Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1898-09-15
The Far West.

| Perce Indian. This | fully intended
/ to do on the 12tn of July past, that day
being the anniversary of the last OF the
two days fight with the Nez Perce In
dians. under Chief Joseph, and the
United States forces and volunteers,
under command of Gen. 0. o. Howard,
at Clearwater, Idaho, four miles from
Harpster. The ground where the bat
tie was fought is known as the Old
Battle Ground. This battle was fought
July 11th and 18th, 1877. The out
break commenced early in June by the
Indians numbering the defenceless set
tiers oD Salmon river and Camas
Prairie. The 1st cavelry. under Col.
Perry, attacked the Indians in White
Bird canyon and narrowly escaped an
| initiation. Howard then took COM
maud in person. Indians crossed from
| Salmon river 70 Clearwater, in the
meantime killing Lieut.. Rains and 13
men of Perry's command at Cotton
wood, and had fight with the VOlun-
teers. William Fosters grave, three
miles west OF Cottonwood, marks the
place of battle. This grave is marked
by nice tombstone; it is on the Lew
lister and Camas Prairie stage road.
1t is said there was nineteen well aimed
shots fired at one brave, behind a
small pine. He fought It'll death stop
ped his shooting. The volunteers hung
this Indians buckskin suit in this small
pine where he was killed. 10 day
there are strings of buckskin to he seen
| hanging from the top of what is now a
pine tree sixty or seventy feet tall;
though it was placed there twenty-on e
years ago.
On the morning of the 18th Howard
struck them and continued the fight all
that day and night. The second day,
in the afternoon, circumstances led to
charge of the troops and volunteers.
Cooks men deserted the pack train and
joined the charge. The Indians were
completely routed. This was kept up
till the Indians surrendered in the
November following, in the Bear Paw
mountains near the Canadian line.
There are many stories told of this war
but too numerous to mention at this
time.
The Nez Perce Indians are consider
ed very peaceable tribe, as they are
to-day. They are financially better
fixed than the average American.
They have sold their Reserve to the L.
S., and have received three payments.
The last one, which was in May,
amounted to $164 900. They ride in
the finest of hacks and buggies, drive
the best horses to be found. Their
craving for liquor is noticeable; as they
all strive to get all of the whiskey they
can. James Reuben, their Chief Ad-
visor, or the one to whom all go for
advice, and who settles all difficulties
between them, died few weeks ago
at Laquoai Agency. 1t is said of him
that he could, with five minutes notice,
make very interesting stump speech
either to Indians or to whites. Another
habit you will notice-their love for
gambling and horse racing. Many of
them can speak the English language
well still they have those old ways.
Many of them have nice houses, but
they all have the teepee in their yards.
Their manner of trading you will also
notice. Should they want to buy bill
of goods in a general store, they pay
for each article as they buy it. They
count in Nez Perce as follows; nox, l;
lebit, 2; metat, 3; pelip, 4; pocket. .;
welox, 6; wenept, z; wematit, s;
queets. 9; pootumpt, 10; nox ketchwa,
81. Saxtiroa, How do you do. =" 1t
does not matter, if they are well edu-
Gated, they all talk Nez Perce when
trading. In the manner of labor these
Indians are no diffrent than other
tribes only that the bucks do more
work helping the squaws lay in sup
plies. An incident happened not long
since that will give you an idea about
division of property. A squaw died
near Laqua that had some property to
be divided between some of her people.
The day she was buried all the tribe
congregated and spent three days in
festivities. They brought all their
best saddle horses and hundreds of them
could be seen coming from all direc-
tions.
After moments reflection and TAX
ing into consideration the hardships
that the pioneer of Idaho has under
gone, it brings to our mind a story of
a young man in the great north h-west
in search of gold.
A young man heard of country cold,
Far away under heavens blue,
Where the soil was rich in darling specks
And dust of yellowish hue!
Where the beds of the rivers were teeming
with bits of
A sparkling metal called gold.
Thought he to himself, s'my fortune is made,