The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1895-11-02


A PIONEER.
Capt Bledso~ who WAS recently APP
pointed receiver for the Judas mine at
Pearl IL one Of the earliest pioneers Of
this country The captain has been here
since 1882 and has fought Indians and
hunted for gold all over these noun
l,ins. To such men rs him the people
Of the state owe a boundless debt Of
gratitude for had IT not been for the prl-
,ations which they endured, the dangers
which They braved. Idaho would
moi be the glorious state she Is today
During recent visit TO Pearl the writer
had the pleasure Of making the ac-
gunintsnce OF the genial captain and Of
listening 70 some Of his stories OF by
gone days dating away back 10 the
early sos when this country was Az yet
an nnlrod wilderness
In 1892. the year In which Grimes dis
covered tue Boise Basin plscers. and
las~r Lost his He NJ Grimes Pass, Capt
Bisdsoe was At Florunce then pros
Porous mining camp As no tidlngs
could be received from Grimcs and his
party, and fears we're entertained that
they had fallen into the hands OF hostile
Indians. the captain decided TO take a
trip into this part Of the wilderdcrncss
20 see II he could discover any trace Of
tirimo and bis men. Accordingly
company OF about rs men was organ
i<ed and equipped aud they started out 10
explore country Of which but little
ms known by white men. The route
travelled led across salmon river Then
sYer The divide between the waters Of
The Salmon and the Payctte, BY the Pay
cite Lakes through Long and High vnl-
lsys 70 the head Of Squsw creek, aud
ives accomplished without any serious
mishAp or exciting adventure other
than those 10 which The men Of that
period were Injured and regarded as
every day occurrences.
A. the part, were descending Squaw
mountain. the advance guard OF eight
men reached the foot Of The mountain
faiIe or two In advance Of the others and
were attacked by n party Of so or 80
Indians. Cant. Bledsoc who was with
The main party heard the firing and at
once calling ont 30 ncu to follow him
he dsshvd to the foot Of The mountain
aud pressed the Indians SO hard that he
forced n dghi on, Of Them on the ground
where sheriff Carol Bairds ranch Is
BOW located. The fight WAS a pretty
hot one for u short time but the redskins
would not stand Ere and soon retrcated
10 III willows along the creek banks
The whites followed them as long as
dselish, lasted aud made things so
warm FOR them that thcv kept up the
retreat all night and we're finally driven
of the creek and acruss the rayette and
Boise on towards Snnke river. When
the remainder Of the party reached The
valley they went into camp near whore
Mr. iiolbrook's fine residence now stands
snd while camp was being arranged for
the night a number Of squaws and pap.
.oses were discovered hiding In the viii
lows and were captured. These being
The only captives taken In the engage
meni. the stream was named Sqnaw
creek In commemornion Of The incident.
title Which viii no doubt stick TO il
while time lasts.
Capt Bledsoe always kept an accurate
diar, Of matters Of interest during his
lous experience AS frontiersman, and
u Is master Of regret 10 himself as well
A. positive loss 10 future historians Of
Idaho, that he about 20 years sco
losned !, to a Herman liicrar, man who
wished To make use Of some Of the notes
In ~rtins novel. aud who subsequent
!, returned to Europe without returning
the book The captain has been trying
~ years 10 Get possession OF II but with.
out soccess. Il is pity tina, such a
valuable record should be lest Idaho
people gvo~raliy take too little intcr~s,
su she Early history Of their state bu,
,steume will cons when lust such rec.
ords IS this Que will be invaluable To
I the Historian 10 whose los viii fall the
work Of wrl'irx : complss~ history Of
e-fIy Idaho.