Washington State University - Chinook Yearbook (Pullman, WA)

Page 8 text:

So we fought with them a battle, Fought with them o ' er hill and valley; Till we used up all our powder, And our men were in a panic. Leaving all our dead behind us, And becoming wild and frantic, Cursing, yelling, whooping, bleeding, Ran we from that hovering darkness Till we reached the topmost summit Of a hill which lay before us. There we camped till daylight vanished On the crest of that good summit, Which was high and steep and pointed. And the Indians, with their war-cries, Camped on guard down near the bottom; Thinking that upon the morrow They would finish up the army. But there lay a path to safety Between two camps of hostile Indians, And, ere half the night had gone, We had made a safe departure From the death-trap on the hilltop— From the bold and savage warriors. Went we then back to Snake River, Where the birds were singing gayly, And the trees were all in blossom, And the God of Peace was with us. Thus it was their journey ended; Thus it was that Colonel Steptoe Fought a hard and losing battle On this hill which bears his name. And the old and feeble Indian Still is living by the river, Looking down into his campfires; Living now in recollections, While death ' s cloud is hovering o ' er him.