The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1916-04-14

lighting Indians with trained soldiers,
and that was that as a rule they knew
very little about Indian warfare. and
were unwilling to accept advice from
those who did know.
One of the most dreadful results of
this ignorance was in the Salmon
river country, when the troops had
encamped in small canyon, fenced
in by cliffs on three sides and on the
fourth by the Salmon river From
ed down their arrows and shot, al
most massacrcing the entire party OF
whites before help arrived.
The English seemed to be more in
terested as a government and less in
terested as people than we were,
sending protection, but not settlers.
However in lS4o, Washington seemed
to awaken, and sent four companies Of
U. S. troops to Vancouver From
that time on the immigrants were well
cared for.
The changes made in this country
since 1845 are little short of marvel
Gus; the village called Freedom now
commentaries the spot where so
many lives were lost on the Salmon
river: Old Fort Boise was great
quardrangular structure built of ad-
ODE, enclosing the homes and shops
of the trappers. Today the namcsake
of that fort is che of the most modern
cities of the west. Standing in the
beautiful state'house, looking over the
well kept postoffice lawn, one can
scarcely force the mind back to the
memory of pioneer days. Where
Caldwell now stands. there was no
hint of town forty years ago. An
old lady tells how, forty years ago
she forded Indian creek, on which
Caldwell is situated. At that time
she says, there was no indication of
even dwelling on the townsite.
The immigrants have erected to
themselves, monuments which will far
outlive any we may dedicate to their
honor. The broken wagon wheels,
the arrowheads, skeletons of oxen and
occasional graves are the milep osts of
their courage.
have looked upon but one grave
OF a murdered pioneer That was on
the main road between Pentersville
and Grangeville. Respectful hands
had fenced in the mound and on it
planted some shrubery. A plain stone
gave the mans name and the date of
his death Under this was the SEN
tence: KILLED by the Indians" just
that one phase, yet it conveys to the
mind as much as a whole volume
could. | think no one will ever see
this inscription, without seeing also
the life of the pioneers. The valley
in which the man now lies is eloquent
of the change made since his death
On either side of the road lie mead
ows, in which farm stock quietly
Craze. Bits of wool wave on the
fences, wagon rattles by on the
road. and the depression in which the
Indians lay waiting for their prey is
bridged by railway.
The hate, the romances, the priva-
tons of our brave ancestors of the
Oregon Trail have been ovcrlookc cd
too long. We hear only an occasional
echo of the old days. Idaho practic-
ally has no pioneer traditions. A few
vague histories, dealing rather with
political history than with the life Of
those days are all that reflect the
deeds of the early settlers. 1t is true
that now, stones are being erected
along the trail, but the little details
that go to make up a country's his
tory are, in the main, lacking This is
no sign that we do not honor them
the homes, the towns, the irrigation
projects, honor the brave pioneers and
never. while we are true Americans
will they be forgotten.