Sluggia, a Nisqually Indian, is first recorded in Washington history when he became a treaty signer. The official record shows Slug-yeh made his X mark on the Medicine Creek Treaty on December 26, 1854.

Sluggia was in love with his uncle Leschi's youngest wife, Mary. The Leschi descendants' family stories say that she succumbed to his enticements, and actually left Leschi to live with Sluggia. After a short time, however, Mary began to realize that Sluggia was unable to care for her as well as Leschi, a wealthier man, could. She returned to Leschi, who forgave her, and welcomed her back into his household. Sluggia was mightily angered by Mary's rejection and was overcome by jealously. His behavior became increasingly aggressive towards his uncle. (Iyall)

Another possible reason for Sluggia's animosity toward Leschi was offered up by Wa he lut, known to the settlers as Yelm Jim, in an interview given in 1896, almost 40 years after Leschi's death. In this interview, Wa he lut asserted that Sluggia had "quarreled with Leschi because the chief would not allow him to kill women and children during the war." (Meeker 6)

Whatever the reason, when the territorial authorities offered him a reward of 50 blankets for the capture of Leschi, on November 13, 1856, Sluggia ambushed him, bound him and delivered him to Sidney S. Ford, Jr., who surrendered him to Governor Isaac Stevens the following day. (Wilkinson 19)

An Olympia newspaper described the event:

"Leschi with very few followers, had for some time been secludedly encamped on the upper Nisqually, and on Thursday, the 13th inst. [November 13 1856] per arrangement, two Indians, Sluggy and E-li-kuk-ah, having ascertained his whereabouts, visited the camp. After remaining a short time, they decoyed him off some distance, to the place where they had secured their horses, when they suddenly pounced upon, bound him and placed him on one of the horses, carried him that night a captive to Steilacoom, where he was delivered over to S. S. Ford Jr., who for some time previous had in charge the making of arrangements to bring about his apprehension. Next day, the 14th, Mr. Ford arrived here [Olympia] with the prisoner and surrendered him to Gov. Stevens." (Carpenter 65)

There is evidence that Sluggia may have intended to give testimony against the warring chiefs in a court of law. On February 27, 1857, Governor Stevens wrote the following to W. B. Gosnell, Esq., Special Indian Agent, Squaxin Reservation:

Sir: You will say to Sluggia in answer to the enclosed letter to keep his money and to tell the truth, when a witness before the courts. I commend very much his determination not to "go into any secret plan against the Bostons [Americans] to clear any Indian; but if the leaders of the war can be brought before Courts of law and the Bostons call on me, I will go and tell all I know of their actions." (Stevens 1)

For the betrayal of his people and his chief, Sluggia became a pariah, an outsider among the Nisqually. In October 1857, Wa he lut, Leschi's most able and loyal lieutenant, hunted Sluggia down and assassinated him for his treachery. In an interesting twist of fate, Leschi would live five months longer than his betrayer.

Cynthia Iyall, Leschi descendant, in an interview with Melissa Parr, Washington State Historical Society curator. September 14, 2004.

Meeker, Ezra. The Tragedy of Leschi. Everett, WA: The Printers, 1980.

Wilkinson, Charles. Messages from Frank's Landing: A Story of Salmon, Treaties and the Indian Way. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2000.

Carpenter, Cecelia Svinth. Tears of Internment: The Indian History of Fox Island and the Puget Sound Indian War. Tacoma: Tahoma Research Service, 1996.

Stevens, Isaac I. Letter to W. B. Gosnell, Esq. February 27, 1857. Frederick Collection of Western Americana, Shelton, WA.