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


the Shoshonies without horses, and
scattered in small bands from the
Tetons to the Blue Mountains, sub
sisting upon roots and fish. a great
many without tents or "Wicke- ups
their only shelter being sage brush
thrown together. with some sticks sr
willows at one side. cotered with
grass or skins. to ward off the
storms.
These "WicKe- ups" or "Set-Downs''
as some of the Indians called them.
were usually located in some cut-of-
the-way place SO concealed that the
enemy might pass within one hundred
feet and not notice them; in fact,
their camps were located with this
object in view. and only one or two
families lived in any one camp; not
daring to live in villages large enough
to attract the attention of their enc
mics. Thus they lived for years in
constant dread of their foes. the
Blackfeet and Crows.
Finally. the Crows and Blacdeet
quarreled among themselves, over the
division of certain plunder which
they. together had acquired, and
went to war among themselves, and
our dilapidated. terror-scarred Sho-
shone friends again began to prosper
in a meager way: that is, they be-
gan to acquire horses and a few
firearms. and again began to hunt
the buffalo. finally extending their
expeditions east Of the mountains,
now, as each OF these tribes had all
they could do to look after their own
affairs in combat with the other.
However. on one of these hunting
trips across the mountains they fell
in with a hunting party of Arapahoes
who inhabited territory along the
upper Platt River.
These Arapahoes had formerly been
friends Of the Shoshonies, but, on
of their degraded and pow
erty stricken condition. had held no
with them for years,
and were very much surprised to find
them in so prosperous a condition,
and expressed themselves as truly
glad to find their old friends in
condition to hunt the buffalo, and
invited them to their camps, and Of
fered to show them better hunting
grounds. The Shoshonies accepted
their offer of friendship. and began
making preparations to follow their
friends to a better hunting ground.
the Arapahoes leaving a guide to pi-
lot the Shoshonies, the balance of the
returning to their camps.
not in fact 10 a better hunting ground
but to lead them into an ambush and
to destroy them, capture their horses
and fire arms. together with what
jerked" meat they possessed. How
aver, before they reached the point
where the massacre was to take
place, the Shoshonies began to get
suspicious that something was wrong.
lesitated. and finally refused to pro-
,eed further without first making
some investigation of the canyon into
which their Arapahoe guide was lead
ng them. proposing to send two men
With the guide to ascertain if things
we're as represented The guide re-
used to go at first. but when our
riends had bound him to a tree and
made preparations to burn him. he
consented to show the Shoshonies
through the canyon.
About this time the Arapahoes, see
ng the hesitation of the Shoshonies,
anne from their concealment. charg-
lg with fierce yells upon the Sho-
homes, expecting to terrify and ov-
rcome them and win rich victory;
ut the Shoshonies stood their
round and a fierce battle ensued.
he Shoshonies were posted on the
ank of a small stream, while the
were in the open plain,
-ithout water. thus giving the Sho-
lonies much the best position. How
yer. the Arapahoes were brave war
ors. keeping up the fight for two
ays. and losing more than half their
umber. They withdrew leaving the
hoshonies the victors in possession
, the field.
The night after the battle, the Sho-
lonies beat a hasty retreat across
lie mountains. headed for their old
aunts. Snake River Valley. reaching
ome in due time without further In
eruption from the Arapahoes.
At the time of the downfall OF the
hoshone federation of Indian Tribes.
(COntfQued on Page 81