As the story goes, Shoshone-Bannock warriors scalped
and murdered nearly 300 men, women and children near Almo, Idaho,
in 1861. Now, several historians call the massacre mere campfire
folklore. Brigham Madsen, a retired University of Utah professor
who recently researched the killing, says no newspapers or U.S.
military records in 1861 mention the massacre, and no massive
graves or local evidence exist. “It would have been the second
largest Indian massacre in the 19th century, and wouldn’t have gone
unnoticed,” he points out. Madsen suspects the legend gained
credence in the early 1930s, when newspaper editors wanted to
attract tourists to the area. Shoshone chairman Keith Tinno wants
an apology, and Madsen suggests that Almo residents change a plaque
that commemorates the alleged massacre. But Almo locals want their
6-foot monument to stay. Della Mullinix, the 82-year-old president
of the Idaho Pioneers group, says she’s willing to apologize to
Tinno, but that changing the monument is out of the question. It’s
part of the area’s history and culture, she says. For more
information, call Brigham Madsen at
801/277-2954.
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline An alleged massacre comes under fire.
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
