The teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1876-1878, 1877-12-22
The Brave Seventeen.

to be one who knows, in lengthy arti-
Gle under the head of "Idaho's Dead
and Living" gives the following very
just tribute to the memorable "seven-
teen," who stood off in an open prairie
from IL o'clock A. NJ, till 2 p. NJ, on
the 9th of July last, nearly the whole
OF Joseph's force of warriors, and forced
them to retire before assistance came:
Pending the arrival of the military.
the Mount Idaho volunteers displayed
glorious prowess in the field. They
were bent on revenge. and nothing but
retaliation would satisfy them for the
murders of their brethren, and the
terrible outrages on the helpless women.
Their song was revenge, but like the
tune of the reeds in the wind, the bur.
den was sadness The deeds of "the
brave seventeen" will be sung after the
actors arc no more. Alone, and unaid-
ed, when attacked by twenty times their
number Of Indians, they stood firm, re-
solving to sell their lives dearly. Their
coolness and presence Of mind alone
saved them from destruction the least
sign of fear would have been the signal
for their death. Capt. Randall, in
character, at once Sir Lancelot, and
Chevelier Bayard soon met his death
wounds and died as he lived a brave,
resolute man, fighting to his last gasp
in defense Of his home.
''To any man upon this earth.
Death ccmeth soon or late:
And how can man die better,
Than in facing fearful odds
For the ashes Of his Fathers,
and the temples of his Gods
Ben. Evans was the next to be killed.
Soon to be disabled were three others
among them. y. II. Howser and Ally
Leland, the latter mere boy, the son
of Alonzo Lelaud, Esq, Of newspaper
fame. He was described tc tho writer
as being one Of the coolest and bravest
boys in existence and t. digress little
on this subject, | wish to say that many
individual instances OF cooness and
courage in danger have occurred among
mere youngsters, who, in many instan.
ces, left the plow and the detk to take
a part in the troubles. They always
stood their ground and scorned danger
too much to "fa'l back" as I hare
heard stampede termed. They were
ever foremost in danger, and showed
very satisfactorily that the old odd spir
it derived from cur ancestors, the old
sea-kipgs. or those of '76, if you prefer
1t, was still extant, as doubtless it ever
will be. But the mere oaice,seekcrs,
where were they? In time of danger.
as a general thing, echo could loudly
answer. nowhere It was during the
fight of the ''l7' that the heroic Geo.
Shearer won his spurs. Assistance was
needed, and as he could not obtain com
panY on thespur Of the moment, George
got impatient and went ont alone. Be-
fore he reached his friends his horse
was shot from under him but still! ne
went on and reached their position un,
hurt, amidst Z shower Of bullets. Pre-
'ious ID tniS eplsode, MAJOR Ohe&rer
had acted gloriously in the White Bird
fight, where be was slightly wounded.
[ could continue ad infaitotm, but the
columns of a newspaper is altogether
too limited to chronicle the deeds Of all |
who distinguished themselves directly
they had their chance In many in
stances think these heroes surprised |
even themselves. There were many
whose reputation was based upon their
luletncss and love Of home and family.
who were found TO be possessed Of the
rue metal. But as Bayard TAYLOR
sings. THE bravcst are the tegdeIcst.
he loving arc the daring