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On May 4, 1885, a correspondent at Usk forwarded the following item to the Colville Index:

"Three Indians held up three white men while hauling fence posts to fence their ranch on the east side of the Pend Oreille river. The case is this:

Twenty-three Indians claim fifty square miles on that side of the river. When the Indians could not stop the boys from fencing their ranch, one renegade Indian named Sam took an iron bar from his blanket and all three rushed upon the boys. One was lucky enough to have a six-shooter, so he was able to stave them off. The Indians then started home for their guns and said that they would kill every one of them. The boys soon saw them coming with their guns and they had to take to the woods for protection. It is about time something is done with these 'government pets', either removed or placed on other ranches so that settlers can have some peace. It was only last summer that they stole everything they could lay their hands on while the settlers were trying to save their little all from the floods, and at that time a petition with over 150 signers was handed to Senator John L. Wilson to have the 'pets' removed. We suppose when the settlers are all robbed or murdered the government will then be ready to settle with the Indians."

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