310309 - Indian Names

Recording Status:  recorded, not located

The Empire Builders broadcast of March 9, 1931, was advertised as a program focusing on the origin of place names in the Northwest that were derived from local Indians. The dramatic presentation focused more on a military defeat suffered by Colonel Edward J. Steptoe (1815-1865), U.S. Army, but a few place name origins were in fact provided.

Before I get too deeply into the content of this broadcast, I’d like to just take a moment to acknowledge an aspect of these radio broadcasts that is a bit troubling, but ultimately it just “is what it is.” I’m referring to the nature of how certain people in our society were treated (and of course, in some ways, still are). Any study of history must take into account the context of the time being studied. None of us, as much as we might like to, can go back in time and talk to those people of an earlier time about their choices and their attitudes. I’m not the one to judge people in the past about issues of prejudice or bigotry, nor to try to reconcile those things with where we are today. But as will be evident in the telling of this radio broadcast, Native Americans were characterized in a mostly demeaning and/or subservient manner. They were presented as generally unintelligent, or at best, in a condescending light. Clearly, this kind of treatment would simply not do on the radio or other media today, and thank goodness for that. So then, here is the story of this radio drama, warts and all. I hope you can view it through the perspective of its place in history, and maybe not so much through the filter of today’s (generally) more enlightened view.

This broadcast is notable as being another winning submission in the GN’s radio story contest. The author of this playlet was Miss Ida Mina Jones of Spokane, who was the first place winner in the contest proctored by radio station KHQ in Spokane.

The Great Northern issued a press release for the broadcast. Here is the bulk of what it said:

How Hangman’s Creek, near Spokane, got its name is told in a stirring drama of the early west which will be presented on Empire Builders Monday night. The story revolves around the romance of an Indian maiden and a white guide, and has a historical background in the defeat of Colonel Steptoe’s forces by the Indians at Steptoe Butte.

The drama provides an exceptional role for Lucille Husting, leading woman of Empire Builders, whose ancestry includes La Farrenee, the famous Menominee Chief and Solemn Juneau, French fur trader who founded Milwaukee. Harvey Hays, the Old Timer, and Don Ameche, as Williams, the guide, are other featured players.

A lavish musical background has been arranged by Josef Koestner, conductor of the Great Northern orchestra.

The story was written by Ida Mina Jones of Spokane, Wash., and won first place in a radio story contest conducted by KHQ, Spokane.

 

Unfortunately, I have so far been unable to come up with any other information about Ida Mina Jones, or the other contestants in the Spokane segment of GN’s radio story contest. Please let me know if you have any information that could be of help.

After the usual Empire Builders introduction, Ted Pearson came to the microphone and explained Miss Jones’ story.

ANNOUNCER:    Tonight Empire Builders brings you another prize story – the winner of the contest conducted by Station KHQ, Spokane, Washington. It is a tale of the early days of the Inland Empire – perilous days when the fate of the growing country was in the hands of a few soldiers and pioneers. We find the Old Timer and his friends in a car of the Spokane, Coeur d’Alene and Palouse Railway, an electric interurban line which is a part of the Great Northern system, and provides service to such neighboring points as Moscow, Colfax, Coeur d’Alene, and Spokane. Let us listen in on their conversation as they speed through the Inland Empire, and exclaim over its beauties ……

                (MUSIC UP AND FADE FOR DIALOGUE)

 

I’ve certainly heard of the Spokane, Coeur d’Alene and Palouse Railway, but I don’t really know much about it. On the other hand, I’ve located another blog where the author has written a nice summary of the operation, and has shared some excellent historic photos.

As promised by Ted Pearson, the story opened with a conversation between the Old Timer and a couple who had just arrived in Spokane onboard the Empire Builder. The married couple exclaimed about their interest in learning more about the west, and to discover adventure.

OLD TIMER:        Thanks. But you were speakin’ of that hankerin’ for adventure you’ve got … maybe this does look like a mighty peaceful country now … the miles and miles of wheat fields stretchin’ out like a golden blanket … but many a brave man gave his life so’s it’d be safe for us white folks here. You know the Indians . . .

WIFE:                   Indians! Are they troublesome?

OLD TIMER:        Troublesome!  (chuckle)  Well not lately, ma’am. Not for a good many years. But back in ’58 … if you had been in this Palouse country then …

WIFE:                   Palouse! That must be another Indian name. And I adore Indian names. There’s so many of them around here too … Spokane … Kootenai … Tekoa … Steptoe …

OLD TIMER:        All correct but Steptoe, ma’am. Steptoe was white. Edward J. Steptoe he was, Brevet Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army! They named a settlement for him after he led a hard-luck expedition against an Injun ‘risin’ in this here Palouse. Many a time I’ve heard my pappy tell of that ruckus.

WIFE:                   Oh, then you can tell us!

MAN:                    Yes, do Old Timer.

OLD TIMER:        Well, this story about Steptoe has got both romance and adventure. You see, Steptoe was stationed at Fort Walla Walla when an Indian runner brought news of Redskins raisin’ trouble in this valley we’re goin’ thru’ right now …

Colonel Edward J. Steptoe

 

Steptoe and his Lieutenant Gregg were provided some intel from an Indian man named Jim Black Bear.

GREGG:                Here Indian, right in here.  (pause)  Now speak up … what is it?

MESSENGER:      (voice shows sounds of fatigue)  White chief! Me Jim Black Bear. Me come say Indians kill two white men on way Colville.

COL. STEPTOE:   Indians have killed two white men! What Indians?

MESSENGER:      Palouse.

The brave (and seemingly impulsive) Colonel Steptoe immediately announced his men would set out at once to “tend to” those Palouse rascals. Black Bear warned the soldiers that the Palouse were not alone. They were in the company of warriors of the Snake, Spokane, Coeur d’Alene, and possibly Nez Perce Indians. Black Bear warned the soldiers to “take-um plenty fire sticks.” Steptoe decided it was time to drag two howitzers with the policing party he was about to set out with. In a timely coincidence, a guide by the name of Williams appeared, and was summarily enlisted to lead the squad of soldiers.

When the soldiers reached the Snake River, they were faced with a serious challenge to cross it. Luckily, they ran into an old friend of Williams the guide – a Nez Perce chief named Chief Timothy. The chief offered to rustle up some canoes to get the soldiers across the river. This aid did not come without a grave warning, however. Chief Timothy told Steptoe it would be dangerous to cross the river. Steptoe (once again striking a valiant pose) declared he and his men must cross. Timothy explained his concerns.

TIMOTHY:           White chief brave. No man say white blood on Nez Perce hand.

COL. STEPTOE:   What hands are now stained with blood of white people?

TIMOTHY:           Kamiakins.

COL. STEPTOE:   Kamiakin! Why he’s a Yakima chief. What’s he doing in the Palouse country.

TIMOTHY:           He Palouse. His squaw Yakima. Palouse people crazy. Kill white men. Steal horses. Kamiakin make bad medicine Spokanes, Coeur d’Alene. Try Nez Perce, too.

COL. STEPTOE:   What does Kamiakin say?

TIMOTHY:           Say White Father drive Indian away to far place. Timothy no listen.

COL. STEPTOE:   Kamiakin speaks lies. Chief Timothy is full of wisdom.

Umm... yeah, not so sure about that one.

 

Without any good alternatives, the soldiers loaded up all their guns, ammo, and such, and began to make their way to the far shore. Before they made it across, they ran into trouble. The continuity seems to indicate they collided with a ferryboat. If so, it kind of makes you wonder why the soldiers didn’t use the presumably larger vessel instead of canoes. In any event, this turn of fate resulted a most unfortunate development.

The guide, Williams, slowly brought Lt. Gregg up to speed on the impact of the impact in the river. It’s interesting to envision Don Ameche, who played Williams, handling the deliberate dialect reflected in the continuity.

LT. GREGG:         Shoot! Out with it!

WILLIAMS:          Why … the fack is … ah … we ain’t in no better shape to meet any hos-tiles than I was to meet Saint Peter back there in that river.

LT. GREGG:         How’s that, Williams?

WILLIAMS:          Well, Leftenant, course I know they ain’t no use a-tryin’ to persuade the military, specially since I ain’t nothin’ but a iggorant packer. An’, likewise, I cain’t hardly be held to account for what Injuns don’t know about handlin’ canoes. But –

LT. GREGG:         Williams, for heavens sake, what has all this to do with our readiness to meet the Indians?

WILLIAMS:          Well, look here. We got 158 men, ain’t we?

LT. GREGG:         One hundred and fifty-eight fighting men, yes.

WILLIAMS:          Sure they be fightin’ men. I ain’t said they wan’t. They can prob’ly lick their weight in catamounts. But they’s mebbe a thousand Injuns, an’ I cain’t recollec’ no man lickin’ two-three times his weight in fightin’ Redskins – ‘thout somethin’ ‘sides bare hands to fight ‘em with.

LT. GREGG:         (Disturbed)  Bare hands? Say, what are you driving at?

Yeah, so …. Lt. Gregg, I’m not sure how to break it to ya, but most of your ammo is at the bottom of the river. You’re down to about forty rounds per man.

Lt. Gregg realized that he would have to brief the Colonel on this decidedly un-advantageous turn of events. Before he could get much of anything out of his mouth, Williams shouted that he saw a rider approaching fast – a priest “ridin’ like the devil beatin’ tanbark.” He added that it looked like Father Joset of the Couer d’Alenes. And of course, it was.

FATHER JOSET:   (From a distance)  Yes.  (FATHER JOSET’S HORSE, ARRIVING AT A FURIOUS PACE, BEATS TO A STOP. THE HORSE PANTS AS AS JOSET GASPS OUT HIS STORY). The Saints be praised, I have reached you in time, Colonel Steptoe. You must not enter the Palouse territory with this handful of men. Chief Vincent of my mission has broken from my teachings and joined Kamiakin. The Palouse! The Spokanes! The Coeur d’Alenes! It means massacre!

COL. STEPTOE:   It’s mighty fine of you to ride to us with this warning, Father Joset. It was a courageous thing to do. But we must go on.

FATHER JOSET:   But, Colonel, consider! Williams, can’t you explain –

WILLIAMS:          I reckon the Colonel knows the job he’s got to do, Father Joset.

COL. STEPTOE:   Father Joset, white men have been killed. My job is to make this road through the Palouse safe.

Father Joset of Sacred Heart mission.

So once more, we are faced with the noble sense of duty on the part of Colonel Steptoe – charging forth into certain massacre because this will somehow help “make this road through the Palouse safe.” I’m not making light of valor, but the Colonel’s military stratagem seems ill-considered and underwhelming. Of course, I’ve seen how this story ends, so …

At this point, a large contingent of Indians suddenly appeared on the ridgeline ahead. They began to advance on horseback, charging and feigning and swooping in and out toward the soldiers, taunting them. Lieutenant Gregg surmised that Kamiakin, their leader, was attempting to draw the soldiers into firing first, so he could “put the blame on us for starting hostilities.” You wouldn’t think such politics or “media spin” would have played into their thinking. Anyhow, another Indian leader, named Chief Vincent, rode up to Colonel Steptoe and announced he wanted to talk. He claimed he did not like Kamiakin, adding that his people wanted a council, not a war.

Just as it appeared Chief Vincent might be able to broker peace talks, if not in fact peace itself, Kamiakin charged in on his horse and slayed Chief Vincent! Seems the chief was a bit too passive to fit into Kamiakin’s plans. Unfortunately for Colonel Steptoe, he did not realize (according to this version of the story) that his men had only 40 rounds of ammo apiece.

The radio playlet switched back aboard the interurban car, and the Old Timer kept telling his story. He explained that Kamiakin slew Vincent right around noon, and the Indians and soldiers fought all through the afternoon (although it was not explained how the soldiers held out so long with such short supplies of ammo). The Old Timer told the couple on the interurban car that they were travelling right through the site of the battlefield that he was describing.

WIFE:                   But surely the fight didn’t last long. Perhaps there weren’t so many Indians after all.

OLD TIMER:        Oh, yes, they was. All the tribes this side of the Snake. The Colonel held his little band together purty well, but they didn’t stand no more show’n a handful of wheat in a flock of prairie chickens. See that little crick down there?

WIFE:                   Yes, it’s pretty, isn’t it?

OLD TIMER:        Well, it looked better’n purty that day. Steptoe lost two brave officers tryin’ to reach it. That crick –

WIFE:                   (EXCITED)  You mean – you mean that battle was fought right here?

OLD TIMER:        Yes, Ma’am, that’s what I been tellin’ you about it for. That crick meant water for tuckered out men an’ horses.

WIFE:                   (Awed)  My!

OLD TIMER:        It was about noon when Kamiakin slew Vincent. All afternoon they fought an’ by night the soldiers quit tryin’ for the crick an’ made for that butte – See – Right over yonder.

WIFE:                   (Still awed)  Imagine! Riding right by it!

OLD TIMER:        Steptoe got his men up on top of it just after dark, an’ believe me, Ma’am, it was dark. They wan’t no moon an’ there didn’t seem to be no stars. The Injuns corralled ‘em an’ their campfires around the base of that butte throwed a kind of bloody-red glow on the hill –

Okay – fact check time. It sounds like the interurban was just passing through the town of Rosalia, Washington – a little over 30 miles south of Spokane. The historical record of this altercation does state that Steptoe’s men battled the massed Indians for over ten hours, until darkness came and they found themselves surrounded upon a butte above where the Indians settled down for the night. It seems the Indians figured they had Steptoe and his men trapped, and they were content to just wait out the night and attack in the daylight. They didn’t know Steptoe’s men were down to only about 3 rounds of ammo per man.

The radio play switched back again to Steptoe and his men weighing their options, which were scant and dismal. Just then, a young Indian gal appeared. It was Keetoma, daughter of Jim Black Bear. Once, years earlier, Williams had made some heroic play and saved Keetoma. She now had a big crush on the guide. She had snuck up a draw on the side of the butte in a bid to try to save Williams and his friends. This development provided the trapped soldiers with a viable route to make their escape.

Colonel Steptoe, being the devoted leader of men that he was, challenged the veracity of Keetoma’s story. This did not sit well with Williams.

COL. STEPTOE:   I say, how do you know this girl has not been sent by the Indians to lure us into a trap. In a coulee, they could fall on us and …

WILLIAMS:          (hotly)  Say, yore Colonel of this outfit an’ you had some excuse the fust time you busted out with re-marks about this gal bein’ a spy, but I ain’t hearin’ no more of ‘em. I’ve knowed Keetoma since Jim Black Bear’s squaw was a-totin’ her on her back. She’s the whitest Injun gal I know –

COL. STEPTOE:   (Wearily)  All right, Williams, I’ll take –

WILLIAMS:          You wait’ll I finish, Colonel. She’s got plenty cause to hate Palouse like pizen. Two drunk Palouses tried to carry her off oncet. ‘Sides, if they’s any fallin’ on this outfit in that gulch, they’ll be fallin’ on me same as the sojers.

Steptoe acquiesced, and plans were made to abandon the group’s perilous position at the top of the butte. Meanwhile, back on the interurban…

 

(BUTTE-TOP CAMP SOUNDS UP. FADE TO INTERIOR TRAIN EFFECTS. FADE FOR DIALOGUE)

OLD TIMER:        An’ Keetoma stuck right with Williams til the troops was ready to move. They spiked the howitzers finally an’ left ‘em, though Steptoe was set on takin’ ‘em. Keetoma led ‘em down the hill an’ into that gulch.

WIFE:                   (With great awe)  Led by a young Indian girl! And did they really tie the wounded men on horses?

OLD TIMER:        Tied ‘em on hard an’ fast. Some of ‘em gagged theirselves so’s to keep from cryin’ out. They same some died from that extra effort.

WIFE:                   What courage! One would have thought they’d prefer the comparative safety of the butte.

OLD TIMER:        Safety? Well, Ma’am, an hour after the last man slid down that arroyo, the Injuns swep’ over the butte expectin’ to massacre ‘em all.

WIFE:                   Heavens! What an escape!

MAN:                    Did Steptoe get back to Walla Walla safely?

OLD TIMER:        Well, yes, though he never did get over the loss of his men an’ his howitzers. At the Snake he found Chief Timothy with a reg’lar army of Nez Perce r’arin’ to go in an’ clean out the Palouse. But the Colonel wouldn’t let ‘em.

The wife speculated that the Indians who killed the white man were never punished. The Old Timer explained how she was mistaken on that point.

OLD TIMER:        ‘Member the day you come in on the Empire Builder I took you around Spokane?

WIFE:                   Yes, and how beautiful it was!

OLD TIMER:        An’ we drove along a windin’ highway an’ you spoke of the little steam gurglin’ among pines an’ willers?

WIFE:                   I remember – you called it Hangman creek.

 

The Tacoma Public Library maintains an extensive online database of Washington state place name origins. Here’s part of their write-up regarding Hangman Creek:

Hangman Creek was named for an incident during the Indian War of 1858 when Colonel George Wright ordered the hanging of Qualchan of the Yakima Indians for killing a number of men after the Walla Walla treaty council of 1855. Qualchan was hanged within minutes of his arrival in Colonel Wright's camp on the creek on September 24, 1858.

The Old Timer described it a little differently – perhaps for entertainment value:

OLD TIMER:        That’s it! Hangman crick. The Injuns responsible for that Palouse risin’ was tried fair an’ square – an’ hung. That’s how the crick got its name. An’ that’s the end of the adventure.

Assuming the Old Timer and the Tacoma Public Library are relating what is supposed to be the same story, it doesn’t sound much like anyone actually got a fair trial. In fact, here is how historian Tim Seury explained the demise of Qualchan:

 

"Wright, who earlier had pursued a diplomatic path, had now assumed a ruthless and uncompromising policy. When Qualchan rode into Wright’s camp with his wife to speak of peace, Wright had him summarily hung along with some Palouses he had rounded up. The stream where Wright was camped was named Hangman Creek."

Colonel Steptoe himself was memorialized with at least three place names in the state of Washington: Steptoe (the town); Steptoe Butte; and Steptoe Valley. The town of Steptoe – and nearby Steptoe Butte – are roughly 30 miles south of the town of Rosalia, so do not confuse Steptoe Butte with the location from which the soldiers made their harrowing midnight escape.

 

The radio broadcast came to an end with Ted Pearson once more reading some advertising copy from the boys in St. Paul – the headquarters of the Great Northern Railway.

 

ANNOUNCER:    And thus the west was won! Today through the country that those brave men fought and died for, swift, comfortable trains speed – covering in an hour the space that took them days. And not the least of these swift couriers of civilization is the Great Northern’s crack transcontinental train … the Empire Builder. This finest of trains makes the long journey between Chicago and the Puget Sound country – Seattle and Tacoma, as well as Portland – in a brief sixty-one and one-fourth hours. The route is the shortest between Chicago and Puget Sound; the roadbed the smoothest, the straightest in all the great Northwest. Low, easy grades and minimum curvature – and by the way, the Great Northern never “double-heads”; one locomotive alone pulls these luxurious, heavy trains with never a slackening of the smooth, comfortable speed so characteristic of the Great Northern. And the Great Northern way – the route of the Empire Builder – is clean, too. The roadbed is of washed gravel, oiled in many spots in summer to keep down dust. Giant oil-burning and electric locomotives do their part to contribute to the sootlessness, the cleanliness of this preferred route west. Come west – or east – via Great Northern. Once you know the comforts and dependability of this famous road you’ll be a lifelong friend! Great Northern agents, in many of the cities from which this program is broadcast, will assist you in planning your itineraries; or, if you prefer, you can write direct to Great Northern Travel Headquarters in St. Paul, Minnesota.

 

Newspaper advertisement from May, 1929, introducing the new Empire Builder train and heralding the remarkable and newly shortened traveled time of just 60 1/4 hours between Seattle and Chicago.

 

Until next time, keep those dials tuned to Empire Builders!