The village of Tecopa is 11 miles south of Shoshone. When the railroad was built stations were given names of local significance and this honors the Indian chief, Cap Tecopa.
Important discoveries of gold, silver, lead, and talc were made and are still being worked. In the early days murders of both whites and Indians, without any clues were of frequent occurrence. Someone recalled that every killing of an Indian by a white man had been followed by a white man's murder.
The Piute believed in blood atonement and when a young American was found butchered in the Ibex hills, friends of the deceased went to Cap Tecopa with evidence which indicated the murder was committed by Cap's tribesmen. "We want these killings stopped," they told him heatedly.
Cap denied any knowledge of the crime and brushed aside the suggestion that he produce the assassin. "Too many Indians," Cap said. "But if you help, I can stop the killings."
"You tell hiko no kill Indian. I tell Indian no kill hiko."
Cap Tecopa was a good prospector and owned a coveted claim which he refused to sell.
Among the fortune seekers was a flashily dressed individual who wore a tall silk topper. The beegum fascinated Cap and he wanted it. He followed the wearer about, his eyes never leaving the shiny headgear. At last the urge to possess was irresistible and he approached the owner. A lean finger gingerly touched the sacred brim. "How much?"
All he got was a shake of the head. Failure only stimulated Tecopa's desire. His money refused, Cap in his desperation thought of the claim which the cunning of the promoters, the wiles of gamblers, the pleas of friends had failed to get.
The owner of the hat annoyed by Tecopa, decided to get rid of him. "You take hat. I take claim."
The Indian reached for the topper. "Take um," he grunted and the deal was made. Several other versions of this story are recalled by old timers.
The Tecopa Hot Springs were highly esteemed by the desert Indian, who always advertised the waters he believed to have medicinal value. In the Coso Range he used the walls of a canyon approaching the springs for his message. The crude drawing of a man was pictured, shoulders bent, leaning heavily on a stick. Another showed the same man leaving the springs but now walking erect, his stick abandoned.