"BILLY CHINOOK." (December 19, 1890.)

[David Robertson]

Qhata mayka ukuk pulakli?

Ukuk tEnEs c'Em pipa ya chaku khapa uk Spokane (Washington IlI7i)
_Spokesman-Review_, page 7, column 1.

Interesting historical & ethnographic info here too..."An Old and
Well-Known Indian Departs This Life."

"The Baker City Reveille gives the following sketch of "Billy Chinook," a
well-known Indian, who died on the Warm Springs reservation recently of
pneumonia.  William Chinook Parker was born at or near The Dalles of the
Columbia early in the present century, the exact date being of course
unknown.  He was still living there in 1847 when John C. Fremont made his
second visit to the Pacific coast, and was employed by that famous
explorer to accompany him as a guide.  A few days after leaving The Dalles
they camped just where the Warm Springs agency was aferward located, but
where there was at that time no signs of human habitation except for a few
roving bands of Snake Indians who claimed this as a part of their hunting
grounds.

"William accompanied Fremont through the Klamath country into California,
thence into Mexico, and afterward returned with him to Washington, where
he was received by President Van Buren, who presented him with a medal,
which he preserved with great care until the time of his death.  He was
then sent by Fremont to Peoria, Ill., where he spent the winter, and early
in the following spring joined a party of gold-seekers who were coming to
the newly discovered mines of California.  He remained there several
years with varying fortunes, having at one time amassed a considerable
sum.

"Returning to The Dalles he made his home for some time on the place now
owned and occupied by Mr. Charles Denton.  He was one of the signers of
the first treaty made with these Indians by the United States Government
which was ratified in 1859.  And was also a signer of the revised treaty
of 1885.  He has always been a leader among his people, possessing a
greater influence over them than perhaps any other individual, and his
influence was always for good according to the best knowledge which he
had."



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