh and another man. These men were volunteers. Looking Glass told them they could go home and attend to their own business. During the day several white men fell into the hands of the Nez Perces, and to all of them Looking Glass repeated the remark, "Go home and mind your own business; we will harm no man." That evening the Nez Perces made camp on McLain's place, about eight miles above the mouth of Lo Lo, in Bitter Root Valley.