American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1914-12-24
(RecOllectiOns of w. Il. OIiyer.)

(RecOllections of w. Il. Oliyer.)
Early in January. 1873, three com.
pan1es of cavalry, commanded by Cap
tain cambridge, arrived at Old For
Hall. They came, it is my recollection
from either Laramie or Cheyenne As
soon as these came things quieted 6
little on the reservation, and the mer
1 left with the mules on Raft river
returned to the ranch and remained
unmolested throughout the winter
Before the troops came the Indians
we're very ugly. Had | known that
conditions were as bad as | afterward
learned they were, I would have left
much sooner than did. Sometime dur
Ing the fall two freighters had been
killed near Ross Fork. The United
States Marshal came to the agency
and demanded the surrender of the
guilty parties. One was surrendered
to him, and the marshal was on his
way to Boise with him, via Corrinne
but had not gotten as far as Pocatel-
10 before the Indians shot and killed
Alex Rodin, who delivered beef to
the agency from Corrinne, for To-
ponce & Co They killed Rodin TO
get even for the prisoner taken away.
Rodin was pulling hay with a forked
stick from stack when he was shot.
This occurred right at the agency. II
was about thh time that w. N. Schil-
ling was kept in a cellar for about
a week, for safety He was the teleg-
rapher for the stage company and
the Indians had threatened to kill him
II he sent out a message calling for
troops. Major Danielson was Indian
agent at that time
Beginning of the Bann0ck War.
About the goth of May, 1878, I re-
turned from Cassia creek. Instead of
going back to the Quimby place |
went to work for Mr.. Schilling. on
his ranch a few miles further up the
river. The Schilling ranch was the
second ranch established in the valley
above American Falls. II was loca-
ted In the bottoms, just to the left of
the foot of the grade on the Horse Is
land road, and was purchased a few
weeks ago by Ed Quinlan. We had
hardly got settled there when our sec
ond Indian scare came One even
ing. J believe it was the oath of May.
Buffalo Horn, one of the most war
like OF the Bannock chiefs. and about
forty warriors stopped at the Schil-
ling ranch. and asked If they could
stay over night and pasture their no.
nies in the meadow OF course they
could stay. I was delighted TO be of
service to such distinguished old
reprobate, because I had to he. They
could have had anything on the place
simply for the asking. Under the cir
cumstances anybody would have been
delighted to have them as guests. be-
cause they could not have prevented
their staying, and il was the part of
wisdom to remain friendly. but was
SCARED about as bad as a man could
he. The Indians were then leaving 10
begin raid Which took them into
Oregon and Washington, where sew
eral battles were fought and many
wanton murders committed. / was the
first white man they saw after leaving
the agency Indians must have been
leaving in small parties for several
days, because four days later there
were several hundred OF them congre-
gated in Camas prairie. two hundred
OF whom followed Buffalo Horn on
his raid. AS soon as II became dark
J took Mrs. Oliver and the baby and
went to a dugout near the house
where we stayed all night. fearing ev-
cry minute that we would be mur-
dered before morning We slept very
little Much TO our relief the Indians
left next morning early. Buffalo Horn
said they were going to Boise to see
the governor.
First Men Killed in Bannoek War.
Two or three days later Buffalo
Horn and his band met two Albion
returning from Boise. and
murdered and robbed them. One Of
them was John Bascom. and the other
one was named Robinson. These were
the first men killed in the Bannock
war. But for the presence OF Balm
bridge and his soldiers / would doubt
less have had this honor myself. This
took place beyond Twin Falls. about
The 2eth of June. Hafley's history
fixes the place nearly opposite Glenns