Kamiah, July 1, 1881
Wm Rankin Esq

Dear Sir
Yours of June 8th with enclosed check for salary, safely recieved. I have only a few minutes in which to write, as Mr Campbell, the Gov. teacher here, his family, and the two other white employes at Kamiah are about ready to start to Lapwai. (Mr C. & family to remain there as the result of the Chiefs conspiracy of last winter.) Tonight, my sister and myself are left the only white persons at Kamiah at such a crisis time as has not been since the last outbreak. A crisis of which the Agent is surely ignorant. (He is a comparative stranger to the Nez Perces, knows nothing of their language &c &c.) If he knew it surely he would not leave two women here alone and unprotected to meet whatever may befall.

From my window I see the canvass church and tents of the camp meeting where are gathered our boys, and some hundreds of the Kamiah church. On the other side
of the river the chiefs (5) are preventing crossers and preparing for (?) - the outcome of their conspiricies & work - i.e. to regain their old power by leading the
people back into heathenism. (The leader is a heathen. Jimmy Lawyer is with him). Today, they are expecting their confederates from Lapwai, with the Catholic Nez
Perces, Umatillas, Cayuse, &c. who have been hanging around Lapwai so long. Two Catholic Flatheads were here last Sab. My pupils told me long ago that there
was many from the down the river heathen tribes on the Reserve. I do not know if the Agent knew this, or not. And, God only knows what is before us. Mr D knew
that this was a ‘crisis time’ and yet he left us & ran away from it. The employees here are only too glad of the summons of the Agent calling them from here.

It is only right that you should know how we are situated. My sister, and myself. Surely the Government would not will it so if it knew. Surely it would be willing the
Agent should have a little thought for missionaries if only by keeping away from K the L. wild bands, and strangers, straying heathen & Jesuits.

But, I cannot write more now. If the crisis passes safely I will write (D.V.) as soon as it is over. If anything should happen, you will know the reason. Thank God for
Robert Williams standing like a rock against the incoming heathenism he and our boys. Pray much for him, them, the cause of Christ and for us.

S.L. McBeth
Perhaps I ought not to send this. All that trouble is past by Gods help. He will not desert us even if the pestilence should find us with no help from man. It is not
politics the Nez Perce church has to meet. It is heathenism and barbarism.
Pray Pray
Mr D has not been at Kamiah for nearly nine months. I do not know if he now realizes the truth or not.

[letter not sent until 11/28/81]
Nov 28 / 81

After everything else had failed the Sabbath before the 4th at the close of the announcements that the camp meeting would be on this side, one of the heathen hearted
Sub Chiefs called out in church to the dispersing people "All who are the followers of me will camp on the other side." So we did not know what to expect.

It was not the Agent who ‘resurrected’ the subject of this side & the other side then went away. I do not know if they would have obeyed him or not in this matter. I
know that even ‘Pika’ pleaded in vain. "Cross over just this once. In another year Mr D will be with you and can take the responsibility. It was a matter of
conscience with them.