Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1904-08-13
How Col. Conner Killed the Snakes

The ercest and most deadly battle fought in tn
West excepting perhaps the sad and fatal one on tn
Little Big Horn where the gallant Custer and MS Drav
men we're annihi1ated occurred Bear river at poin
since called Battle Creek and distant about twelve mile
northwest from Franklin, Idaho The participant
we're about three hundred United States soldiers from
Fort Douglas Utah, commanded by Colonel z. Edward
Conner on one side and on the other band OF som
four or five hundred Snakes and Bannock Indians
including squaws and papooses, under the command o
Bear Hunter and other noted cheifs. For years larg
parties of Indians had been committing depredation
along what was then known the Northern route tc
California Emigrants and miners passing that way
were attacked and murdered by the mercess savages
who thus secured much plumber These maraudinl
bands of redskins also made ncursons upon the almost
defenseess settlers of Cache Valley, killing number
of people and driving off many horses and cattle.
During the early winter of 1868 the Indians were un
usually hostile, and among other misdeeds killed {
party travellers and secured booty several wagon loads
of good sand "a number of mules and The citizens
of Cache Valley determined to send posse to try by
peaceabe to deter the Indians from further de
predatons and to regain if possible the stolen
ty council was called of the leading men, and after
some discussion, it deemed inadvsable to send
large that would doubt aggravae the
to further hostlities 1t finally decided that only
two men should go, and volunteers called for.
Those who went upon that perilous journey were
"Syl' Collect and Thomas E. Kicks, both lately de
ceased They at once proceeded on horseback to the
winter homo of the Indians Bear River, thirty
miles distant from Logan. Arriving at the Village,
they found the savages encamped in very favorable
spot protected not alone from the wntry Winds but
from invading foe At that point the river
directly west and the rvne in which the temporary vii
age had been built intersects with the river the
north The east aud west sides of the ravne high
and precptous the north end is far in the mountains
above, while at the south there is natural wall OF
earth pierced only by the narrow bed of the creek
Between this wall and the river is open plateau.
Thus the Indians we'll protected the north Oh
the east, and the west, while from the south they
could themselves unseen look into the very face of
enemy.
Riding up, the two ambassadors encountered young
warrior at the first tepee They inquired of him the
whereabouts of Chief Bear Hunter He answered only
with sullen grunt. They that his manner indi
Gated the probably ugly frame of the whole village
they resolved that bold front their part would b.
their only safety They told the brave to take the
horses and feed them we'll, they would need then
soon Tor long ride at the time assuring hin
that their mission of peace He reluctantl
obeyed and they found themselves inside the ten
of Bear Hunter and surrounded by the chiefs of the t
tribes There fourteen of them in allfour prin
cipal chiefsBoar Hunter Pocatello, Sanpch and Sag
witch-and ten lesser chiefs mostly young men, TIL
Indians sat in circle, their backs to the wall tn
tent, while the visitors seated in the center Tn
white men asked the nature of their errand, an
briefly stated it, Then each warrior had his say as
whether they should accept the advice given and acced
to the demand made of them The older chiefs with on
exception, and that Pocatelo, willing to con
slider favorably the overtures of the commissioners
the young all defiant and eager not onl
to reject any interference but TO make end of the tw
intruders there and then The arguments between tn
red men waxed strong and for long time the majorit
of them decidedly against the proposed terms
settlement, namely cessation of hostilties and tn
return of what plumber remained in their possession
One of the last to speak aged warrior VIII
had remained silent during the entire proceedings II
probably saved the lives of the two messengers as wit
words of and eaestness he portrayed to the
dened assembly the dire results that would follow
rejection of the peace overtures and especially the mu
der OF these men who had come among them with non
but good intentions He reminded them that the sold
ers were already the way to against them and
concession made might save much bloodshed. II
burning word of eoquence turned the scale in fave
of the ENJOYS much to the anger of Pocatello who d.
clared that If any property given up he woul
depart that very day. with his force of one hundred an
fifty warriors who encountered with squaws or p,
pooses When asked where the wagons were the IndaT
replied that they had been burned In answer TO que
ton to the whereabouts of the oxen one of the angr
braves Reached for bone and holding it up exultaI
tly answer that that part of of them II
goods had mostly been consumed and little rename
of all the plumber except the mules 1t agreed thu
these latter should be taken away by the white mer