Mt. Idaho Sept 28^th 1885
Rev. Dr A.L. & Mrs Lindsley

Dear friends
Dr Lindsley kind note of Sept 5^th was the first word I have had from him since perhaps Feb. or March. I did not receive any acknowledgement of my long letter (shewing the ‘situation’ at K. last fall &c) and feared it had not reached him. It would have been a comfort to know that he knew. But perhaps there was a ‘meaning’ in the silence of earthly friends, making us look for help & comfort from God alone. He will make ‘all things work’ for good, in the end, I know, although when passing through there was so much for which I could not see the use, and there still are so many things I do not understand, but God knows.

I do no know how much Dr. Lindsley knows of the situation at present. Mr D probably saw him as he passed through Portland and perhaps told him of the outcome of last winters brewing and the share which fell to him in June & July in Roberts case, the Agents attitude to the schools & church at Kamiah &c &c. I have heard that Mrs. Montieth is staying in Lewiston that Mr Deffenbaugh had promised to help Charlie to get the Miss McBeth sent from the reservation. I will only glance now at what Mr D did not know when he left because occurring about the time of his going, or later.

First: The woman (Martha) whose accusation caused the arrest of Robert, and his trial before three Courts (2 Police & 1 church) & fined him $100.00 (judged by Jimmy whose Court arrested & condemned him) – which he did not pay, as 2 courts found him ‘not guilty.’ Martha (a relative of Jimmy’s) voluntarily went before the K session, before the last communion and confessed that her whole story was a falsehood, instigated and urged upon her by Jimmy’s band: to which she belongs and, on her profession of deep repentance she was restored to Church privileges.

2^nd The enclosed newspaper slips (which tell their own story) were not published when Mr D. left. Mr Parker (whom I have never met, though he passed through Mt I. since I came) has stated the facts very correctly from Indian testimony. I was not at the Pic Nic but my sister was there. Nine Pipes,’ or Sylvanus’ mother, the wife of one of our good Elders was lying very ill. The shock hastened her death (it is said). She was buried on the same day with her son. What a day of weeping at Kamiah!

3^rd After the ‘shooting’ Jimmy Lawyer, seeing the current (white & red) setting against the Agent; resigned his ‘Judgeship’ of the Police Court at K. Charlie appointed Jimmy’s (not good) nephew, Norman, in his stead. Norman refused to serve. So there is now no ‘Judge’ at Kamiah. But Tom Hill is still Capt. of Police and Loy the police who shot Alex & the other K policeman are in full power. When the Kamians asked Charlie (the day after Nine Pipes funeral) to remove Tom Hill & Loy, and let them choose good men in their place, he refused and simply "put us under his feet" they said.

4^th A few days after I came to Mt Idaho (in the middle of last month) Yutsinmelikan one of Jimmy’s helping Sub Chiefs, came to Mt Idaho and ‘tamapaiket’ (testified, virtually made affadavit) before Mr Brown, and the other Mt Idahoans about the shooting at the Pic Nic, and Charlie’s course since then. Which ‘testimony’ resulted in the Mt Is drawing up a paper for the Ind. Dept stating the facts of the killing &c. (which they had heard from many other Indians but not in such a way that they could take hold of it) and asking for an investigation, and for a new Agent; and the giving Yutsin the paper for signatures. He sent it back in two days, signed with 58 Nez Perce names (of men) nearly, if not all of whom had been present at the Pic Nic. Jimmy Lawyers name was among the rest, as also that of his (still heathen) helping Sub Chief Kip-ka-pel-i-kan. I knew nothing of the paper until it was handed to Yuts (and I do not know what was done with the paper when signed). It belongs to Agency matters with which Miss McBeth never interferes and she would not write this now only for its bearing on the schools and church at K.

Yutsinmelikan had ‘two things’ he wanted to ‘tamapaikt’ he told the Mt. Idahoans. One was the ‘killing at Kamiah’ the other concerned the schools there. This part at my own request I listened to, as it concerned my school. Yutsin began with the arbitrary appointment, by the Agent, of Jimmy Lawyer last fall, as Judge of the Police Court at K. The ‘agreement’ (which none of the people knew (or know) was made between the Agent & Jimmy at Lewiston he though, no other Nez Perce present he said. Last winter, about the time of the conspiracy for a Nez Perce Agent (of which I thought then, Charlie did not know) Jimmy went to Lapwai, and had another private interview with the Agent. He (Y.) did not know all the matters of conference.

After he returned to K. Jimmy took Yutsin, and Kipkapelikan to John Crea, the white miller at Kamiah, who had a ‘timash’ (paper) written by the Agent Yutsin said, to ‘Washington’ asking that both of the Misses McB be removed from the Reservation. Yutsin, and Kip with Jimmy, signed this paper. John Crea & Jimmy telling the other two that they "must never tell any one about it". The paper was sent back to Charlie, who ‘added to it’ he said, and then sent it on to ‘Washington.’ The objection of Yutsin to the Misses McB he told the Mt Is plainly and frankly, was that they and their pupils taught the ‘new way’ which he did not want. (‘Kaloyoh’ – only that he told them repeatedly "All the K people love them but us three. They will never stop teaching it." Jimmy told him. They, Yustin & Co., wanted ‘chiefs and the ways of their fathers’ which he still though the best. I heard something of Yutsins confession of his share in the plot against the schools just before I left K and on the way here. He confessed it first to his son, my pupil, then to many others. I heard whispers of it last winter I think. I wrote James Reuben attended as [illegible] Robert’s trial true, but I did not dream then that Charlie knew. The plan, or agreement Jimmy told them on his return from Lapwai last winter was: The Misses McB were to be ‘put outside of the Reservation’ and a man & woman put in their places – the present pupils stopped studying, the three ‘chiefs’ Jimmy, Yutsin & Kip to have the selecting and appointing of pupils for the new school; "The Agent promised that the Misses McB should be sent away in the Spring and the new teachers come," he said, "but he did not do it." Then he promised that it should be done in July "but now July has gone past too." And Yutsin was beginning to realize that he had been helping too try to stop the studies of his own son, Robert Parsons, one of my pupils (a good young man, just beginning to take charge of prayer meeting services &c. His father had opposed him, until lately and he has had to [illegible] and borne bravely, his share of persecution last winter with the rest)

I could not credit Yutsins story. I though Charlie was my friend then, though I know he never liked my sister) Only that it throws light on so many things which have so puzzled me, i.e, the Agents course in Roberts legal case; to my pupils; his telling the people on his last visit too Kamiah, so they affirmed that ‘It was now ‘wakitkin’ (decided or judged) that both the Misses McB should be ‘sent out from thee Reservation, and that he had now called ‘munin’ a man & woman to take their places’. (I did not understand how he could). It throws light on his course to the K church with which my school is so identified, and on the course which they would not have dared against his will, of the Godless whites at Kamiah, to whom both schools and church are an unwelcome restraint. Yutsin did not know all that passed between the agent & Jimmy, he said to me "only" – lowering here his voice- "the three Judges signed a paper that this Charlie was a good Agent, and Charlie sent the paper to Washington." He checked himself there and I did not ask him anything further. It was not in my province unless as afterwards struck me it had a bearing on my school.

Please do not mistake There has been no word of contention between Miss McB & those whites. (I hope she is a lady, as well as Christian.) Mr D has heard all that has ever passed between Charlie & Miss McB by word or pen on the subject & knows more than she because she has not yet seen the late letter to the Ind. Dept. She asked repeatedly, through Mr D for a copy of that letter, that she might know with what she was charged and Charlie promised to send it, but has not yet done so, or sent a word to her on the subject. But not long ago sent school blanks asking her to make out her yearly report as usual. I did not understand. Does my Pastor?

Miss McB will not ‘contend’ with Charlie or with anyone. No one can contend with her. She has been walking as in the sight of One to whom she must ‘render account’ and does not in the least fear the closest honestly conducted investigation, would be only glad it an ‘Inspector’ (of the right kind" would come to Kamiah as I hope he will for the sake of our Nez Perces there. The ‘situation’ and ‘division’ at Kamiah, by the last accounts was:

The same police force in full power, backed by the Agent & K. whites on one side all the people, Chiefs & all, save two men (old Allen & Wincy) on the other side. I have not heard of any but those two, who are not with the people. But ‘on the side of the oppressor there is Power." The people living in constant apprehension & fear. Many have taken their families and gone on long hunts in the Mts or outside the Reserve. Some will not return probably until driven home by the fall snows. It is the hunting season by now, but many have gone who did not purpose going, some who have not since their conversion. Which grieves and troubles me much and yet relieves Miss McB of the constant apprehension for them at K. But Miss McB had no though of writing all this when she began what good? Like her last long letter its not written to cause any trouble to Dr L or ask him to do anything. But it is only right, I think, that her Pastor should know.

A little glimpse at the ‘sunny side’ at K. ‘Our boys’. They have been (are) such a comfort to Miss McB through all. She has seen them sorely tempted and tried and tested and God has given them grace & strength to ‘go forward’ unfaltering, unflagging, a unit (save for a brief time Peter Lindsley was lead astray by Jimmy only a little while. He is able to see now. Help me to thank Him. Save for Charlies attitude to it (and I do not know what that attitude is today) the prospects of my school were never better. Robert has come clear out of the ‘fiery furnace’ without even a flake of soot, or smell of smoke upon his garments. (thank God). A stronger man spiritually, I think, and with a stronger hold on the hearts of his people. The Church more deeply rooted, and more firmly grounded for what it has gone through. Thank Our Father again that He has let Miss McB live to see all this. And pray much for us. We need it. If my Pastors (two in one) can find time I would like to know if this letter reaches them. Remember me in love to all the dear ones with you and all the kind Portland friends.
In the Masters work
Yours truly

S.L. McBeth

Miss McB is busy & her eyes pain her. She has written this hastily for her Pastor’s eye. If it is not plain, please tell her. She is taking if for granted that he saw Mr D and knows of Nez Perce matters up to the time he (Mr D) left – so, spares Dr L the reading that much of the troublesome story. If he wishes she will tell if too. It is all written ‘up yonder now.’  Prophesy, protest, appeal, have all been in vain to hinder. Miss McB can do no more. She has had as scarce a troubled thought about Miss McB. Her burdens were (are) for our Nez Perces. May God help them.  Our boys need so much of Sept these last years to ‘pack’ their produce to distant markets (mining camps &c so this year we took Aug & Sept for vacation, instead of July & August.