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| What: Historically this incident had a huge
impact on the local Indian perception of their white adversary. They saw an enemy that was
capable of an act that no Indian chief could ever do. This is a beautiful drive for your
4-wheel drive over a river gravel bed with some simple up and down hills. Good for a
beginner 4WD off-road experience. Why would anyone want to visit the site of a mass animal
murder? Probably most wouldn't, but for me it is important to go to the historical places
to get the feel and physical context of them. Even as late as 1911 the bleached bones of
the slaughtered horses could be seen along the bank of the Spokane river. What happened
here on September 9th 1858 after the great battle of the Four Lakes area? Colonel Wright
marched on the morning of the 8th to the east for 9 miles from a site where he had just
parlayed with Chief Garry Spokane. Whenever an Indian storehouse filled with their winter
supply of ffff99, oats, vegetables, camas roots, or dried berries was found, it was burned.
A large cloud of dust was seen in the hills off to the front and right. I closed up the
train and left it guarded by a troop of horse and two companies of foot, and I then
ordered Major Grier to push rapidly forward with three companies of dragoons, and I
followed with the foot troops. The distance proved greater than was expected; deep ravines
intervening between us and the mountains, but the dragoons and Nez Perces under Lieutenant
Mullan, were soon seen passing over the first hills. The Indians were driving off their
stock, and had gone so far into the mountains that our horsemen had to dismount, and,
after a smart skirmish, succeeded in capturing at least eight hundred horses; and when the
foot troops had passed over the first mountain, the captured animals were seen approaching
under charge of Lieutenant Davidson, with his men on foot, and the Nez Perces. The troops
were then re-formed and moved to this camp, I having previously sent an express to the
pack train to advance along the river. After encamping last evening, I investigated the
case of the Indian prisoner suspected of having been engaged in the murder of two miners;
the fact of his guilt was established beyond doubt, and he was hung at sunset. With one
execution under his belt, Wright next turned his attention to the valuable Indian horses
that had been owned by some Palouse Chiefs. He met with his officers to discuss what
should be done with the animals. Actually this herd presented quite a problem. It was a
crime at this time on the frontier to kill a horse, but this was war where all could be
fair. It would waste much ammunition to kill them, but driving them would slow the march
too much. Turning them loose would be giving a tool to the Indians. It was Wright's job to
subdue the Indian's powerful hold over their land. This action could demoralize the tribes
further. It was decided to select 130 out for the soldier's use, and then to kill the
rest. It was a larger job than expected. To save ammunition, colts were knocked in the
head. It was found that one bullet aimed behind the ear into the brain would kill most
effectively. They had to listen to brood mares whine all night over their lost colts. At
first they led the horses down to the river gravel bar, but it became too time consuming
so they ended up shooting them in the corral constructed by banks, the river and a rope
fence on the east side where there was no other containment naturally available. Captain
Keyes observed, "It was a cruel sight to see so many noble beasts shot down. They
were all sleek, glossy, and fat, and as I love a horse, I fancied I saw in their beautiful
faces an appeal for mercy. Towards the last the soldiers appeared to exult in their bloody
task; and such is the ferocious character of men." The defeated Indians wondered what
nature of mankind could kill horses -- stallions, geldings, mares, and colts -- in such a
cold-blooded manner? They never forgot the horse slaughter. The Palouses told their
children and grandchildren, who in turn told their children and grandchildren.
For more information see Appaloosa Museum. This lost
group of horses represented the best of the breed of the time. On Feb. 15, 1806,
Meriwether Lewis made this journal entry about the Nez Perce horses. "The
horses appear to be of an excellent rac. They are lofty, elegantly formed,
active and durable. In short, many of them look like fine English horses and
would make a figure in any country." "Today in the Nez Perce
Reservation in the town of Lapwai, this tribe reclaims it place among horseman
by creating a new line called the Nez Perce horse. It blends the appaloosa with
traits from a lean Central Asian war horse called akhal-teke. This breed is
young, but everything is going good so far." From Spokesman Review article,
8/5/2000, C1. |
| Where: North 47° 41.245'
West 117° 04.431' Drive East on I-90 to the
Washington/Idaho border and take the State Line exit. At the stop sign go
left under the freeway, and then go West from there to the State Patrol
weigh station and then walk west on the Centennial Trail to the monument
which is just west of the 2 mile marker. It is about one mile west of the
State Patrol weigh station. You also could go under the freeway at
the Stateline exit and go straight to a dead end sign and turn left onto a
small two rut trail along the river which is currently a popular dog
walking area. Here you can take your bike on the Centennial trail, but it
is a little longer than if you start from the Weigh Station. Or with a
four wheel drive you could follow the river bed till you can't go any
farther and then it is a fairly short walk to the monument to the west on
the Centennial Trail. Ignore the small print on the bottom of the monument
regarding moving of the monument since that relates to when the monument
was moved to the Weigh Station. It has now been moved back to the original
position and when they dug the pit for cementing the monument in they hit
bones that looked like horse bones. |
| Cautions: Watch the traffic around the State Line exit as
it is weird. |
| List: Water, binoculars, picnic, and in summer swimming suit. |
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