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Qualchan the Yakama Warrior of the Mist. Article written by Teresa Knudsen. Article was originally published on Suite 101 April 08, 2009. Article was republished June 2012 on Sweet Suite Writings.
Qualchan the Yakama Warrior of the Mist. The 1858 Execution of Qualchan, by Colonel George Wright.
Qualchan, a Yakama warrior, defended tribal lands, in the tradition of Geronimo, Cochise, Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse. Yet, Qualchan's story was lost in the mists of time.
Qualchan was a leading warrior in Washington Territory, defeating gold prospectors, civilian militias, and the U. S. Army troops.
Cattle Ranchers Record the Story of Qualchan
Lucullus Virgil McWhorter, (1848-1945) a cattle rancher, met Qualchan’s relatives. His writings are in the McWhorter Papers.
Qualchan was born into a charmed life. His father, Owhi, was War Chief . His uncle Ka-Mi-Akin was a renowned warrior. Qualchan underwent a quest., with his spirit power one of the strongest: The mist changed the weather, defeated enemies, and healed the sick and wounded.
Warrior and Medicine Man
Qualchan was handsome, strong, and loved. He relieved trespassing miners of their gold, and of their lives, and then traveled to the pioneer towns of Portland or Seattle to purchase presents for the tribe, and also guns and powder.
Another early cattle rancher was Andrew Jackson Splawn (1845-1917). In Ka-Mi-Akin, Splawn says Qualchan was also hated. “When he was recognized, some of the weaker men took to cover, in fear for their lives. Qualchan had been known to kill an ordinary Indian as mere pastime, to whet his appetite for blood.”
Qualchan and His Wife Whist-alks
Whist-alks, or Walks in a Dress, was beautiful and fearless.Judge William Compton Brown (1869-1963) explains, “Certain it is that Qualchan was very fond of her and very proud of her and took her with him everywhere he went as much as possible.”
Battles of 1855 to 1858
In 1855, Qualchan killed a party of miners who had assaulted Yakama women. In 1856, 50 Yakama warriors with Qualchan snow-shoed over the Cascade Mountains, canoed across Lake Washington, and joined Leschi in the Battle of Seattle. From 1855 to 1858, Qualchan and other warriors defeated the civilian militia and the U.S. Army in one humiliating defeat after another.
Responding to Colonel Edward Steptoe’s May 1858 defeat, the U.S. Army sent 1,000 troops, led by Colonel George Wright, into Eastern Washington. During the Battles of Four Lakes and Spokane Plains, the troops used Sharps rifles and howitzers to defeat the confederacy of tribes: Spokanes, Coeur d’Alenes, Yakamas, Pend Oreille, and Palouse.
The Hanging at Latah Creek
After taking Qualchan’s father prisoner, Colonel Wright sent messengers to invite Qualchan to the camp on Latah Creek to sign a treaty. Qualchan rode into the camp with his wife, brother Lokout, and little brother Seven Mountains. Wright ordered Qualchan’s immediate hanging.
Six men held Qualchan down for the noose. Qualchan’s younger brother saw the rope break twice before the soldiers hanged Qualchan. Whist-alks stood her ground, defiantly threw Qualchan’s staff into the ground, and escaped with Qualchan’s brothers.
After Qualchan’s execution, Latah Creek was called Hangman Creek. As the Civil War began, Qualchan and his bravery vanished in the mist.
Sources:
Brown, William Compton. The Indian Side of the Story. Spokane, WA: C. W. Hill Printing Co., 1961.
“Hangman Creek.” Spokane Outdoors.
McWhorter, Lucullus Virgil. Manuscripts. Washington State University.
Guide to the Lucullus Virgil McWhorter Papers 1848-1945
Splawn, A. J. Ka-Mi-Akin. Caldwell, ID: Caxton Printers, Ltd., 1917 First Edition, 1980 Fourth Printing.
