A Violent Land Dispute on the Little Spokane
A settler’s attempt to harvest hay on his newly acquired land leads to an armed confrontation with local Indigenous claimants.
Last fall, H. S. Myers, of this city, fortunately struck a settler who had taken up a claim on the Little Spokane River, desirous of selling out, and invested in a ranch. He secured the proper documents from the land office establishing his claim on the property and occasionally visited it. In the winter, he was taken sick and was unable to look after his claim until spring. Upon the Monday after the 4th, he frequently visited the farm and worked upon it, and was never troubled by outside claimants, nor ever saw any Indians on the place. On the date mentioned, he drove out for the purpose of cutting the hay on the tract, of which there was considerable. He had two men working for him, and when in the midst of the cutting, two Indians approached him and claimed ownership to the land. Mr. Myers told them that he had purchased the property and was determined to hold it. The Indians walked off, and apparently went behind some underbrush where their weapons were hid, for in a few minutes one of them walked out, stripped to the buff, lingering a Henry rifle in such a manner as threatened danger to someone. He approached Mr. Myers and made him understand that there was an ounce of metal stuffed in the breech of the gun that was anxious to get out and hunt around in his (Myers') bulky frame for a warm spot. While in this demonstrative attitude, one of the men, mowing grass near the bloody-minded, copper-colored native, drew the ever-ready revolver and had the drop so completely on the would-be land jumper that he was glad enough to back out of the scrape. Mr. Myers returned to this city, swore out a warrant against the intruder, Indian Bill, and the case was tried Saturday. The Indian was bound over in the sum of $200 to keep the peace and the required amount was put up by his brethren. Mr. Myers says that he has been approached by a dozen Indians claiming ownership of the property, all of whom express a willingness to let go their hold for a small consideration. If he once commenced paying off these demands, he would have to open a banking house and fee every native between Snake River and the British Columbia line. He came into possession of the land fairly and proposes to hang on as long as he has breath enough to take a grip.
“If he once commenced paying off these demands, he would have to open a banking house and fee every native between Snake River and the British Columbia line.”
This account reflects the violent dispossession of Indigenous peoples in the Inland Northwest during the late 19th century, framing the legal and physical displacement of local tribes as a 'land jump.' It highlights the era's reliance on the settler-colonial land office system to invalidate Indigenous land tenure, a conflict that remains central to the history of the Spokane region.
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