Three Island Crossing goes smoothly

Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Oxen bring one of the wagons out of the river.

Two wagons and over a dozen horsemen and horsewomen took to the water and made the treacherous crossing of the Snake River during this year's Three Island Crossing Oregon Trail reenactment last Saturday.

The 20th Annual Three Island Crossing kicked off Friday evening with a parade from the Elmore County Fairgrounds to Three Island Crossing State Park.

Following the parade, which featured equestrians, floats and an old fire engine, visitors to the park were entertained by singers Curly Surles, and Tom Simpson.

Saturday began with a breakfast sponsored by the Glenns Ferry Loyal Order of the Moose. The Key Strings entertained visitors while they ate. The Moose also provided lunch.

It was a beautiful day for a river crossing. Although the water level was high, the surface under a clear blue sky was like glass. Later in the day, a gentle breeze kept afternoon temperatures comfortable for visitors who sat under shade trees as they were entertained by Native American dancers, Curly Surles, the Aaron Weil Band, Tisa Story, and the Idaho Old Time Fiddlers.

Singer Charlie Rose, who was scheduled to entertain both Friday and Saturday, was unable to appear due to illness.

The Crossing began 90-minutes later than planned because the water level in the river was much higher than participants and organizers had hoped for.

The river has been running high all summer, and Idaho Power had agreed to lower the water level for the Crossing, a procedure the company has practiced in past years by altering the flows from Milner Dam.

A stick placed in the river Friday evening to measure the water level showed that there had been a a slight drop, it was not as low as had been anticipated.

Still the participants, determined not to disappoint over 1,000 spectators, could not be discouraged and the Crossing took place as usual.

The affects of the high water level on animals and wagon drivers was evident to anyone who had witnessed past crossings. The teams and riders began further upstream as they approached an area referred to as "the hole," where the animals must swim for a few yards before once again finding firm footing on a submerged sand bar.

As the animals entered the river from the south bank it was evident that the water level was extremely high. Usually the animals would have been wading in about two feet of water, instead, the water reached up to their bellies.

The first wagon, pulled by draft horses and driven by Lloyd Jeffrey made it across without incident. However, a horse and rider were quickly swept downstream as they attempted to reach the sandbar.

The rider, Derrick Davis, National President of the Buffalo Soldiers, who traveled to Glenns Ferry with Troopers Warren Burke and William Johnson, said his horse got anxious when it became separated from the other animals. It reared up, dislodging Davis, and began to panic. For a few tense moments spectators could not see the animal, and some began assuming the worst. But the view of the audience was blocked by safety personnel on jet skies who had already rescued both Davis and his horse.

There was an audible sigh of relief when narrator Terry Parish announced that the horse and rider were safe.

As wagons and riders crossed the river, Parish shared narration duties with Ted Howard of the Duck Valley Reservation.

The second wagon, drawn by oxen and driven by Wayne Wootan, had little difficulty crossing.

Outriders were commended by crossing officials for their cool heads and expert handling during a crossing that was made more perilous by the high and fast-moving water.

As has been the tradition for many years, members of the Shoshone-Paiute tribe from Duck Valley led the procession across the river. This year, they were followed by Davis, Johnson and Burke, representing America's Buffalo Soldiers. Originally, Davis was carrying across the American flag, but after his accident, 78-year old Trooper William Johnson rescued the flag and brought it across safely.

William, Davis and Johnson are members of the Atlanta, Ga., Chapter of the 9th and 10th (horse) Cavalry Association Buffalo Soldiers, based in Atlanta, Ga. The men traveled over 2,000 miles to take part in last week's Crossing, and their enthusiasm for the event was unmistakable.

"Awesome," was the way Burke described the Crossing. "That pretty well sums in up. It is a moment in time we'll never forget."

Burke learned about the Crossing from Equine Dentist Dale Jeffrey when both men attended an equine dentistry seminar in Fort Worth, Texas, last year. Jeffrey, who was a guest speaker at the convention, suggested Burke and some of his group consider participating in the 2005 event.

Burke, an equine veterinarian/dentist, returned home, placed the matter before the chapter's other members, and was able to convince Davis and Johnson to accompany him on the adventure.

The men arrived Thursday evening after a 2,300 trek across the United States. They found lodging with a few local residents and a place to board their three horses.

Burke enjoyed his visit to the Gem State and, in particular his stay in Glenns Ferry.

"The people in this community are incredible in terms of hospitality and friendliness," he said. The excitement of the Crossing and the people of Glenns Ferry will probably bring Burke, Davis and Johnson back for another Crossing, he said. But not next year as the group has already accepted an invitation to attend the annual Calgary Stampede, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Johnson, the comic of the threesome, is ready to come back next year. He was extremely proud of himself for saving the "colors" after Davis' mishap. With tongue in cheek, Johnson attributed Davis' accident to inexperience. "I just figured it was inexperience…he'll do better…they'll do better next year," he said with a chuckle. "I'm proud of both of them," he added in a more serious voice.

Although it was a short one, the Buffalo Soldier does play a role in Idaho history. During the 1890s a contingent was sent to quell hostilities between striking miners and strike breakers at mines in Atlanta.

Buffalo Soldiers played an integral part in the settling of the American west. Deployed to outpost across the western territories, they suppressed hostilities between settlers and Native Americans.

A glance at license plates indicates that visitors from across the United States attended this year's Crossing. But there was no license plate to indicate where Oliver Delcourt and his family had come from.

Oliver and his wife, Marie Claude, and the couple's son David are from southern France. They were visiting friends in Sun Valley when they heard about the Crossing.

The Delcourts participate in reenactments memorializing the American west. Marie Claude said Europeans, especially those living in France, Germany and Belgium, are infatuated with the settling of the west. Reenactors in Europe are particularly fond of portraying pioneers, mountain man and civil war soldiers, Marie Claude explained.

Appropriately outfitted in period clothing, the family fit perfectly with the Crossing theme. The reenactments they attend in France include encampments using period dress and lodging.

The Crossing has been instrumental in helping to bridge the chasm between the Anglo and Native American cultures. Native Americans, like Terry Gibson and Reggie Sope from Duck Valley Reservation, have been participating in the Crossing for a number of years.

"The way things are today, we need to show hand-in-hand partnership. It needs to happen on our end for people to recognize us as human beings," Sope said.

Overall, Sope was happy with this year's Crossing. "We enjoy coming here year after year. Sometimes there is a big turnout, sometimes small, but we enjoy them both. To us this is our summer vacation."

The reenactment also helps to bridge the generation gap. Sope appreciates the participation of younger tribal members who come to perform dances.

He expects the young people of his culture to continue participating in future Crossings and performing traditional dances in order to relate the story of Native Americans' place in Oregon Trail history.

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  • William Johnson is now 85, still rides & life is still good to him. He want to cross that river 1 more time before he is too old. If we can figure out how to finance the trip; invited; we will try to return in 2014. By the way, that was our prostate cancer recovery trip. Derrick was under going radiation doing the trip, I was scheduled for surgery when I returned, and I they are still watching william!

    GREAT ARTICLE!

    -- Posted by wsburke on Thu, May 23, 2013, at 1:36 AM
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