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Chief Seattle's Address
(Washington)
Folklore
Circumstances under which Material was obtained.
STATE: Washington
MAKE OF WORKER: Verna L. Stamolis
ADDRESS: Post Office Box 112, University Station, Seattle, Wash.
DATE: December 22, 1938
SUBJECT: Pioneers
1. Publication from which obtained and authors Scrap-book No. 2, Clarence
B. Bagley (Deceased); Seattle Sunday Star, H. A. Smith.
2. Date and time obtained: July, 1938
3. Place obtained: Northwest Room, University of Washington Library
Personal History of Informant
STATE: Washington
NAME OF WORKER: Verna L. Stamalis
ADDRESS: Post Office Box 112, University Station, Seattle, Wash.
DATE: December 22, 1938
SUBJECT: Chief Seattle's Address.
NAME AND ADDRESS OF INFORMANT: Charles B. Bagley (Deceased) Seattle,
Washington
1. Ancestry: American
2. Place and date of birth: November 30, 1843; near Dixon, Illinois
3. Family: Methodist Protestant Church
4. Places lived in: Chicago, Illinois, Salem, Oregon; Olympia, Wash.;
Seattle, Wash.; and Pennsylvania.
5. Education: Willamette; Salem; Oregon; Allegheny College, Meadowville,
Pa.
6. Occupations and accomplishments: Printer, editor, writer, collector of
Internal Revenue.
7. Special Interest: Collection of Historical data and files of old
newspapers; thirteen large scrapbooks; folders of original letters of
Washington pioneers.
8. Description: Very tall, thin, genial; youthful even when nearly ninety
years old.
CHIEF SEATTLE'S ADDRESS
Note This account was taken from the Scrapbook of Clarence B. Bagley, a
famous pioneer.
Quote Scrap-book No. 2, p. 102: "H. A. Smith has written from actual
knowledge probably the best sketch of Chief Seattle. This account appeared
in the Seattle Sunday Star, October 29, 1877. 'Chief Seattle was the
largest Indian I ever saw and by far the noblest looking. He stood nearly
six feet tall, was broad-shouldered, deep-chested and finely proportioned.
His eyes were large, intelligent and expressive. He was usually silent,
sober-mannered, and his lightest word was law. He had a wonderful voice,
deep-toned, sonorous, and was an eloquent speaker.
"'When Governor Stevens first came to Seattle to tell the Indians that he
had been appointed Commissioner of Indian Affairs for Washington
Territory, the people of Seattle received him in the street in front of
Dr. Maynard's office. The bay swarmed with canoes, and the shore was lined
with dusky faces. The Governor was introduced to the Indians by Dr.
Maynard. Governor Stevens spoke to them in a plain, straightforward
manner, explaining his mission.
"'When he had finished speaking, Chief Seattle arose with great dignity,
and pointing to the sky, he began his address.'"
_____________"____________
"The sky has wept tears of compassion
on our fathers for untold centuries. Today it is fair; tomorrow it may be
overcast with clouds.
"You say that the Great White Chief has sent us word that he wishes to buy
our lands, and to give us a reservation where we can live in comfort. This
is generous. We will ponder your offer and we will tell you the answer.
But I make this condition: That we shall not be denied the right to visit
when we will the graves of our ancestors and friends. Every part of this
country is sacred to my people. The very dust under our feet responds to
our foot-steps because it is the ashes of our ancestors......... At nights
when the streets of your cities are silent, they will throng with the
hosts that once filled this beautiful land. The white man will never be
alone. Let him be just and deal kindly with my people, for the dead are
not powerless."
Text from: Library of
Congress, Manuscript Division, WPA Federal Writers' Project Collection
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