The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-06-23
Spokane Letter


agricultural, grazing and timbered
lands will be distributed among home
steaders by the government lottery
plan at Coeur d'Alene, 80 miles east
of Spokane, beginning the morning
of August o, is one of the three re-
serves in the Inland Empire to be
opened this year. The other two are
the Spokane in eastern Washington,
5000 acres of agricultural lands, and
the Flathead in western Montana, with
45O, 900 acres OF agricultural and graz
ing lands. Those eligible to settle on
this land must register at either
Kalispell or Missoula, Mont, for the
Kalispell OF Missouri, Mont, for Flat
head, at Coeur d Alene and at Spokane
for Spokane reservation. Registration
will begin on July Is and continue
until August s. All applications for
registration must be mailed in q
plain envelope, 5 IL by inches, to
James w. Wtten, superintendent OF
opening, Coeur dAlene, Idaho.
The passing of the reserve from the
hands of the historic tribe to white
settlers marks an epoch in the an
nails of the Northwest; its settlement
next April means homes for from
1000 to 10000 persons, probably
many of them from crowded cities
in the east, and the development of
the lands will add several millions of
dollars annually to the wealth produc-
tion of the Inland Empire.
The reservation has an interesting
history, dating from the early '3Os,
when French Canadian employees OF
the Hudsons Bay company stirred
up among the untutored reds a desire
for the coming of BLACK Robes" as
the missionaries were known in those
days. Fathers De Smet, Gregory
Mengarini, and Nicholas Point. accom-
panied by Brothers Specht, Huet and
Claessens came from st. Louis in
1S41 and lived among the Indians.
They founded their first mission in
the Bitter Root valley, in Montana,
near the site of the present town OF
Stevensville, where they afterward
erected a church and parish house
and cultivated the land. Several years
afterward Father Josef Joined the
band of workers and the Occur
d'Alene mission was established.
Father Josef later became superior
of the Rocky Mountains mission,
which, in 1907, was united with the
California mission. 1t Is headed by
Rev. Father George De la Motto OF
Spokane, whose jurisdiction now en-
braces the states Of California, Ore
gon, Washington, Idaho, Montana,
Wyoming, North and South Dakota
and southern Alaska, an area of 9O0,-
00U square miles.
In the early days some of the
Indians, then in their prime, were
looked upon as medicine men," en-
dowed with supernatural power and
consequently, of great influence among
their fellows. When the priests begaT
their work they condemned that su
perstitition and the medicine mer
gradually lost their power and in
fuence. Old and young today arr
ldevout adherents of the Roman Cath
olic religion. The men devote them
selves to athletic sports and games
between the ceremonies, being espec
tally fond Of baseball and horse rae
ling. Indian officers maintains a vigi
liant police system and offenders arr
FURNISHED by Imprisonment in the jai
at De Smet. Drunkenness is not tol
Grated.
Pierre Wildshoe, chief of the tribe
! and successor of Andrew Seltice, VIII
died in 1902, while not the wealthies
is one of the most respected and in
fiuential men on the reservation
Pierre Moctielma is sub-chief an
John Davenport, who was raised b
white merchant OF the same nam
at Colfax, Wash, is head of thu
Indian police. They are respected b
all who know them.
Louis Mitchata probably is tn
, wealthiest OF the Occur d'Alene In
dians. He Is reputed to be worth a
least $4,000, of which $4,000 is 4
money at interest. He lives in
house which would be no discredi
to any farmer in the country, an
{ has good barn for stock and con
venient outbuildings. A grove c
trees surrounding a large fish pond
a pretty feature OF the premises. L6
10, who lives near the governmen
sawmill, a few miles east of the mis
sion, has possessions in live stock an
cash to the amount or 10000. Chic
> Wildshoe is worth $4,000 and Other
have from $1,000 to $4,000
The great age reached by a nun
ber OF these people is a matter {
e interest. Father Caruana, OF DE Smt
> mission, says that Charles. who die
there few years ago, was not les
than 120 years old. He was total
blind for years before his death, an
Q was waited on by his daughter, wh
I died later deaf and blind at the ae
of 80 years. Cpo-Na-Cha. a Coeur-d
Alene squaw, died recently at the as
OF SO years and Victoria of the san
tribe. is supposed to be in her GOT
, year. Scam-tal-am-to, a Spokar
squaw. who lives on the reservatio
is 81 years. There are several Other
past the four score period.