Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1889-03-30
rha Harmits of Hasamp.

who he was and from whore he came.
believe me" he said when tell
you that belong TO a race of people OF
which you probably never heard.
am Hasamper knew you all would
be surprised, but nearly every man In
Arizona knows what Hasamper is.
Thereare great many OF US, possibly
two or three thousand, and we live
and have our being on what is known
as the Hasamp creek. This Is stream
OF water, sometimes rising to the dig
nifty of river, at others simply
creek. 1t is several hundred miles in
length, running through the central
and southern portion OF Arizona Along
the banks OF the Hasamp are located
many rich and productive hills, and
beyond, for several miles on each side,
are located as many fine ranches or
farms, Like the Mormons, who made
the valleys and plains bloom into flower
gardens, fields of grain and orchards OF
fruit, the Hasampers converted their
section OF the globe into a land OF
plenty, Nature helped US out, or prob
ably our little band Of people would
now be destitute Of the distinction We
enjoy.
'.In the days OF 40, when the Cali
fornia Excitement was ut It's height, 1
joined the Eush. was at that time \
student OF the Louisville Medical col
lege, at Louisville, Ky. left my home
one night on an old-iashioncd steamer
that was bound for Cincinnati, from
which city hundreds Of people were
leaving every week for the new Eldora-
do. In course OF time the trials that
were encountered by a trip across the
plains and mountains were overcome,
and landed in the country that has
since become so rich and famous. and
in which many an ambitious youth lost
his head and eventually died a violent
death, or became lost to all associates.
II lived, but my life has been almost
a blank. / went to California nearly
forty years ago, and belong TO the
great majority OF men who were disap-
pointed. For two years jOurneyed
from one camp TO another, trying my
luck at prospecting and starving. One
day about one hundred and fifty miles
from San Francisco, ran against a
train Of wagons that were bound east
ward and | joined them. The train
was made upot young fellows from the
east whose disappointment was as great
as my own, and they were glad to have
their number increased.
We journeyed for several weeks,
stopping now and then TO give our stock
a chance TO pick up. In course OF time
we entered central Arizona and struck
the creek from which we derive our
name. The Hasamp Is an Indian
name, meaning long, or having no end.
The pretty hills and wide valley that
seemed to stretch out for many miles
attracted our attention, aud we remain
ed there several months. The WalIa-
pia and Javapis Indians were at first
friendly and helped us out frequently
In the matter Of food. With the game
that abounded we had no trouble In
getting along, but by and by the In
dams became troublesome and wanted
us to leave what they termed their
country. This we declined 10 do, as
many Of our party had discovered rich
minerals that promised great results,
and we renewed our ambitions 70 be-
come millionaires. The frequent at
tempts OF the Indians TO drive us out
sometimes proved disastrous 10 us, but
oftener TO themselves. We were rein
forced by other unsuccessful seekers
after California gold from time TO time,
and in the course Of events Hasamp
creek became well settled. Many OF
us took up claims, while others settled
upon agricultural and grazing lands
and became farmers and stock-raisers.
''These things happened such a long
time ago that / scarcely remember
them; but our little world wapged
along, and we became hxtures-un-
movable to such an extent that this IA
my first trip. am now, after an
absence Of forty years, on my way TO
the Old Kentucky Home Yes, we
are all alike. Every Hasamper has a
long white beard, wears red shirt, n
white hat, buckskin coat and waist.
coat, corduroy trousers and high
topped boots. MARRIED. Why, my boy,
not a man Of us married. It's a part
OF our religion not to do anything 80
foolish, for it's a failurel We have no
chance to marry, except among the
Indians, and you wouldn't expect de-
cent men do that, would youP oh, YES,
we have our lodges, Masonic and other
wise, and we are great poker players.
We don't know much about the the
civilized tricks Of the great game, but
we can play square poker better
than any class Of people you ever
met"
Further talk with the old Hasamper
revealed the fact that the entire tracer