Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1886-08-12
3RD SOUTHERN PASS OF thu
Dl430R ROOT MOUNTAINS.

low gap 10 the Bitter Root mountains
sons forty miles to the south Of the
H 10 trail, pass that was once ex
ssasively used BY the Indians 10 crossing
and rseroasing the range, us they passed
fton wsst 70 east and from east tc west
when they wsrs making their excursions
70 and from the buffalo country. Their
route from the St. Mary's valley east.
ward sometimes was up the Skal Kaho
crock and over the divide between the
St. Marys and Deer Lodge valleys, and
sometimes they went up the Bitter Root
valley and through the Big Hole pass to
tho Beaver head country aud points
wherever they wished to 60 10 search
Of game. They were known to return
home from the eastern sertion by this
pan Of the Bitter Root range whenever
they were belatcd and winter was upon
them, to avoid deep SHOWS, aud they
desired to reach home in good time.
This practice was continued As long AZ
tAs Nes Psrces went in any large mum.
ban % the east to hunt buffalo, Or make
raids upon the other eastern tribes Of
Isdians. Since the country has been
settlsd hy the whites, the Nee Perces,
and sisce enc Of their parties, under old
Rsubsn met with serious loss and dire
disaster from the eastern Indians, in
BATH losing many lives and great many
horsss, they have ceased almost entirely
% nsks those eastern visits, except 10 o
fsw isolated parties, who went to hunt
she Buffalo It points further east than
thsir Old hunting grounds, and took no
lsrge amount Of horses with them and
nads no demonstrations Of hostility, and
have como h,ms early 10 the season, and
have travelled the Lo Lo trail, where
thay could find bald hills with grassy
sannits and slopes, and the low pass to
m soaeh had been almost abandoned,
= thess wss but little feed for aaimals,
the tsail On the west side Of the noun.
Aaia bsipg more dsnsly covered with tim.
~. consequently brush and fallen timber
dnes he year Of 1850 and before had
= 6lIed H. old trail that il had become
alno1t oblitsratcd 70 oven the ipexper-
iancsd Indian Of later days. Only few
of the older Indians who had known this
1cuts and travelled il IL early times, could
rsadily follow il, and when Col. Bird
was detailed to locate the trail across the
Bitter Root mountains to the valley, Ccl.
Craig aid, that this southern pass was
much lover than tse Lo Lo, but that the
Appropriation was not large enough to
epea ~ route through the timber on
tAissid II he mountain ssd that the
routs ~ ID the direct line to the rich
ninse nsas Helena, and 10 said that
bird would better serve the urgent &C.
naads q The peopls Of this country, to
sxpsad ths appropriations in repairing
~ clearing ont the To 10 trail, which
y eoslA Do thas season and hasten the
travsl and The transportation Of goods to
~ Halsna mines. No one then thought
u I Iailroad across the Bitter Root
nanHiains. The Northern Pacific, under
Jay Cook, ordered recconnoisance Of
theae nountsins south Of the Pend
d'Ossills and h WAS mado to the Lo Lo
~ sone twenty i've miles south, and
TN ~ Cook dsslsd out and al survey
ssassd To- time and. no further attempt
- nasls 70 And pan ell Mccartney
- ordered 70 make ! hasty sxAmina.
tioa lats il 1879. He failed BY not get.
iisg ~ suids Who Vas recommended to
~, taking ilslsad ! young Isdian Who
tssw ut ~ country sast Of Elk PIsiric,
sashusdzsd and any miles IRON Lewis
-, asd h ct la and returned without
aespshiag anything, bat reporting
advsuly % The sxiAeancs Of any Law pass
sosth Of he L. La In 1891 few men
uho bad lsng been made to believe BY