Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1895-11-22
SUNDAY ON The NEE PIERCE RESERVE


Incidents of the Camps of the Intending
Homestcadcrs
Lewiston, Idaho. Nov. 1S-A special
correspondent visited the reserva-
ton as a Sunday vacation. Along
the roads were many people travelling
toward the interior. There were heavy
covered wagons loaded down with
household goods and the families eX-
pecting to use them. while lighter rigs
were hurrying on with beds. lunch
baskets and bale of hay. There were
buggies stuffed to the top with blankets
and boxes drawn by teams white with
froth. and men with pack horses in
prospector style. And there were still
others with a saddle horse on which
were all the possessions which the
boomer expected to use in locating his
claim.
The weather was fine-a warm sun
making the respondent and weary wo-
man feel cheerful. On upper Lapwai
creek there was an ideal canvass city
The boomers were halted there in large
numbers. There is a large tract of fine
land within easy reach of this camp
ground, and the men were all out seek
ing locations and defending as best
they could the claims already selected.
The women and children were keeping
camp, and the long tables of rough
boards were loaded with good dinners,
that were free to every wayfarer. The
women and children We're climbing over
the hills and picking flowers. making a
picture more appropriate for May than
for November.
On the creeks the lands are owned
by the Indians. The broad prairies are
the white mans prospective homes. In
crossing these slopes the earnest men
were seen running on foot and horse
back, singly and in squads, everywhere
They We're seeking corners, tracing lines
and looking for evidences of other pro-
bable claims.
The native government surveyor was
seen. He was in great demand. He
could make a small fortune from his
knowledge of lines and corners IL he
were inclined to be mercenary He is
very obliging, however, and Is doing all
in his power to help the homesteader.
One pathetic scene was a poor widow
with four children whom some friend
had conveyed from Genesee to a pros
pective home. She had a frail shelter
OF canvas that was stretched over her
household effects. and under which her
brood collected when night approached.
The poor woman watched every pass
Ing stranger with suspicion. lest they
should contemplate a contest of her
claim to the farm on which the
had squatted and hoped to secure. She
seemed to be half demented by the
strain.
The people met with generally gave
no signs of distress. and there are few
of the poorer class There are young
men reared on the farms of the middle
west. who come qualified with expert
ence in farm work and with some
means to insure future prosperity. There
are very few men, but majority of
them are men with families. The
wives and children have been left be-
hind in comfortable homes as a rule,
while the husband and father is seek
ing out a new home. The families
which are camped within the borders
of the reserve will build log houses
for the winter, or will haul lumber,
which is of easy access.
number of people are building an
addition to Lewiston on the lands near
by The railroad owns an unused
tract which was secured for shops and