Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1894-06-22

our seyenty-tyo mile stage ride
was at an end.
After a few days pest ! engag-
ed a saddle horse and took daily
excursions out over the prairie,
visiting the ranchers and listen
ing to the thrilling yarns Il some
of the older settlers,
Camas Prairie is located in the
northern part of Idaho County,
in that State so well named, the
Gem of the Mountains" and
contains about half million
acres of very rich soil. 1t is OIL
lava formation, and was probab-
Iy at one time the crater of a
huge volcano. Less than one
half is settled upon, the greater
portion belonging to the Nez
Perez Indian Reservation. The
south fork of the Clearwater
rushes madly along its northern
boundery, while the crystal wa
ters OF the Salmon River gently
lap its borders on the south.
There are four wideawake and
busy little villoges scattered
along near the line OF the reser-
walton; Cottonwood, the gate
way to the prairie, three miles
out from the base of Craig Noun
cain on the west; Denver the
infant, located in the exact
geographical centre, as if for pro-
lection by its older brothers;
Grangeville, the metropolis,
about three miles from the base
Of the mountains on the east;
and Mt Idaho, the father Of them
all and the county seat of Idaho
County, standing close to the
base, like sentinel guarding the
many trails that enter the prairie
from the Bitter Roots and the
Rockies on the eastern side. The
chief occupation OF the ranchers
is raising cattle and hogs, while
a few devote their time to grow
ing weeat for the Touring mill
ut Grangeville. The season, Of
short duration, is more than off
+ set by the exceeding richness of
The soil, and it is rare indeed
5 when they harvest less than for
+, ty bushels to the acre.
In the Villages are large mer-
{ camille companies which supply
i the many mining camps in the
surrounding mountains, receiv.
J ing in payment for their goods
d the bright shining gold dusr
S brought out in little chamoii
s bags by the miners,
s 1t is from a historical point o
n Of view that the prairie is hes
u known to the public at large
Il Near the lakes at the southern
d extremity, the Nez Perce war
IS riors held their first great coun
n ell OF war, from which they sal
re lied forth to massacre the un
II protected settlers, and Mt Idah,
y was the headquarters of Genera
5 Howard at the beginning of tn
IF war with that tribe in 1877.
ID short distance from COTTONWOOD
/ a small marble shaft marks tn
spot where the brave scout, Eos
in ter, and twelve companions wer
Of shot to death by the sneakin
N towards in ambush,
n The battle of White Bird wa
of fought on the slope of hill tw
t. miles south of the prairie, an
lg the battle of Clearwater too
as place on the banks of that strea1
n, which skirts the northern boz
a der, 1t was at this bait
Oh that Gen, Howard drove til
a Indians into a trap and coul
k have ended the war, but IL
re- great General allowed his tend
ut heart to get the better of h
I'd judgement by defering the el
nd gagement until the followir
lat morning, preferring arbitratiC
hit to shooting them down in co
ne blood. The Indians stole ava
of in the night and then began Il
ok long retreat and pursuit tn
in ended in the capture of the i
ore dams north of the Missouri Ri