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Thornton Waite is interested in the history of railroads, especially in Idaho, and has written several titles and numerous articles on the subject. In this book, he combines extensive research with vintage photographs to illustrate the railroad's importance to Pocatello for over 125 years.

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Plum Creek, Nebraska, got more than its fair share of activity in the 1860s. In 1864, Cheyenne attacked a wagon train (see Plum Creek); by 1867 the railroad had reached and passed Plum Creek and the Cheyenne came back, lifting rails to derail a handcar and a Union Pacific work train. The first event is usually called “The Plum Creek Massacre”; the second “The Plum Creek Raid”. Thornton Waite’s account is a workmanlike description of the “Raid”, culled from various histories and newspaper accounts; it’s noted that these often conflict in details and that the newspaper accounts tend to sensationalize. As it was one of the men on the handcar was killed, as were the engineer and fireman on the train. The Cheyenne had lit a bonfire near the tracks and standard procedure when Indians were suspected was to speed up and try and get past; this was counterproductive when the rails had been removed.

The Cheyenne were pursued by a company of Pawnee Scouts – bitter enemies of the Cheyenne. The Scouts located a band of Cheyenne about ten days after the raid and were victorious in a running battle – the Pawnee had recently been armed with Spencer repeating carbines, which probably contributed. It isn’t clear if the Cheyenne defeated by the Pawnee were the ones who had attacked the train; neither side cared very much about such details.

A whole chapter is devoted to William Thompson and his scalp. Thompson was on the derailed handcar; he was scalped and left for dead by a Cheyenne who unaccountably left the scalp behind. Thompson came to, recovered his scalp, and met the relief train carrying it. Eventually he arrived in Omaha with his scalp in a bucket of water; several doctors attempted to reattach it but were unsuccessful. Thompson returned to his native England, but left his scalp to a local doctor, who in turn donated it to the Omaha Public Library (it got its own card in the catalog). The scalp changed hands several times, going to the Nebraska State Historical Society, the Joslyn Museum, the Union Pacific Museum, and eventually back to the Omaha Public Library where it still resides (it’s available for examination by special permission).

The attack figured in a number of movie accounts, the silent The Iron Horse of 1924 and Union Pacific of 1939. The later got pretty good reviews, but had to compete at the Oscars with Gone With The Wind, The Wizard of Oz, Beau Geste and Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, and only came up with a special effects award.

An easy read. Numerous illustrations of the site, participants, and the scalp. No foot or end notes, but a bibliography.
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setnahkt | Oct 24, 2021 |

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Teokset
12
Jäseniä
60
Suosituimmuussija
#277,520
Arvio (tähdet)
3.0
Kirja-arvosteluja
1
ISBN:t
10

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