The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1897-07-03
pQ0MND Do pneAY.
: onss FswsFfni Indian rrihs /. pis.r.,.,.
Ing hY Death.

-. "es% - hAA-AIEEu, - n
very Intelligent and Influential member
ok inc tribe. II u believed liz home
iaFm near Lapwal IL the best equipped
on the reservation. lie has 4 fine home
ven cultivated fields, nice orchard.
~ heooan y well educated, speaks
Engllsh perfectly. and has acquired Al
extensive knowledge OF the history and
ahAls Of the tribe. Concerning ne
AeE PeFces he gave the Lewiston Trib.
ine . good account which we reproduce
lie said:
= nave been studying lately with a
good deal Of interest the startling death
rate OF our tribe. have observed for
. number Of years that our number
are rapidly decreasing, aud the past few
yean ! have devoted some study 10 the
cansas. believe now that the death
rate. which seems yearly to increase. "a
greater In proportion 70 numbers thar
iitat Of any other tribe. Since 1892
when the tribe numbered 1900, there
has been 300 deaths recorded 10 100
births. and II this startling percentage
continues, the future OF poor Los Nez
ferce constituency will not much long.
er be q subject Of governmental worry
The roll from which the next payment
WIN De made shows the present popula,
lson OF the tElbe 10 he only sllghtiy in
excess OF 100. When the treaty was
made . census showed over 1900 And
now about the causes. Of course. De.
callaEiy enough. with the advent OF The
white man into our territory began the
decrease aud degeneration Of our PEG
pie u has been quoted TO be by all
members OF the Tribe long since de.
ceased. that they could recollect when
thsaF people numbered between 5000 and
GU A band Of hunters. who came over
lhe great divide early la the eighteenth
century, we're charmed With the native
wealth and beauty Of the Clearwater
valley and made II q home. They
thnved and grew. aud later gained dis,
ahesion among the powerful lEibe OF
vest The skin Of our hnnten was
respected and the proves and courage
q our warriors HAs feared even beyond
The Rockies Every summer our PEG
PIE crossed the old 10 Lo Trail 10 the
hunting grounds beyond, which nov
comprise the states Of Montana and The
nakoiAs. aud II need h oGIerrd battle
70 the iEibes Of that section. 4, 10 com.
mon history Of the tTibe that they
deIeaicd Tie sioax 10 many honest con.
srkis and returned with the enemies
hoESas ladened with the spolln Of war.
In those days they we're perhaps ~
mAny ~ tuenty subordinate tribes and
~ many t0ans on our land. Our tern.
tnSy practically Included all the basin
ot the Clearwater Fiver and many miles
down the Sake. she mini kun Cthe
present site of Lewistoal whiteblrd,
kAmlah. Alpoua. Poliach, LApwal aud
UFand Honds uers Among the principal
iowna The chiefs Numbered ovrF 100.
Periodically = subordinate Isibe would
desrTt = town. uhich would be lmmed
lalsiy oceapscd BY another. and raci,
yeas Just b~fosu The haunting keasan
srani0a Of al The utbcs wAs held at
SHE mini Kan, and folks Of the river,
IihV FOylng life vas conducive 10 good
health and longevity. Each tribe Was
pspaad u Tie akiIl Of It's hunters and
uauiosA, Tie OlfsPgtng we're objects
of giSc greatest care. ard acre trained
srom childhood Ia ihr arts Of the bow
and gar. Our warriors uere men Of
splendid physlQnc and great athletes.
Had like conditions continaed nc would
s,ill probably he = healthy tItbe but It
h dineTvnL
III u also tTthe history that just b.
fotw The advent Of The present CENTURY
The smallpox AooaEer Vtsit-d our peo
pie and oar numbers rriuccd one half.
/ I.Alst came The uhlte man With disease
and the VICES Of gaming and dunk.
With the effect Of The deaeTtion Of
Inherent habits and the adoption Of =
nsura civilization dates the destruction
81 oar lEibs. The effort Of civilization,
A. tar a the Indians arc CONCERNED. IL =
failure. lie may adop, the clothes Of
/ The white man. desert the Wigwam for
moEv civilized QaaFteES. and till the soil,
bot neither the heart nor the motive
that tnspircs the white man Is In the
effort The goal 10 which other men
strive through industrious pursuits has
no attraction Tot him. THIS unhappy
I half gay brings diseontent aud care
lasaacsa The offspring are subjected
20 gross neglect. and the laws Of matTi'
mony. which In the years past were
sealed by q bond Of honor, are now dis
regarded and abused. To encourage
| this. gambling and drunkenness are In
strasine vices can see no relief from
the present startling death rate, which
In a few yeAs must Of necessity re
auee the numbers Of once great tribe
40 that they may be tailed on The
fingers Of the hands. But, arguing
from tbs standpoint Of the eternal ut
ness Of thinga. perhaps the remaining
few win represent the hcaluh ana
.irensth Of the modern Indian, assist
..,,,,c,,og nm even higher and