The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1914-04-03
EARLY HISTORY
THE LOST RIVER COUNTRY
Story trapper during the indian Story Of Mack
NIcCumsey written by J. W. Powell. In five chapters.
CHAPTER FOUR

up the cayuses while / got our packs
ready, to move camp. In about two
minutes Henry returned in great
haste. He had seen a large band of
indians only 200 yards away coming
directly towards us. We GRABBED our
guns and slid for the rocks about
so yards from camp. They soon came
to our camp fire, but they did not
seem surprised. They knew by our
outfit that We were white men and
we could see that the chief was dress
ed In the uniform of a captain. He
knew that We were not far off, so he
called out in good English, Hello,
you white man! you come into camp.
We no hurt white man." so walked
down among them, but not without
keeping sharp lookout for treach-
cry. Henry followed close behind me
with his rifle handy. He was ready
to fight for our lives at the drop of
the hat. When | came up to them
the chief shook hands with me but
paid no attention to Henry, which ap-
pears to be the indian custom in
regards to an indian who runs with
a white man. He said, me all same
soldier, me scout for white soldiers,
long time" He said he was chief of
the Bannock indians and that his
white name was Major Jim. l said,
Major Jim, do you think that the
indians will 60 on the war path this
summer" he said. mo sir. injuns
hetp ketchum belly full, they all bury
the Ratchet, now all same brother"
l was very glad to hear of this, but
did not know what had brought about
this friendly feeling. He had nothing
but feelings of contempt for the
| fighting ability of uncle sans boys
i'll blue, but he thought the hunters
and prospectors could lick any people
on earth. He talked with me for
two or three hours and on leaving
invited me to his teepee near the
north fork of Antelope creek, to wit
ness big celebration of horse racing,
etc., which would occur in about ten
sleeps. watched him disappear with
feelings of relief, but to be on the
safe side, Henry followed them for
ten or twelve miles to see if they
really left the country. They appar-
emily paid no attention to us, and
kept straight ahead, but we moved
camp about five miles south over the
hills to the next little creek MARSH
canyon) and camped at the forks of
the creek. Next morning all of our
pack horses were gone, but we still
had our two saddle horses as we al.
ways kept them picketed in camp.
We Immediately laid the theft to the
Indians, and started to trail them as
soon as we could saddle up. In less
than fifteen minutes we changed our
minds about it being Indians-our
horses were being driven by two
horsemen whose horses were shod,
which showed conclusively that we
had white men to deal with. The
tracks lead us down the canyon to
Antelope creek. Here in a thick
bunch of willows, in the forks of
Antelope we found a corral made of
willows, nicely hidden from the trail.
There were about twenty head of
horses in the enclosure. Among them
was our missing pack animals, but
no human being was in sight. While
Henry acted as seminal, l led our
horses out one at time and turned
them outside. Just as turned the
last one out two men rode up to US.
said. "Is this your corral?" The
largest of the two said, Eyes, what
about it." said, What do you mean
by running off our horses like this?"
he saw that was mad and he began
to laugh, in fact he laughed so much
that he dismounted to get better
start, He would stoop over, raise !
his hand above his head, slap his
knee, shake his head and laugh at
the top of his voice. After he had
uuieted down bit / took his measure. !
He had a very crooked nose and a ,
most genial expression on his rugged
He did not look des-
perate, so l turned to his companion,
who was little old wrinkled fellow,
and was decidedly full breasted in
the back. From his looks, did not
expect any trouble from him. They
said that their horses got mixed with
ours and that they could not separate
them in the dark, so had brought :
them along, thinking that they were
strays and belonging to nobody. They
had taken up a ranch there and in
tended to go into the horse business.
The big man said his name was
Marsh and that his partners name