Washington State University - Chinook Yearbook (Pullman, WA)

Page 7 text:

F THE many students who attend the Washington State College but very few of them who have looked to the north and have seen the pointed hill known as Steptoe Butte, which overlooks the entire Palouse country, know the early history of that lonesome little knob and from whence it derived its name. I have had the pleasure of knowing an old Indian who is well acquainted with the facts of the case and who helped to guide Colonel Steptoe and his army on their disastrous cam- paign in 1856. WM. LEROY LA FOLLETTE. In his tepee on Snake River, Sat an old and feeble Indian; And his eyes were full of sadness, And his voice was full of sorrow As he told to me this story. Many snows ago, one springtime, When the birds sang in the valley, Came there to my lodge one mornii Colonel Steptoe and his army; Came he forth in all his glory, High of hope and full of spirit; On his way across Snake River, Out into an unknown country. For to see some hostile Indians. Asked he then for men to guide him Far across the land of bunch grass, To the falling Spokane River; There to see the hostile Indians And to make with them a treaty. With my tribesmen, I consented To go with his little army And to guide them on their journey To the falling Spokane River, To the home of hostile Indians, Far across the hills and valleys, Which were robed with waving bunch grass. Started we, and made good progress Till we ' d covered half our journey; Met we then with hostile Indians, By a river in a valley. Colonel Steptoe tried to parley, But to him they would not listen.