In August, 1878, several horses were stolen by Indians from settlers living in (irony alert) Indian Valley, about 12 miles east of Cambridge. William Monday (or Munday), S.S. Smith (aka Three-Fingered Smith), Jake Groseclose, and Tom Healy set out to retrieve their stock. They were able to follow the tracks for about 40 miles to the falls on the Payette. An Idaho historical sign at milepost 115.4 on Idaho 55 marks the site today.
The Valley County IDGenWeb Project cites an account Ezekiel Sweet told about the incident: “In coming up the hill probably a quarter of a mile from the river the trail makes a turn to the north and runs up some heavy granite rocks some 20 feet above the trail. There are large cracks in the rock at this point, and the Indians had cut small pine brushes and stuck them in the crevices, shooting from behind them. Monday being in the lead three bullets struck him over the heart. You could cover all three with the palm of your hand. Healy crawled behind the rock and when he was found, there were thirteen empty shells around him. It always looked funny to me that these men, as well versed in Indians as they were, should have walked into a death trap.”
The Idaho Statesman, recounting the incident on September 15, 1878, reported that Groseclose was also killed, but that Smith got away. “Smith, however, being a man of experience in such matters, saw that they were completely outnumbered and at the mercy of the Indians, and not having dismounted from his mule, turned to flee, when he was fired upon by the Indians and shot through the thigh. The next shot took his mule from under him, and being on foot and running for life, he was again hit by a shot, which broke his arm.”
Some accounts say that Smith got away by hiding in a beaver house. In any case, he did find his way to safety. He estimated that 75 Indians had ambushed them. Army trackers concluded that there were only five Indians, but they never caught them.
The Valley County IDGenWeb Project cites an account Ezekiel Sweet told about the incident: “In coming up the hill probably a quarter of a mile from the river the trail makes a turn to the north and runs up some heavy granite rocks some 20 feet above the trail. There are large cracks in the rock at this point, and the Indians had cut small pine brushes and stuck them in the crevices, shooting from behind them. Monday being in the lead three bullets struck him over the heart. You could cover all three with the palm of your hand. Healy crawled behind the rock and when he was found, there were thirteen empty shells around him. It always looked funny to me that these men, as well versed in Indians as they were, should have walked into a death trap.”
The Idaho Statesman, recounting the incident on September 15, 1878, reported that Groseclose was also killed, but that Smith got away. “Smith, however, being a man of experience in such matters, saw that they were completely outnumbered and at the mercy of the Indians, and not having dismounted from his mule, turned to flee, when he was fired upon by the Indians and shot through the thigh. The next shot took his mule from under him, and being on foot and running for life, he was again hit by a shot, which broke his arm.”
Some accounts say that Smith got away by hiding in a beaver house. In any case, he did find his way to safety. He estimated that 75 Indians had ambushed them. Army trackers concluded that there were only five Indians, but they never caught them.
Infantrymen buried the three men near where they were shot. The spelling of “Monday” on the marking is incorrect, according Aaron Parker who knew all three. It should be Munday. Photos courtesy of the Idaho State Historical Society physical file collection.
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