THE ROGUE RIVER WARS. 323
declared that they loved peace and had lived on terms of friendship with the white people about Yreka and Cotton- wood, but that the miners at the latter place had ill-treated their women, for which reason they had left that neigh borhood. 7 Accepting this apology for theft and murder, Captain Smith advised Bill to remain in his stronghold where he would be safe from the volunteers. On learning Smith s views, and there being no further prospect of bringing the Indians to justice, the volunteers returned home with the body of their captain, taking with them some Indian ponies.
Troubles between the miners on the beaches between Port Orford and Coos bay and the Coquille Indians broke out in January, 1854. The following is a copy of the proceedings of a meeting called on the twenty-seventh of the month to consider the situation:
At a meeting of the miners and citizens assembled at the Coquille ferry-house for the purpose of investigating Indian difficulties, the following resolutions were adopted.
On motion, A. F. Soap was called to the chair, and Win. H. Packwood appointed secretary.
All persons having observed any hostile movement of the Indians were called upon to state the facts.
John A. Pension stated that he discovered, on the twenty-third instant, an Indian riding a horse up and down the beach. He went over to the Indian village to see whose horse it was. It proved to be a horse that Mr. Whike had ridden up from Port Orfoid. I ( Pen sion) took the horse from the Indian and went to the chief. He attempted to take the trappings off the horse. I would not allow him to do so, wanting them as proof of his conduct. I expostulated with them in regard to their conduct. They laughed at me and ordered me to clatawa.
Mr. Whike, being present, corroborated the above statement.
John A. Pension stated further : On the twenty-fourth instant there were three men on the other side of the river. I went over to ferry them across. They asked me the reason why the Indians wanted to drive them back ( to the mines ), and not let them cross
7 It is undoubtedly true that some men among the miners treated the Indian women brutally ; but the Indians themselves sold their wives and daughters to them without shame.
