Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1912-05-23
HELD HILL five WEEKS
N e M o RIAL COMMEMORATIVE
BRAVE ACT OF PIONEER.
Early Colorado Settler, With His Fam
lily, Held War Party Of Indians at
Bay on Spot Now Known a.
"Simpson's Rest"

Prominent among the rocky, mesa
like hills that surround Denver, is a
rugged, gray point, within the out
skirts Of the town, known as "Simp-
sons Rest" Recently there was erect
ed on this hill monument commence
rating the brave fight put up at this
spot by John Simpson. one Of the ear
Hest settlers Of Colorado, against a
war party of Utes and Cheyennes in
1855. The Indian fighter and his wife
are buried on top Of the hill.
The Utes and Cheyennes made the
foothills and the plains adjoining the
Rockies their hunting ground, but
they rarely gave trouble to settlers.
Consequently, one May morning in
1855, when Simpsons children, Bob
and Nora, aged Is and 10, were max
ing their way to small stream near
their home. they were surprised to see
a large party Of Indians riding toward
them at terrific pace, shaking their
lances and uttering blood-thirsty cries.
At the same time they heard q cry
from the direction Of the cabin, and
saw their father running toward them
with his rife in his hand.
Simpson had just returned from an
expedition. He had heard that the
Cheyennes and Utes had gone on the
warpath, and he had fastened home
just in time to rescue his family. See
ing the trapper, the Indians hesitated,
for Simpsons fame as a shot had
spread throughout the frontier, and
the redskins knew that several among
them would meet death If they per-
sisted in their attempt to capture the
children.
Two burros were packed with provi-
sions, key Of water and all the am.
munition the trapper possessed. Driv.
ing the burros ahead of them the
members Of the little family set out
from the house. Simpson covered the
Indians with his rife when they ap-
preached too near, and the family was
unmolested. The hill which appealed
to the trapper as good place for de-
Tense was accessible only by single
narrow. rocky path, up which one
must climb today in reaching the sum.
init Of Simpsons Rest" The sum.
init OF the hill is fiat, about half an
acre In extent and surrounded by a
high rocky wall. 1t would be impos-
sible to storm such natural fortress
except by over-powering the defenders
at the narrow. defile which served as
an entrance.
The Indians saw that 1t was hope.
less to attempt to storm the natural
fortress, SO they surrounded the hill
and began a siege in the endeavor to
"starve out" the defenders. The siege
has no parallel in the history Of the
west. For five weeks the plucky pho.
neer and his family held their fortress
They killed their burrors when pro.
visions ran low. Fortunately, there
had been heavy rains, and depressions
In the rocks at the top of the hill
were filled with water, giving an am.
pie supply. At the end of the fifth
week, when hope was nearly aban.
doned, the Indians suddenly brought in
their ponies and rode away with shrill
cries. A troop Of cavalry from Fort
Lyon. $50 miles distant, which had
been sent out to render aid to any set.
tiers who might have escaped the ma.
rauding Indians, soon came in view
and Simpson and his family were res.
cued.