Don Higgins claims to have written a complete history of the naming of the city of Battle Ground. But the synopsis of his book contains a telling contradiction.
Higgins says, correctly, that there are a number of theories about how Chief Umtuch died. But the only one he cites in the synopsis, that the chief was shot by one of his own tribesmen, is the one theory that cannot be true. It is disproved by another statement in the synopsis. He notes the well-known fact that the tribe had been disarmed, and that proves that none of them could have shot the chief. The Indians had no guns. The only persons armed were all the members of William Strong’s posse, which makes it most likely that one of them shot and murdered the chief.
If Higgins’ synopsis accurately represents the book, then the killing of Chief Umtuch is misrepresented and does not “tell the Indians’ side.”
