THE WESTFANE a NEW YoRK SSE BRAND Book VO\ 4 NE} FORK 1464 No.4 Nez Perce warrior Bill Jonas on a pinto. Lew Jain Collection, Fran Rader Studio, Lewiston, Idaho; courtesy Mrs. H. E. Bartlett. Nez Perces and The Appaloosa Horse ... False History By ALVIN M. JOSEPHY, JR. ‘The article that follows this one, “The Appaloosa Jackson—a bronc-buster, rodeo rider and jockey. In Was Not the Nez Perce War Horse,” itten in time, he married the present ce Bartlett, who is 1967 by Harry E. Bardett, a sixty-five-year-old Nex well known in the Northwest today as an historian Perce Indian who was raised among the warrior v of Wallowa County, Oregon (lome’ of Chief Joseph) evans of the tribe and has been a horseman all his life. and conuibutor to “The Oregon Historical Quar- He was born into the Christianized, non-var group of terly” und other publications.’ ‘Together, the vibe, but as a boy became alienated from the letts now raise and race thoroughbred horses, residing church-going, “missionized” members of his family in Arizona in the winter and in Joseph, Oregon, in the and attached himself to the “heathen” element, ot stumnier, what were sometimes referred to as “the wild ones.” Mr, Bardew’s article is the first published statement They were the veterans of the so-called Nez Perce by a Nez Perce Indian on a matter that has become War, followers of Chief Joseph, Looking Glass, White- increasingly controversial—whether, as is widely ac bird and others who had led some of the Nez Perce cepted today, the Nex Perces ever bred the Appalo bands in a defensive conflict against the Americans horse as their war horse. Although other members in 1877. of the tribe have been publicly silent on the subject, In the midst of those men Mr. Bartlett grew up many of them have in confidence said that the story with horses and went on to become—like his older was untrue, but that if white men wanted to believe friend, the famed Nez Perce rodeo champion Sundown it, they could. Some of the Indians of today feel that 73 THE WESTERNERS _ BRAND BOOK Y — WEW YORIC POSSE a Boas.hr FOUNDED LN 1952, ‘The Westerners, New York Passe, is a non profit educational organization of those whose especial interest is the preserviition of a record of the ewltural background Iutinn of the West. anid to promete all covollity activities andthereol evo Address all coummunicuions to The Westerners ‘This 19th-century photograph of Nez Perce horsemen shows 1 Haines, an eminent Western historitn and a chron- 15 West 57th Street, New York, Y. 10019 icler of the spread of the horse amoung the Western Indians, read a story by Charles M. Russell in Trails Copyright, 1967, by The Westerners, New York Posse Plowed Under? ‘The story, “Mormon Murphy's Con- fidence," described an Indian in Montana, during OLTIC the Nex Perce War, riding a “legweary Appalusy.” Sherill “ . Jaatts D. Togas The character telling the story guessed that the Indian. Depuly Sheriff. sacha vee MICHAEL, GINSBFRE must be a Nez Perce, although he had signed that he Roundups Foreman Gwranonen Haste was a Gros Ventre, because “the Umatilla camp's a Registrar of Marks and Brands . Dos Wat long way olf, an’ these peculiar spotted ponies comes Tally Mav from either there or Nez Perce stock." frayin J. Nicnors That, said Dr. Haines, set olf a “chain of events.” Chuck Wran Maroarer Mactire In the January-February, 1957, issue of (Vestern PUBLICATION COMMITTEE Horseman (Vol. U, No. 1, pp. 8-9), an article ap- Mate Gtonisy Jans D, Horas peared by Dr, Haines, entitled “The Appaloosa, ot Peter Decker ALVIN M. Joseeuy, Jn. Palouse Horse.” Fisnry Sincanm Diaco Sou Lewis “What is an Appaloosa?” Dr. Haines wrote. ARCHIE D TESNNA, JR Don Warp, Editor most people, the (erm has no meaning. Those familiar with the western horse have heard the te applied to animals with peculiar spots on the rump, and have the story might even do the tribe some good—so why usually considered it some sort of color term. It is, make an issue of i:? Others hesitate to become em- however, a variant of the name of a breed developed broiled in an embarrassing argument with whites by the Nez Perce Indians in the Palouse counvy of over something that seems to the Indians unimport- Central Idaho and Eastern Washington. “Lhe Nex ant. Several proposals have been made to the wibe's Perce, noted horsemen and horse breeders, raisect many fine animals, but this special showy, hardy. leadership to form a colovlul Nez Perce posse mount- speedy type was developed primarily for war use... « ed on Appaloosa horses which might ride in parades and ceremonies, ‘Phe proposal has been turned aside “The non-treaty band, in the Wallowa county,” he politely by the keadersnip, which feels that it would went on, “still raised the war horses until their and be abetting a false story, but at least one tribal mem- was forcibly ken from them by the whites in 1877." ber has begun to acquire Appaloosas, possibly toward He ended the article: “Would it not be a worth the day when the ibe unght change its mind and while undertaking for the owners of these beautiful support such & posse. animals to unite in restoring this fine breed to its What is the true story? rightful place? Doubtless they could duplicate the The Appaloosa—a spotted horse—is a very popular success of the Palomino breeders if they would reg! and generally high-priced horse, [t has become both ter and establish the type before it is too late. Aside popwiar and higa-priced since 1937, One of the chiet from the sentiment involved, such an activity would lactors contributing to Uhis popularity is its dramatic pay in actual dollars and cents to the Western horse and well-publicized “history’—a “history” that says breeders, and lend another fine color note to our that the Nez Perce bidians bred it as their war horse. shows and parades... .” ‘This “history” was unknown prior to 1937. Dr. Haines provided no documentation or refcr- in that year, according to his own story, Dr. Fh ences to any contemporary writings or historic sources, WW 'Appaloosas, From the Lew Jain Collection. either published or unpublished, for his linking of the wrote more. Alter Lirst noting that breeders of the Appaloosas with the Nez Perees—nor did he state or various types of spoued horses “are handicapped in explain in any way how he knew that the Appaloosa their work, and are not realizing adequate returns had been developed by the Nez Perces “primarily for for their outlay because they do not work together, war use.” Nevertheless, a second writer, signing him- in exchange of ideas or breeding stock," he pleaded self Don Alfredo, contributed an article to the’ same for agreement on 2 name for the breed. hould he issue of IVestern Horseman, supporting Dr, Haines— be appalucha, appaluchi, appaloosa, apaloosa, apalou- but, again, failing to provide anything in the way of sey, or some other variant... .7° “Phe question, in- evidence or prool. dicated also by the title of the article which did not “Dr. Haines,” Don Alfredo wrote, “seems to have use the name Appaloosa, reflected continuing contue the real dope... Yes, sir!” 1am convinced that Mr. sion over where the name had originated (in the Haines must haye solved the question at last. It will Appalachian area, among Southeast fndians, in Louw be a tine feather in the hat of the Mestern Horseman. istana—Opelousas—ete.) , and Dr. Haines now cinched ... As this article of My. Haines’ [sic] is the only the name, as it was linally to be adopicd, by providing authoritative matter 1 ve seen, I think we can dis- the history—once more without any doctunentation— count all previous attempts to place the breeding and of the spread of “these unusual war horses” trom New origin of the horse and make a new beginning on Spain and New Mexico to the Nes Perces, As it was solid ground. All that remains now, is to trace the to be accepted from then on, the horse got its name origin of the horse from Spain to the Nez Perce from the Palouse county (although Dr. Haines has tribe! never satisfactorily been able to answer how the Pu Dr. Haines did not cope with that question at once. louse country got ils name)” Dr. Haines conclucdec His next article, “How the Palouse or Appaloosa nd let me sity again, uit there is real advertising Horse Became a Lost Breed,” contributed to the May- value, real money Value, in having a name lor our June, 1937, issue of IVestern Horseman (Vol. U1, No, 3, spotted fiorses that sill mean just our horse and no- pp- 22-28), told how the Appaloosa had been seat thing else.” tered and forgouten after the military defeat of the These articles made an impact. On December 30, Nez Perces and as a result of missionaries’ efforts to 1988, Claude J. Thompson of Moro, Oregon. who had make the Nez Perces settle down and forget their oll been raising spotted horses for many years, incorpor- Wi But the linking of the Nez Perces with the ated the Appalooya Horse Club and became its lirst Appaloosa was now treated as an accepted fact. The president. Dr. Haines, then living at Chico, Calilor- story of the previous avticle was suengthened with nia, became historian of the club.