The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1908-12-23
SNAKE INDIAN TRIBE
Is RAPIDLY DYING
Southern Idaho Supports the Few
Remaining Members of Once
Formidable Nation.


One of the dying tribes-a race
that is fading away and will be only
a memory in few years--is the
widely scattered Shoshoni nation,
which. in its heyday, ranged over
an enormous territory, but is now
fast passing from existence.
The Shoshoni. or Snake Indians,
are of unknown origin and primal
habitat. They may have come down
from the north when the Apache and
Navajo swept south from the arctic
regions. or they may have always
lived where they do today-on either
side of the Rockies.
One branch of the tribe. left the
mountains, spread over the south
western plains. and grew to great
fame as the Comanche nation. The
rest of the Shoshoni remained in the
old homes of the various bands and
held their own as best they could
against other tribes.
Living in the mountains of Wyo-
ming. a splendid race physically and
mentally. the eastern Shoshoni
fought the Cheyenne and Sioux and
made friends with white man. Lewis
and Clark met the Shoshoni and re-
ceived splendid treatment from them,
due to the fact that Sacajawea, the
bird woman guide to the expedi-
ton. was Shoshoni girl
When the whites and the great
plains confederacy OF fighting tribes
began the terrible struggle that only
ended with the conquest OF the Sioux
and Cheyenne. the Shoshoni gave
firm allegiance to the palefaces.
Their chief. Washable, who died not
long ago, was wise in counsel. able
in war. and of great help TO the mil
tary.
Although the young men of the
tribe went with all the expeditions
of Crook and Miles. the soldiers gave
no protection to the Shoshoni camps,
and the Cheyennes wreaked grim
vengeance on them. One Cheyenne
killed by Col. McKenzie's troopers.
had necklace made from the hands
of twenty-three Shoshoni babies.
In 1873 the Shoshoni on the Wind
River reserve, in Wyoming, num-
bered 1923. They have decreased
steadily and now total about 100.
Lazy, good humored, living poorly,
the best way they can, the eastern
Shoshoni are receiving a poor re-
ward for their more than 100 years
of generous friendship to the white
man.
| With the Bannock at Fort Hall.
Idaho, is another section of the Sho-
shoni tribe. These Indians were
suspicious of the whites and had TO
be crushed by Gen Conner some for
ty-five years ago. After the defeat
of Bear River they settled down
quietly and have made no trouble,
even refusing to 60 on the warpath
when the Bannock took the field in
1873. They were about $50 of these
shoshoni in 1873, and some SIS are
now living.
At Lemhi, amid the spurs of the
Rockies, some $50 mixed Shoshoni
and Bannock have scratched out a
living for centuries. These people
moved to the Fort Hall reservation
only last summer A fair estimate
of their number in 1873 was $50.
The poorest OF the Shoshoni phys
ically, mentally and financially. are
those who rode over western Utah
and eastern Nevada. These people
rave always been poor and despised
of other bands Living in the des-
ert. feeding on lizards. grasshoppers
and sage hens. they were much in
ferior to their eastern brothers or
to the adjoining Ute and Paiute
tribes
A reservation at Duck Valley on
the 1daho-Nevada line, is open to
them, but less than ESQ make it
their home, the balance wandering
wherever they can make a living.
In 1873 careful count of the
western Shoshoni put them at 1915.
Today, including those at Duck VAL
ley. ranging in Nevada, and living
in Box Elder county. Utah. there are
not more than 800 surviving.-W.
A. Phelan in the Chicago Journal.