The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1894-03-29
BIG FOOT DIED GAME.
A Story of EARLY Days in the State
of Idaho.
HOW A HALF-BREED FELL
The Leader OF Murderous Gang Fell
Fighting "A Rifle Duel With a Man
who Died In Prison.


of adventure. The generation of men
who participated in the stirring events
by which that period was characterized
are fast passing away. Occasionally
some Incident leads to the revival of a
thrilling story that was freslde talk
among frontier families during the early
settlements. The inquirer whose inter
est is aroused by these stories can de-
velop rich narratives by hunting up old
residents whose memories run back TO
the incidents referred to- An investi-
CATION of one of these narratives has
been suggested by the recent revival of
a story of treasure buried near Boise
City, Idaho, by highwayman more than
twenty-five years ago. The story, briefly,
is that a highwayman named j. w.
Wheeler made his headquarters in Boise
for two or three years prior to 1868. He
was afterward arrested for stage rob-
berry in Oregon and served ten years in
the penitentiary. Going to California
after the expiration of his term, he
again got at cross-purposes with the law
and was sentenced to a term in one of
the California prisons, and did not live
to again breathe the air of freedom.
When he found that fatal disease had
fastened itself upon him, and that he
was destined to die within the walls
of the prison, he made a state ment to
the effect that he had buried $40, 900 of
ill-gotten treasure in the neighborhood
the buried wealth as being opposite the
old ferry, 1--WE miles above Boise. At a
distance of 1913 steps up the hill he said
there was large tree, giving descrlp-
tion of it, and that the gold was hidden
forty PAGES from II. The direction from
the tree does not seem TO have been
given, and those who have searched for
the treasure have failed to discover It,
Through what channel the bandits story
reached Boise City has not been learn
ed, but 1t Is known that a certain noto-
rious character, who was believed to
have maintained more or less intimate
relations with many lawless characters,
secured the statement, and spent much
time in searching for the buried gold.
The story of the treasure has recently
been revived, and has aroused consider
able interest. Whether or not there is
any foundation for the story, only time
and the diligence of those who may be
induced to search for the money can
determine. 1t has, however, led to a
looking up of the record of Bandit
Wheeler, and finding a stirring story of
pioneer life with which he was con
nected.
TERROR OF THE FAR WEST.
Wheeler was the man who rid Idaho
of Big Foot, a supposed Indian, who
was the leader of a small band of des-
perate redskins, and who was RESPONSE
BILE for many cruel masacres In that
section, the story of the killing of the
desperate being one of the most thrill
ling narratives recorded In frontier life
For twelve years, prior to 1868, Big
Foot had been terror throughout this
regoin. Prior to the settlement of Ida
no he made frequent descents upon EN-
igrats bound for the Oregon country
and, after the discovery of gold ha,
M ar n To- IL, a.
leys and among the mountains of wha
Is now southern Idaho, he fell upon tn,
settlers wherever he found them II
exposed positions and made for himsel
long record of atrocious, blood -curd
ling murders. The leader of the savage
got his name from the enormous foot
prints which were found in the vlcinit,
of nearly every massacre that occurred
After he had been killed it was foun,
that his feet measured TN inches IL
length and Is inches around the ball
He had chest measurement of s!
inches, was o feet 81 inches tall ant
weighed about 300 pounds. He was al
athletic giant and could distance tn,
swiftest horses that were used In pur
suing him. He did not trust himself t,
a horse, being able on foot to take ad
vantage OF the rough nature Of tn,
ground in making mis- escape whenever
pursued.
The settlement of the Owyhee mining
country gave Big Foot a peculiarly ad
vantageous field of operations in tn,
narrow canons through which ran the
stage road from Boise to Silver City
and for long period scarcely a weel
passed that some adventurous prospect
or or ranchman did not meet his doom
In those treacherous gorges. When
such murders were announced a pursu
Ing party would frequently be organized
to exterminate the bloodthirsty monster
and his band. The pursuers would often
come upon the Indians, and in some
cases succeeded in killing some of them.
The rest would take TO flight, and the
ministers of vengeance would return to
their houses satisfied that the Indians
had been driven so far away and were
so badly demoralized that the would not
again give trouble for long time. Ia
this they too often proved TO be mis-
taken. Big Foot, followed by four or
i've braves, all possessed of the speed
aud endurance of savage beast, would
return directly to his favorite slaughter
ground as soon as the pursuers had
abandoned the chase. Postirg himself
where he could command a view of the