Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1916-12-29

would make interesting reading for
it's columns and here they are:
(Shoshone, pronounced Sho- -Sho-
nee, with accent on last syllable. the
same as Tennessee.)
Shoshone. an Indian word mean
Snake, the name of what was the
most powerful tribe of Indians in this
country. their possessions extending
from the head waters of Snake River
on the North, to the Southern line
of Nevada and Utah on the south, and
from the Blue Mountains and Sierra
Nevadas on the west, to about ths
center of what is now Wyoming-a
territory greater than all the CONT
nent of Europe.
There existed a sort of federation
of tribes, presided over by one grand
chief, with sub chiefs who presided
over the several subordinate tribes,
such as the Piutes Diggers. Utahs,
F'latheads. and other smaller bands
all speaking the same language ani
having the same superstitions-sor
of barbarian republic. living in peace
with all other tribes by reason of
such federation and their overwhelm-
ing numbers. However. this state Of
affairs gradually came to an end. as
we shall see.
About the year ITS, the northwest |
fur company was organized in oppo-
sition to the Hudson Bay Company.
and their traders and trappers sent |
across the plains to establish trading
posts with the Indians. Among the
first tribes these traders encountered
was the Crows and the Blackfeet In
dians, both tribes being of the most
savage and warlike tribes Of the
regions.
The traders, being well supplied
furs, they opened up their goods and
In a very short time the Blackfeet
and Crow Indians had no furs and
but little to show in trade for Them
but the traders having plenty more
goods. persuaded the Indians to visit
their neighboring tribes to obtain
secure furs from the Shoshonies and
other nations they would swap them
one rifle, with a certain amount of
one red blanket and one
pocket mirror for one hundred and
fifty prime, well dressed beaver skins.
This the Blackfeet agreed to do. bur
the Crows demurred. being afraid to
90 to the Shoshone country on ae-
count of some former misunderstand-
ng.
However the Blackfeet delegation
set out and returned in the Spring
we'll supplied with a fine lot of beaver
skfns-the traders having furnished
hem with traps and other necessary
'quipment.
Up to this date. the Blackfeet and
Crows had neither horses or fire
rms. but the Shoshonies were well
upplied with horses taken in ex-
hange for furs in trade with the {
'paniards, but no firearms, the |
ipaniards refusing to furnish guns $
nd ammunition to any Indians. G
Now. this was the beginning OF the I
roubles and downfall of the once q
and peaceful tribe of the ]
hoshone Nation. The Blackfeet, be /
lg supplied with firearms and en-
outraged by the traders. soon began v
D make raids on the Shoshonies. 3
irving off great bands of their hor- .
es. piundering their villages. killing r
ne men, and carrying off their wo- q
len. n
This encouraged the Crows. who. s
eeing how well the Blackfeet had n
began to make raids on
he defenseless Shoshonies. extending $
heir forays farther TO the east and I
,uth, through what is now Wyoming, h
tab and Nevada, driving off great h
erds of horses, taking them across 4
lie mountains. trading them to the
ioux. Cheyennes and Omahas. 6
This state of affairs lasted for
ANY years-just how many we have :
cen unable to learn-but the late Cap