The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1905-01-05

dawn would bring tho routhsiders MP
on their enemy. The northsiders were
counseline one another to stand Arm to
the end. II the could only stay the
destruction of thai traps aatil the ar
rival Of the soldiers they feared no
further trouble.
With the first flash OF the red in the
east the southsiders moved out to the
north. They did not apprehend any
danger OF interference from the SOL
diers. They left that to Gabe Jaivi.
Their PURPOSE was to make the fight
nnal this morning. They knew that
they possessed the numbers and should
they succeed in destroying the north
slders' traps and return to their homes
on the southside the victory they had
so long sought would be complete.
When once at their homes the enormi- !
ty OF their crime would be lost sight OF |
In a measure and the future would |
ind them masters of the river.
When the traps we're once DESTROYED |
1t would be difficult to rebuild them,
and through the prejudice they expect
ell to create against the traps, they
hoped to interest their own state and
the United States congress against the
construction of fishtraps in the Column
oia river. They had already sent
long. petition TO their congressman, not
only showing that the traps were de-
structive 10 the fish industry but were
also detrimental and hazardous TO nav
igation.
Axes, drags, arms and dynamite had
been provided by the southsiders.
They did not wish upon the whole to i
resort to bloodshed. They came, how
ever, determined to win. They ex- '
pected to do this through intimidation
and overwhelming numbers.
But there were those among them
who are always found in mob organ.
ization, that preferred bloodsht d to any 7
other feature OF the fight between the
two factions.
The southsiders moved along like so
many shadows to the attack. A cou- !
pie OF launches used for towing in the I
ishing boats on other occasions had +
,een secured, and sailboats had been Z
into row boats for the NOM +
ng attack These were manned by !.
arge forces and formed line for the :
main encounter.
Old Seadog had assembled his men &
ear the center OF the largest group OF II
raps and took active command at this
oint- 1t meant more foi him than Or
DR. all the other northsiders combined be
nd he interested himself accordingly.
He possessed an lion nerve and this az
as wrought up to the highest tension. an
was the critical point OF the long an
ruggle and should he lose, thousands !,
dollars worth of property would pass r.
ON his hands. With his traps de- u,,
royed his cannrey would be useless; a.,
18th traps and cannery both out of use ~
lie men would be out Of employment IT.
nd could not pay their bills at his -
ore; neither could they pay their -. -,
mt. The traps were the life OF the III
wn and the town was owned by Sea- -
x. -.
His dark hotilla rose and fell with IN
e swells Of the bay like a school OF tne
hales lying at rest. and old ssadog tne
as as silent and watchfuI as the bull
ader of such an aggregation. He was ave
rugged as a water god and feared the
ives no more than did old Neptune, lon
10 ruled them. had
The suspense was finally relieved. hon
the shadows OF the slowly approach mo,
3 morn could be seen the boats OF the pau
stretching up and down -
; river like a great black wave. war
cir numbers looked as ominous as -
their dark line OF advance. 81
Men, to your arms and oarsl" tell
sed old Seadog. And this command 1t II
: taken up and passed down the line. fact
The arms consisted principally OF one
g poles. These had been cut for the Al
lble purpose of keeping back the logi,
It's of the enemy and at the same petit
e to be used as cudgels in Gaze of and
stance and hand to hand conflict. bIue
While it was a justifable case for 20
oloying firearms, the fishermen sue
nd that they were not accustomed to onlv
lr use and they realized further that ,oun
less bloodshed on the occasion the 7 Ln
er it would be for their cause in 40.
long run. This was the sentiment W.
both sides though many bad brought Ter
Ig rifles and revolvers to use in the 80
st extremities.