The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1897-08-28

Tho Origin Of the Word Idaho-A Romance
ana Poetic Tsrm-A Leeena 81
the Aberieines.

tNtNa btrn urunlttly determined. II
was used before the discovery OF eoIt
N Orc Elmo. Although the cratic poe,
OF the sierras, Joaquin Miller, claImi
70 have coined the word In 1851, Il wal
used several years before that date
Idaho springs in Colorado was named
and 2 steamboat on the Columbia bore
tie name before the poet claims 10 have
coined It, Idaho Springs may Claim
The honor OF the first geographical ust
81 this most poetic appeIation. Idaho
county adopted the name In December
1861, two years before the organization
Of Idaho Territory.
This state may claim geographical
existence since March 1868. The homo,
OF selecting the name OF Idaho for the
new commonwealth, at that time the
largest Ia the United States, is due ID
Senator Wilson OF Massachusetts. The
territory was made up Of parts OF
washington, Dakota and Nebraska,
ana extended from the present eastern
boundary 10 the summit OF the Rocky
mountains, and from the northern
national boundary 10 the Colorado line
on the south. The original bin for the
creation Of the territory proposed the
name Of Montana for the present state
OF Idaho. but the name was changed by
amendment offered by Senator Wilson.
The meaning OF the word was then
familiar to members Of Congress. Idaho
was interpreted TO mean gem OF the
mountains, during the time the organic
act was pending.
The wealth OF California infected all
classes Of people. The sedate Yankee
the peripateiic and the reckless plains.
men were influenced by exaggerated
stories Of the wealth Of the gold coast
The fortunes so layishly bestowed were
the burden Of story aud song. The In
dams OF the plains were ever very 70.
mantle. Their heroes were possessed
Of supernatural powers. The natural
scenery Of their legends were always
tairer than ElySian fields.
While the stories of the gold OF Cali,
fornia we're current the native redmen
revived their legends OF wealth, OF Jew.
els aud dladrms, One story that seems
to have been international in character
among many tribes was the one Of
Idaho" II was diadem, not OF
royal man, but OF a royal mountain. II
~As q jewel bigger aud more brilliant
than mortal ever wore. II was worn
Ia gown By n mountain aud was
leHeI placed In the crown rs the sign Of
Gods favor for the honor OF the great.
cal mountain. The falrest valleys anu
The besi people IN the world. This sign
OF Gods favor was Of course always In
distant land. This gem Of the mount.
AHA was Of value greater than all the
gold Of California In the songs aud the
legends Of The Indians. la the Ian.
Ra2gc OF many Of the western tribes
this mythical gem was called the
'idaho.-
In the year 1850 renegade Umatiila
Indian found his way 10 California.
lie was a ane example Of physical man.
hood aud the favorable contrast with
he native diggers made him favortte
With the miners Ia the little camps he
'reqnenIcd. lie was Intelligent and
possessed Of the native romantic char /
ie,ers. To match the stories Of Cali 1
'ognia wealth he reeiied the tribal
esead 81 the Idaho" Among those
sho heArd his story. told 10 broken En-. /
'lish. was +. u. Pierce. lie was a
'oang man OF a temperament easily in-
ine0ced 10y the fascinating story OF
wealth. lie resolved TO lind aud ap.
'ropriaie the Indian Idaho
The wandering CmaiilIa was not a
irangrr 10 the wiles OF the modern
wildcatieIs." The native Jared sump,.
lonsly during tho winter season and
aid his board In promises. In the
pring the pair iourueyed to Oregon
nd at Umatilla the guide lost himself
mong his people and left Mr.. Pierce
o hts own resources. The Indian had
o completely won the confidence of the
ghiie man that Pierce fingered in the
icinity Of CmatilIa for n year tn the
elusive hope that his guide would re.
urn 10 him or that lac might discover
hc deceittul native. The DESERVING
uidc left behind the impression that
is people had discovered his secret
nd that they forbade his return to the
fh!ie friends. Mr.. Pierce in the mean.
line took up his home IN Walla Waila.
lie searched the Blue mountains for
he diadem and IN the winter of 1859
rganiEed party to continue the search
. mountains bordering the Nez Perez
srritory in the hope that they were the
avored people and that the Clearwater
alley was the favored valley lighted
y the eye OF the Indian manitou. lie
ad no sooner reached the land of tie
lea l'erces than they were informed Of
he object Of the exploring party. The
sport was circulated that Captain
'iercc was In search of the Idaho" Of
Iese beloved mountains These In.
ians had ever been faithful friends Of
he white men, but the report of. their
lcrcligious mission aroused bitter re-
nniment and the party was expelled
rom this lapd Of the Neg Perces. This
the trst recorded instance of hostile
demonstrations on the part OF this tribe
( Indians. They were fanatical ON /