GANSEVOORT'S CAMPAIGN. 125 Gansevoort, upon the ground that they were essential to the protection of the town, and must not go out of the bay. Keyes then returned up the Sound to procure a howitzer from the fort, when Leschi, divining that his capture had been determined upon, withdrew himself to the shades of the Puyallup, where shells could not reach him. Captain Gansevoort took command of the Decatur on the 10th of December, 1855, three days after she had received an injury by striking on a reef, then unknown, near Bainbridge Island, and it became necessary to remove her battery on shore while repairing her keel, a labor which occupied nearly three weeks, or until January 19th, when her guns were replaced. Very soon after a young Dwamish, called Jim, notified Gansevoort that Indians from the east side of the mountains, under Owhi, had united with those on the west side under Coquilton, with the design of dividing their forces into two columns, and making a simultaneous attack on Steilacoom and Seattle, after destroying which they expected to make easy work of the other settlements. The plan might have succeeded as first conceived, Hewitt's company being disbanded about this time, and the Decatur being drawn up on the beach; but some Indian scout having carried information of the condition of the man-of-war to the chiefs, it was decided that the capture of the ship, which was supposed to be full of powder, would be the quickest means of destroying the white race, and into this scheme the so-called friendly Indians had entered with readiness. Gansevoort, feeling confident that he could rely upon Jim's statement, prepared to meet the impending blow. The whole force of the Decatur was less than 150 men and officers. Of these a small Of these a small company was left on board the ship, while 96 men, eighteen mariners, and five officers did guard duty on shore. Seattle at this time occupied a small peninsula formed by the bay in front, and a wide and deep swamp at the foot of the heavily wooded hills behind. The connection of the peninsula with the country back was by a narrow neck of land at the north end of the town, and the Indian trail to lakes Washington and Union came in almost directly opposite Yesler's mill and wharf, where a low piece of ground had been filled in with sawdust. The only other avenue from the back country was by a narrow sand-spit on the south side of the Marsh, which was separated from the town only by a small stream. Thus the longer line of defence was actually afforded by the swamp, and the points requiring a guard were those in front of the sand-spit and the lake trail; and it was thus that Gansevoort disposed of his force, three divisions being placed to guard the southern entrance, which was most exposed, and one directly across the northern trail. For two nights guard had been maintained, when on the 24th the Active reappeared at Seattle, having on board Captain Keyes, Special Agent Simmons, and Governor Stevens, just arrived from east of the mountains after his escape from the hostile combination in that country. It does not appear in the narratives whether or not they had a howitzer on board. Leschi, at all events, had already left the reservation. Next day the Active proceeded down the Sound to visit the other reservations, and learn the condition and temper of the Indians under the care of agents, and Captain Gansevoort continued his system of guard-posting. On the beach above Yesler's mill, and not far from where the third division, under Lieutenant Phelps, was stationed, was the camp of a chief of the Dwamish tribe, known to the white settlers as Curley, though his proper name was Suequardle, who professed the utmost friendship for his civilized neighbors, and was usually regarded as honest in his professions, the officers of the Decatur reposing much confidence in him. On the afternoon of the 25th another chief from the lake district east of Seattle, called Tecumseh, came into town with all his people, claiming protection against the hostile Indians, who, he said, threatened him with destruction should he not join them in the war upon the settlers. He was kindly received, and assigned an encampment at the south end of town, not far from where the first, second, and fourth divisions were stationed, under lieutenants Drake, Hughes, and Morris, respectively. At five o'clock in the afternoon the Decatur crew repaired to their stations, and about eight o'clock Phelps observed, sauntering past, two unknown Indians, of whom he demanded their names and purpose, to which they carelessly answered that they were Lake Indians, and had been visiting at Curley's encampment. They were ordered to keep within their own lines after dark, and dismissed. But Phelps, not being satisfied with their appearance, had his suspicions still further aroused by the sound of owl-hootings in three different directions, which had the regularity of signals, and which he decided to be such. This impression he reported to headquarters at Yesler's house, and Curley was despatched to reconnoitre. At ten o'clock he brought the assurance that there were no Indians in the neighborhood, and no attack need be apprehended during that night. Two hours after this report was given, a conference was held at Curley's lodge, between Leschi, Owhi, Tecumseh, and Yark-Keman, or Jim, in which the plan was arranged for an immediate attack on the town, the 'friendly' Indians to prevent the escape of the people to the ships in the bay,23 while the warriors, assembled to the number of more than a thousand in the woods which covered the hills back of town, made the assault. By this method they expected to be able to destroy every creature on shore between two o'clock and daybreak, after which they could attack the vessels. 23 The bark Brontes was lying opposite the south end of the town. JIM SAVES THE TOWN. 129 Fortunately for the inhabitants of Seattle and the Decatur's crew, Jim was present at this council as a spy, and not as a conspirator. He saw that he needed time to put Gansevoort on his guard, and while pretending to assent to the general plan, convinced the other chiefs that a better time for attack would be when the Decatur's men, instead of being on guard, had retired to rest after a night's watch. Their plans being at length definitely settled, Jim found an opportunity to convey a warning to the officers of the Decatur. The time fixed upon for the attack was ten o'clock, when the families, who slept at the blockhouse, had returned to their own houses and were defenceless, "with the gun standing behind the door," " as the conspirators, who had studied the habits of the pioneers, said to each other. At 7 During the hours between the conference at Curley's lodge and daylight, the Indians had crept up to the very borders of the town, and grouped their advance in squads concealed near each house. o'clock the Decatur's men returned to the ship to breakfast and rest. At the same time it was observed by Phelps that the non-combatants of Curley's camp were hurrying into canoes, taking with them their property. On being interrogated as to the cause of their flight, the mother of Jim, apparently in a great fright, answered in a shrill scream, "Hiu Klikitat copa Tom Pepper's house! hi-hi-hiu Klikitat!"—that is to say, "There are hosts of Klikitats at Tom Pepper's house," which was situated just at the foot of the hills where the sand-spit joined the mainland, and which was within range of Morris' howitzer. Instead of being allowed to breakfast, the men were immediately sent ashore again, and given leave to get what rest they could in the loft of Yesler's mess-house, where refreshments were sent to them, while Captain Gansevoort ordered a shell dropped into Tom Pepper's 24 Hanford's Ind. War, MS., 9–16; Yesler's Wash. Ter., MS., 9-11; Phelps' Rem. Seattle, 6-14. HIST. WASH.-9 |