The Clallams were a strong tribe, and large numbers of them lived at an
early day about Port Townsend. Here, too, was the Duke of York, who was
for many years their head chief and a noted friend of the Americans.
About 1850, he went to San Francisco on a sailing-vessel, and saw the
numbers, and realized something of the power, of the whites. After his
return the Indians became very much enraged at the residents of Port
Townsend, who were few in numbers, and the savages were almost all ready
to engage in war with them. Had they done so, they could easily have
wiped out the place, and the white people knew it. The Indians were
ready to do so, but the Duke of York stood between the Indians and the
whites. For hours the savage mass surged to and fro, hungry for blood,
the Duke of York’s brother being among the number. For as many hours the
Duke of York alone held them from going any farther, by his eloquence,
telling them of the numbers and power of the whites; and that if the
Indians should kill these whites, others would come and wipe them out.
At last they yielded to him. He saved Port Townsend and saved his tribe
from a war with the whites.
In 1860 the first government employees were sent to Skokomish, and
civilizing influences of a kind were brought more closely to the
Indians. With one or two exceptions, very little religious influence was
brought to bear upon them. Of one of their agents, Mr. J. Knox, the
Indians speak in terms of gratitude and praise. He set out a large
orchard, and did considerable to improve them. In 1870, when all the
Indians were put under the military, these Indians were put under
Lieutenant Kelley. The Indians do not speak well of military rule. It
was too tyrannical.