The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1913-08-29
TWO SPRINGS AND A RIVER
FOUND NSNAKE
The Alfred Party from Blackfoot Re-DiscoverI1
Long-Lost Springs and River In Valley Of
the Desert Serving as Strategic Point In
Indian Wars Of Long Ago.
HALF MILLION ACRES OF TALL GRASS

On July 2S, 1913, Isaac H. Alfred
Harvey Alfred, Orville Alfred and
VIM. L. Reynolds undertook the old
and oft-repeated task and adventure
of searching for the long lost river
and fertile valley of Idaho's great
lava desert, of which there has been
much talk, rumor and tradition for
the past quarter of century.
They obtained verbal description
of the valleys and the supposed river,
together with ancient trails trayersed
by the red men for centuries and
from old Indians who claimed to have
visited it in their childhood and from
Ed and Adrian Parsons who had but
recently undertaken the same task
and to certain extent been success
full 20 much 50 that they lad foln1
ava traversed the old indian ira"
through the lavas and entered some
of the valleys in which the supposed
water was to be found. These two
men were the first white men to ever
ave been really known e. find living
"; ter in the great desert any where
answering the description of the old
Indian stories and traditions.
From these verbal descriptions CIV
en- by Indians and the Parsons broth
ers this party drew up a diagram OF
the country with its prominent land
marks, and after carefully comparing
stories told and other maps drawn Of
the country claimed to have been
visited, undertook the dangerous and
exciting task of confirming the past
discoveries and stories told or prov
ing them untrue, and of making new
discoveries and explorations of their
own.
An attempt was made to get some
old Indian who claimed to have visit
ed the place in childhood to pilot the
party to the coveted springs and fer
tile valleys, but so great was the ef-
feet of their superstition and trad1-
tional stories upon them that love or
money could not induce them to un-
dertake the fearful task. One OF
these traditions which seems to have
the greatest effect upon him is some
thing like this:
For centuries past the Indian tribes
Nro inhabited the grett valleys OF the
Gem state VOID go To war win
neighboring tribes, and when one Il
these wars of conquests or revenge
was contemplated they would take
their wives, children and old men to
this great valley of the desert where
there was to be had an abundance OF
water and game to support them dur
ing the war and where they would
be safe from the enemy. 1t was sup
posed that this paradise was known
to none but the valley tribes, with
whom the greatest and most strict
cooroov uac onfnrcnd
Seventy or eighty years ago por-
ton of the Indian tribe then making
the great Snake river valley their
home determined upon going to war
with the enemy, a neighboiing tribe
This did not meet the approval Of all
the leading chiefs Of the tribe and
council Of war was called In which
there were many dissenting voices.
So great was the controversy that
portion of the tribe with their leaders
rebelled against the former decision
declaring war. This caused a divi-
sion In the tribes and only a portloh
of them held to the former declaration
of war. This part took their wives
and children, as was the ancient prac-
tice, to this retreat in the heart OF
the great desert. Being unable to pre-
sent a solid and united front to the
enemy they met with many reverses'
and when the war was finally endeo
the surviving warriors returned 10
their homes. The wives and children
were sent for, but on reaching the hid
den valley no trace of the loved
ones could be found. The great lava