The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1910-09-01
WELL COLORED
BUT PART TRUE
Writes of Pioneer Days in
Idaho County, and Indian
War Times.

Someone who knew some things OF
Idaho county recently wrote and sent
to the outside world the following
blanket sketch Of former days and
incidents III and around GrangeviHe
and White Bird and contiguous coun
try. While it may not be all true
it viii at least interest
Idaho county, of which Grangeville
is the capital can perhaps lay claim to
having one of the most remarkable
towns i'm the matter of rapid transi-
ton from frontier conditions to mod
ern civilization that can be found in
the west
The little town of White Bird has
record The history of events marks
an epoch of rapid advancement that
is perhaps without parallel in the
northwest
This town on White Bird creek near
its junction with the Salmon rive, is
built ON the spot where took place
the massacre of a detachment of Gen.
o. 0. Towards troops in the Nez
Perez Indian war
The troops had stopped for few
moments rest before beginning the
long climb up to the prairie. All of
the soldiers dismounted and cowboy
fashion, loosened the cinches on the
saddles to rest the horses and allow
them to Craze.
The Indians III hiding in a near by
gully, opened fire. Many of the sol
diers in their haste to mount, neg
leoted to recinch their saddles and in
the running fight that followed, many
of the saddles turned and the riders
were thrown.
Fought Up the Hill.
The fight was kept up all of the
way up the hin and the soldiers
chased back to the main body camp
ed on Camas Prairie.
At the close of the Nez Perez In
dian war, White Bird became the
mecca of COW punchers from the Sal
mon and Snake river country anG
thr wing little town grew up, and I'M
til recent years it was a genuine from
tier town.
Shut off by nature from communica
ton with the outside world by Y all
of almost insurmountalle hills. the
settlers in the fertile valley liye1 in
a world by themselves.
Here it was that the cowboy as
story writer's pictured him lived the
longest before giving place to the ad-
vance of civilization.
Only Il few years ago the COW
puncher celebrated by riding madly
through the streets of the town,
shooting and yelling. Rode his horse
into the saloon and attempted to make
things interesting.
Great Celebrations on the Fourth.
Fourth of July celebrations here
were a seven days wonder From all
ills and around, the people came
and stayed until completely worn out.
Horse racing and bucking contests
every day, bowery dance kept going
day and night.
White bird is still isolated and shut
off from the outside world but an
electric plant supplies the town with
light and power. \ bank and several
merchandise stores are doing flour
ishing business.
The city council voted an ordinance
making it unlawful to indulge in the
practice of shooting up the town. The
people still love to dance for when
the surveyors of the mysterious Gill
more e PittsBurg railroad passed
through the town, the local paper re-
cords that the dance given by the
surveyors lasted until 3 o'clock in the
morning and that they all came back
and danced the next night.
Conditions Markedly Changed.
Conditions are rapidly changing, FOL
in December a new Methodist church
was dedicated. the first in the entire
Salmon river country and at the dedi-
cation services it was announced that
the church building was clear OF debt
and there was nothing TO take up a
collection for.
Coupled with the coming of the
church. the death knell was sounded
for the saloon as the county was vet
ed dry at the local option election
and all saloon licenses have expired.
And now to make the passing of
the cowboy complete, a number OF
prominent COW men have cleared the
ranges of all their cattle and are put
ting sheep on the ranges that hereto
fore have known nothing but cattle.
This change is the more remarkable
when it is remembered that about six
years ago the only bunch of sheep in
the county was rounded up by band