Utah State University boffins assist Shoshone reclaim history of Bear River Massacre
1863 attack • USU experts aid Shoshone descendants’ effort to honor Indians killed in Bear River Valley.
Preston, Idaho • Darren Parry’s late grandmother usually took him to a fold when you look at the Bear River in southern Idaho to speak about just exactly just what occurred here on Jan. 29, 1863. They often listened when it comes to spirits regarding the Shoshone whom destroyed their lives that frigid morning whenever Utah-based soldiers under the demand of Col. Patrick Connor attacked.
Mae Timbimboo Parry, whoever grandfather survived the terror as being a 12-year-old, could point out where lodges endured and where in fact the soldiers’ cost started, Parry stated. She knew where individuals dropped therefore the direction numerous fled through deep snowfall, escaping installed soldiers because they fired indiscriminately. Shoshone men fought straight right straight back as the ladies and kiddies attempted to achieve the river.
However provided attention that is scant historians until recently, the Bear River Massacre В— 154 years ago Sunday — ended up being among the list of worst atrocities perpetrated against United states Indians when you look at the western usa.
Nevertheless the Parry that is young vice president for the Northwestern Band associated with the Shoshone, could not square their grandmother’s account using what he saw on a lawn. Today, the river just isn’t near to the ravine where in fact the town endured that cold weather.
“That river is a good way away and I also could never ever jibe within my brain how that would be, that in the center of January these are generally escaping death by operating to a river that is half mile away,” he stated during a trip associated with massacre web web site, bisected by U.S. Highway 91 several kilometers north of Preston.
New medical analysis of this web site, led by Utah State University scientists, has fixed that puzzle.Read More »Utah State University boffins assist Shoshone reclaim history of Bear River Massacre