Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1918-11-14
OLD INDIAN SCOUT RELATES
WHY WHITES LOSSES
WE'RE so GREAT
CONTRAST WITH GUNS NOW
Declares Sights Should be ADEQUATE
for Straight Shooting Describes
Battles With Reds

One of the most interesting pionee
OF the state is Lew Wilmot of Oppo
'tunity, says the Boise Statesman. +
Is the man who carried the massag
during the Nel Perez war, from III
Volunteers back to Howard at Moun
Idaho, when Colonel McConville an
Major Fem had the Indians surround
), ed at Kamiah. He was scout VIII
enlisted with Randall IS companv a,
Mount Idaho, and he participated !,
he fight on Cottonwood when Ran
iaIl was killed.
Mr.. Wilmot is exceedingly interested
Il, n the kind of rifles with which the
net are outfitted in the present war.
md more than year ago, when the
ubJeet was being agitated, he wrote
ldjutant General Moody of his ex-
eriences with some of those in use
y the U. S. army.
. According to Mr.. Wimot. the GREAT
,1sses in a group of Nez Perez Indian
iattles were due to the poor sights on
le army rifles. Mr.. Wilmot partici-
iated personally in these battles and
aims to know of what he speaks.
Soldiers Need Good Rifles.
If the government is going TO, ac- /
hpt. the services of the young men
mo are enlisting in this great war.
? writes, cit should first put into
cir hands rifles with which they can
'fend not only themselves, but their
'mes. The sights on the Krag and
@ Springfield army rifles are worth
IS. 1t is impossible for an old sol
err, recruit, or the best rifleman in +
r country to shoot with one with c
y degree of accuracy, except in the I
st light and at stationary objects.
The front sight is so coarse that at
. yards it covers eighteen inches.
d at 800 yards it covers six feet j
e hole in the peep is so small. and a
Is so far from the eye, that the
st move of the head will throw the NJ
'oter off from his target Take it
of an evening or early in the l.,
rhihg, or when dust is blowing, it 10
impossible to see through the peep
ITS. The battle sights are so coarse ~ y
S impossible to do accurate shoot fF
- Nc
Relates Own Experiences. o.
r. Wilmot goes to II of the ter
effect of poor sights in his own tai
'riences, which include one of the , eu'
exciting of the Indian battles. 99r
e says: The evil effects of poor
is ON good rifles were brought out }
ne Nez Perez Indian war. In the o 90,
q of Whitebird, Colonel Perry. % :
two companies of cavalry.
'ty-two strong, attacked Joseph IS NO
about 225 strong. The soldiers d
defeated and lost "a men The Lam
ms did sot lose man; twenty-five emp 10
soldiers threw away their rifles NJ
lelr retreat The Indians were Mar
with Winchesters, old model. No.
soldiers had Springfields, 1870. Me-
, when properly sighted, are ex- lfori
for game or defense. to m
ne next fight Lieutenant Raines. claim
ten soldiers and one scout, was fore
ed by the hostiles, and all were S,un
The Indians lost one man. GA
lese soldiers been armed with riff He
'perly sighted they should have Rice
fifty or more Indians. w w nl''
light Indians at Cottonwood.
2 next fight was at Cottonwood. NJ
Captain Randall with sixteen Del
ers was emf of a.. Land
hostil 5 as he was on his way Xot
relief Ct Colone! Nhirple, who Cover
arding army supplies. Colonel July
p was surrounded bv the hos S ..,,,
d he sent Dan Crooks to Mount W.
skiing Captain Randall to come SWH
assistance, which he did, with Kange
IN all told. When the volun- ,...' :,
IT within one and three-eights land n
Cottonwood they found all the Taylor
drawn up in battle line. There 'iiP' l.
'bably 200 warriors They had cl,i,
nforced with fifty-two Spring l.. He,
he Indians had captured. Cap Cliffor
ndail's men. were reduced to 81 81 IRA
thin few minutes. one of
I'D not fire shot, although FOR
ne have his rifle to use nnt;l Ia.
oled off little.
volunteers held the ground 7o ' oo Nc
a. m. until 4 p. m. w. b An,
had a Ballard with peep sights. -
ohnson had Springfield 1870.
h the sights had been fixed