I have the honor to acquaint you that HM Ship under my
Command anchored here on the
18th Inst where I found the
"
Devastation" and learned from
Commander Pike the measures
he had taken for the capture of three Indian men and a woman
of the Kin-ak-aw-geak Tribe, implicated in the late murder of
two White men near this place, the details of which you will
gather![Manuscript image Manuscript image](https://hcmc.uvic.ca/~coldesp/jpg_scans/jpg_thumbnail/co_60_17/co_60_17_00008v.jpg)
gather from his report on the subject.
2. It appears that on the
16th Inst one of the
supposed murderers and the native woman were given up to
Commander Pike & that the tribe had promised to use their
endeavours to apprehend the remaining two who had taken refuge
on
Dundas Id 12 miles westward of this Port.
3. At an interview with the Chiefs which took place on
the
15th Inst Comr Pike informed me that he had expressed
his determination to destroy their village & property should
the whole of the delinquents not be given up to him by Friday
evening the
19th Inst.
4.
On the morning of that day, accompanied by
Comr Pike
I requested
Mr Duncan the Missionary teacher here to assemble
the Chiefs of the different tribes, and with his assistance
as Interpreter, I pointed out to them that by the presence
of a second ship of war here, they might rely on our determination
to carry our point & likewise impressed on them that it was
their duty as well as their interest to assist in bringing
the murderers to justice.
5. Through the great influence which
Mr Duncan possesses
over the Tribes generally, several of the principal men
among![Manuscript image Manuscript image](https://hcmc.uvic.ca/~coldesp/jpg_scans/jpg_thumbnail/co_60_17/co_60_17_00009v.jpg)
among them
volunteered to proceed to
Dundas Id to assist in the capture
and I desired
Comr Pike to convey them there in the
Devastation
on the following morning and to use every means in his power
to apprehend the culprits & bring them to this place; in the
mean time the destruction of the village & property was deferred.
The "
Devastation" returned in the same evening having seized
15 of their Canoes & a large quantity of winter food belonging
to the tribe.
6. Owing to the very boisterous state of the weather no
communication by canoe could be kept up with
Dundas Id
until
Tuesday the 23rd when another of the murderers was
brought![Manuscript image Manuscript image](https://hcmc.uvic.ca/~coldesp/jpg_scans/jpg_thumbnail/co_60_17/co_60_17_00010r.jpg)
brought to
Fort Simpson by the natives and confined on board
the
Devastation.
7. There now remained but one man to be captured
"Loo-dree-chee-wost" but the natives did not seem disposed to give
him up, indeed there is reason to believe that more than once
he had been in their power, it was scarcely possible with any
force of ours unaided by them to effect this object as the
man was concealed in a thickly wooded Is
d of considerable
extent & was supported & sustained in his hiding place by
powerful friends.
8. At the same time it appeared most desirable that our
success in the matter should be complete: the natives are a
large and powerful body of eight different Tribes with a
certain sympathy
![Manuscript image Manuscript image](https://hcmc.uvic.ca/~coldesp/jpg_scans/jpg_thumbnail/co_60_17/co_60_17_00010v.jpg)
& connection existing between them and have
always considered themselves, & really been, superior to any
European force that has hitherto been brought in contact with them.
9. The murder of the White men was a cruel and premeditated
one purely for the sake of plunder and would probably be
followed by others unless a complete recognition of our
authority & superiority was not established and a certainty
that such acts could not be perpetrated with impunity.
10. With a view therefore to leave nothing untraced to
gain our object I left
Fort Simpson with the "
Hecate" on the
23rd and accompanied by
Commander Pike and the armed
boats![Manuscript image Manuscript image](https://hcmc.uvic.ca/~coldesp/jpg_scans/jpg_thumbnail/co_60_17/co_60_17_00011r.jpg)
boats of the "
Devastation" as well as by
Mr Duncan proceeded
down the coast to the Southward where a part of the Tribe
were said to have fled and among them some of the relations
of the man we desired to capture, on the
24th we seized 9 more of their large canoes, but the people with the exception
of a few women were gone, & had probably concealed themselves
in the thick bush. I then visited
Dundas Isd and a smaller one to the westward of it where some of the Natives asserted
the murderer still to be but was unsuccessful in securing him
& returned to
Fort Simpson in the evening where a rumour
reached me that he had fled to
Nass River70![Manuscript image Manuscript image](https://hcmc.uvic.ca/~coldesp/jpg_scans/jpg_thumbnail/co_60_17/co_60_17_00011v.jpg)
70 miles to the
Northward.
11. The case appeared now to be assuming a more complicated
aspect, there seemed but little probability of our getting
the man without a considerable delay which circumstances
rendered very inconvenient at this time & I therefore decided
that the chief of the tribe and 5 hostages the latter already
on board the "
Devastation" together with the 3 natives
implicated in the murder should be conveyed to
Vancouver Isd.
without delay & delivered over to Colonial Auths. at
Victoria
by which means I have little doubt but that the man
"Loo-dree-chee-wost" will be eventually given up.
12. To have destroyed the large village here, as well
as
the![Manuscript image Manuscript image](https://hcmc.uvic.ca/~coldesp/jpg_scans/jpg_thumbnail/co_60_17/co_60_17_00012r.jpg)
the 25 canoes and great quantity of provisions in our
possession would have undoubtedly inflicted a very severe
punishment on the tribe and looking to the number of women
& children who must have been equally the sufferers, I was
led to think that such an act would scarcely have been
justifiable & would probably have produced a feeling among
the Indians generally, which might have compromised the safety
of the H.B. Co's servants here, as well as the numerous
White miners passing between
Stickeen River and
Vancouver
Island & not least have exercised a very mischievous influence
on the missionary establishment of
MrDuncan
Duncan & probably placed
that gentleman's life in danger while the possession of the
Chief and some of the powerful men of the tribe by us, would
in all probability prove a source of safety to the whites
here generally.
13. Another meeting with the natives consequently took
place on the morning of this day when my intentions were
explained to them, & the chief of the tribe was seized &
secured on board the "
Devastation" for conveyance to
Victoria.
The canoes & property were then restored to them & they were
acquainted that the hostages would be retained until the
murderer was given up.
14. The "
Hecate" & "
Devastation"
![Manuscript image Manuscript image](https://hcmc.uvic.ca/~coldesp/jpg_scans/jpg_thumbnail/co_60_17/co_60_17_00013r.jpg)
will proceed tomorrow to
Metlakatla Mr Duncan's native settlement 20 miles south of
this place where the latter Ship will procure wood & probably
remain until the
29th or
30th instant, and it seems
very probable that during the interval the murderer may still
be captured and conveyed to her in which case the hostages
will be set at liberty. After taking in fuel
Comr Pike will
proceed to
Nanaimo and
Esquimalt calling at
Seleassa a native
settlement about 60 miles from this place to settle some
dispute between the Indians and White people & I shall resume
my surveying duties
![Manuscript image Manuscript image](https://hcmc.uvic.ca/~coldesp/jpg_scans/jpg_thumbnail/co_60_17/co_60_17_00013v.jpg)
on the western side of
Vancouver Isd in
the "
Hecate."
15. It is due to
Mr Duncan to say, that for the success
obtained in the capture of these people without resorting to
violent measures we are mainly indebted to his untiring exertions
and the great influence he possesses over all the native tribes
& that his assistance was proffered in the most prompt and
ready manner.
I have the honor to report my proceedings with regard to
outrages committed by Indians upon miners on the West Coast of
British Columbia.
With regard to the first complaint, a robbery of goods from
the Schooner "
Nonpareil" in
October 1861 by the Nishka Indians,
at
Nass River, I found that in the summer of that year the
Master of the "
Nonpareil" after trading
a![Manuscript image Manuscript image](https://hcmc.uvic.ca/~coldesp/jpg_scans/jpg_thumbnail/co_60_17/co_60_17_00014v.jpg)
a large quantity of
spirits, had taken away from
Nass the wife of a Chief named
Seospahkoot. On the return of the schooner to
Nass in
October,
the master invited the Chiefs on board, & served spirits out
to them.
The Indians then traded all the skins they had for spirits,
and afterwards parted with their blankets. In the evening, a
nephew of
Seospahkoot went on board the schooner, & while there,
his canoe was cut adrift by a Chimsian Indian, one of the
Schooner's crew. The Nishka Indians, excited by drink, then
commenced to quarrel
with![Manuscript image Manuscript image](https://hcmc.uvic.ca/~coldesp/jpg_scans/jpg_thumbnail/co_60_17/co_60_17_00015r.jpg)
with the Chimsian for cutting away his
canoe, and would have struck him, upon which the master of the
schooner took up a heavy Iron tiller, and struck
Seospahkoot's
nephew on the head; the man fell to the deck insensible, and
the master endeavoured to throw him into the sea.
This man is permanently injured by the blow, and unable to
from its effects to get his living, as an Indian must, by his
physical strength.
The whole body of Indians maddened by drink, then boarded
the schooner, the master begged them to take property in
preference to life, and then
opened![Manuscript image Manuscript image](https://hcmc.uvic.ca/~coldesp/jpg_scans/jpg_thumbnail/co_60_17/co_60_17_00015v.jpg)
opened the door of his store
room, into which they rushed and helped themselves, but they
insist upon it that the master's account of the goods taken is
much exaggerated.
I find that this schooner has been in the habit of bringing
up immense quantities of spirits, depositing it in the various
creeks to replenish her cargo, and trading at the following rates.
1/2 pint for a minx skin
1/2 Gall. for a martin or bear
1/2 Gall. for a blanket
and that pure alcohol & camphine are by no means uncommon articles
of trade.
Considering the gross
miconduct![Manuscript image Manuscript image](https://hcmc.uvic.ca/~coldesp/jpg_scans/jpg_thumbnail/co_60_17/co_60_17_00016r.jpg)
misconduct of the master of the schooner,
& the great provocation the Indians had received, I felt much
inclined to dismiss the complaint, but lest such a proceeding
might induce them to mistake my motives, I explained to the Ten
Chiefs, who in answer to my summons, at once came to represent the
tribe, that however great the provocation they might receive they
were not justified in seizing property, that Drunkenness was no
palliation of the offence, but the contrary, & that this property
having been unlawfully taken, they must give up on demand.
The Chiefs answered that
they![Manuscript image Manuscript image](https://hcmc.uvic.ca/~coldesp/jpg_scans/jpg_thumbnail/co_60_17/co_60_17_00016v.jpg)
they had long ago determined to
return the property that it was all ready to return on the
Schooner's last visit, but then as on former occasions, large
quantities of spirits were served out and traded—five men were
shot, and the vessel sailed before they recovered from this
excitement.
They expressed a strong desire to make amends for their
unlawful act and at once agreed to return the property.
As however HMS "
Devastation" could not wait while they
returned to
Nass to fetch, I received from them the enclosed
paper, binding themselves to return the goods
when![Manuscript image Manuscript image](https://hcmc.uvic.ca/~coldesp/jpg_scans/jpg_thumbnail/co_60_17/co_60_17_00017r.jpg)
when demanded.
Regarding the complaint of the forcible seizure of a canoe
from five men by a chief of the Kitzeetch tribe in
June last.
The evidence went to show that the purchasers have
misrepresented
the terms upon which they purchased the canoe at
Victoria.
Instead of paying 32 dollars as they state, they payed 20$
in cash and promised a further payment of rum & cloth at
Fort Simpson.
On their arrival there, they would not complete their bargain,
& the vendor used force to regain possession of his canoe. I took
the opportunity
of![Manuscript image Manuscript image](https://hcmc.uvic.ca/~coldesp/jpg_scans/jpg_thumbnail/co_60_17/co_60_17_00017v.jpg)
of explaining publicly that violence, in any
case, was unjustifiable, & adjudged him to return the 20 dollars he
had received, which was done in my presence.
On the
15th Septr I received your orders to endeavour to
secure the murderers of
John Henley and
George ______ and hearing
on enquiry, that the murderers were secreted among their tribe,
and that they threatened to resist any attempt to take them, I
landed at daylight of the 16
th and with the armed boats and
marines of HMS "
Devastation" surrounded the village of the
Kimahangreh![Manuscript image Manuscript image](https://hcmc.uvic.ca/~coldesp/jpg_scans/jpg_thumbnail/co_60_17/co_60_17_00018r.jpg)
Kimahangreh Indians, and seized 8 of the most influential persons
of the tribe, announcing to the rest my intention to hold these
8 as hostages until the murderers were given up.
The woman
Ighsh was given up that same day.
On the
18th Talkh, one of the murderers, was given up,
but they refused to give up the other two.
On the
20th September by
Captain Richards directions
(who in HMS "
Hecate" arrived on the
18th) I proceeded to
Dundas Island, whither I heard that the murderers had been
conveyed, seized fifteen canoes belonging to the tribe, and made
prisoner
of![Manuscript image Manuscript image](https://hcmc.uvic.ca/~coldesp/jpg_scans/jpg_thumbnail/co_60_17/co_60_17_00018v.jpg)
of a man named
Kohmanah who had assisted the murderers
to escape. I also made prisoner of a man named
Stimbao, who had
fired at and narrowly missed the Boatswain of this ship, when
in charge of the gig; he was seized in the Act of priming his
musket for a second shot.
On the
23rd Leash, another of the guilty men, was given
up, but they determinedly refused to surrender the third person
implicated, a man of considerable influence in the tribe, named
Loodyeecheeoust, & who, having possessed himself of a large sum
of money from the person
of![Manuscript image Manuscript image](https://hcmc.uvic.ca/~coldesp/jpg_scans/jpg_thumbnail/co_60_17/co_60_17_00019r.jpg)
of the murdered man is able to pay well
for the assistance rendered him by others of the tribe.
On the same day the armed boats of HMS "
Devastation" proceeded
in tow of HMS "
Hecate", & I seized 9 more canoes belonging to the
same tribe. A search was also made for the murderer at
Zayas Island
by the HMS "
Hecate" but without success.
On the morning of the
25th the Chief of the tribe,
Allan-lah-hah
was taken on board the "
Devastation" and as there seemed no
prospect of arresting the third person implicated in the murder,
I left
Fort Simpson without him,
retaining![Manuscript image Manuscript image](https://hcmc.uvic.ca/~coldesp/jpg_scans/jpg_thumbnail/co_60_17/co_60_17_00019v.jpg)
retaining the Chief & 5 of the
tribe for conveyance to
Victoria as hostages, until the third
guilty person should be given up.
On the afternoon of the
25th the Sloop "
Hamley" arrived
from
Victoria off
Port Simpson, and on examining her, she was found
laden with spirits. The master could show neither permit, manifest,
nor bills for lading, and prevaricated very much in his statements,
saying first that the spirits belonged to an Italian passenger, then
declaring that he did not know that any spirits were on board, nor
did he know to whom they were consigned, or
who![Manuscript image Manuscript image](https://hcmc.uvic.ca/~coldesp/jpg_scans/jpg_thumbnail/co_60_17/co_60_17_00020r.jpg)
who would receive them
from him.
As the distribution of these spirits amongst the Indians at
that present time of excitement would have been followed by most
serious results, and as the vessel was known to be a notorious
whiskey trader & the seizure & detention of her would been a matter
of great inconvenience, the master of HMS "
Devastation" by my
authority started into the sea that portion of his cargo amounting
to some 300 gallons of the spirits, among which were 14.5 gallon
tins of pure alcohol.
At
Metlahkartah (
Mr Duncan's mission) the chief I had detained on board was released in consequence
of![Manuscript image Manuscript image](https://hcmc.uvic.ca/~coldesp/jpg_scans/jpg_thumbnail/co_60_17/co_60_17_00020v.jpg)
of a general appeal from the
community of Indians there to
Captain Richards, that his great
age might be taken into consideration and that he might be left
among them in lieu of being taken to
Victoria. I also took
upon myself, at
Mr Duncan's request, to give authority to 10 Indians whom he selected, to act as constables
at that settlement.
I anchored off the village of the Kithrahtlah or Sebessah
Indians on the
3rd Oct, and received from them a British subject
named
John White—the circumstances which led to his detention
among them will be detailed in his statement.
I took upon myself to award
and![Manuscript image Manuscript image](https://hcmc.uvic.ca/~coldesp/jpg_scans/jpg_thumbnail/co_60_17/co_60_17_00021r.jpg)
and pay to an Indian named
Quoshawahl and his wife
Aylash $15 for their humanity in rescuing
him from starvation and providing him with food and lodging for
more than 6 weeks.
I found the
Sebassah village almost deserted, nearly all
the tribe being absent at distant fishing stations, but I
recovered a canoe & a portion of the property of which some miners
had been plundered in
July last.
I had little or no information as to the facts of this last
named outrage, & felt greatly the want of an interpreter. The
Indians however, promised to produce the men implicated (eight in
number)
and![Manuscript image Manuscript image](https://hcmc.uvic.ca/~coldesp/jpg_scans/jpg_thumbnail/co_60_17/co_60_17_00021v.jpg)
and the remainder of the property on the return of the
tribe to the villages.
1. I am a British Subject borne at Queens Co: Ireland.
I have never naturalized as an American Citizen.
2.
3. I left
New Westminster in
July in company with
![Manuscript image Manuscript image](https://hcmc.uvic.ca/~coldesp/jpg_scans/jpg_thumbnail/co_60_17/co_60_17_00025r.jpg)
these
four men, stopped at
Nanaimo and took in an Indian guide for
Stickeen. After passing
Fort Rupert I overheard a conversation
between
Baker,
Charlie, and
Fullard to the effect, "we will
get all we can out of
White and then do away with him" when
they observed that I had heard their conversation
Fullard
remarked "Oh God, he has heard all we have said".
4. The second day afterward I observed them making signs
to one another in the
canoe![Manuscript image Manuscript image](https://hcmc.uvic.ca/~coldesp/jpg_scans/jpg_thumbnail/co_60_17/co_60_17_00025v.jpg)
canoe and each man handled his knife,
I also drew mine and put it on the seat beside me, we then
pulled to an island and landed and I refused to go any further
with them and they left me there with my clothes and a little
flour and went away at once.
Two days afterwards 3 Indians, 2 men and a boy, came by
in a canoe seal hunting they landed and enquired whether I
was sick with the Smallpox. They then robbed me of all I had and
searched my pockets & took me in
their![Manuscript image Manuscript image](https://hcmc.uvic.ca/~coldesp/jpg_scans/jpg_thumbnail/co_60_17/co_60_17_00026r.jpg)
their canoe about 20 miles
promising to take me to their home.
We landed on an Island
and they made me make a fire one of them took a gun saying
"he would go into the bush and shoot some fouls for supper"
while I was making the fire I was shot from behind in the
shoulder I then got up and ran along the beach and all 3 ran
after me. I got out of their sight and went into the bush
and remained there some days. I do not know how long without
food or shelter until I crawled downto
to the beach and met
3 Indians and a woman. I called to them and they gave me
food & brought me to their house, they kept me there for some
time, treating me very well, and then moved me to another
fishing village, & from there brought me to the Sabassah village.
5. They moved me about from place to place frequently
but on all occasions the man and woman treated me very kindly
I consider they saved my life and did everything in their
power for me except give
me![Manuscript image Manuscript image](https://hcmc.uvic.ca/~coldesp/jpg_scans/jpg_thumbnail/co_60_17/co_60_17_00027r.jpg)
me up.
John White, his X mark
Sworn before me the day and the date above written.
Signed
John W. Pike
Witness
Signed,
Carter Assist Paym
r, 2
nd Class