The St. Johns herald., 1895-10-31
ABOUT THE BANE0CKs.
The Indians Who Have Been Civ
 ing the Government Trouble.
q WArlike Tribe That Is Distur5ing EIe- nent Among the Eavases of the NorthTest-One Version of
 Their GrierGnces-

6f the settlers interfering with their killing of elk, occupy the Fort Hall res ervation in southeastern Idaho with the Shoshores. The Shoshones, says the Philadelphia Telegraph, are more numerous than the Bannocks, who in 1894 were 772, all told, 132 being males over IS years of age, while of 1,745 Shoshones there were 2S6 males above 1e years of age. The Bannocls, or Bannaks, belong to the general family of Shoshones or Snakes, which family also includes the various tribes of Utes,
 Comanches, Moquis, Chenehuenes, Ca huilla and the Kechi, Kizh and Netolo tribes of California Their tradition is that they came originally from the far east. and their language, which is so different from that of the western
 Shoshones, resembles that of the Co- manches, whose home when white men first found them was about the head
 waters of the Brazos, the Colorado and eastward to those of the Arkansas and Missouri rivers
 The main tribe of the Bannocks was first found near where they are now es- tablished, at the Fort Hall agency, in Oneida county, ia the southeastern
 part of Idaho, along the Snake river valley. They are taller and straighter than the mountain Indians round about
 them, and have the reputation of being more warlike. They are nearly all able to speak the language of the Sho- shones. but the latter do not speak the Bannock tongue. This is the same as that of the Flutes, and the latter say that the Bannocks split off from them
 Before the Banuocl1s got horses they were very expert in the use Of the bow and arrow. They are distinctly hunt ing tr1be. and look upon work as an everlasting disgrace, except for squaws. They view themselves as the salt of the earth. They have earned D reputation for bloodthirstiness, and are said some times to kill their aged parents when the latter begin to become 9 burden.
 The only purpose for which the Ban nocl.s appear to be preserved is to vex and annoy the Shoshones, who take more kindly to labor, schools and the use of other clothing than blankets
 
 peared to be incura bly, opposed to civ ilization for themselves and other In dians. The two tribes have been thrown together for many years on the same reservation, and while the Sho- shones have manifested willingness to accept the benefits of schools and in- stsuction in the use of implements of lo hov sumed superiority because Of their refusal to be civilized, and have taunted the Shoshones as "squews" because they embrace the opportunities for inn
 provemcnt held out by the government. The Shoshones are peaceful and indus trious. There were raised and sold for the reservation during 1893 more than elj,0a0 worth of agricultural products, of which it is safe to assume that the Shoshones produced a very considera- ble share. The reports of the Indian agent show that of all the Shoshones and Bannocl1s on the reservation only 10 can speak enough English to be un- derstood in ordinary conversation. The degree of civilization to which these Indians have reached is indicated by the statement that there was one mar riage during the year, and fifteen chiefs were living in polygamy.
 Gradually white men came into the prairie, and, finding it well adapted to the raising of hogs, turned thousands of these animals loose in it. The hogs ate up the roots which had supplied the Indians winter needs, and they com plained of this as great injustice. selves and the whites, and in 1878 a party of the Bannoelzs went on the war trail, killing several settlers and steal ing horses. They went along the trail ! which Chief Joseph and his band had followed the year before, driven to war by just such causes.
 Gen. Miles with 100 men aud seven 1 scouts went after them, and ct day light on September 4, 1878, surprised them in Clark's Fork pass, on Clarl1's ! Fork of the Yellowstone, beyond the National park. Eleven of the Indians were killed in the battle which fol- 1 lowed. and the rest, nearly 100 all told, including women and children, were l captured. Capt. Andrew T. Bennett, l Of the Fifth infantry, was one of the 1 killed among the soldiers. This party l of the Bannoclzs were held as prison CTS several months, their stock was taken from them, and then they were 1 returned to their reservation. They | have made no trouble since. The loss | of their grounds for the supply of roots was not so serious to them as the loss l of their hunting grounds.
 The game in the Yellowstone park ! has undoubtedly attracted them now. l and it appears to Miles as if a party O. irresponsible settlers or cowboys had 1 goue after hunting party and cap l tured 1t. Speaking of the reported ] killing of tLese Indians. Gen. Miles said that probably many an innocent 1 settler would pay with his life for the acts of these men Scalps and horses are the two things which the Hammock i is taught to crave. The warrior who has | taken these from his enemy will go when l he dies to a land ruled by big chief | who wears the feathers and robes of Q full chief and rides fast horse. This ! big chief will lead them all in the l chase, and buffalo and other game will l be plentiful and easy to take, To pro- vide horse for the chase the favorite | horse of a dead warrior is killed at his ! crave Eo-r1a,lx- a So,,aTzy 1--,p olco