^f^ri0^Juf^r^^if. ft, ft>ft \ fo- the founding tf.a College in' Mfc Colon y" 'YAmE^mWWEMBWTY' Spokane Hist.Society 1917 Volume I. JANUARY, 1917 Number 1 Vullrttn OF THE ISSUED FROM TIME TO TIME 3ty? (ta* of Bpaktrnt <£arrg BY WILLIAM S. LEWIS Volume I. JANUARY, 1917 Number I SitUrtm OF THE §>p0katt£ ijtatnriral §>0roig ISSUED FROM TIME TO TIME t^^^h^i (Htj? (ta? nf Bpaknm (Harrij BY WILLIAM S. LEWIS luUrtm OF THE jg>p0kan? 2|tBt0riral Botitty Volume I. Number 1 JANUARY, 1917 2U|? (ta? nf ^nnkan? <£arn}* Being a brief statement of the principal facts connected with his career; and a review of the charges made against him, with the sug gestion that the facts perhaps entitle the memory of the old chief to a higher consideration than was accorded him by his contemporaries, during the later years of his life, and to a prominent place in the his tory of the "Old Oregon" Country. By WILLIAM S. LEWIS Corresponding Secretary of the Spokane Historical Society of Spokane, Washington * A paper read before the Washington State Historical Society at Tacoma, Wash., January 16, 1917. SPOKANE GAEEY Head Chief of the Spokane Indians. Photograph taken about 1880 The Case of Spokane Garry TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Bibliography 6 Introduction 9 PART I THE FACTS IN THE CASE CHAPTER I Garry's Early Life 11 How Garry Got His Name 13 Garry's Return Home 14 Garry the First Missionary 15 Garry and the Protestant Missionaries 16 Rivalry with the Jesuits 17 Garry the First School Teacher 20 Garry as a Farmer 20 Garry Promoted the First Flour Milling Enterprise 21 CHAPTER II Garry and the Stevens' Party 23 Garry's Country and the Incoming Whites 23 The Indian Councils and Garry as an Orator 25 The War Clouds Gather 27 CHAPTER III. Garry's Efforts to Prevent the Attack on Colonel Steptoe 31 The Attack on Colonel Steptoe 31 Garry's Efforts to Prevent Further Conflict 32 Chief Garry's Masterly Plea for Peace , 33 Chief Garry's Peace Plea Ignored 34 Hostilities Near Spokane 35 Garry Did Not Fight the Whites 36 Tragic Events Near Spokane 37 The First Treaty with the Spokanes 38 How Hangman Creek Got Its Name 38 CHAPTER VI Garry's Request for a Reservation 40 Garry's Efforts to Preserve Part of His Country as a Reservation and Later Indian Council, 1859 to 1887 41 Colonel Watkins' Empty Promise 42 Land in Severalty vs. Land in Common 43 The Final Fate of the Spokanes 44 INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS 1. Spokane Garry, Head Chief of the Spokane Indians Frontispiece 2. The Lower Falls of the Spokane, Looking Down 11 3. The Lower Falls of the Spokane, Looking Up 19 4. Chief Garry at the Time of the Great Walla Walla Council of 1856 25 5. Garry and His Old White Horse by the Spokane River 32 6. Site of the Indian Council and Treaty with the Spokanes in 1858 38 7. The Vanishing Race — The Last of the Spokanes 44 8. The Gorge of the Spokane. "All this land was mine and my peoples." — Garry 4,7 9. Garry in His Old Age 49 10. Garry's Daughter Nellie 52 11. Garry's Grave 53 PREFACE. A resident of the Spokane country for the past thirty-two years, I have during that time frequently heard Spokane Garry, late head chief of the Spokane Indians, referred to by "old timers" as an Indian who had fought the whites and was "Kul-tus," and for whom they enter tained no respect. An interest in the early history of the northwest having led me to read a number of diaries, letters, reports and accounts of occurrences in the "old Oregon" country during the early and middle part of the last century, I remarked that Spokane Garry had, in those early days, occupied a position of some slight importance, and had, to some degree, at least, commended himself to those with whom he was then associated. The purpose and aim of this article is : — To present a complete and accurate statement of the principal facts relative to the life and achievements of Spokane Garry, Head Chief of the Middle and Upper Spokane Indians : To fully discuss several charges made against Spokane Garry by later settlers and to apply the facts thereto: and to determine, as nearly as possible, what posi tion Chief Garry's life record entitled him to hold in the history of the Northwest. Some care has been taken to make no statement of fact except on reliable authority, and so far as possible, the authority for each state ment is given in a foot note. In the preparation of this article the writer acknowledges the courtesy of J. M. Hitt, State Librarian, in furnishing him some authorities not available in local libraries, and the assistance of Hildegard J. Lewis in the preparation of the article. The Case of Spokane Garry BIBLIOGRAPHY. (Authorities cited only.) H. H. Bancroft's History of Oregon, San Francisco, History Co., 1886. H. H. Bancroft's History of The Pacific Northwest, San Francisco, History Co., 1886. H. H. Bancroft's History of Washington, Idaho and Montana, San Francisco, History Co., 1890. Edward S. Curtis' North American Indian, Volume 7, author, 1911. Ross Cox, Columbia River, 3rd Ed., Colburn, London, 1832. The Chronicle, Spokane, Washington, January, 1892. Frank Carlson, Chief Sealth, University of Washington Bulletin, Series III, No. 2. H. M. Chittenden and A. T. Richardson, Life and Travels of Father Desmet, F. P. Harper, New York, 1905. Congressional Documents, Serial Nos. 882, 889, 972, 984, 899, 1051, Washington Government. House Ex. Doc. No. 2, 25th Congress, 2nd Session. Congressional Reports on Condition of the Indian Tribes, 1867, Wash ington Government. N. W. Durham's History of Spokane County, S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., Spokane-Chicago-Philadelphia, 1912. David Douglas Journal, Wesley & Sons, London, 1914. Marion Eells' Father Eells, Congregational Pub. Co., Boston, 1894. Rev. Jonathan Edwards, History of Spokane County, W. H. Lever, 1900. W. II. Gray's Journal, Whitman College Quarterly, Walla Walla, Wash., Vol. 16, No. 2, June, 1913. W. H. Gray's History of Oregon, Harris, Portland, Oregon, 1870. Henry Gannett's Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States, Government Printing Office, Washington, 1905. Gonzaga Silver Jubilee Memoir, Gonzaga College, Spokane, 1892. George Gibb's Report 1, Pacific Railroad Report, Washington Govern ment, 1855. Handbook of American Indians, American Bureau of Ethnology, Washington Government, 1907. Gen. O. O. Howard's My Life and Experiences Among Our Hostile Indians, Worthington, Hartford, 1907. Lieutenant Laurence Kipp's Army Life on the Pacific, Redfield, New York, 1859. The Case of Spokane Garry t John Mullan's Report on Construction of Military Road, Washington Government, 1868. Missionary Herald of 1840, Boston, Mass. B. F. Manring's Conquest of the Coeur d'Alenes, etc., John W. Gra ham & Co., Spokane, 1912. Olympia Standard, Olympia, Washington, February 15, 1879. Rev. S. Parker, Journal of Exploring Tour, author, Ithaca, N. Y., 1838. Pacific Railroad Reports, Volumes 1 and 12, Washington Government, 1855-1860. Alexander Ross, Fur Traders, Smith, London, 1849. Governor George Simpson's Journey Around the World, Colburn, London, 1847. Hazzard Stevens' Life of General I. I. Stevens, Houghton, Boston, 1900. The Spokesman, Spokane, Washington, January, 1892. The Review, Spokane, Washington, January, 1892. Lieut. T. W. Symonds, The Upper Columbia River, Washington Gov ernment, 1882. U. S.( Wilkes) Exploring Expedition, Volume 4, Lea, Philadelphia, 1845. U. S. Revised Statutes, Volume 27, Act of July 13, 1892. Frances F. Victor, Indian Wars of Oregon, State Printer, Eugene, Ore., 1894. Whitman College Quarterly, Volume III, No. 3, Walla Walla, Wash ington, 1899. Washington Historical Quarterly, Washington University Historical Society, Seattle, Washington. The Case of Spokane Garry MANUSCRIPTS Pioneer Reminiscences, Gavin C. Mouat, Library Spokane Historical Society. Pioneer Reminiscences, Milton S. Bentley, Library Spokane Historical Society. Pioneer Reminiscences, W. P. Winans, Library Spokane Historical Society. Pioneer Reminiscences, Major Gwydir, Library Spokane Historical Society. Pioneer Reminiscences, Rev. H. T. Cowley, Library Spokane His torical Society. Pioneer Reminiscences, John T. Davie, Library Spokane Historical Society. Statement of Curley Jim, Library Spokane Historical Society. Statement of Nellie Garry, Library Spokane Historical Society. Statement of Susan Michel, Library Spokane Historical Society. Statement of Moses Phillips, Thomas Garry, Library Spokane Histor ical Society. Mms. prepared by fathers at Gonzaga College, Library Spokane His torical Society. Edwin Eells' Letter, Library Spokane Historical Society. Ranald Macdonald manuscript, Library Spokane Historical Society. Diaries of Rev. E. Walker and Mary R. Walker, Oregon Historical Society and Library Spokane Historical Society. The Case of Spokane Garry INTRODUCTION The remains of Spokane Garry, Chief of the Spokane Indians, are buried in a neglected spot in the southern part of Greenwood Ceme tery, near Indian Canyon, in the City of Spokane. Chief Garry was one of the human links connecting the history of Spokane House, the old fur trading post, with that of the present City of Spokane. He was born about 1811 (some authorities indicate about 181 3 J), a year after Jacques Raphael Finlay, a clerk of the Northwest Company of Merchants of Canada, erected the first trading post at Spokane, and a year prior to the arrival of the Astor party under the command of John Clark. The place of his birth was probably the main camp of the Spokane Indians on the level point of land at the junction of the Spokane and Little Spokane Rivers, in the vicinity of which both trading posts were erected, and about nine miles northwest from the present City of Spokane. The life of Spokane Garry shows a remarkable advance from savagery to education and civilization, through the influence of the early fur traders and first missionaries ; a progress unhappily checked and thwarted by acts and conduct of later settlers and government officials, which forced the Chief, in his old age, to return to the nomadic tent life of his fathers. The story is in some respects a pathetic one. The influences wielded by Garry over his one-time numerous tribe enabled the whites gradually to possess themselves of the broad acres formerly the pas ture lands for immense bands of Indian ponies, until at last the Spo kanes were crowded out of the territory which their forefathers had from time immemorial possessed. Having been overlooked when the various neighboring tribes were allotted to reservations, Garry and his people, driven at last from their homes by covetous homesteaders, found themselves wanderers on the face of the earth; blown hither and yonder by the winds of adversity ; regarded as a nuisance wherever they chanced to stay, and tolerated only when it was impossible to compel them to further pilgrimage. They have seen cities spring up where once their tepees were erected, and have watched the construc tion of railroads over the plains and through the canyons where their ponies formerly bore them safely. Their hunting grounds have been transformed into wheat fields, and their pasture lands into orchards, and in all the change and prosperity that has followed the advent of f Curtis, North American Indian, Vol. VII, p. 55. 10 The Case of Spokane Garry the white man they have had no part, except to drift further and fur ther into vagabondage. Their numbers have steadily decreased until a few remain of a once numerous tribe, and the time is not far distant when they will be a memory only. J They have become exiles from the place of their birth, and with a few exceptions, the remaining Spokane Indians are now scattered on the Flathead Reservation in Montana, the Coeur d'Alene Reservation in Idaho, and the Spokane and Colville Reservations in Washington. While the coming of the first white men (the fur traders and first missionaries) was an incalculable benefit to the Indians in that it fur nished them with arms and equipment to kill game, tools and utensils with which to cook and live, flint and steel for their fires, and cloth and blankets for protection against the elements, seeds and tools for the cultivation of fields and gardens, and a superior code of ethics and religion for the guidance of their lives, candor compels me to state that the influx of the later settlers was not an unmixed blessing to the Indians. "They had been taught by their spiritual guides to esteem the sublime doctrines of Christianity, doctrines which demand from their adherents the exercise of charity, purity, temperance; on the other hand, they saw in the conduct of many white settlers a flagrant contradiction to these doctrines — the occupation of lands once owned by them gave rise to a spirit of discontent and to a lack of confidence in the doctrines they had been taught to hold sacred. Sickness, too, brought on principally by the sudden change of life forced on them by necessary contact with the white population, hastened to bring on that decadence whose end we see today."} Two score and more years have now elapsed since the first strenu ous days of pioneer settlement in the Spokane County, and it has occurred to the writer that the present generation may be in a suffi ciently tolerant and indulgent mood to recognize and appreciate the few homely virtues and the modest accomplishments of old Chief Garry. t The Spokesman (Spokane, Wash.), January 14, 1892, p. 6. t Gonzaga Silver Jubilee Memoir, p. 19. LOWEE FALLS OF THE SPOKANE EIVEE AS THEY APPEARED IN THE '70'S Photograph taken from a point near the east end of the present Post Street bridge C)he G^* nf @nnkan? Qarrg PART I THE FACTS IN THE CASE CHAPTER I garry's early life The name of Spokane Garry's mother has not been preserved. His father was the head chief of the Sin-ho-man-naish Indians and known by the name of Illim-Spokanee' — Child of the Sun and the Moon. When the first white man came into the Northwest the Spokane Indians were not known by that name, but were known by the Indian names of the localities where the respective tribes lived: as the Sin-sla-quish, afterwards called the Coeur d'Alenes by the French fur traders ; the Sin-too-too-oulish or Muddy Creek people, afterwards called the Upper Spokanes ; and the Sin-ho-man-naish — the salmon trout people — afterwards called the Middle Spokanes by the white men. The chief men of the Sin-ho-man-naish tribe at the beginning of the last century were two brothers, one called Chief Child of the Sun and the Moon — Illim-Spokanee', and the other called Chief Daylight — Hul- holt. In those days the Sin-ho-man-naish were a large and powerful tribe, and the head chief, Illim-Spokanee', was known and respected over a considerable portion of the "old Oregon" country. The first explorers and fur traders gave the name of this head chief, Illim- Spokanee', to the tribe, to the river, and to the country which they inhabited. The name "Spokane" is thus the name of the head chief (Garry's father) and was not originally the name of either the people, the river, or the country.1 At the time of the arrival of the Astor enterprise, Garry's father was an old man. Ross Cox in his book (Volume 1, page 180) refers 1 Statements of Thomas Garry, et al., Library of the Spokane Historical Society. See Symonds' Columbia Elver, pp. 128, 129. Compare with Indian names as given by Geo. Gibbs and Curtis, post page 24; Gaunett's Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States, p. 288, and Handbook of American Indians, Bulletin 30, p. 625, Bureau of American Ethnology; also Henry Thompson Journals, Vol. 2. 12 The Case of Spokane Garry to the old chief as "a harmless old man who spent a great portion of his time between us (the Astor post) and McMillan's (the Northwest post)." Garry's early boyhood was probably spent at the big Indian camp in the vicinity of the trading posts and at the various camping grounds of the tribe along the Spokane River and the neighboring lakes and plains. He had an older brother named Sultz-lee and a sister named Quint-qua-a'pee — there were other children whose names are not known. In 1821 the great Hudson Bay Company succeeded to the fur business of the Northwest Company, which had taken over the Astor enterprise at Spokane and elsewhere in the Columbia District in 1813; and, in 1825, Governor George Simpson,- who had general charge of the affairs of the Hudson Bay Company west of the Rocky Moun tains, conceived the idea of selecting a number of Indian boys from the various Columbia River tribes and sending them to be educated at the Red River Colony,3 east of the mountains, Governor Simpson's idea being that, on their return, they could aid in the civilization of their respective tribes. Alexander Ross,* an old Astor company employee who had re mained in the country in the employ of the different fur companies, was directed by Governor Simpson to select two of these boys, and he made request of the Spokane and Kootenai tribes that they each furnish a candidate from their respective tribes. It is a striking proof of the great confidence which the ignorant savages placed in the white men, that, notwithstanding their reluctance to part with their children, none of whom had ever left their native country before, after a council or two had been held, the chiefs of the Spokane and Kootenai tribes not only complied with the request, but as a more striking example of their trust, agreed to let two of their own children go, and turned them over to Mr. Ross unhesitatingly. The council being over, the father of one of the boys arose and said to Ross : "You see, we have given you our children, not our servants', or our slaves', but our 2 George Simpson was a cousin of the explorer, Thomas Simpson. He went to the Athabasca department of the Hudson Bay Company from the London office in 1820. On the union of the North-West company with the older company on March 26, 1821, he became junior governor of the company's territories and soon assumed practically sole supervision over the company's business in America. He was for 40 years prom inent in the company's affairs. In 1839 he received knighthood, and in 1841 made a journey around the world, of which he published an entertaining account. 3 Journey Around the World, George Simpson, p. 130. 4 Alexander Ross was a Scotch school teacher and farmer, from Upper Canada. Attracted by the Astor enterprise, "he enlisted as a clerk and sailed on the Tonquin. He was a member of the party establishing Fort Okanogan in 1811; remained on the Columbia in the employment of the North-West and Hudson Bay Companies until 1825, when he went to the Red River District. He died in 1858, and was the author of three books, two of them relating to the early history of the Northwest fur compa nies in the Columbia. The Case of Spokane Garry 13 own," and striking at the same time one hand on his left breast, while pointing with the other to his wife, the mother of the boy, he continued, "We have given you our hearts — our children are our hearts — but bring them back again to us before they become white men. We wish to see them once more Indians, and after that you can make them white men if you like. But let them not get sick or die. If they get sick, we shall get sick ; if they die, we shall die. Take them, they are now yours." When the old chief sat down, all present broke out in lamentations, after which the two chiefs again arose, and placing their boys' hands in Ross' hand, silently departed.5 HOW GARRY GOT HIS NAME The son of the Spokane chief was now named Spokane Garry, after his tribe, and Garry,0 one of the directors of the Hudson Bay Company; while the son of the Kootenai chief was named Kootenais Pelly, after his tribe, and Governor Pelly7 of the Hudson Bay Com pany. Both boys were fine, promising youths of equal age, and were the brightest and most intelligent of their respective tribes. They left Spokane with the brigade on the 12th of April, 1825, in company with Governor Simpson, Chief Trader McMillan, Alexander Ross, his son, and fifteen men,8 and ascending the Columbia in canoes to Boat En campment at the mouth of Canoe River, crossed the Rocky Mountains and proceeded overland to the Red River Settlement. Spokane Garry and Kootnais Pelly, with six9 other Indian youths, were educated in the Red River Missionary School, and were the first Indians belong ing to the Oregon country that were ever taught to read and write. After making considerable progress in learning, Kootenais Pelly took sick and died. Spokane Garry spent five years in the Red River Settlement, and secured a good education, learning to speak and to read and write both English and French, and acquiring some of the veneer, and accustoming himself to the refinements of civilized life. 5 Fur Traders, Alex. Ross, Vol. 2, p. 157. 6 Nicholas Garry, deputy governor of the company, in whose honor Forts Garry, on the Red River, Manitoba, were named; old or Lower Fort Garry, erected after the union of the two companies in 1821. and Upper or new Fort' Garry, the erection of which was commenced at the forks of the Red River in 1855. This became the site of the present City of Winnipeg. 7 Sir John Henry Pelley — a cousin, Robert Parker Pelley, held a power of attorney with Governor Simpson from the Selkirk executors, and was associated with Simpson in the Northwest. 8 Fur Traders, Alex. Ross, Vol. 2, p. 160. 9 1 have been unable to ascertain the names of these youths, or the tribes they were selected from. Curley Jim, an intelligent Spokane Indian, states that Ellis and Jim Lion were sent from the Nez Perces and also a son of Ta-loom (Thunder), one of the Coeur d'Alene chiefs. He also states that all the boys came back. Spokane Garry seems to have been the only one of these Indians that attempted to use his education for the improvement of his tribe. 14 The Case of Spokane Garry David Douglas, the Scotch botanist, after whom the Douglas fir was named, and who spent part of the year 1826 in the Spokane coun try, states in his journal, recently published, that when he reached Fort Garry in 1827 on his return from the Columbia River district, Spokane Garry, who was then attending the missionary school, called on him and enquired about his father and brothers, whom Douglas had recently seen. Douglas remarks that Garry spoke good English and had nearly forgotten his mother tongue (Spokane).10 GARRY RETURNS HOME Garry returned to the Spokane country in 1830 after an absence of five years, and was, henceforth, prominently connected with all mat ters relating to Indian affairs in this section; he rapidly acquired in fluence among the Spokane and neighboring Indians, and was for sixty years the leading Indian character of the Spokane country, and the champion of the Spokane Indians in councils with the whites, with whom he ever maintained friendship. To use the language of Curley Jim, a contemporary, "The chiefs of the various tribes liked Garry very well." Soon after his return from the Red River country they made him a chief and gave him two wives — one a Umatilla, the other a San Poil.11 The first wife, Nina, was Garry's favorite and lived in the upper Spokane country about Newman, Liberty and Saltese Lakes and what is now known as Peone and Pleasant Prairies ; the other wife lived in the lower Spokane coun try, near the Columbia River. By these two wives Garry had nine children: Susie, Jim Crow, Lucy, Ben, Koosai, Nellie, and three others who died when very young. Of the two wives, Nina survived Chief Garry and died only a few years ago on the Coeur d'Alene Reserva tion. Of the children, two only survive, Nellie, a daughter of Nina, at present living on the Coeur d'Alene Reservation, and Ok-Pee, or Lucy, a daughter of the San Poil wife, living on the Spokane Reser vation.12 SPOKANE GARRY WAS THE FIRST CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY AMONG HIS PEOPLE, THE SPOKANE INDIANS Previous to Spokane Garry's return from the Red River Mission ary School, the sole knowledge possessed by the Spokane Indians of the white man's religion was confined to what little they had learned 10 Journal of David Douglas, p. 280. 11 Statement of Curley Jim, Library Spokane Historical Society; U. S. (Wilkes) exploring expedition. Vol. 4, pp. 458-9. Garry was first chief of the Sin-homene, or Middle Spokanes; later lie became in effect chief of the Sintutuuli or Upper Spokanes. Curtis, North American Indian, Vol. VII, p. 55. The Indian name sin-tu-tu-uli signifies the place where the little fish are caught. 12 Statement of Nellie Garry, Library Spokane Historical Society. The Case of Spokane Garry 15 from their intercourse with the fur traders. Garry seems to have re turned home with some high ideals for the enlightenment of his tribe. Soon after his return he commenced to give the Indians their first religious instruction. Curley Jim states that Garry taught the Indians not to steal and not to kill. "He told us of a God up above. Showed us a book, the Bible, from which he read to us. He said to us, if we were good, that then when we died, we would go up above and see God. After Chief Garry started to teach them the Spokane Indians woke up. Chief Garry used to read to them from his Bible. Nellie, Garry's daughter, has the Bible."13 Speaking on the same subject, Nellie says: "Garry read the Bible to the Indians. I have Chief Garry's Bible. My father taught me how to pray ; taught me a morning and an evening prayer ; taught me my first religion." After Garry commenced to preach, people from other tribes came to hear him, and his influence was extended. The old Indians of the tribe say that there was not much difference between Spokane Garry's teachings and that of the later missionaries. He first taught the Indians the Ten Commandments, and then pro ceeded to teach them from his little book (Minor Historical Catechism). Garry's method was to first show the Indians the pictures at the commencement of each lesson, and then read and explain to them the accompanying lesson. Sometimes when Spokane Garry was absent the older Indians who were familiar with the pictures and knew the respective lessons, held the meetings in Garry's stead. Religious services were held at least every Sunday, and the Indians came from the Colville, Nez Perce, Okanogan and Flat Head tribes to hear Garry. This teaching was commenced by him several years before the arrival of the first Protestant and Catholic missionaries.14 On the evening of May 27, 1836, near Loon Lake, the Rev. Samuel Parker of Ithaca, New York, on his way from Fort Walla Walla to Fort Colville, the Hudson Bay post on Marcus Flats, held a public worship for a number of Spokane and Nez Perce Indians. Spokane Garry acted as interpreter for the Spokanes and a Nez Perce chief who understood the Spokane language, retranslated the sermon into Nez Perce. Mr. Parker states that Garry was a good interpreter and had a very good knowledge of English.15 In March, 1837, W. H. Gray, the associate of Dr. Marcus Whit man, came to the Spokane country and met here the Rev. Henry H. 13 Statement of Curley Jim, supra. 14 Statement of Nellie Garry, supra. See Curtis, North American Indian, Vol VII, p. 55. Statement of Thomas Garry, Moses Phillips, et al. 15 Parker' s Journal of an Exploring Tour, etc., p. 289. 16 The Case of Spokane Garry Spaulding, who was then on his way to Fort Colville, the Hudson Bay trading post. Mr. Gray states that Chief Garry had induced his tribe to erect a house for religious services of sufficient size to hold all the people in the village, and that Garry, with his Bible, was making an effort to teach the Spokane Indians the rudiments of the Christian religion.16 The visit of Rev. Samuel Parker in 1836 and that of Messrs. Gray and Spaulding led to the establishment of the mission on Walker's Prairie in 1838. Nellie Garry states that, having learned about the white man's religion from her father, the Indians liked the white mis sionaries very well.17 The efforts of Spokane Garry to convert his tribe seem to have been somewhat unappreciated, but no more unprofitable than those of his two white brothers, the Rev. Elkanah Walker and the Rev. Cushing Eells, who conducted the neighboring missionary establishment on the Chimokaine, a few miles distant from Spokane House, and which they abandoned in June, 1818, after ten years of self-sacrificing effort. Mrs. Eells, writing in October, 184-7, said that in nearly nine years they had not secured one convert. In a recent letter, Mr. Edwin Eells, a son, states that not a single professed convert was made during the entire ten years. Spokane Garry himself gradually abandoned his efforts at re ligious teaching, and when pressed for the reason, gruffly stated that he had quit because the other Indians "jawed him so much about it."18 GARRY AND THE PROTESTANT MISSIONARIES There does not appear to have been much co-operation between tht Rev. Eells and Walker and Spokane Garry, and it is the personal im pression of the writer that these self-sacrificing and devout mission aries were temperamentally incapable of a sympathetic understanding of the Indian character, or of fully availing themselves of Spokane 16 Wm. H. Gray's Journal, p. 77. In the copy of the diary of the Rev. B. Walker, in possession of the Oregon Historical Society, under date Saturday, September 15, 1838, recently read by me, there is a statement that at the camp of the missionaries on that date near the Indian village at old Spokane House, the Rev. Cushing Eells read to the Indians from the New Testament and that the Indians "said that Gray had read the same.'' The writer is of the opinion that in copying from the original diary the name Gray has been erroneously inserted in place of Garry. Spokane Garry is known to have then been reading the Bible to the Indians for several years, and Gray himself mentions this in his journal of the only trip he made to the Spokane country prior to September 15, 1838, while Mr. Gray makes no mention of having him self read any religious services for the Indians. He came up from Walla Walla with Mr. Ermatinger, and at Spokane met the Rev. H. H. Spaulding. From Mr. Gray's journal it appears that the Rev. Spaulding did give the Spokane Indians some re ligious instruction on April 2, 1837, and that all the intercourse with the Indians was had by the Rev. Spaulding and none by Mr. Gray. See Gray's Journal, pp. 15, 16. 17 Statement of Nellie Garry, supra. 18 Letter of Mr. Edwin Eells, Library Spokane Historical Society. Simpson' h Journey Around the World, p. 145. The Case of Spokane Garry 17 Garry's services and previous efforts, or of successfully cultivating what has been stated to have been "as fertile soil as could be found in the Northwest for the planting of Christian teachings."19 The writer has not had an opportunity to examine all the accessible letters, journals and records of Messrs. Eells and Walker covering their life at Tschimokaine mission from 1838 to 1848, but so far as they have been examined by him, it does not appear that Spokane Garry visited their mission prior to 1841. The following appears in Mr. Walker's journal of that year: "Thursday 5. (January, 1841) The weather cloudy and cold without snow. Garry made his appearance for the first time since we have been here." "Saturday 15 (January, 1842) * * * * Garry came in to night, had a long talk with him on the language and engaged him to rehearse as the teacher is sick." "Sunday 16. (January) Garry came up this morning quite early before Mr. E. went to worship and I had a long talk with him and received considerable information about the language. When the time of worship came he refused to rehearse and left me to my own re sources." * * * * "Saturday 24. (Jan.) The express came in contrary to our ex pectations and with it Mr. Garry returned. Did not talk with him last night." "Sunday 25. (January) * * * * Mr. Eells talked with them (Indians) at noon. I had Garry interpret a part of what he said. He did it very well. I had G. come up after services and I went over a subject for the third service. After I had done I called on Garry to say something. He was long in answering and began very low, saying that he was ashamed and how could he help it. * * * * I had thought considerable when listening to Garry to hear him pour the truth unto them, and when he illustrated the awful condition of the finally lost." "Wed. 9. ( February, 1842). Have had a long talk with Garry on the language." "Sun. 13. Have been mostly on the Lord's prayer, as I have had it translated of late by Garry." "Thurs. 17. Had some talk with Garry about coming here and think that he will." "Wed. 30. Soon Garry made his appearance, I have had some 19 Curtis' North American Indian, Vol. 7, p. 55, 18 The Case of Spokane Garry conversation with him about coming here and found him very favor ably disposed." "Frid. April 1. (1842) Just at night Garry came in." "Sat. 2. Gave Garry some wheat and potatoes for seed, and gave him part of an ox. He wanted to trade a small part of deer tallow for a shirt. I lent him two hoes. He wanted six. He may cause us much trouble, but we must learn him that we cannot give him all he wants." "Mon. 4. Had some talk with Garry on the language." "Thurs. 14. Garry left this morning and I have engaged an In dian for a while." "Thurs. 29. (June, 1842) Garry made a call today and said that he was going to Colville and thought that he would see Mr. E." (Eells.) The Rev. H. T. Cowley, who came as a missionary in 1874, says of Garry and his religious teachings : "When he first returned from the Red River District he was very zealous and attempted to instruct his tribesmen in the Christian re ligion. He called the Indians together in an Indian lodge or church with a bell and began to lay down the Christian tenets to them, at tempting to hold them in rigid discipline and held Christian worship every morning and evening.19*1 He was very zealous but the Indians did not seem to understand or appreciate his efforts, finally most of them repudiated him as a leader and teacher in religion."190 RIVALRY WITH THE JESUITS Through the efforts of Spokane Garry and the Revs. Walker and Eells, many of the Spokane Indians had become Protestants. Their neighbors, the Coeur d'Alenes, among whom the early Jesuits settled, became Catholics, and when they met the Spokanes, taunted them as heretics whose faith was worthless. Mr. George Gibbs, who accom panied the government railroad surveyors in 1853, states that Chief Garry narrated to him, "the evils arising from this state of feeling, with a forbearance and Christian spirit of toleration which would have honored anyone."20 Between 1863 and 1866, Fathers Giorda, Caruana, Cataldo and Tosi invaded Garry's home precincts and commenced missionary work among the Spokane Indians. On December 8th, 1866, they held the 19b Compare this with Elkanah Walker's diary under date Saturday, September 22, 1838. 19c Statement of Rev. H. T. Cowley. Mr. Cowley was for some time associated with the Rev. Spaulding at Kamia. 20 Gibbs' report tp McClellan, 1 Pac. Ry. Reports, p. 414. LOWEE FALLS OF THE SPOKANE (looking northeast) Photograph taken about 1880 from a point beneath the present concrete bridge at Monroe Street The Case of Spokane Garry 19 first services in their mission, dedicated to St. Michael, established among the Upper Spokanes on Peone Prairie, about two miles north of the present locality of that name. It seems that when Father Cataldo came to erect this mission Chief Garry was absent and some of the Spokane Indians demurred against assuming the responsibility of granting the Father license to erect the chapel in Garry's absence. The Father, however, proceeded with the building^ saying that, if the Indians did not want to keep it, he would destroy it at the end of three months. With some murmurings, the Indians assented. At the end of three months, through the Father's zealous efforts, nearly half of the Upper Spokane Indians had become Catholics. Spokane Garry himself was a Presbyterian, and on his return he wanted the Catholic chapel moved or destroyed, but the Peones — one of the largest families of the tribe — and many others having become Catholic converts, they stated that they would not con sent to Father Cataldo's leaving, or to the mission being destroyed, and that if Chief Garry did not like what had been done in his absence he could go elsewhere.21 Chief Garry, whose home was in the vicinity of the Catholic insti tution, and through whose exertions many of the Spokane Indians had become Presbyterians, could not see without regret many of his tribe embracing the Catholic faith. He accordingly called for aid and had camp meetings and revival services held to counteract the missionary efforts of Fathers Giorda, Cataldo and Tosi, who responded by hold ing a mission of two weeks to the Spokanes, at which a number of new Catholic converts were made. Spokane Garry was defeated; most of the Upper Spokanes embraced the Catholic faith; and in the vicinity of the little St. Michael Mission there has since grown one of the largest institutions for the training of Catholic clergy in America. Later, in 1873, a delegation of Spokane Indians was, at Garry's instigation, sent to the Rev. H. H. Spaulding at Kamia, Idaho, re questing him to visit them and hold revival services. Mr. Spaulding returned with the delegation and held services in the Spokane Valley, where two hundred and fifty-three Indians — some of whom had pre viously been baptized by Father Cataldo — were baptized and con firmed in the Protestant faith.22 21 Gonzaga Silver Jubilee Memoir, pp. 10-11. See also manuscript in the Library of the Spokane Historical Society; also statement of Thomas Garry, et al., Library Spokane Historical Society. 22 Gonzaga Silver Jubilee Memoir, pp. 9-14. Whitman College Quarterly, Vol. 3, No. 3, p. 15. See also statement of Thomas Garry, et al. 26 The Case of Spokane Garry CHIEF GARRY WAS THE FIRST SCHOOL TEACHER IN THE SPOKANE COUNTRY When Spokane Garry returned from the Red River country, he undertook to conduct a school for the benefit of his countrymen. To this end he induced the Indians to construct a schoolhouse, 20 by 50 feet in size. This was built about two miles north of the Falls of) Spokane, at the foot of the gravel terrace or bench, near a large spring, afterwards called Drumheller's Springs, west of Monroe Street, and now well inside the limits of the City of Spokane.23 In early days one of the principal Indian trails passed this spot, and the site was a favorite camping ground of the Indians. On the gravel bench above there was an extensive Indian burial ground now occupied by com fortable homes. The schoolhouse was built with a framework of poles covered with tule mats. The reeds were woven and sewed together by the squaws into mats, which were stretched over the framework of the building. An early Spokane Indian church, described by Dr. Eells in the Mis sionary Herald of 1840,24 was constructed in a similar manner. This school was conducted by Chief Garry during the winter months. Mr. W. H. Gray, author of Gray's History of Oregon, and an asso ciate of Marcus Whitman, visited the school in April, 1837, and re corded in his journal that Garry was conducting a native school near Spokane House, and was attempting to teach the Indians to read and write English. Spokane Garry had to suspend his school occasionally, as the Indian children who attended it could not get enough to eat, and teacher and scholars were often reduced to a diet of sunflowers and roots. Many of Garry's scholars still survive: John Stevens, Charley Warren, Thomas Garry, etc.25 Nellie Garry states that her father also taught his children to read and write English. CHIEF GARRY WAS A FARMER; HE INSTRUCTED THE SPOKANE INDIANS IN AGRICULTURE In addition to the instruction given at his school, Spokane Garry taught the Indians some things of a more practical nature. He en couraged them to raise gardens and fields of grain, and instructed them as to the best methods of agriculture, learned by him at the Red River Settlement. The Spokane Indians had received their first knowledge of agri- 23 Statement of Nellie Garry. 24 Missionary Herald of 1840, p. 437; Father Eells, p. 96. 25 Wm. H. Gray's Journal, pp. 15-17. See also statement of Thomas Garry, et al.. Library Spokane Historical Society. The Case of Spokane Garry 21 culture from the fur traders at Spokane House in 1813 and 1814. One of the clerks records that the fur traders had to keep a guard over their melon patch after the Indians had once sampled them. Having seen the traders plant and harvest their potatoes, grain and vegetables, and observed them afterwards cook and eat them, the Indians secured some seeds and commenced to raise some small gardens themselves. Chief Garry's efforts made the cultivation of gardens and fields com mon among his people.26 In 1837 Garry furnished the missionary, Henry H. Spaulding, with a large quantity of seed potatoes and had a large and productive gar den of roots and vegetables.27 He also raised considerable wheat. This was threshed out on a wooden floor by turning in a bunch of Indian ponies to trample out the grain, which was then gathered in baskets and carried to Fort Colville, where it was ground into flour at the Hudson Bay grist mill, at what is now Meyers Falls.28 At the time of the arrival of Governor I. I. Stevens and party in 1853, Spokane Garry and many of his countrymen were raising fields of wheat, containing from five to thirty acres each, and gardens of potatoes, pumpkins, corn, squash and vegetables. At the time of the Indian war of 1858 many Indian granaries in the Spokane Valley, filled with wheat, were burnt and destroyed by command of Colonel Wright.29 At this time Spokane Garry himself had a large crop of potatoes, wheat and vegetables ; these, his daughter states, were given freely to both Indians and soldiers — to whoever needed them. In later years Spokane Garry frequently gave grain and small supplies of potatoes and vegetables to needy white settlers.30 Later, at the time of the construction of the Northern Pacific Railroad in 1880 and 1881, Spokane Garry sold grain and vegetables from his farm by the pack load to the white men and Chinamen engaged in the railroad con struction work.31 CHIEF GARRY PROMOTED THE FIRST FLOUR MILLING ENTERPRISE IN THE SPOKANE COUNTRY The farming operations conducted by Spokane Garry and his tribesmen had grown so extensive by the latter 50's that a contract was made by Garry for the construction of a flour mill on the Little Spo- 26 Gray's History of Oregon, p. 17; Parker's Travels, p. 288; Gray's Journal, pp. 15-16; Father E'ells, p. 99; soe Pioneer Eeminiscences, Library Spokane Historical Society. 27 Journal, Wm. H. Gray, pp. 15-16. 28 Pac. Ry. Reports, Vol. 12, p. 136; also statement of Curley Jim. 29 Kipp's Army Life on the Pacific, p. 70. 30 The Chronicle, Spokane, Wash., January 14, 1892, p. 6. 31 Statement of Nellie Garry, supra. 22 The Case of Spokane Garry kane at In-chi-ten-see,32 later known as Selheim Springs, and now a part of the country estate of Mr. J. P. Graves. The terms of the contract are unknown. In 1859, B. F. Yantis, generally known as "Judge" Yantis, set out from Olympia with the grinding machinery for this little mill, and freighted it out to the site on the Little Spokane. A mill race and water wheel were constructed and the mill building completed and the machinery installed and oper ated for a short time, when some misunderstanding or disagreement occurred, and Judge Yantis took out his machinery and removed it to the Colville Valley, where he later set it up on the Little Pend Oreille River. This mill was later known as the Oppenheimer mill. Chief Garry's side of the controversy is not known. Judge Yantis related that Spokane Garry seemed to think that he (Yantis) couldn't carry his machinery further and repudiated his contract.33* John Stevens and other Spokane Indians say that after the mill was in operation, the white man (Yantis) began to claim title to the Indian lands on which the mill had been built, whereupon the Indians, to ex tinguish any such claim, tore down the mill.33b 32 Statements of Susan Michel, John Stevens and others, Library of Spokane His torical Society. In-chi-ten-see in the Spokane language signifies "the place where another little stream comes in." 33 Statement of W. P. Winans, Library of Spokane Historical Society. B. F. Yantis was a Kentuckian, born on March 19, 1807. He moved to the Pacific Coast in 1852 and occupied many positions of trust in Washington Territory, serving as a Jus tice of the Peace and Legislator. After the creation of Idaho Territory he resided there for some time and served in the Legislature of that Territory. He finally returned to the Sound, where he died in 1879. — Olympia (Wash.) Standard, February 15, 1879. 33b Statement of John Stevens, Library Spokane Historical Society. The Case of Spokane Garry 23 CHAPTER II SPOKANE GARRY AND THE STEVENS PARTY In 1853, Governor Isaac I. Stevens and party reached the Spo kane country, and in his report, written in the spring of 1854, Gov ernor Stevens says : "Garry, the Spokane Chief, is a man of education, of strict probity and great influence over his tribe. He speaks English and French well."34 At another point in his report he states: "Garry is a man of judgment, forecast and great reliability. He has a comfortable lodge, and always has on hand flour, sugar and coffee."35 At Governor Stevens' request, Spokane Garry and one of his brothers accompanied the Governor and his party during the remainder of their stay in the Spokane country.36 Lieutenant R. Saxon, speaking of the Spokane Indians, says : "They are noble specimens of the race. Their Chief, Garry, speaks tolerable English. He is rich, powerful and owns a great number of horses."37 Mr. George Gibbs, another member of the Stevens party, who paid special attention to gathering statistics and information concerning the Indians, says : "Garry t is 42 years old. He is very intelligent, speaks English very fluently and bears an excellent character. He is what he claims to be, and what few are among these tribes, a chief. His lodge in neatness and comfort was far beyond anything we had seen. His family was dressed in the costume of the whites, which, in fact, now prevails over their own. The Chief offered us the hos pitality of his house with much cordiality — a cup of tea or coffee and bread."38 GARRY'S COUNTRY AND THE INCOMING WHITES The Spokane nation was composed of three branches or families: the Upper Spokanes occupying the Spokane Valley between the falls and the lands of the Pend Oreilles and Coeur d'Alenes, and to the north and south; the Middle Spokanes occupying the lands about "old Spokane House," Deep Creek and the Four Lakes country; and the t The Indians pronounced the name as if it was spelled "Jerry" — Curtis, North American Indian. Vol. VII, p. 55. 34 Pacific Ry. Reports, Vol. 12, pp. 136, 148. 35 Pacific Ry. Reports, Vol. 12, p. 148. 36 Pacific Ry. Reports, Vol. 12, p. 149 ; Life Gen. I. I. Stevens, Vol. 1, p. 399. 37 Pacific Ry. Reports, Vol. 1, p. 256. 38 Pacific Ry. Reports, Vol. 1, pp. 414-415. 24 The Case of Spokane Garry Lower Spokanes living about the Tchimokaine, Tumtum (Little Falls), and the mouth of the Spokane River.* These spots were their homes, but parties bent on hunting, barter or pleasure roamed about at will from Southern Oregon and Idaho to British Columbia, and from Puget Sound and the ocean to the east slope of the Rocky Mountains, though hunting parties to the "buffalo country" were by no means as fre quent as from the Flathead and Kootenai tribes. Generally speaking, the Spokanes claimed as their own all the territory extending from the head waters of the Chimokaine to the mouth of the Spokane River; down the south side of the Columbia as far as the mouth of the Okanogan; south to the head of the Snake River water shed; east to about the line of the present towns of Post Falls and Rathdrum.39 They had many horses ; their country was well supplied with edible roots and game; while their fisheries on the Spokane, Little Spokane, and Latou (Hangman's) Creek furnished an abundance of salmon, trout, and carp or suckers. These were easily caught in traps and willow baskets, and were so plentiful on most occasions that they were freely furnished to all passersby.40 The most fertile garden spots in their land were enclosed and cultivated by them. Spokane Garry was now (1850-60) in his prime, and his tribe, numbering from 500 to 600 people (Middle and Upper Spokane), were prosperous, happy and contented. Though they wandered about and camped at will, they had two principal villages, one at Spokane House ; another, on the prairie north of Saltese and Liberty Lakes. A change now began to take place in the affairs of the Spokane Indians. Settlers began coming in to take possession of their lands. In 1854 the Sinclair party of emigrants arrived overland from Mani toba, some settling on Spokane lands. In 1853 Francis B. Owens, a cattleman, driven out of the St. Mary's Valley in Montana by the * George Gibbs, writing in 1853, states that the Spokanes are composed of eight bands: 1. The Sin-slik-hoo-ish, on the plains above the Coeur d'Alene crossing. 2. The Sin-too-too-ish, on the river above the forks. 3. The Sma-hoo-men-a-ish, at the forks. 4. The Skai-schil-t'nish, at the old Chimokaine Mission. 5. The Ski-chei-a-mouse, above the Colville trail. 6. The Schu-el-stitsh, on the Columbia. 7. The Sin-poil-snue, on the Columbia. 8. The Sin-spee-ish, on the Columbia. The latter three bands are a distinct branch of the Seelish Nation. Curtis (Vol. 7, p. 54) does not recognize either the first or the fifth bands and confines the Spo kanes to the Sin-tu-tu-li, or Muddy Creek people (Upper Spokanes) ; the Sin-ho-mene, or Salmon Trout people (Middle Spokanes) ; and the Tsk-ais-tsih-lin, the people about the Little Falls (Lower Spokanes) : the three being identical with bands 2, 3 and 4 named by Gibbs. Garry's band, the Middle Spokanes, usually resided in early days at the forks of the Spokane (1 Pac. Ry. Report, p. 414) ; later upon his becoming also the leader of the Upper Spokanes he spent most of his time among the Upper Spokanes in the vicinity of the present City of Spokane. 39 See Pacific Ry. Reports, Vol. 1, p. 414, and statement of Nellie Garry 40 Report Captain John Mullen on construction military road, p. 111. V-', > Jfr -~e^ w I. f ¦7 ^4 h \ i ) ; Y). \ \ - / /iriii CHtifl t/Ut r f .Jtiohtm Jweace they would be well taken care of — a promise as yet unfulfilled. 1880 COLONEL WATKINS' EMPTY PROMISE In the summer of 1880, General Howard, with his aide, Captain Wilkinson, and Colonel E. C. Watkins, the Indian Inspector, met the Colville, Upper Spokane, Okanogan, Coeur d'Alene and Lower Spo kane Indians in a council held above the falls of the Spokane, at what is now known as Dennis and Bradley's Addition. There were between 3000 and 4000 Indians represented at these councils. Most of these Indians were as yet unprovided for as to reservations. At these coun cils the Spokanes grouped themselves, some under Chief Moses, others inder Chief Garry. General Howard says : "Garry's main desire was to have a reser vation set apart for himself and his followers."82 The General adds that during the councils Garry showed himself more of a lawyer than a warrior, and at one of the councils made the longest speech of any Indian he ever heard, and that he knew how to filibuster like a Con- giessman when he had a point to gain by continuous talking. These councils resulted in Colonel Watkins promising a new and ample res ervation to the Spokanes and the "renegades" off from the reserva tions, with metes and bounds well defined. The promise was never fulfilled and the Middle and Upper Spokanes were never given any reservation of their own. 81 Eeminiscences of H. T. Cowley, Library of Spokane Historical Society, p. 7. 82 My Life and Experiences, General O. O. Howard, p. 435. The Case of Spokane Garry 43 1881. In 1881, General A. A. Howard and Governor Ferry met the Spo kane Indians in a council on the prairie now known as Dennis and Bradley's Addition, and announced to the assembled Spokanes that they must take up land in severalty or be placed on a reservation west of the Columbia. The Spokanes were indignant, and Garry, who could speak English very well, voiced their protest thus: "What right have you to dictate to us? This is our country and we will not leave it." This protest was heeded, as the Government did not care to repeat the blunder made in 1877 with the Nez Perces.83 1887 The Upper and Middle Spokanes continued to live at such of their old camping grounds as had not been taken possession of by the whites until 1887. In a last Indian council, held in March, 1887, at a livery stable on Riverside Avenue in the town of Spokane Falls, about where the present United States Postoffice building is now located, Chief Garry asked the Inspector of the Indian Department and the Com missioners that his people (the Upper and Middle Spokanes) have ceded to them as a reservation the land on both sides of the Spokane River from the city of Spokane to Turn Turn.84 The request was not granted. LAND IN SEVERALTY VS. LAND IN COMMON Garry's chief ambition and effort in his later years was to secure a treaty with the Government which would preserve a substantial part of his country to his tribe and provide a substantial annuity to them in consideration of their relinquishment of their title to the remaining lands. Garry maintained to the last that such provisions had been promised him by Governor I. I. Stevens in the early '50's and again in the '70's at the council held by the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, when the boundaries of such a reservation were definitely settled and agreed upon. Strenuous efforts were made by the Government to induce the Spo kanes to abandon their title to the lands in the Spokane country and take up lands in severalty under the Indian homestead act. In view of the fact that the Indians of his tribe were accustomed to travel about and to occupy different parts of their country at different sea sons of the year so as to secure and harvest the fish, game, roots and S3 Statement of H. T. Cowley. Durham's History of Spokane County, Vol. 2, p. 111. 84 Curtis' North American Indian, Vol. 7, pp. 55, 62. 44 The Case of Spokane Garry berries which formed their food supply, and that they were, ;as yet, unfitted and untrained for the irksome confinements and labors of farm life and had neither the experience, means nor equipment to suc cessfully maintain themselves as farmers, Chief Garry used his in fluence against the movement.84a Later in August, 1877, partially for the purpose of impressing on the Spokanes the threat of the Government to move onto a reservation west of the Columbia all Spokane Indians who refused to take up land in severalty, six companies of troops, under command of Colonel Whea- ton, in conjunction with the Indian Commissioner and Lieutenant Wil kinson of General Howard's staff, were stationed in the Spokane country. This act resulted in dissatisfaction among the Spokanes, dividing the tribe into two parties. One, the larger, headed by Spo kane Garry, strenuously opposed the movement to expatriate them; the other, headed by William Three Mountains, a former pupil of the Rev. Elkanah Walker at the Tschimokaine Mission and a rival for leadership, enthusiastically promoted the enterprise to locate a party of Indian homesteaders on land some six miles below Deep Creek Falls, now known as Indian Prairie. The futility of the enterprise was shown by the results. Only five families moved out to start the undertaking, and though the colony once numbered fifty persons, the Indians gradually sold and traded their holdings to the whites (often for the most ridiculous and inade quate considerations) and either moved to the Lower Spokane Reserva tion or resumed their place among the remaining members of the Mid dle and Upper Spokanes. The failure of the enterprise confirmed the soundness of Spokane Garry's judgment in opposing the movement to have the Spokanes take up land in severalty; a judgment concurred in by experienced army officers thoroughly familiar with the Indian situation. 84b THE FINAL FATE OF THE SPOKANES The refusal of the Commissioners to grant to the Spokanes any part of their lands for a reservation and their insistence that the Spo kanes all move to the Coeur d'Alene Reservation finally led to the signing of a treaty by the Spokanes for the relinquishment of their 84a Statement of Rev. H. T. Cowley, Library Spokane Historical Society. 84b Report on the condition of the Indian tribes, Wash. Govt. 1867. "I should remove the Indians to new reserves remote from settlers. I am satisfied the Indian cannot improve in the vicinity of white settlers. It is best that the Indians' lands be held in common, provided they are managed by judicial laws and regulations, and ex ecuted by honest and competent agents. The Indian cannot long possess land in per son, as no law or regulation can reach the swindling movements and sagacity of the white man." — Col. John T. Sprague, Appendix, pp. 427-432'. THE LAST OF THE SPOKANES Tresspassers on lands which their forefathers held for untold ages. Palmer. Spokane, 1916 Photograph by The Case of Spokane Garry 45 land titles. This treaty is set out in appendix "B" ; under it Garry and some of the older chiefs were each to receive an annuity of $100.00 a year. The present Indian encampment at Indian Canyon is at sufferance of Mr. Gavin C. Mouat, owner of the property.8"' The once numerous and powerful tribe has been reduced to a mere handful, and it is now only a question of a little time when the band will be but a memory. 85 As a commentary on Indian character M, Moat ^sta es hat » the P«t IBB y.«. during which he ^.^^^S^^^^^^^^t^aj coming :ndegnoin°g,1She0harnebvUeI ^al ^A".. property stolen from his place. 46 The Case of Spokane Garry CHAPTER V GARRY TRIED TO BECOME A CITIZEN AND HOMESTEAD HIS FARM Old Spokane Garry was not a fool. Thirty years' experience with the Indian Department had gradually convinced the Chief that the chances for a Spokane Indian to save a part of his inheritance in the way of a reservation were pretty slight. As a matter of personal pre caution, Garry endeavored to establish and maintain a homestead right to the land used and held by him as his home. For many years Garry and his family had resided on and cultivated a fine piece of farm land enclosed with a log fence, in what is now described as the west one-half of the northwest quarter of section 2, township 25 north, range 43, E. W. M., situated a short distance east of the present town of Hillyard, Washington. The treaty of 1887 was supposed to protect the Indian title to these homesteads.85" In the year 1888, while Garry and his family were at the tem porary camp on the south side of the river during the fishing season, he heard that white men had taken possession of his farm. Together with his family, Chief Garry went at once to his land, and was told by the men in possession to keep off the place. Garry's farm was in crop at the time. Chief Garry endeavored in every peaceful way to re cover possession from these trespassers, one of whom afterwards trans ferred his claim to the land to the late F. Lewis Clark, who secured title thereto from the Government. Immediately after seizing posses sion of Garry's land and filing thereon at the United States Land Office, this claimant procured a mortgage loan thereon for $500.00 ; this indicates that the land was of some value.85** A short time before his death, Chief Garry procured a hearing on his claim to the land before United States Commissioner Skeels, in which testimony was adduced that he had long lived on the land and had endeavored to become a citizen of the country in order to become 85a A copy of the treaty with the Spokanes made in March, 1887, is set out in the Appendix hereto. Note Article 4 thereof. 85b The records in the office of the County Auditor of Spokane County, Washing ton, show that on August 3, 1888, Receiver's receipt was issued by the U. S. Land Office to Schuyler D. Doak and recorded on August 30, 1888, in Book "X" of Deed Records of Spokane County, at page 285. That on August 30, 1888, on security of the land, Mr. Doak procured a loan of $500.00, the mortgage being recorded on August 30, 1888, in Book P of Mortgages, at page 240. The records show that on February 27, 1890, Mr. Doak conveyed the land to F. Lewis Clark by deed recorded in Book 17 of Deed Records, at page 496. TJ. S. patent to the land was not issued and re corded until April 23, 1892, after Garry's death, and is recorded in Book "I" of Deed Records, page 345. THE GORGE OF THE SPOKANE "All this land was mine — and my people's." — Garry Photograph taken in the early '80's from a point near the south end of the present Monroe Street bridge, now in the heart of the City of Spokane The Case of Spokane Garry 47 a legalized free holder, and that he held the land in question as a home stead with a squatter's right until the white men seized possession and drove him off. At the time the contest was heard Garry's homestead was reputed to be worth $25,000. Chief Garry died before decision was rendered against his claim. The government record in this case has been destroyed.850 The experience of Spokane Garry was typical of that of many of the Spokanes. Time and again white settlers went on the land culti vated and held by the Indians, dispossessing them, and frequently giving them a parting kick Some fared a little better. Tim-mid-del- que and three other Indian driven off from their lands at Selheim Springs were given a second-hand saddle. Solomon Scott and Thomas Garry, driven from their land in the vicinity of Spokane Garry's farm, were given $13.00 by the man who dispossessed them; and old John Stevens, who fared better than most, was given the munificient sum of $30.00 by the magnanimous white man who drove him from his home.85d GARRY'S ATTITUDE TOWARD THE WHITE SETTLERS The first instance of a white man (other than the fur traders and missionaries) settling in the Spokane country was that of old Solomon Pellitier, who had settled on the old Walker-Eells mission site, with Garry's permission, prior to Governor Stevens' arrival in 1853.86 The following year Messrs. Owen and Gibson, cattle men, maintained a considerable herd of horses and cattle in the Spokane Valley, with the consent of Spokane Garry, and the other chiefs. From these dates on Garry maintained a continued and consistent policy of friendly acqui escence in the settlement of the country by the whites, at the same time endeavoring to make a firm and determined stand against the continual encroachment of the settlers and the efforts of the Govern ment to crowd the Indians from their favorite camping and fishing grounds, and to appropriate without compensation the fields and gar dens which the Indians had maintained many years prior to the arrival of the first white settler. "Garry kept telling the Spokane Indians to be peaceful while the white men were taking away the Indians' land. * * * * He asked the white people to leave the land of the Indians alone until the In- 85c The Spokesman (Spokane), January 14, 1892, p. 5. Letter Department of In terior, Library Spokane Historical Society. 85d Pioneer Reminiscences of Milton S. Bentley. Statement of Thomas Garry, et al., supra. 86 Account of Governor I. I. Stevens. Pacific Railroad Reports. 48 The Case of Spokane Garry dians could get paid for it, then, he told the white people, they could have the land from the Indians. "86a GARRY AIDED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MULLAN ROAD Spokane Garry aided in the building of the Mullan road. During the winter of 1859-60, for the purpose of gathering statistics as to the snowfall and the practicability of building the road through that sec tion of the mountains, Chief Garry carried the mail for Lieutenant Mullan from the Spokane Country to Fort Benton, Montana, by way of Clark's Fork.87 In his report Lieutenant Mullan states that the Clark's Fork route was thus established to be more advantageous than the one over which the road was constructed. In addition to this, Spo kane Garry, as shown by his letters on the subject, not only consented to rights-of-way through his country for railroad and wagon roads, but by his acts and conduct greatly assisted in procuring the assent of other Indian tribes to the construction of the roads and railroads. GARRY'S FRIENDLINESS TOWARD THE WHITES From his earliest youth to the time of his death Spokane Garry maintained a faithful friendship towards the whites. During his en tire life, whenever any hostile acts against the whites were threatened by any of the neighboring tribes, or by any of the Spokane Indians, Garry was prompt to warn the whites of their danger. In 1848, after the Whitman massacre, when the Cayuse Indians were threatening to invade the Spokane country and to burn and destroy the Walker-Eells mission, Spokane Garry informed the missionaries that if the Cayuses crossed the Spokane River he would lead the Spokanes to meet and stop them. In 1856 Garry advised Governor Stevens as to the hostile attitude of some of the tribes, and as to the safest route by which he could reach Olympia. Mention had already been made of Garry's report of the Yakima murders to Indian Agent Bolon, and his advice to John Owen in 1858 as to the hostile attitude of the Coeur d'Alene Indians. During the Nez Perce war, and during every other Indian scare and excitement up to the time of his death, Spokane Garry con tinually exercised his influence to prevent any hostilities, and con tinually assured the white settlers, among whom he had many staunch friends, that he would give them timely warning in case of any danger from the Indians.88 86a Statement of Thomas Garry, et al. 87Mullan's report on the construction of the military road, p. 19 88 Journal of Mary Walker, 1848. Statement of H. T. Cowley. SPOKANE GARRY As he appeared in his old age. Photograph by Loryea, 1889 The Case of Spokane Garry 49 CHAPTER VI garry's appearance Spokane Garry, as known to those now living, was a small pot bellied, shrivelled, blear-eyed old man, short in stature, dressed in cit izen's clothing and wearing his hair cut short. Although over seventy years of age in the early '80's, he was still tough and wiry and able to endure great fatigue.89 Spokane Garry and his old white horse, shown in the accompany ing illustration, were, in early days, familiar figures about the City of Spokane, which Garry, a dispossessed sovereign, saw rise about the Falls of Spokane, and attain, in his life time, a population of thirty- one thousand people; later Chief Garry's face was made familiar to another generation by an engraving on the checks of the Fidelity Na tional Bank, a pioneer banking institution of the Spokane country. Notwithstanding his lack of imposing stature, Spokane Garry in his prime carried himself with such an air of dignity and independence (see Frontispiece) that it was apparent, even to a stranger, that he was a personage. Some of the early settlers and Government officials with whom Garry came in contact seem to have taken offense at and resented Garry's manner of equality. Spokane Garry bent to no man, and met on equal footing Governors, Generals, and Indian Com missioners. Mr. James N. Glover mentions as an incident of General Howard's council held with the Spokane Indians in 1877, that after couriers had been sent out to call the Indians together, and they had gathered for the council, Spokane Garry rode in on horseback to the top of the bench above the council ground, which was held on the low ground at the extreme western edge of "Union Park" ; tied his horse, and lay down to rest, refusing to comply with General Howard's impatient request that he join the council until he had fittingly refreshed him self, when he leisurely descended to the council ground. When asserting the rights of the Spokanes to their lands, Spokane Garry was aggressive, both in speech and manner. In public he often wore a very firm, almost pugnacious expression ; his chin, which seemed to be thrust out and emphasized by the firm closing of his lips, indi cated a stubborn determination in keeping with his speech. 89 Nearly all the Northwest Indians on attaining old age are afflicted with red and inflamed eves, caused by the smoke of their lodge fires, blindness frequently results. For description of Garry see statement of H. T. Cowley; also General How ard's Life and Experiences, pp. 434-5; statement of John T. Davie and Gavin C. Mouat. 50 The Case of Spokane Garry In his old age Spokane Garry appeared what he was: a poor, homeless, discredited old man, whose principal problem was to procure sufficient food and clothing to keep himself and his old blind wife alive. Thoughtless people made fun of him; hoodlums annoyed him and his family. In old age Garry's expression changed from aggressive firm ness to patient submission. Through different causes; the disaffection of those of the tribe who had become Catholics ; the rivalry of William Three Mountains; the success of Chief Whistle-Possum (Lot) in se curing a reservation at the mouth of the Spokane River (the so-called Spokane Reservation) ; his own failure to secure any reservation for the Middle and Upper Spokanes ; the aggressions of the white settlers ; and the indifference displayed toward him by Government authorities, Indian agents, missionaries and many of the settlers, Spokane Garry's prestige with the Indians had been totally destroyed, and by the latter '80's his followers had been reduced to a mere handful. garry's disposition Like most Indians, Spokane Garry was somewhat gruff and reticent when meeting white men for the first time, a characteristic which led some people who never got acquainted with him to conclude that he was of a rather sullen and morose disposition. Spokane Garry went slowly with strangers. If he disliked a person, he left that person alone. It was only among friendly whites who had gained his confi dence that he was talkative; to those he liked and trusted he would talk freely about Indian affairs and discuss his troubles and ex periences. He possessed a dry wit, and was good-natured and intelli gent in social intercourse with friends and sincere in his own beliefs and judgment, while maintaining a catholic tolerance for the opinion of others. Defeat, poverty and discredit did not, to outward appearances, embitter his spirit. To his last breath he expressed a firm confidence that the whites would eventuallv make proper compensation to him and his tribesmen for the land taken from them.89a In his family relations Spokane Garry appears to have been kind, considerate and affection ate ; several nephews, brought up by him in his family, speak of him still with noble regard. garry's manner of living Prior to the loss of his farm in the latter '80's, Garry was a man of considerable wealth. He had a large herd of Indian horses, some cattle, and farm equipment, and raised considerable grain and vegeta bles, which were disposed of either in barter with the other Indians 89a Statement of Nellie Garry. The Case of Spokane Garry 51 or with the early white settlers. His lodge was a model of neatness, and, as we have mentioned heretofore, was commented on by Mr. George Gibbs in 1853, as surpassing in neatness and comfort anything which the Stevens party had seen.90 Throughout his life Garry dressed in the costume of the whites, though preferring a blanket to an overcoat for wear in cold weather. His family also dressed in the costume of the whites, and in the early days lived in considerable comfort, keeping on hand supplies of tea, coffee, sugar and flour, commodities which some few of the first white settlers in the vicinity did not always possess. garry's last years Driven from his land, Spokane Garry was unable to afterwards secure another farm, and his circumstances rapidly changed for the worse. Of his large herd of horses, the greater part were stolen from him by the whites, principally by transient miners passing through the country in the early days, going to and from the various mining stam pedes, and by professional horse thieves. His herd of cattle was killed off from time to time to supply meat for his family. In his latter years Spokane Garry was very hard up; the only money which the old chief obtained was an occasional ten or fifteen dollars, the price received from the sale of one of his horses. During the last years of his life, subsistence depended almost entirely upon the charity of chance, supplemented by the occasional earnings of his daughter, Nellie, a strong, honest, industrious woman, who did washing for the early settlers before the advent of the Chinaman and the steam laun dry. The writer, when a boy, remembers taking an occasional ride on Nellie's pony while she was doing up the family washing. After he was driven from his farm near Hillyard, Garry was forced to return to the tent life of his forefathers, and he established a camp, with a number of his relatives, on the second bench west of Hangman Creek, a little north of where the present concrete bridge crosses the Hangman Creek gorge at Seventh Avenue in the City of Spokane. There were six or eight teepes in this camp, but the Indians were sub jected to so much annoyance by idle boys and hoodlums that they were unable to remain there, and Garry and his daughter, Nellie, finally procured the consent of Mr. Gavin C. Mouat for the removal of their camp to land owned by Mr. Mouat near Indian Canyon; and the In dian camp was moved to its present location on Mr. Mouat's property, where it has been maintained ever since by some of the homeless Spo kane Indians. At this time Garry's family consisted of his wife, Nina, who was 90 See also statement of Gavin C Mouat, 52 The Case of Spokane Garry blind, and his daughter, Nellie. Several of Garry's relatives lived at the camp ; among them two nephews, Thomas Garry, now an elder of the church at Wellpinit, Washington, and Titus Garry, now an In dian policeman on the Spokane Indian Reservation, at Miles, Wash ington. Spokane Garry seems to have taken good care of his old, blind wife. He would lift her on and off his horse, and for riding would carefully tie her on the saddle and then patiently and carefully lead the horse from place to place. From accounts of Mr. Mouat and others, it appears that he was always very kind and attentive to her.91 spokane garry's death Though he patiently waited nearly five years for our grateful and benign Government to pay him the paltry annuity of $100.00 a year which had been guaranteed him by the treaty of 1887, the old chief nev er received a cent of it.91a Spokane Garry died in poverty and neglect at his camp at the Indian camping ground on Mr. Mouat's place, west of Hangman Creek, in Indian Canyon, on the 14th day of January, 1892, at 1 o'clock in the morning. He had been confined to his couch for more than eleven weeks ; the cause of his death was old age, has tened by congestion of the lungs. When Garry was first taken sick, Mr. Mouat, an old friend, came into Spokane and consulted Mr. Harry Lane Wilson, now late Ambassador to Mexico, and the two engaged Dr. Harvey, a pioneer physician, to attend him. When Garry died, Billy Nolan (then bailiff for the Honorable R. B. Blake, and now hold ing a similar position under the judge's son, Judge Bruce Blake) went out with Mr. S. M. Smith, a pioneer undertaker, and prepared Garry's remains for burial. Garry's funeral was conducted by the Rev. Dr. Mundy of the First Presbyterian Church of Spokane, on Saturday, January 16, 1892, and his remains were buried at Greenwood Cemetery in the City of Spokane. Garry's estate, which consisted of ten lean and flea-bitten cayuses, was administered by R. E. Porterfield, a rising young lawyer, now Secretary of the Citizens' Saving & Loan Society of the City of Spo kane; Attorney W. D. Scott of Spokane, then just commencing the practice of law, represented Garry's daughter, Nellie. Of the ten cayuses constituting the estate, only two or three were ever located, the rest having been stolen ; and the estate being insufficient to pay the expenses of his burial, the deficit was paid out of the pauper funds of Spokane County. Garry's grave for the last quarter of a century has been marked by a small wooden cross, on which may be read the legend, "Indian Chief Gerry." 91 Statement of Gavin C. Mouat. 9 la "After a pledge or promise of money it has always taken a long time to get the necessary appropriation through both Houses of Congress. No officer or agent can transfer his feelings of sympathy to our legislators. Often for years and years sol emn pledges made to Indians — I state it with sorrow, — have remained unfulfilled." General 0. 0. Howard's Life and Experiences, p. 473, NELLIE GARRY Daughter of Spokane Garry. Photograph by Angvire, Spokane, 1916 The Case of Spokane Garry 53 PART 11 CASE AGAINST GARRY GAMBLING It is charged that Chief Garry gambled. He did. Spokane Garry seems to have possessed the usual Indian propensity for gambling, which was one of the few pastimes of the Indians wherein they could match their wits and acumen, one against the other. In reports of Wilkes' expedition in 1840, Spokane Garry is referred to indirectly by members of Lieutenant Johnson's party as an Indian chief who spoke English and who stated to them that at one time his authority was great over his tribe, but that owing to his propensity for gam bling, he had lost all his influence.92 PLAYING CARDS Governor George Simpson, previously mentioned, who passed through the Spokane country in 1841 on his celebrated journey around the world, saw his former protege in an Indian camp on the banks of the Pend d'Oreille River, near the site of the present town of Newport, Washington. Governor Simpson wrote that he found Spokane Garry sitting in a card game, played by the Indians with cards obtained from the American fur trappers in the Snake River country. He re marked on the apparent eagerness with which the naked and hungry savages thumbed and turned the black and greasy pasteboards, and stated that there could be but little doubt as to who was the master spirit in the game.93 The Governor also, rather ill-naturedly, adds that Spokane Garry had relapsed into his original barbarism, taking as many wives as he could get, and becoming a gambler, losing all he had and all he could beg or borrow.94 With commendable self-re straint, the honorable gentleman refrained from adding the words "or steal" to his commentary. There may have been some personal reason for this rather severe arraignment, as the Governor states that Garry refused to come out of the tent "to shake hands with an old friend" (Simpson).95 His severe characterization of Spokane Garry was not concurred in, either by the early missionaries or the members of Gov ernor Isaac I. Stevens' party, who visited Spokane House and were 92 TJ. S. (Wilkes) exploring expedition, "Vol. 4, p. 459. 93 Journey Around the World, George Simpson, p. 144. 94 Journey Around the World, George Simpson, p. 145. 95 Journey Around the World, George Simpson, p. 145. 54 The Case of Spokane Garry entertained by Garry at his lodge some twelve years later, and is dis- proven by the many known facts as to Garry's life. There seems to have been a period in Garry's life, from 1837 to 1842, when, between 25 and 30 years of age, Garry abandoned his leadership of the Indians and his efforts for their improvement, and indulged in gambling, and relapsed back into savagery to some extent. This was contemporary with the arrival of the Protestant mission aries, and the writer has thought that Garry's conduct might have been caused by discouragement, pique and resentment on account of criti cism made by the missionaries, and their ignoring him and his numer ous efforts to enlighten and educate his tribe. DRINKING It is also charged against Spokane Garry that he drank intoxicat ing liquors. In common with most Indians, Spokane Garry had a liking for the "Boston man's fire water" and in his later years, when he was a decrepit old man, Spokane Garry drank. It was only on very rare occasions, however, that Spokane Garry ever drank to excess or "got drunk." On one occasion, it is recalled by "old-timers" that Spokane Garry got drunk and was put into the town jail over night. Garry, however, took the matter in the right spirit, saying the next morning that it served him right, as he had no business to get drunk.96 garry's general bad reputation in his old age Spokane Garry, during the last years of his life, was not given a good character by many of his contemporaries. The Rev. H. T. Cowley, a pioneer of 1874, says: "Few, either Indians or white, among those I met from 1874 on spoke well of him." — Statement, Library Spokane Historical Society. "He was a weak and vacillating character, crafty and unreliable." — Durham's History of Spokane County, Vol. I, p. 247. J. M. Glover, "The Father of Spokane," has called Garry "an old skulker and hypocrite." — Durham's History of Spokane County, Vol. I, p. 351. Major R. G. Gwydir has called him "kultus." — Statement, Li brary Spokane Historical Society.9 6a 96 Statement of John T. Davie. 96a In Justice to these men it should be stated that these statements were made by them in good faith and in honest reliance on their truth, and that such reports were commonly circulated among and believed by a large part of the early settlers in the Spokane country. The Case of Spokane Garry GARRY S REPUTATION DISCUSSED An investigation of these charges develops that the following stories, relative to Garry, were commonly circulated among the "old-timers" : Major Gwydir : "It was gossip among the early settlers that Colonel Wright had hung Garry's father and brother whom Garry had sent into Colonel Wright's camp as hostages in his stead." "My interpreter, Bob Flet, informed me that when Garry was cap tured and taken before Colonel Wright, who ordered his execution, frightened at the dread sentence, Garry hastened to state that he had a cousin and an uncle who were fighting warriors, and that if Colonel Wright would spare his life he would send for these two relatives, whom Colonel Wright might hang in his place. Colonel Wright agreed to this, and Garry sent word to his two kinsmen, who promptly gave themselves up, were tried, and hanged" No father, brother, cousin or uncle of Spokane Garry, nor any Spo kane Indians were hung by Colonel Wright : the reports of Col. Wright show that the Indians hung by him were all from tribes other than the Spokanes. Bob Flet was a Canadian-French Catholic, unfriendly to Garry. His stories were untrue, even though no malice may have prompted them. Rev. H. T. Cowley states : "William Three Mountains was not friendly to Garry, and he used to talk freely with me. He told me that Spokane Garry had taken part in the fights against the whites, and that when he saw that the Indians were conquered in the fight with Colonel Wright, he ran away and kept out of Colonel Wright's reach. William Three Mountains also told me that Colonel Wright had said that if he could get hold of Spokane Garry he would hang him." The official records show that this account was also untrue. Spo kane Garry, far from running from Colonel Wright, was frequently at the Colonel's camp, and at the Colonel's request assembled the Spokane and neighboring Indians for the council held at Smith's Ford in Sep tember, 1858. As one eye-witness states: "He (Garry) always had free access to the camp whenever he came to it."97 William Three Mountains was unfriendly to Garry and on many occasions endeavored to undermine his authority and influence both with the Indians and the whites, and a rival who endeavored to supplant Spokane Garry as 97 John E. Smith, a pioneer of the Spokane country, Washington Historical Quar terly, Vol. 7, p. 270. 5(5 The Case of Spokane Garry a leader of the Spokane Indians. His story, even though prompted by no malice or self-interest, was untrue in fact. The Rev. H. T. Cowley relates another story concerning Spokane Garry : "I met Mr. Tom Brown, an eighth Cree Indian, who had a fine farm at Chewelah, and was an old settler there and highly esteemed. Mr. Brown told me that before the fight with Colonel Wright, Spokane Garry had stopped at his place on his way to Colville, and had told him he was on his way to Colville to stir up the chiefs to resist Colonel Wright, and that he was promising them all the spoils in the event of the defeat of the Americans. This rumor in regard to Garry having participated in the hostilities was very persistent and was the cause of the prejudice which the early settlers had against Garry." The only truth we can ascertain in the statement of Mr. Brown is that at the time of the battles of Four Lakes and Spokane Plains, Spokane Garry did make a trip to Colville, and may have stopped at Brown's place on the way up. Spokane Garry's object and purpose in going to Colville was, as has been previously mentioned, to secure supplies to carry on his harvesting, in which he was then engaged; and, in view of Garry's consistent conduct, the repeated statements of himself and others that he took no part in the hostilities, and the record he made of his friendliness towards the whites, the finding must be against the truth of Mr. Brown's statement. With reference to the statement of Mr. Glover that Garry was a "skulker and a hypocrite," no evidence has been found to substantiate there charges. Upon personal inquiry, Mr. Glover has said these terms were frequently applied to Garry by settlers who came in the '70's and the '80's, but that he has no personal knowledge of any wrong or questionable conduct by Spokane Garry justifying these terms as ap plied to the aged chief by the "old-timers." Contrary to "skulking," Garry's conduct and speech were positive, even aggressive at times. From his speeches, letters and conversation, no person need, at any time, have had , any doubt as to the position which Spokane Garry took upon any matter. The same can be said as to the charge that he was a "hypocrite." Mr. Gavin C. Mouat, who perhaps knew Garry better than any other white man now living, says : , "He and I were good friends. He would come to my house lots of times and tell me his troubles. He was a sensible man in lots of ways and I have always thought that he was honest, sincere and truthful. Garry and his people were all Presbyterians, and Garry, himself, im pressed me as being a sincere, religious man." The Case of Spokane Garry 57 As to the charge that Garry was a "weak and vacillating char acter": If the charge of weakness was merely reference to Garry's frailties in the way of gambling and drinking, the charge of weakness may, to that extent, stand. Spokane Garry, if alive, would himself frankly confess to these failings. But Garry was neither weak nor vacillating in his purpose, and the record of his life shows fifty years of patient, persistent and determined effort on his part to keep peace with the whites and to preserve to himself and his tribe some portion of their heritage. As to the charge that Garry was "crafty and unreliable": It will be admitted that, in the sense that he knew to some extent how to anticipate and combat the efforts of covetous white men and Govern ment officials to extinguish the title of the Spokane Indians to their land, Spokane Garry was "crafty." General Howard stated that Garry "could filibuster like a Congressman." In any other sense the term can not be applied to him. Neither can he be called "unreliable." No person ever placed confidence in Spokane Garry and found him wanting. It has also been charged that: "Spokane Garry gave the Indians bad advice and protected Indians who were charged with horse and cattle stealing." — Major Gwydir. Among the white men, early settlers in the Spokane country, were a few well-known horse and cattle thieves, and a great deal of the early horse and cattle stealing committed by these white men was craftily charged by them to the Indians. An Indian may occasionally have stolen a horse in retalitation for the frequent thefts of Indian horses by the whites. Occasionally a hungry Indian may have slaugh tered and eaten white men's cattle found on the range, and in doing so to sustain life, the Indians probably did not consider that they were more than playing even for the many losses they had suffered at the hands of the whites. If Spokane Garry did occasionally attempt to shield some such ignorant tribesman from the harsh consequences of the white man's laws, the writer would not regard such action by old Garry as particularly reprehensible under all the circumstances in the case. However, the writer has not been able to discover any facts to substantiate even this charge. 58 The Case of Spokane Garry CONCLUSION The circulation of unfounded charged of this nature among "old- timers," who honestly believed that such reports were true, was the cause of the bad name given to Spokane Garry in his old age. But all pioneers were not deceived by these reports. John T. Davie: "The best citizens regarded old Spokane Garry as an Indian gen tleman. Others among the rougher classes poked fun at him and dis liked him." W. D. Scott: "Garry was a pretty nice old Indian." For a quarter of a century old Spokane Garry has been in his grave, and, like Duncan, "After life's fitful fever he sleeps well." The faults and failings of the old chief, his gambling, his drinking, no longer peeve an arrogant generation, some of whom condescended to furnish him and his tribe with liquor, and others of whom were willing to gamble with them and win their money and property. Looking back, it appears rather strange that the early settlers of thirty and forty years ago who sanctioned wide-open gambling, and many of whom considered a man a weakling who could not hold his own in a poker game, should condemn Spokane Garry so severely for gambling. Like wise, it seems strange that the early day settlers, whose common club and social meeting place was the "saloon," and many of whom drank down their "three fingers" of straight rye at one gulp and scorned a "chaser," should condemn old Spokane Garry for drinking. The real reason for this condemnation was the prevailing sentiment that no In dian was any good, and that in their insistence on their claims to the land they were trespassers and a nuisance. Under such circumstances, any charge, however trivial or groundless, was sufficient excuse for the expression of the common contempt and dislike for the Indians. Chief Garry's principal impediments, a fine farm and large band of Indian ponies, were not permitted to embarrass his old age. The superior whites relieved him of both. The writer has no intention of casting any reflection on the pioneers as a whole, most of whom were representatives of the finest type of man and womanhood, which our country has produced; for the rest, candor compels us to state that there was also a fair assortment of rogues on the frontier in early days who had little respect for the SPOKANE GARRY'S GRAVE Photograph by Palmer, Spokane, 1916. Spokane Indians, left to right: Moses Phillips, Thomas Garry, William Three Mountains, Alec Pierre and Charlie Warner The Case of Spokane Garry 59 rights or property of anyone, least of all the Indian; and it is a re gulable fact that among the better class of settlers, who crowded them out, the Indians were generally regarded as outcasts, and it was their accepted maxim "That the only good Indian is a dead one." Even among the so-called better element, in early days, were "many greedy settlers who believed that Indians had no rights which a white man ought to respect. 98 Spokane Garry died homeless and in poverty. A crude wigwam which had been his last shelter from the winter's snow and cold be came his mortuary on death. Crowded from their lands, disease and poverty had decimated his tribe, and his title of chieftain was in melancholy contrast with his impoverishment of body and the departure of his temporary power. About the only thing that Spokane Garry possessed when he died was a childish faith that the white men would eventually do the square thing and compensate him and his people for the land they had taken. Viewed from the standpoint of accomplishment, Spokane Garry's life was a failure. For forty years following the coming of General I. I. Stevens, the first Governor of Washington Territory, Garry's con stant effort was to save part of the lands of the Spokane Indians for his people. In this he failed. At no time was Spokane Garry the leader of as numerous and powerful tribes as old Chief Com-com-ly, or Chief Sealth of the Su- quamish tribe; though his influence was felt over a larger area of ter ritory than that of either of these chiefs. Garry was not a warrior like Kamiaken or Joseph. In fact, looking back over Garry's life and the history of his times, it would appear that Spokane Garry might better have served his purpose and accomplished more for his people had he donned the war paint, roused up his tribesmen and killed some white men. By such conduct an occasional Indian, unnoticed before, has achieved fame, become a pampered pet of the Indian Department and grown sleek and fat on annuities presented to him by a grateful gov ernment.99 Another course Garry might have profitably pursued would have been to practice a servile submission to the various Indian agents and Government officials, and to have co-operated with them in their ef forts to extinguish the Indian land titles, regardless of the interest of the Indians. The course which Garry adopted led to failure, and he died a poor, friendless and discredited old man. 98 My Life and Experiences, General O. O. Howard. 99 See Major Gwydir in Edwards' History of Spokane County, p. 16. 60 The Case of Spokane Garry In regard to the place which Spokane Garry is entitled to occupy in the history of the Northwest, it will not be claimed for him that "He was the greatest friend of the whites on this side of the moun tains," as an enthusiastic Western admirer of old Chief Sealth has claimed for him,100 though few Indians appear to have so well de served that title as Spokane Garry. If the writer were to characterize Spokane Garry, it would be as one of the most manly, humane and likable Indian characters known to Northwest history. However, it has not been left to this generation to write Spokane Garry's epitaph; other willing hands wrote it long ago: "He is what he claims to be and what few are among these tribes, a chief." — George Gibbs in the Pacific Railroad Reports, Volume 1, page 414. "Garry is a man of judgment, forecast and strict probity and great reliability." — Governor I. I. Stevens, Pacific Railroad Reports, Vol ume 12, page 148. "An Indian chief, a white man in education and views of life." — Governor I. I. Stevens, Serial No. 882, 34th Cong., 1st Session S. Ex. Documents 66, page. 43. "Garry was a man whose friendship for the whites over half a cen tury made the settlement and development of a large part of the In land Empire a comparatively easy task." — Review, Spokane, January 14, 1892, page 6. "There are those among the pale face invaders of the Northwest who are grateful for substantial aid given them in the early days by the aged chieftain." — The Chronicle, Spokane, January 14, 1892, page 4. "Spokane Garry had, from the earliest occupation of the country by white people, been a peace man." — Victor's Indian Wars of Ore gon, page 496. "Neither the solicitations of the warlike chief of the Nez Perces nor the thought of the encroachment upon his rights could induce Spokane Garry to wage battle against the whites." — The Spokesman, Spokane, January 14, 1892, page 5. "So far as Garry's influence was felt among his people it was on the side of progress." — H. H. Bancroft's History of Oregon, Volume 1, page 340. 100 Frank Carlson, Chief Sealth, Bulletin University of Washington, Series 3, No. 2, page 7. The Case of Spokane Garry 61 The case of Spokane Garry is not unique; the history of our rela tions with the Indians is replete with similar cases. It is my sincere hope that Spokane Garry and all true "children of the sun" that take the long trail to the Happy Hunting Grounds, will there find some unappropriated spot whereon to rear their lodge poles, as beautiful as the earthly paradise from which they were roughly crowded by the ruthless and unsympathetic whites. the end 62 The Case of Spokane Garry APPENDIX A Preliminary Articles of a Treaty of Peace and Friendship between the United States and the Spokane Nation of Indians. * Article 1. Hostilities shall cease between the United States and the Spokane Nation of Indians from and after this date. Article 2. The Chiefs and Headmen of the Spokane Indians, for and on behalf of the whole nation, promise to deliver up to the United States all property in their possession belonging either to the Government or to individual white persons. Article 3. The Chiefs and Headmen of the Spokane Indians, for and on behalf of the whole nation, promise and agree to deliver to the officers in command of the United States troops the men who com menced the attack upon Lieutenant Colonel Steptoe, contrary to the orders of their chiefs, and further to deliver as aforesaid at least one chief and four men with their families as hostages for their future good conduct. Article 5. The foregoing conditions being fully complied with by the Spokane Nation, the officer in command of the United States troops promises that no war shall be made upon the Spokanes, and further, that the men delivered us, whether as prisoners or hostages, shall in no wise be injured, and shall, within a period of one year, be restored to their Nation. Article 6. It is agreed by both of the aforesaid parties that this treaty shall extend to and include the Nez Perce Nation of Indians. Done at the Headquarters of the expedition against the Northern Indians at camp on the Ned-Whauld (or Lahtoo), Washington Terri tory, this twenty-third of September, eighteen hundred and fifty-eight. G. WRIGHT. Colonel 9th Infantry Commanding United States Troops. POHLATKIN, SPOKAN GARRY, SKUL-HUL, his X mark, MOIST-TURM, his X mark, SKI-KI-AH-MEN, his X mark, SHE-LUH-KI-ITS-ZE, his X mark, MOL-MOL-E-MUH, his X mark, KI-AH-MENE, his X mark, {Manring's Conquest of the Coeur d'Alenes, p. 229. Also H. Ex. Doc. No. 2, pp. 407-8, 35th Congress, 2nd Session. The Case of Spokane Garry ( HOH-HOH-ME, his X mark, HUSE-TESH-HEM-H1AH, his X mark NUL-SHIL-SHE-HIL-SOTE, his X mark, CHE-LAH-HIM-SHO, his X mark, HUIT-SUTE-TAH, his X mark, KEH-KO, his X mark, QUALT-TIL-TOSE-SUM (or Big Star), his X mark, CHEY-YAL-KOTE, his X mark, QUOI-QUOI-YOU, his X mark, IN-SHO-ME-NAY, his X mark, ITS-CHE-MON-NEE, his X mark, IT-TIM-MEE-KOH (son of Pohlatkin), his X mark, SCHIL-CHA-HUN, his X mark, MEH-MAH-ICHT-SUCH, his X mark, BE-NOIT, his X mark, SO-YAR-OLE-KIM, his X mark, SE-MAY-KOH-LEE, his X mark, SIL-SO-TEE-CHEE, his X mark, SEE-CHEE-NIE, his X mark, KO-LIM-CHIN, his X mark, HO-HO-MISH, his X mark, SKI-IME, his X mark, SE-RA-MIN-HOME, his X mark, WE-YIL-SHO, his X mark, CHE-NE-YAH, his X mark, SHO-MOH-IT-KAN, his X mark, PE-DALTZE, his X mark. Witnesses: E. D. Keyes, Captain 3d Artillery; Wm. N. Orier, Brevet Major United States Army; J. F. Hammond, Assistant Surgeon, United States Army; R. W. Kirkham, Captain, Assistant Quartermaster; F. F. Dent, Captain 9th Infantry; Charles S. Winder, Captain 9th Infantry; James A. Hardie, Captain 3d Infantry; A. B. Fleming, First Lieutenant 9th Infantry; Jno. F. Randolph, Assistant Sur geon, United States Army; R. O. Tyler, First Lieutenant 3d Ar tillery; H. B. Lyon, Second Lieutenant 3d Artillery; Lawrence Kip, Second Lieutenant 3d Artillery; J. Howard, Second Lieu tenant 3d Artillery. 64 The Case of Spokane Garry APPENDIX B AGREEMENT WITH SPOKANE INDIANS* Articles of agreement made and concluded at Spokane Falls, in the territory of Washington, the 18th day of March, eighteen hundred and eighty-seven, by and between John V. Wright, Jarred W. Daniel, and Henry W. Andrews, Commissioners duly appointed and author ized, on the part of the United States, and the undersigned, Chiefs, Head-men and other Indians of the Upper and Middle bands of Spo kane Indians, they being authorized to act for said bands by them. Article 1 The aforesaid bands of Spokane Indians hereby cede to the United States all right, title, and claim which they now have or ever had, to any and all lands lying outside of the Indian reservations in Washing ton and Idaho Territories, and they hereby agree to remove to and settle upon the Coeur d'Alene Reservation in the Territory of Idaho. Article 2 It is further agreed by the parties hereto, that said Indians will be permitted to select their farms and homes on a tract of land to be laid off and surveyed and the boundaries marked in a plain and substantial manner under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, on said Coeur d'Alene Reservation, provided that in laying out said tract of land, the lands taken and occupied by the Indians now on said Coeur d'Alene Reservation shall not be interfered with; and it is further agreed that said Spokane Indians will take lands in severalty under and according to an act of Congress entitled "An act to provide for the allotments of land in severalty to Indians on the various reservations and to extend the protection of the laws of the United States and the Territories over the Indians, and for other purposes," which act was passed and approved during the second Session of the Forty-ninth Con gress, and is known as the Allotment Act. Article 3 It is further agreed that the homes and lands selected, as provided for in the foregoing article, are to be and remain the permanent homes of th Indians, parties hereto, and their children forever. t Ratified by Indian appropriation act of July 13, 1892 (See Vol. 27, p. 139, U. S. Stat.) six months after Garry's death. The Case of Spokane Garry (55 Article 4 It is further agreed that in case any Indian or Indians, parties hereto, have settled upon any of the unoccupied lands of the United States outside of said reservation, and have made improvements there on with the intention of perfecting title to the same under the home stead, pre-emption or other laws of the United States, and residing on the same at the date of the signing of this agreement, he or they shall not be deprived of any right acquired by said settlement, improvement or occupancy by reason of signing this agreement or removal to said Coeur d'Alene Reservation, and said tract or tracts of land shall con tinue to be held by said parties, and the same patented to them by the United States. Article 5 In consideration of the foregoing cessions and agreements the United States agrees to expend for the benefit of said Indians, parties hereto, the sum of ninety-five thousand dollars, as follows, to-wit : For the first year, thirty thousand dollars, for the second year, twenty thou sand dollars, and for each succeeding year thereafter for eight (8) years, five thousand dollars, said money to be expended under the di rection of the Secretary of the Interior in the removal of the said In dians to the Coeur d'Alene Reservation, in erecting suitable houses, in assisting thm in breaking lands, in furnishing them with cattle, seeds, and agricultural implements, saw and grist mills, threshing machines, mowers, clothing, provisions ; in taking care of the old, sick and infirm ; in affording educational facilities, and in any other manner tending to their civilization and self-support: Provided, that in case any of the money herein provided for is not used or expended in any year for which the same is appropriated, said money shall be deposited in the Treasury of the United States to the credit of the Indians, parties here to, to be used for their benefit under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior. Article 6 It is further agreed that in addition to the foregoing provisions the United States shall employ and furnish a blacksmith to do necessary work and to instruct the Indians, parties hereto, in these trades. Article 7 It is further agreed that in the employment of carpenters, black smiths, teamsters, farmers, or laborers, preference shall in all cases be given to Indians, parties hereto, who are qualified to perform the work or labor. 66 The Case of Spokane Garry Article 8 In order to encourage said Indians in taking allotments of land, and in preparing the same for cultivation, it is agreed that when all of said Indians shall have selected and shall have broken five acres or more on each farm, the sum of $5,000 in money shall be given them out of the funds herein provided and distributed pro rata among them, provided that in the discretion of the Secretary of the Interior and the Commis sioner of Indian Affairs, a pro rata payment out of said fund may be made to any ten families who shall have complied with the provisions of this article as to breaking land. Article 9 In consideration of the ages of Chiefs Louis, Spokane Garry, Paul Schulhault, Antarchan, and Enoch, the United States agrees, in addi tion to the other benefits herein provided, to pay to each of them for ten years the sum of $100 per annum. Article 10 In case any Indian or Indians, parties hereto, shall prefer and elect to remove either to the Colville or Jocko Reservations, instead of to the Coeur d'Alene Reservation, and shall give reasonable notice of the same, after the ratification of this agreement by Congress, he or they shall be permitted to do so, and shall receive a pro rata share of all the benefits provided for in this agreement. Article 11 This agreement shall not be binding on either party until the same is ratified by Congress. In testimony whereof, the said John V. Wright, Jarred W. Daniel, and Henry W. Andrews, on the part of the United States, and the Chiefs, Head-men and other Indians, on the part of the Indians, parties hereto, have hereunto set their hands and affixed their seals this 15th day of March, A. D. 1887. JOHN V. WRIGHT, (seal) JARRED W. DANIELS, (seal) HENRY W. ANDREWS. (seal) Signed with an X mark and seal : Elijah; Curly Jim; Eneas; Sa-wap-a-louse ; Frazy; Chief Joseph Skulhault; Chief Paul; Sale Spiley; Whisto So Jim; Paul Thomas; Charlie Louis; Buckskin Jim; Packing-his-hair ; Qenant la com i con; John La Mar; Qiay quis to; Chief "Aantarcham" ; Chief "Spokane Garry"; William Jackson; Quili Tah; Broken Tooth; The Case of Spokane Garry 67 John Stevens; Old Solomon; Sco Cow; Nuishels Smeya; Obed Ja cobs; Thomas S. Garry; Solomon Scott; Joseph J. Wilson; Paul A. Garry ; Levi ; Chimmilichan ; Shikineze ; George ; Ziomka ; Joshua; Isaac; John Wilson; "See Mok Mosquetquat" ; "The Mountain Turkey"; Billy; Lot; Elias; Stephen; Chilkenishin ; Schietish ; Chief Enoch ; Spokane George ; Skulskullah ; Shilchitem- too ; Chief Louis Welsholeg ; Kampan Charley ; Whitsotah ; Peire- sish; Kylminah; Louis; Philip; Antoine; Old Philip; Peter; Elick; Chetleskaimik (Three Books); Stwoichin; Kulzkoo; John; Silimi- han; Skamtaikn; Light of the Belly; Antoine; Quennemosco; Old John; Sakkon; Pascal, Tanuayakn; Zillon; (Augustus) Custah; Chestolo; Selotachan; Che-Squei-tah; Peter; Saltochasalchie; Eliquinch; Oltzschomak (Luke); Shiouitchan. Witness : FRED R. MARVINS, SIDNEY D. WATERS. I, Robert Flett, United States Interpreter for the Colville Indian Agency, W. T., do hereby certify on honor that the foregoing agree ment was carefully read in open council, and by me correctly inter preted, and that the contents thereof were fully explained to and fully understood by said Indians before the signing and sealing of the same. his ROBERT (X) FLETT. mark Dated Spokane Falls, W. T., March 18, 1887. SIDNEY D. WATERS. The Undersigned, members of the within named Spokane tribe of Indians, not being present at the signing and concluding of this agree ment at Spokane Falls, W. T., having had the same fully interpreted to us, do this 2t7h day of April, 1887, fully agree to its provisions, and affix our names and seals at St. Ignatius Mission in the territory of Montana. Signed with an X mark and seal: Baptiste Peon, Pierre, Michael, Joseph, Zavid, Edmund, Wm. King, Francois. Witness: THOMAS E. ADAMS. 68 The Case of Spokane Garry I, Michael Revais, United States Interpreter for the Flathead Agency, Montana, do hereby certify on honor that the foregoing agree- understood by said Indians before signing and sealing. his MICHAEL (X) REVAIS. mark. Dated Flathead Agency, Mont., April 28, 1887. Witness: THOMAS E. ADAMS. HENRY A. LAMBERT. COUE PRINTING COMPANY SPOKANE YALE UNIVERSITY £3^002 00^31 69™b