New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-06-23
THE INDIANS.
THE SNAKE NATION.

WHAT THEY ONCE OwNED-THEIR PRESENT
PoSsEssIONs-wA NOBLE CHIEF
HOW GOVERNMENT KEEPS ITS TREATIES.
THE PLAINS June IA few days ago the
telegraph announced that GOV. Campbell of Wyoming
would proceed at once Bridger 10 hold council
with Washable and other chiefs Of the Snake Nation for
the purpose of inducing Them possible to give up the
eastern portion OF their reservation and accept instead
further TO the west The proposed council has since
place and the has failed TO persuade the
Indians TO exchange part with any portion Of their
present reservation.
The Snake lands are in the northwestern part OF
Wyoming, and embrace what is known the Wind
River country The reservation begins South Pass
City, and Is 10 miles long and 90 wide II extends over
the rich valleys Of Little Wind River, Big Wind River,
and Little and Big POpoagie Rivers. No better land is
anywhere to be found than along Little Wind River and
the POpoagies; and this the whites now eoyet. The
land the Governor proposes to give the Snakes Tor the
eastern portion Of their reservation is on the west side
aud to the Sioux country. The Sioux claim IL that
territory down to the Sweetwater and the Snakes and
they have been at for many years about it, Almost
every Spring and Autumn the Sioux cross the Big Horn
Mountains enter the Snake lands and endeayor to expel
these poor Indians from their last possessions win the
hostile Sioux in their 'front.' and the ayarcious whites III
their rear IL is not likely the Shoshones as they are
called will be able to long retain their homes indeed
the question seems to whether the savage or the CIVIL
ICED foe shall first despoil Them
Last Fall when the writer was in the Snake lands, he
found no less than 20 white persons engaged In opening
farms the reservation in direct violation OF the treaty.
which provides that white shall neither reside nor
travel on the About the same tine $50 Sioux
warriors stole the mountains for the avOWed pu
pose of massacreng the inhabitants Of the Snake village
expecting TO find that while the white warriors were
ont hunting the women and children without pro-
lection. Fortunately, the late Lieut. stambaugh met
the Sioux with Company d, I'd u s. Cavalry; fought
them all of afternoon, totally routed them, and thus
saved the Snakes from attack Early in the previous
Spring. the Sioux had into the reserve and muir
dered 20 Snakes. 1t 10 these mpacable enc
mics that Gov. Campbell proposes to send the now
almost defenseless ShOshOnes
Washakie explained the Governor that they could
not go further West unless troops sent to protect
this people from the Sioux. 1t is said the Governor will
insist that they shall 60 whether troops sent not
The Indian Chiefs held private council among them
selves, and, doubt believing that their lands would
be taken from them whether they agreed not, finally
said that they would 90 the Governor would increase
their annuites 5000 per annum; but this pary
sum the Governor refused TO give them for three large
valleys capable of supporting 10000 farmers.
In order 10 properly understand their present situation
will be necessary to give previous of the
Snakes The history and fate Of tribe of Indians west
of the Missouri is interesting that Of the shoshones
Their decay has been unprecedeDtedy rapid and their
whole story sounds like than sad reality
The Snakes say that they first the face Of white
man in 1906 when Lewis and Clarke made their famous
expedition up the Missouri under orders from President
jefferson One Of their women had been captured in
great battle fought with the Mnnetarees short time be-
fore, and when Lewis reached the Minnetaree ma
ton he found this woman and for the first
time learned anything concerning her tribe. Lewis
bought the from the Minnetarees and using her
guide set out up the Missouri to find her people. She
showed him where the battle had taken place the
mouth of a river which he named JefersOn's Fork. He
had continued his journey for IL days when he saw an
Indian horseback the river and endeavored 10
communicate with him but the savage became alarmed
and fed to the hills Leaving his boats and taking
provisions Lewis and four and the set ont 10
follow the Indians tracks, thinking that they would
come to the village whittier he had doubt fed. On
the third day they upon a number OF men and
women gathering berries. The men sprang upon their
horses and hurried away The women hid in the IA
vines Lewis and his captured one old squaw and
little girl who the custom when they found them
selves prisoners, sat down and covering their heads
calmly awaited death. Lewis raised up the old
squaw, and, stripping up his sleeve from his
arm said tabba bone; tabba bone" (wlite mani.
But the squaw gave heed evidently never having
seen or heard Of a white man before. Lewis then put
beads her neck and giving the little girl pewter
mirror, told them to call the who hiding in
the ravine. They did So but only two young squaws
would out. bews painted their cheeks red with
vermiiOn and showed them their faces in the pewter
mirror, which pleased them very much. Suddenly Lewis
and his companions found themselves surrounded by
nearly 100 fierce looking warriors mounted on swift
ponies The women out TO meet them, and showed
the warriors the presents they had received The latter
halted, and dismounting examined them carefully.
Presently three Indians advanced to Lewis, embraced
him. and rubbing their against his nose cried out
"Ah-hie! dh-hie!" Il am glad to you or, am
glad you have GOMEZ. All the warriors then up,
embraced Lewis and his companions rubbing their noses
and afterward smoked, first taking off their moeeasins
which MEANS of false, may be bareiooted
forever" terrible punishment the thorny plains,
where the ground is full of prcky pears. The warriors
took Lewis into their midst and marched back until
within two miles Of the village. There they met the
Chief and great Of people. The Chief made
friendly Speech welcoming the whites to his country,
and repeatedly embraced Captain Lewis and rubbed his
nose.
In the village Lewis was given fine eathern lodge,
handsomely fitted up with furs and skins Several young
sent to build fires, bring water and wait upon
him and his companions. The Chief came in state TO smoke
with the white men, removing his shoes in token Of his
good faith toward them Lewis remained for days
in the pleasant village Of the shoshone most hospta
bly, entertained, and pressed TO stay longer But hearing
that his boats had assembled the river to point
the camp practicable he set out reach Them
panied by the chief and the whole village all being
Ous to see the curious waerhorses of the white men.
This branch Of the Snakes under chief named Cam
eahwat and numbered 400 persons. Capt Lewis learned
that the whole tribe then contained 1900 souls and was
scattered over vast extent Of territory They roamed
along the Upper Platte, Green, Bear, Wind, Col
orado, and sweetwater Rivers, and claimed all
the lands between the Columbia and Missouri.
Their Eastern neighbors the Dakotas Sioux
and their northern possessions extended
to the country OF the Blackee West and south them
ranged the Camanches At the time Of Capt. Lewis's
visit the shoshOnes at with the Pawkees,
extinct, Mandans, also extinct and Mnnetarees, who
were found far north the mouth Of Jefferson
River on the Missouri. Lewis found the Snakes
armed with bows, arrows, Shields spears and a few
fusils" which they said they had got from Yellowstone
Indians, who obtained them from the Northwest Fur
COmpany's traders. Though they had guns and had
nften heard of them theY Ind never a white man