Spokane County, Washington - Chapter 5: Tile Spokaxes, 1900

Chapter 5: Tile Spokaxes

There is a tendency to judge the Indians by their conduct in time of war. And on account of cruelties and i-evengeful tendencies exhibited at such times, the almost unanimous verdict is that ascribed to a certain general, "The only good Indian is a dead Indian." Pioneers necessarily become engaged in conflicts with the natives, which bring to the surface the latter's savage nature. Such circumstances are not favorable to form a right esti- Jiiate of the Indian character. It might be said tiiat there has existed a mutual misunderstanding between the pioneer and the Indian, the ffjrmer coming to the conclusion that all Indians are bloodthir.sty and unworthy of anv rights or existence, while the latter come to tlie conclusion that all the whites are robbers and interlopers. As the natives are slowly passing away and their myths and legends to a large degree obliterated, it tends to increase t'le interest of the student of ethnology in their character, habits, customs and traditions. It seems to me that the most thorough student should l)e satisfied witli the ela1)orate treatment found in tliese Hues from Bancroft's five volumes on tlie "Native Races." To said \-olumes the student is referred. Among all the Indians of the Pacific coast or Northwest territory the inland natives, those dwelling between tlie Rockies and the Cascades, have been almost unaninidusly pronounced by explorers, and missionaries, and historians, in character, morals, physique and nobility, as far superior to the dwellers on the coast. And judging from the testimonies of the most reliable authorities, we come to the conclusion that the Spokanes compare favorably with the rest ni the inland natives. "The Spokans are an honest, friendly tril)e. They are good hunters, but somewhat indolent, fond of gambling, despotic husbands and indulgent fathers. Their women are great slaves and most submissive to marital authority. They did not exhibit the same indifYerence to the comforts of the white mans wife as that displayed by the Flathead women, and some of them consequently became partners of the voyageurs. They made excellent wives and in general conducted themselves with pro])riety. Although the Spokane men are extreiuely jealous and punisli severely any infiilelit}' on the part of their wives, they are themseKes not over scrupulous in their own conduct. W'e learned from the wi\es of the voyageurs that female violation is by no means uncommon among them. The frequent journeys that the women in the execution of their laborious duties are obliged to make alone in the woods in search of fuel, roots, etc., afford great facility to the commission of this offence, antl the ravisher depends on impunity from the well-known fear of the woman to tell her husband, who might either abandon her, or, by taking the offender's life, enbroil their respective families in a sanguinary contest." - Ross Cox. page 231.

means equal in this to the Flatheads. The women are good wives and most affectionate mothers ; the old, cheerful and complete slavesto their family: the young, lively and confiding, and whether married f)r single free from the vice of incontinence. Their village was situated on the point formed by the junction of the two rivers. Some houses were oblong, others conical, and were covered with mats or skins according to the wealth of the proprietor. Their chief riches are their horses, which they generally obtain by barter with the Nez Perces, in return f(;r the goods which they receive from us for furs ; each man, therefore, is the founder of his own fortune and their riches and povertyare generally proportionate to their activity or indolence. The \'ice, hcjwever. of gambling is prevalent among them and some are such slaves to it that they frec|uently lose all their horses. The spot where 'The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep' is al)out half way between the village and the fort and has quite a picturesque appearance at a distance. When a man diesseveral horses are killed and the skins are attached to the ends (jf long poles, which are planted in the graves ; the number of horsessacrificed is proportioned to the wealth of the indixidual. Besitles the horse-skins, buffalo and deer robes, shirts of leather, blankets. ]jro- \'isions, warlike weapons, pieces of blue, green and scarlet cloth, strips of calico, moccasins, etc., are placed in and about the cemetery; all of which they believe will be more or less necessary for the deceased in the land of spirits.'' - Ross Cox, page 105.

The expressions and estimates of the authorities referred to may be somewhat contradictory, but on the whole they agree. .\ccording to tradition the Sjjokanes were once among the most powerful and numerous tribes west of the Rocky mountains. Balch, "Bridge of the Gods."

in." Ross Cox also says that the chief of the region was named lllum-Spokanee, which means "Son of the Sun." Further treatment is found in other chapters. Mr. Bancroft has collected an array of facts relative to the Spokanes from the works of Lewis and Clarke. Rtjss Cox, Alexander Ross. Rev. S. Parker and government reports. They are found in \'olume I, "Native Races." We .shall give the result of his investigations without wearying the reader with all the references to original sources. "The Spokanes live on the Spokane river and plateau, along the banks of the Columbia from below Kettle falls nearly to the Okanogan." "The Spokihnish. or Spokanes, lie south of the Schroolyelpi and chiefly upon or near the Spokane river." "The name given to a number of small bands is that given l)y the Cceur d'Alenes to the one living at the forks." "They are also called Sinkoman by the Kootonies." "Tliese bands are eight in number. The three i jn the Columbia all speak a different lansfuaee frrmi the rest." - Stevens. "This tribe claim as their territory the country commencing on the large plain at tlie head of the Slawntehus, the stream entering the Columbia -at Fort Colville, thence down the Spokane to the Columliia and down the Ci)lumbia halfway to Fort Okinakane, and up the Spokane and Couer d' Alene to some point between the falls and the lake on the latter." "Inhabit the country on the Spokane river from its mouth to the boundary of Idaho." - Paige. "At times on the Sp<:>kane. at times on the Spokane plains." - Mullan. Spokanes differ very little from the Indians at Colville either in language, habits or appearance.

Characteristics And Habits

Mr. Ross Cox in the bonk referred to in -another chapter deals more with the Indian life than any author we know of. He gives valuat)le information regarding the Spokanes as he found them from 1811 to 1816, having spent consideraljle time among them during those years. Wilkes says, "There is no regularly recognized chief among the Spokanes. but an intelligent and rich man often controls the tribe by his influence." Bancroft in treating of courtship among the Indians says, "Courtship in some nations includes certain visits to the bride before marriage, and the Spokane suitor must consult 1)0th the chief and the young lady as well as Jier parents; indeed the latter may lierself propose if she wishes." Runaway matches are not unknown ; they take place occasionally these days. Among the Spokanes a man marrying out of his own tribe joins that of his wife, because she can work better in a country to whicli she is accustomed, and in the same nation all the household goods were considered the wives' property. In latter times the so-called chiefs could with propriety be called leaders, finding their places as such not from inheritance as much as on account of intellectual ability or strength of character. As one who has livetl among the Indians many years said, "Talent counts with the Indians as much as auKJUg the whites."

I.Ndiax Honor And Iionestv

As to these qualities in the Indian, opinions differ greatly, with evident tendencies on both sides to entertain extreme views. Among the Indians, like other nations, are both good and bad, noble and ignoble. "Worthless as some h.'ive been disposed to regard the American savage, he has some traits which com])are with the best of v.hat we call our superior civization. It is well established that the Indian is not necessarily by nature treacherous and l)loodlhirsty. These are {jualities which adverse circumstances have entailed upon him. The struggle for existence has developed ferocity among all nations." - H. T. Cowley in Spokesman Review. We ha\e evidence of nobility of character among the Spokanes. those who ha\e proved themselves thoroughly trustworthy. Ross Cox tells that the Spokanes were so honest that there was no need of closing the gates at the pnst. Rev. Gushing Eells testified that (hiring a fire at Walker's Prairie not an article was lost, .\rticles that could have easily heen taken were returned to the missionaries. Rev. S. Parker was particularlv impressed with the hfinor of a Spokane Indian. The missionary had lust his way in the Palouse country and finally found a Spokane Indian who was hired as a guide, .\fter reaching a lake the Indian said that the trail was (jn the east side i.if it. But Mr. Parker was somewhat nervous and offered (juite a price for further guidance, but the Indian could not be persuaded to do so, arguing that it would be wrong fi)r him to take pav for doing that which was not necessarv. Rev. Parker says in his book that his horses and nearly all his worldly goods in charge of Indians, to meet him at Fort Walla Walla. He went in a boat on the Ci)luml)ia with two Indians. In due time the Indians in charge of the horses and goods arri\-ed at the fort bringing every thing with them in good order. On the other hand Re\'. E. Walker, who may have pessimistic tendencies, wrote: "During the five years that 1 ha\e been among this, people, I never yet have found one who, in the strict sense of the term, could be called honest. Xor have I found one whose word could lie depended upon, when his interest was concerned." He pronounced them "extremely selfish and apparently without principle." "It seems to me a fi.xed opinion among them that if you give once yott are under obligations t(j continue giving and to double the amount every time." See Missionary Herald, 1844, page t,^(>. Xot withstanding these representations the Spokanes ])ro\ed themselves thoroughly loyal to their teachers after the Whitman massacre. "When the terrible news came by runner to the Spokanes in November. 1847, t'^^'t the Cayuses had killed Dr. Whitman and family, and that a party was coming to cut off the family at

Tshimakain, the head chief at once came to Messrs. Walker and Eells and said 'Do not fear, we will jimtect you." He collected his warriors, who, all armed and mounted, on some signs of the danger, rode to their house, surrounded their dwellings and became a bodyguard to them and their households during that long winter until a company of volunteer cavalry under Major ]\Iagone, came to rescue and escort them to the Willamette valley in the early summer of 1S48. Such was the way in which they cherished their teachers, e\'en claiming their children as in some sort belonging to their country and tribe. They have Ijeen true to bible lessons in luanv respects ever since. W'itnesses to their honesty and faithfulness, and desire to improve themselves and their children, come from various sources. Rev. Mr. Cowley, who has charge of a church of Spokanes, testifies to their superior Christian character." Dr. G. H. Atkinson's funeral sermon after the death of Rev. E. Walker, 1877. Re\-. Myron Eells, D. D.. in his biography of his father. Rev. Gushing Eells, D. D., gives abundant evidence of the disposition of the Spokanes to defend the missionaries. When the Spokane chief thought that some of the Cayuses had gone to Tshimakain, when he and some of his people were twenty-five miles awav, he immediately gave orders: "Young men, catch }-our horses ; hasten to Tshimakain and see how it is with our teachers." "Twenty-one did so, and with the few weapons at hand ccjmmenced the ride of twenty-five miles. They rushed down the steep hill south of Spokane so rapidly that they left hoof-marks lilainly to be seen several days afterward. After crossing the ri\cr they watched closely expecting to see some woman or child in Hight. Whe;, within about two miles of the station they became satisfie<l that no one had been killed, although they believed that hostile Cayuses were in the region. Those in the van waited for tho.se farther Ijchind, when they shouted with jov that their teachers were safe, and at the same time let the enemy know if tliey were lurking around that they must let these teachers alone. .\.s they suspected that s])ies were near the mission, horses were placed in a pen and locked up. fires were kept burning and a watch during the night. One of these Indians, named Charles, was more intelligent and less e.xcitable than many. When asked what they would have done had they met the Cayuses with e\-il intent at Tshimakain, he replied, A\'e would ha\'e fought theiu." Such acts and such statements, with others like them, showed evidence of sincere regard by those Indians for their teachers." Life of Father Eells. page 134. It is a matter of history that the chief known as ^^'illiam Three Mountains, who when a boy li\ed ^vith I\e\'. E. Walker, at Tshimakain, exercised a mighty influence to allay the war spirit among the ujjper Spokanes during the A\'right campaign, and verv few if anv nf that band were among the Indian warriors. Air. Cowley, "hci knew him well, describes him as a man of i)rinciple, firm will and indomitable energv."

This chief led the Indians in their devotional exercises in the absence of missionaries and did much to lead them to a higher life. While attempting to pacify a drunken halfbreed by the name nf Jackson, and pres'eut him from doing injury to others, he was killed near this city in the year 1885. See further treatment of Christian Indians in chapter on Missionary Wnrk.

Spokanes. The first, which occupieil the Spokane valley and south of it, were under Chief Lot. the third, occupying the country around Deep Creek, under Chief W'illiam Three Mountains, and the second, occupying the present Little Spokane reservation under Chief Lot. The upper Spokanes are adherents of the Roman Catholic church and nearly all have gone to the Cceur d' .Mene reservation : the two others are Protestants and have united under Chief Lot and reside mostly on the Little Spokane reservation. Major Gwydir. in writing of the Indian ])r()bleni, said : "Too much discrimination is made between Indians who do not fight and those wiio take the warpath. The latter, when overpowered by the government, are petted and have e\erything given to them, while the friendless, who liave behaved themselves, stand by wondering why the "Great Father" is good to the fighting Indians, and leaves them, will) ha\e obeyed the laws, to starve: they cannot unilerstand it. The present policy is all wrong. Chief Joseph's band t>f Nez Perces are the only ones on that reservation that get rations. The others get nothing and the bloodthirsty gang of Nez Perces. wiio only a fewyears ago caused so much trouble antl bloodshed, taunt the friendly Indians with cowardice and tell them that the white peojjle hate them because they are afraid to fight ; that they are fools: that if they would start in to fight the whites the government would feed them too. and after that they would not have to work any more."