Lower Geyser Basin, Wyoming
August 24, 1877 - The capture of the Radersburg Tourist Party
The morning after they captured John Shively, a Nez Perce scouting party paid an early morning call on the camp of the Radersburg tourist party. The main concernof the scouting party was to nd supplies, food, andfresh horses that they desperately needed. When George Cowan reacted poorly to their helping themselves to these supplies, the encounter turned dangerous. The Nez Perce worried that the tourists would report the mainband’s whereabouts to the army. At first the touristsprepared to leave but were soon compelled to travel along with them.
“We could see about three miles of Indians, with one thousand or fifteen hundred ponies, and looking o to the left we could see more Indians looking at the geysers in Fire Hole Basin.”
– Frank D. Carpenter (tourist, Radersburg party)
“Because I shook hands with him he put me in mind not to kill him. He looked at me and said, “I am going to ask you. Why you come here? I hear a little about you.”
I answered by the interpreter “ Yes, I am one of the warriors.”
Then these white men got afraid. The leader asked, “Would you kill us?”
“They (the other warriors) are double-minded,” I told him.”
– Hímiin Maqsmáqs (Yellow Wolf)
"The Indians came into camp in small parties all on foot and well armed until they probably numbered at least fty. About this time I noticed that one of the party had opened the sugar and the our that was in the baggage wagon and was preparing to issue it out to the redmen who in turn were holding their blankets preparatory to receiving their share.”
– George Cowan (tourist, Radersburg party)
Side trip: Indian Pond and Pelican Creek (and back)
This 7 mile round-trip side trip will take you to the picturesque Indian Pond. There you can hike an easy 3 mile trail to the shore of Yellowstone Lake. Go to the Indian Pond and Pelican Creek page for more information about the site.
Please be warned that there is no RV turnaround at Indian Pond.
