They Gazed on the Beartooths, Volume 2 (2025)

TXT

1964

PR I TED IN THE U ITED STATES OF AMERICA
BY THE REPORTER PRI TING lit SUPPLY CO[...]GS . MO TANA
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KASPER S UNLESS OTHERWISE[...]

Chapter 3
TOW[...]

Chapter 12
LEGE D OF THE STILLW TER.......................................[...]1
HERE \ AS THE DO 1 I OF THE GRE T '79"................................ 141[...]. · ........................219

hapt r 17
THE OF\ E LEY BE[...]

The greatest source of information has come from the files of the local papers, The
tillwater Bulletin (1893); Columbus Express (1 95); Tri-County ews (1901-1910); The Colum-
bus ews (1910-1964).

The "7'¥' story arises from many sources. I have seen and knew most of the cow
poke of the early days whose biographies are written herein-S[...]ews or correspondence I got some of tlie facts of the
"dying day "operations starting about the turn of the century. This group included " osey" Ben
Cowen, Paul Case, Pat 01<ane, the Armitage boys, Johnny Bye, John Coston, Jack Mc a[...]knew ick Dickin on for 15 years, and saw him load the last
shipment of "7'¥' stock in 1915 from Merril[...]unty clerk and recorder of Garfi Id County, where the last year
of th "79 w r pent on th Bi Dry gave me[...]of im and Bill Rob rt . nd furni h d the f ct for "Th y Call d It D ad I n'

I h r by apologiz for th hr vity of my r vi w[...]

I got some material from the same sources as Mr. Brown; "Chronicles of th Yellow-
stone" by Topping; the Historical Library at Helena; and portion of the Lewi & Clark records.
"History of the Yellowstone alley" carries some data and vital statistics used; I also nitched
some of the material published in bulletin form by Dr. Thomas Marquis , as well as hi tory
of Tom LaForge, a close friend of Bill White and Col. llen. The anders "Hi tory of Montana"
published in 1885 carries much of the statistical data used. Lindermann's "'Plenty oup[...]nd there is considerable self ati faction in the fact that I knew per onaUy and a
intimately as an[...]h
out of of hi poem , \! hil I publi h d the olumbu I had m __ ·
Major to , ome of the arly r rvation information i cr dit d. I
Billy" H[...]. P. ath
"Handbook Of The Y llo

, nd o to each nd ery[...]

plendid growth of cottonwood and the valley opened and how important a part thi[...]les in width, "with good soil and plenty in the rapid expansion of our natural resources after
of room for farming." (This was the same area where the railroad came through. In that publication, in
the Clark boat had been made.) May 5 they were[...]n to a general history is a section devoted to
at the mou th of the Big H om , and the expedition biographies. Yellowstone was one of the 14 counties
a cended thi river. Here the Crow Indians attacked, at this time, bordered by Gallatin, Meagher, Fergus
tole and hara ed the party with such continued and Custer Counties. aturally the mining areas had
f rocity that they abandoned the project and returned drawn many prominent residents, while this was still
home by the long and tedious route through the the land of the Red Men and a few scattered cattle
south pass and[...]a sprinkling of homesteaders who had
While the Stuart party was camped on the banks filed after the . P. came through. In the biogra-
of the Yellowstone, where Columbus now stands, it phies of the other ten counties appear over 2,000
had it first serious trouble with the Indians. A band write-ups of their citizenry[...]ed to Yellowstone County, covering
to investigate the camp . n uneasy night was spent 37 names. Of these 37, J. I. Allen, Ed Cardwell, W.
as the invaders, who were cited as the most cunning H. Claussen, Charles Countrym[...]Hensley, Olof Lafverson, W. H. orton,
all kind . By morning the Crows began to do some Ben Pearson, R.[...]umbus; Alonzo Young, Charles Rugg and A. E.
stand by Capt. tuart prevented the party from being Parker voted in Park City[...]here, and Dr. Will Ailen and Judge Goddard
The failure of the tuart exploration put a quietus were weekly vis[...]s _missions.
on further research until 1874, when the citizens of Most of these men are biographed in "They
Bozeman determined to open up the Yellowstone Gazed On The Beartooths" but the following are
area with a road to the head of navigation of the condensed briefs from the above mentioned pub-
river and thu open "the most direct route" connect- lication:
ing with the pre ent terminus of the orthem Pacific PARKER, A. E. Born at[...]driving freight lines
port of gold di coveries on the south side of the between Bismarck and Coulson until the railroad
Yellow tone between the Rosebud and Powder Rivers came through.[...]men, and they 160 acres.
start d out. By February 12 they reached Quinn's
ranch (which wa[...]hey to Coulson in 1 1, and followed the railroad to
I ct d offic r and t out in earn t[...]here h filed on a ranch and b -
"On F b. 13" wrot the r cord r, "w tart d down came post ma ter at that station. Married one of
th north id of the Y llowston with the mouth of th H nsley girls, E l i on Oc[...]River our objectiv , as we pr um d that the H nsley Bro . in th ir proj cts.
the riv r could hav b en navigat d thi far." But YO G, Alonzo J. am to the Clark's Fork
like th tuart party, the Indian w re too tough for Bottom in 1 77 he[...]' and
th trail blaz r , o they mad a rapid detour by v a al o a po tma t r at thi offic .[...]or fiv y ar .
"Th r ar no gold min along the low r Yellow-
stone nor the \Volf mountain , but mo t of u b lieve Thoma P. IcElrath' "Hand-book of The Yel-
that th re is gold in th Big Horn mountains,[...]low ton Valley' publi h d in 1 0, gi s th fol-
the valley land will have to be irrigated to produce" lowing stati tic :
was the concluding r port.[...]e is no saf habi- K ogh. Th population in the ction included in
tation b tw n Fort Bu[...]o til , and th route is of distanc . Of the 215 w r mal propri tor of
frought with[...]attl on pa tur range ,
Th · nd rs dition of "The History of lontana" &15 hors s an[...]

The Last Battle with Indians in What Is Now Stillwate[...]Battle cross on the ice, and follow the trail of th tol n
horses in the now. The cro sing was about three
in Hails[...]ast of Park ity.
While a few skirmishes with the Indians have[...]ch and I d tha
of them have been too serious. The chronicl of had[...]y decid d to join and track
camped on the ground where Columbus now stands,[...]to go along.
ery, sneaked in and took 24 of the exp dition's hors
from under the noses of the guards. ot a shot or[...]h Ba in w t
ser Creek, about the time of " he ·p Dip" when a[...]day and all
few Indians invaded the pasture of r. Keiser (K y-[...]hors "th a
but could not pursue the in aders becaus th ir[...]ton g light wh
The most serious engagem nt was known as th[...]a ,
battle of the Hailstone Basin, which occurr d in 1[...]nd of row Indians
under Chief Plenty oups crossed the river from[...]1 th t tarted ho ting. J Tat
v ry cold. The river wa froz n ov r so they could[...]

Owens got b hind ome rock . bullet nipped The men were tired, no sleep - too cold to sleep
Ow n ' che k. When the Indian thieves saw the so they had to keep walking and moving a[...]ed running night to keep from freezing. On the way home they
for th cliff , wh re th y had an advantageous posi- came to the Bill ackett ranch west of the Big Lake,
tion . On Indian was kill d and another[...]When the party got to Park, Dr. Rhod s anted
Ow ns wa kill[...]d Indian to whittle on, o my olde t brother,
The Indian , five in number, stayed in th ir Mar[...]what \: a left was buried on
b low until daylight the s cond day, wh n they were our ranch. It was not a ery good burial as our
abl to go where the d ad member of th ir party dogs kept digging him up and scatt ring the bones
were, and when th y reach d them shortly after day- around our yard.
light, th y found that the bodies wer frozen stiff. Plenty Coup had scalped the dead Indian and
Th ey put them on pack horses, and two of the party took th scalp with him to sho th other Indians
started back, while the Crows and others found their of what he had don[...]rses and started back to Park City, th re The thieving band were Pi gan Indians, possibl[...]

Dame Nature Created Many Stations for Indian Signalling

Back in the old days of ·the Louis-
iana Purchase the native American In-
dians were using smoke signals as a
means of rapid communication. The
Crow tribe was very adept in this art,
an[...]tivity in most of their area on
both sides of the Yellowstone between
the Big Horn and Boulder Rivers. Loco-
motive Butte and Battle Butte in the
Lake Basin were such vantage points, as
w[...]called Tip-Top) Butte,
and Youngs Point along the Yellowstone.[...]enemy tribes, once they were stationed
on the flat tops of these formations.[...]

amounted this year to $4,554,997. In spite of the the up-river farmers and businessmen took the jump
fact that a great deal of expense was created in on the Countryman- orton-Montana Cattle Co. the
starting the wheel of government in the new country, latter knew that it would be futile to try to bring
the taxes were just a trifle higher than in the other another small county into being, and so the project
counties from which it was segregated, and with was abandoned. Then came the regime of J. B. Annin
the initial expen e of nearly $50,000 eliminated in[...]lle as commissioners for Yellowstone
future years the tax rate will probably be the lowest County, and the fact that this pair came from the
of any county in Montana.[...]her study
n idea of its rapid growth since the introduc- to a new county, with their home town as the
tion of the dry farming principals can be gained county seat.
from the census reports. Six years ago there were
approximately 2,500 people in what is now Stillwater;
the present conservative estimate is placed at 5,000.[...]over three-fourths obtain their liveli-
hood from the soil. Columbus, the county seat, has 750
people; Park City boasts of[...]Lusty at Birth
This can truly express the creation of Stillwater
County. For no commonwealt[...]career in gaining its final designation as one of the
counties.
From the start it appeared that basic reasons
made it a "natural" for the establishment of a county
in the area of which the confluence of the Stillwater
and Yellowstone Rivers was a key point. Back in
1875 this was the main stagecoach stop for many
miles of the main Yellowstone Trail. Far up the
Stillwater, mining propertie promised practical d[...]in many mining hafts, or
placer sluic . There wa the story of the wire gold
and the gold nugg t attributed to Pretty Feather;
ther we[...]virgin timber· there
were sites already r tain d by th go mm nt for
power projects; lim stone deposits in abundanc , and
plenty of water for irrigation of the many wide,
fertile valleys that comprised the Stillwater watershed. In three dillerent e ion , he battled futility for the creation[...]at la t ucce .
To th north was th domain of the old Se enty-
ine (The Montana Cattle Company)· and its proof
that the mountain ar a gra s and climat a ideal[...]blu -print
for th live tock indu try. Ev n before the dry lander stag wh n Ir nin a el cted enator from his
came, it was known that the liv stock industry of coun on[...]bill
this area was economically sound, as long as the for t oo t t[...]from arb O\ ston . The fol-
other fateful winter like 1886- 7.[...]Ea ton ;
trails , there was little doubt but that the re idents, county clerk, G or[...]\ rig , J. R. c nn tte
The dream reached back as far as I 9 or about dams, up rint ndent of h Peabody,
the time Sweet Grass County was born, but when[...]

and public administrator not named. The area was print the names, would, if carried out, be against
somewhat larger than the confines of the present the peace of this community and would do no good
county, and the assessed valuation was nearly three at this time. If the tim does come when publica-
million dollars.[...]tion should be deemed necessary, w have the de-
aturally, the project drew bitter fire from each tails of the whole miserabl scheme."
of the three counties involved. The Big Timber Pio- However, on March 2, 1909 the Stillwater County
neer said: "A majority of the people realize that bill was beaten 16 to 6, following onslaughts by Sen-
the benefits to be derived from the new county ator Meyer of Carbon that "his county was small
would fall to a favored few, and the results would enough and the new bill would have detach d too
not justify." much property. The residents of the proposed[...]tricts, even in Columbus, were anything but a
The Billings Gazette reports: "At a meeting held[...]it in its favor." Said Sen. McDonnell of Sw et
in the Billings hall Saturday night, some 60 men Grass: "It is a selfish townsite se;heme back d by a
were in attendance to oppose the proposed new few who have real estate[...]d chair- to gain, and very few residents of the area in my
man and J. H. McElroy, secretary, David Fratt, and county favor the measure." Three similar mea ures
others offered donations of $50 to fight the cause, to create new counties failed in the senate that session
and the Hon. Charles L. Harris assist~d in' making of the lawmakers.
some unkind and unjust remarks concern[...]his "selfish co-horts." But the sound logic that would create a county[...]along these lines nev~r waned. And so we reach the
B. A. Harlan, of the Joliet Journal, took the fol- 1911 session, when one of the early bills, presented
lowing pot shot: "The Journal man notes that there by Senator Murray of Beaverhead (through the influ-
have been some very foolish propositions presented ence of Mr. Annin), was for the creation, agaii:i, of
by people generally, in regard to dividing our county Stillwater County, with the same foes of Meyer and
by legislative act. First came what is known as the McDonnell ready to resist, while by the time Yel-
Annin move to carve out a new county fr[...]Sweet Grass, and make Columbus Ho ever the work of County Buster MacKay was
the county seat? Preposterous! Sure, but for the un- shown by the fact that 17 county di i ion m a ure
adulterated[...]had b en pr nted to th s nat , which practi ally
the Annin folly skinned and packed as an embalmed precluded passage of any one.
beef. It is the Glidden deal to create another county How v r the tr prompt th
from the east half of Carbon and the west half of drafting of r r whi h would
the Crow agency."[...]opo ed new
The voice of the protestants prevailed and after county to v[...]t d vot , and
went down the drain by the senate vote of 13 to 9. 0 p r c nt[...]four million
Stillwater County with practically the same ar a and would not b t an
valuation as s t up in the previous Roo ev lt oun on . ifty p o t r
bill. This time the officers named were: . L. Thom- county aff[...]mas g i an
by the enate fight for this bill. Th Red Lodg[...]n t ed
Pick t charged fraud in the p titioning promotion: county and a commi raf d-
"It may b that the ditor of the Tri- ounty w ari of th n w[...]n ho did th work ar okayed by th nty ommi ion r in
in pos ssion of thi offic . The nti aff[...]

Grass, with the election set for March 15, 1913, and YELLOWSTO E
the following officers named:[...]itter op- S EET CRA
position from the county seats of Red Lodge and[...]For Against
Big Timber, and the paper at Broadview. In much Ir[...]............................ 29 2
the same fashion as the proponents circulated peti- ye .[...]5 0
other field teams opposed to the move, and some Merrill .......[...]1
pretty vicious activity took place the few times the Reed Point ........................[...]........ 10 13
in fact, sponsored the new county as a better asset ibs[...]......................... 0 12
to the Midland Empire. How well the tillwaterites[...]For gainst
worked was shown in the official oting: TOT L ...[...]had ju
b n ompl NI " the norih id of hi

The Columbus ews noted: "Jim Lavelle, alias[...]963 ti-
Paul Revere, made some ride to bring in the returns mate is 5526.
from Stickley. The difference b etween Paul and Jim
The surprising feature in analyzing th figure
was that the form er's horse kept right on a-clattering,[...]is that in 1913 only 1,200 of the 5,00 w r r gi -
while the latter had a runaway, broke a single-tree,[...],500
and a neck-yoke before he pulled through all the[...]of
snow drifts into Columbus. 0 0 0 Dan Woods is the
the newcomers were large family group , with minor
on[...]children. Further, it was claim d that som of the
self out of a job by voting favorably. He was a[...]v sufficient
deputy sheriff of Yellowstone. 0 0 0 The only sun-
time of residency. Add to this the fact that the few
shine of the past 10 days was available last Satur-[...]ldom vot d.
day. For 10 hours "Old Sol" smiled on the birth of
Stillwater County. Lucky omen ." The voting strength was pretty well distributed[...]in 1914 as the following registration list shows: Co-
On Mon[...].51, Park City 136, Merrill 37, R ed Point
tached the county to the Sixth Judicial District, and[...], Busteed 36, Lake Basin 3.3, tickley 9, Harrison
the Secretary of State at 10:10 a.m. that morning[...], Gibson 47, Flaherty Flat 50, Irwin 67,
recorded the creation on his books at Helena. The[...]annex room with fireproof vault
got started, and the edges of some new desks pre- Consol[...]The school census (including children one to[...]n six) has varied through the years. In 1913 th county[...]the total population. In 1920 when th c nsu num-
agriculture is the main occupation, so population is[...]her were 3510 juv nil for
affected chiefly by the whims of the tillers of the[...]ently 1963 h w 2fXJl which
soil. Of course the homestead boom played its part[...]figure for about 36 o/< •
in determining the number of person within the
county confines. In 1905 the area comprising thi
county had an estimated 2100 peopl , mo t of them
on irrigated farms in the valleys. Th north sid of
the river was under the operation of stockgro er ,
probably a dozen rath[...]th th s asons. those of
The census of 1910 shows that about 1,000 n -[...]red oters and an timated population
of 5600. The regular decad n u show th fol-
lowing figur , with the p ak in 1920 to . In
1 30 th figure was[...]ha of
aw th start of a le ling off proc . By this tim 75[...]rth 21 124 50
iffs sal , and gone on th ir ~ ay. The 19 0 figur ars b for , n t too[...]

head. ow numb r , how ver, increased during the Columbus Has Had Many
50-y ar[...]o frown on sheep in- several cemeteries. The first recorded burial was
er a ingly through the pa t five decade . Wool was a stagecoach dr[...]1963 selected about half a mile north of the courthouse
how d a wooli population of 21, 64 a[...]r livestock rose in favor of a new site on the north side of the hill
from $5,05 to a ix-time figure of $30,792. from which sandstone was obtained for the quarry
operation. It was here that the first Memorial D ay
ar and other motor vehicles show the most service was held at the tum of the century. Among
fanta tic gain . In 1913, 53 autos were on the assess- those pictured are pioneers like Wong T[...]llen, Pat Lavelle,
m nt rolls at 13,6 0. Today the county boasts of Jimmy Hedges> and Col. o[...]we t of town, all the bodies whose identity was
number . The value per unit has increased from known, were moved to the new burial ground, but
$244 to 500.[...]originally interred.
The growth of the values in public utilities is
likewi e astounding[...]railroads,
etc., were valued in 1913 at $77,864. The figure a
half c ntury later was $5,45 ,0 9 - 70 times as great.

n item of inter t cone ming the increase in
car , clipp d from The Tri-County ews, October
1, 1903:

'Th fir t[...]was
hound for th t t of a hin ton. Many of the
children, an a lot of rown-up , w r nt rtained
by it app aranc and p rformanc ."

This industry was started the first of December One statement is often[...]ar and has been in constant operation since, the best town in which to trade in the tate. On
part of the time night and day. The original build- condition which has brought this to pass is th x-
ing was 20 by 30 but this soon proved too small for istenc of the Absarok o-Op. tore. This store
the rapidly growing industry and the structure has was organized as a coop rati one rn s n y ars
been enlarged to 40 by 40 with engine room and ago, the principal stockhold rs b ing farm rs and
platform[...]on. stockmen of the surrounding ountry. The ompany
took over the only store in Absarok e and proc d d
The mill is equipped throughout with the[...]ud-
"Midget" Marvel machinery which was installed by
ing the buying and selling of grain and other pro-
Mr. H. L. Raiff, president of the orthwestern Mill[...]several lots until it now own a large
Before the mill was built many thousands of and valu[...]a great factor in
dollars were being sent out of the community for building up the town, furni hing at the same time
flour. ow the grain is grown in our midst, the a market for produc and a place to buy supplies
freight charges out and in are saved, as well as the of all kinds at reasonable pric s. Hugh[...]and elevator charges, and several profits. is the manager, having held that position for four
In fa[...]ution to Rockefeller for gasoline and lubricat- The old Co-Op. is a landmark in Ab arokee and
ing oil, while the additional returns from our fat may it alwa[...]Absarokee got along with only
people concede that the mill will save each year to
one store, but as the town grew and the country
the community its total cost.[...]d it became a promising field
One feature of the town which appeals to the for the establishment of anoth r m rcantile hou e.
traveling public is the excellent hotel accommoda- The C. W. Sparr Company located her but in ab ut
tions. The Jay Hotel is a two-story structure of brick two[...]rge verandas and fitted with every modem the town ith his pock tho k and bought them out,
impr[...]Trad-
cold water and steam heat. F. E. Jay built the house ing mpany.
in 1912, close to the site of the old log hotel, and
The Pi pho Pharma y tak ar f th drug
with the assistance of his wife conducts an up-to-[...]. Pi pho
Three restaurants also cater to the inn r wants r gi t d phannaci t, i th r and a
of the hungry public. Th Elk afe is conducted t r f r th town.
by John Mulherin. rs. J. 0. Ogden's lunch room
and bak ry is just across th corn r; furth r up the
str t may b found th l x entch rooming and
eating hous . Don't be afraid to vi it the town -
you ill alway find g d ac mmodations.
Th real financial · ommunity · auged
by th amount of bu acted i
ban[...]ri .
it on of the trong t in titution in th tat a itu-[...]

b for the town ite wa established, there has not after the land had been purchased from the Crow
b en much of a change of population from tha[...]ot until 1905 that Siver Simonsen decided to plat
the b 'nchland · and many of the e moved into b- his homestead for a townsite. The survey was com-
arok e upon ·elling out or r t[...]23 that year and immediately
for trebling in the population and homes at this the sale of lots began. A short time later P. H.
dat[...]r and was instrumental in getting
·iv . De pite the fact that the little "burg" (Absaro- the town laid out, with Main Street about parallel
k e wa de cribed as a po toffice on Stillwater creek, to the Rosebud River. In 1912, September 7, Mr.
35 mile[...]Hawkins laid out Hawkins Second, and the next
outhwe t of Columbus, which is the nearest bank- year added some more of the river area in Hawkins
ing and hipping point on the . P., in the publi- Addition Number 3. His next contribution to the
cation "History of the Yellowstone" in 1905) has[...]Riv-
n ver incorporat d, it nevertheless has all the essen-
tial of a mayorized city. Through voluntee[...]en
now ha a fire-fighting ervice covering most of the Homes Addition September 24, 1928.
t rritory in the mountain valleys with equipment and[...]While "P. H." was the biggest planner for the
voluntary manpower far exceeding the ordinary in-
corporated town. For year the town has been elec- town, others had a ha[...]its boundaries. In 1914 Joe Mason tacked on the
Recently, the thriving little municipality installed Mason[...], and - in 1918, on Feb-
water and a sewer ystem. The residents pooled their ruary 6 Harry Ellis surveyed lots for Rock Rose
fund to blacktop the principal streets. In 1963 a ddition. T[...]Davidson ddition; then February 8 1951 the Lehn-
Main tre t boa t of very kind of business ers opened a tract along the Rosebud for homes.
ential to th trade of uch an area, with plenty The Weast Addition by "Jerry" Weast is the latest,
of comp titian handl d in uch a friendly[...]em Fr nk Jay,
Platting The Town ite of b arok[...]

(stone-cut) was erected during the summer of 1910. to Absarokee as well as so many "transfer" pupils
The ntire co t of the building was met by dona- from other distric[...]more rooms and four teachers were employed.
$500. The M. B. Club gave $500 and later gave lib-[...]The establishment of a high school in 1913-14
erally[...]activi-
year later this club got water to the school ties on the part of the M. B. Club and the school's
ground , fenced , and planted a double r[...]orters. Though not immediately placed
tree around the chool block. Every tree flourished on the accredited list the first Absarokee high school
for y ar , wh n the greate t misfortune the school was held in the little cement house that stands adja-
ha met befell in the form of a hail storm which cent to the main entrance of the high school. Fresh-
killed all but a few of the trees. The trees we now man and sophomor[...]mains of this splendid effort the direction of Veronica Piepho, principal of the
to give our town a beautiful school campus. Some[...]fred Baken, Albert Johnson
of them are shoot from the hail-destroyed trees and Mr. Shepard were trustees the cobblestone high
but the larger one are tho e which escaped the school was erected. To satisfy those patrons who
fury of the torm. From them we may picture what preferred to see the building parallel the county
the original planting might have become. road the new building departed from the cardinal
Occupation of the new two-room building re- points adhered to in the construction of the first
sulted in so large an influ of "scho[...]

ments, so the name of Columbus replaced Stillwater
COLUMBUS[...]-Birth- of the Yellowstone was slow in getting settled. It[...]was borderland on the north side of the Crow Res-
There i probably no town (or city)[...]ervation, and there were constant raids on the area
that had a more pectacular career, or more hectic by Sioux and Cheyenne war parties who would just
emb[...]" on an incorpo- as soon attack the white invaders. This ever-present
rated name than did the county seat of Stillwater. dang[...]eal to many prospective home seek-
From 1 75 when the Countryman stage station was ers, who high-tailed it over to the Gallatin or other
known as Stillwater, until its[...]Montana, 1885 edi-
it name was changed every time the whims of a tion, states: "A detachment of the 7th Cavalry pro-
merchant moved his stock of merchandise, or a new ceeded up the Yellowstone in 1875 to Mission. They
business app[...]ding post and Mission except for the folks at the Countryman
was listed as "Sheep Dip," and it was not until the Ranch trading post at Eagle's es[...]ous route."
named it Stillwater that the town's location attained Inco[...]n't last long, how- many years the town's progress was leisurely but
ever, as the . P. had already listed a Stillwater,[...]erative in pro-
Minnesota, on their main line and the similarity of viding voluntarily for the improvements in living
Minnesota and Monta[...]

incidents are but a few of the changes that happened there has been but a short period during the town life
in locating the town of Stillwater, now Columbus." that h[...]0 0 available. The Harris cheese did a thriving business
Columbus is strictly a run-of-the-mill small town, until ill-health caused Herman[...]percentage of necessary ing inspection by the Booze ' Beer section of the fed-
commodities are purchased locally. at[...]ced flour.
can be no booms, business-wise, unless the unexpected
But the real boosters of all business was the open-
happens. Since the first home was built here about
ing of the quarry in 1900. This brought forty families
1881,[...]stayed for many years.
precinct cast 53 votes and the log school house had
Equally important was the establishment of "Timber-
11 students enrolled. ·w hen the new rock schoolhouse[...]d in 1897 some 55 youngsters names were listed on
the roster. By 1900 the population was placed at 178.
Today it is approximately 1,280-the same as the of-
ficial 1960 census. In 1893 Columbus had four[...]ut about 20 are operat-
ing today. That same year the Tri-County ews car-
ried five saloon ads-today th[...]oday. In 1893 two denominations
held services iri the Gordon Hall-today there are six
churches availabl[...]is now Stillwater County had one
weekly newspaper-the same as today, although at one
time there were six. In 1893 Wong Toy baked the
first bread for public sale-there is one bakery today.
The unusual group of "small business" enter-
prises t[...]town this size have made their
appearance during the years. Early days saw at least
one Chinese laundry in the town. One time there[...]nt eight, left to right: Billy Harper,
kitchen in the rear of his mother's restaurant where Ma[...]Center: Walter
he did an overflow business during the holidays, and Quinn.
had a few particula[...]id prolapses in ewes, and an instrument
to repair the damage in case they did throw a womb.
He sold 200[...]Two brick yards operated for sev-
eral years, and the town once had a plant manufac-
turing conc[...]

And the very small turnover of busineis establish-
ments is indicative of the fact that those who have It was the proud honor of Jamie and Burtie An-
"branched out[...]nin to furnish trout for a breakfast for the members
with their · enterprise as they share in the economic, of this expedition, their Dad having been notified by
substantial progress of this wonderful "small-tow[...]gesture toward the president. The kids carried out[...]Another highlight of the campaign visit came
from the President to Hank Calhoun in the nature of[...]when the Roosevelt cattle venture in the western
breaks of the Medora-Little Missouri was at its peak,[...]and Mr. Calhoun was a top hand. The train was de-[...]layed an extra five minutes while guests heard the[...]W. M. Snyder, editor of the Tri-County ews,[...]noted in the next issue of the paper "For once H. J.[...]

Burt Annin[...]for a Republican presi-
dent!"
Appearing on the back platform with the presi-
dent were Senator Carter, Justice Theodore Brantly,
Judge Loud of the Yellowstone District Court, and
Bill Lindsay, Glendive, who was defeated by Joseph
K. Toole for Governor, also some reporters and a
couple other candidates.
At the extreme left of the picture are two kids,
the author and his brother, Burt. We had just pre-
sented the official train with a big catch of trout. The
President showed his appreciation by having his staff
mail us each a Y&E automatic ree[...]r these manufacturers gave us prominent publicity
by publishing in their ad in the Youth's Companion a
picture of the string of fish and a brief account of the
incident.[...]Jan tt , Mr. and Mr . Clarke. Mr. Clarke had
The boon buddies of schoolboy days, the Fraser the fore ight that brought water to the olumbu area.

and Annin brothers, further displayed their patriotism
and hero worship of President Teddy by making a Contracts wer let for the con truction of a pip -
camping trip to the mountains and planted a flag on line that found it wat r our in th hane ditch
the top-most point of She p Mountain just north of which tapp d the tillwat r about six miles south f
ye. This was an exciting xperience. In scaling the olurnbus, and gain d el vation until it wa suffi i nt
bluff from the front we encountered a ste p break[...]fective. Th iphon r ach d from
which we conquered by boosting the lightest one of the ditch at a take out point lightly southwest of
the foursome on my shoulders and he managed to[...]mething over a mile later wa div rt d
wiggle over the edge. We then tied our overalls to- to a series of large tanks on th hill ju t north of the
gether and made an overall rope by use of which we quarry. It wa a[...]arri d
all got over. Jess Fraser and Burt planted the flag, 110 pounds of pr ur . It had[...]cross, and
and Charlie Fraser rustled ballast for the Eocene oil tracks to tunnel und r.
can in which we anchored the flag , while I took the ·when the town , as incorporated, on of the first
picture. We later found we could have gone[...]or a syst m for th
behind, following a trail made by mountain she pl town, and in 1908 the contract was let whereby the

a survey of the damage. In the swift current, Vollmer
lost control of the boat, which slammed sideways into
the south pier, and capsized. After some effort Mr.[...]Thomas crawled on the pier, from which he was res-[...]the boat. ear the Dick Potter home on the banks of
the river he told Mr. Potter that he would be able to[...]land the boat safely farther downstream. He battled
the swift water for nearly an hour. The News again
says: "Farther down the stream Lorie Harris was[...]to the river bank, to bring the boat home. Harris and[...]a Mr. Zimmerman saw Carl coming down the river
near the Henry Rosean ranch, four miles from the
accident. They tied the lines together, but could not
reached the man. At this time Carl loosed his hold
on the boat, and was floating, with his head down[...]on one of the oars, apparently resting (for he was a[...]strong and skillful swimmer). He heard the man
groan, and clutch at his heart. The head went under
the water, and reappeared several times before he[...]sank from sight. John Altop and another man, in the[...]when his head bobbed above the river for the last
time." His body was found by the Sitzman boys near
"pipeline" was tapped and mains[...]12, ten days after his
stalled to service most of the town. Even without drowning.
sewers, this[...]During the winter the log piers were replaced by
as the old wells were filled in and abandoned. About[...]ones of concrete, portions of which still remain
the same time a small pumping unit was installed on
in the river channel. The pipeline was replaced short-
the banks of the river, tieing on to the new city line[...]ly thereafter in time for service for the 1913 crop
in the event something would happen to the pipeline.
year, at the same time water was restored to the city
The spring of 1908 saw water on 400 acres of new
irri[...]plenty for town use.
Things went well with the project until 1912. The
pipeline log piers were just below the old piers of
the bridge that crossed the Yellowstone. When this
bridge was replaced by the new one southeast of town,
with the weight off the bridge piers tlie center one
shook loose during the June highwater, and lodged
against a pipeline pier, tipping it in such a manner
that the pipeline was dislodged. The Columbus ews
of June 27 reads:
"At seven o'clock last Friday morning, that por-
tion of the Columbus Land & Water Co. pipeline that
was suspended over the Yellowstone River, fell to
pieces with a loud crash, and the disjointed sections
fell into the swiftly flowing waters below. Very few
persons witnessed the disaster, but it was heard all
over town and speculation was rife as to what had
caused the peculiar noise. The strain crushed the
building that housed it on the north side, as the tube
pieces drifted on the cables toward the north bank. In
ten minutes $6,000 worth of damage had been done."
A week later, Al Thomas, director of the com-
pany and Carl Vollmer started out in[...]

mains. In the· interim the auxiliary pumping system Stone Quarry History Reviewed
had provided for the town water system, but could
In the days when new industry was essential to
not suffice for the 1912 crops. the welfare and growth of a community, Columbus
By 1915 the town was "on its own" as far as the came into its own with the opening of the stone quarry
water system was concerned, and the pipeline was in the bluffs a mile north of town. Ben Hager, an old
on[...]e had posed as a problem croppings along the Yellowstone, and finally decided
during the winter months, when only a small inflow that the accessibility and quality of the Columbus
was needed for town use. Leaks d_eveloped that caused stone was the best spot for his enterprise. As early
huge icicles and a constantly shifting weight on the as 1896 he had a small crew of men getting out rock,
pipeline. The endless job of keeping the line clear at all requiring slow, manual labor. The task was not
20 degrees below zero wasn't a happy one for water- so great, however, as the sandstone had a straight-line
tender, Ira McClure[...]ic cleavage, which made breaking and sizing the product
to photographers who got some wonderful pictures. easier than normal. The local stone barn and the Co-
After several years, a deal was agreed upon with lumbus Mere. Co. were early products, as was the
the Merrill Ditch Co., whereby their ditch was to be Grade School, and later, all the stone structures on
extended around the bluffs west of town, to provide Main street.
water for an even larger area than under the original But the big operation of the local quarry was
system. Later this project was completely revamped started when the 1899 legislature appropriated funds
by the Montana Water Board with a bigger intak~ and for the construction' of the state capitol, and the con-
ditch of sufficient capacity to cover all the available tractor who got the bid made a deal with Hager &
irrigable land. The pipeline was salvaged across the Co. for stone from the Columbus quarry. P.H. Hawk-
river, and the staves and irons dug out of the ground ins, local correspondent to the Billings Gazette, issue
all along the system. Only the cabled catwalk re- of October 6, 1899, writes: "The present year is a red
mained, a swinging foot bridge which was used only letter year ·in the history of Columbus. This is not
by people out for an afternoon stroll, or members a speculators boom, but a development of the vast
crossing -over to the Jungle Club (a social group of resources of the country. The bluffs to the north,
the town at that time) and their barbecue pits and[...]found to be the best sandstone in the state. The capi-
But the Columbus pipeline had paid for itself![...]

ready a spur of the railroad is being laid, and the vast ing material beyond capacity. The State Capitol
derricks of Hager & Co. are placing the stone on the Building at Helena, the federal buildings at Butte
market." and Helena, the original federal building at Billings,
As the business grew, Ben Hager saw a profit in hotels at Forsyth and Havre, the Missoula and Havre
the future and sold out to Mr. Frank, of Helena, who high schools, the Masonic Temple at Missoula and
organized the Montana Sandstone Company, and of- many other public buildings as well as private institu-
fered the quarry for lease. Frank had contacted Mike tions, awaited the delivery of stone for construction.
Jacobs in Chicago, who had just completed the stone The Montana Sandstone bought back the lease and
work on the Art Institute, and persuad~~ him to look Mike Jacobs was given a green light for any and all
the place over. In early 1900, "Daddy" Mike, J. B.[...]people, which he did at all times, for the ordinary
immediate expansion. (In 1906 Mr. Jacobs became the manual work, but he went back to Chicago t[...]-Italians who were declared to be
First came the construction of the buildings the finest artists in America. Louie Corti, Pete Petosa,
necessary to house the saws, planers and rooms in Anton J acobucci, Victor Rocci, Joe Angeroli and
which the masons could work; also the hoists, power "Old Mike" himself, to name a few of the top stone
arms, cables and drills needed to get the rock blasted, cutters that served.
cut into proper sized "roughs" and moved to the inside. Building material was not the only product of the
Then came the building of a railroad spur to the quarry. Highly ornamental facades, and[...]final touch of beauty to brick, frame and
a year the plant was ready for full capacity, and the concrete structures was in high demand. Ceme[...],
of outside waste stone used for .P. rip-rap, as the and some of this beautiful handiwork is se[...]busy period that at its peak saw play at the World's Fair, which later sold on the
72 men on the payroll, and a demand for the build- grounds for $700.00 and was the inspiration for orders

and plenty, before they leave for the southland. The
many beautiful lawns join with the trees in softening
the harsh touch which is so often found in connection
with the life of a small town. The effect of the grow-
ing plants and trees has brought about the environ-
ment of contentment to the residents so that there
have been many beautiful homes erected-more than
in any other town of its size in the state.
But the one factor which has made the town what
it is today is the unity of spirit which has been dis-
played at all times by the residents. It was the fact
that they all worked in a body which made possible
the flour mill, the elevator, the water works, the fire
department, Stillwater County, and every other enter-
prise which makes the town. Although the men have
been of different political beliefs, in spite of the fact
that they have been competitors from a business stand-
point, the slogan from the start has been "Park City
First." There are no poor people in Park City. The
affiliation of community interests has made it possible
for everyone to share in the prosperity of the village,
has brought about friendly communication[...]first school was built in 1886. Some thirty years
the outside towns, and has instilled a spirit of peace later the first high school graduation occurred,
and happin[...]an it was grade and high school, augmented by students from
in 1884. Its 1962 election showed 2[...]Which does not mean that it is a "ghost town" by attendance and community activities. Its ci[...]is renowned for its facilities and free useage to the
ture for any great expansion. Presently its popul[...]c as well as its own people. Its fire
consists of the local merchants, retired farmers, or depar[...]ly adequate. There is no
men who are employed at the railroad shops or oil jealousy or selfi[...]stoffice. Its glory of other days in reflected in the It is possible that living in a town like this is
spirit of its citizens. The tiny town boasts of a finding li[...]

REED POINT
Although the Lewis Guthrie family had a store
and postoffice in Reed Point about the turn of the
century, it was not until dry landers started to[...]ite. Fif-
teen months later, John S. Campbell got the same idea
and located Campbell First Addition. As[...]6, and Campbells
Third Addition, July 2, 1917. On the Guthrie side of
the street business was booming too, so Lewis and
Sophia added a new Guthrie Addition, July 7, 1916.
In the ..midst of this rivalry B. G. Brockway came in
with the Brockway Addition, December 7, 1914.[...]and of course, the chairs and spitoons were moved up
so the fellows could continue "sawing their wood or[...]- MRS. A. L. GUTHRIE had done with the other one.

In a report to a meeting of the Pioneers of Mon- We now were working[...]Mrs. Guthrie read a pretty fair history on the grocery side, a woman clerk in dry goods and
of the town of Reed Point, partly devoted to the hats, and an assistant girl in postoffice. While Mr.
operation of the store and postoffice, as follows: Guthr[...]es for men, women
full basement right in front of the old building about and children, also overs[...]In the meantime, we built a real nice residence.
postoff[...]We then built a large garage, the 100x75-cement floor
and shining-a cement approach[...]also
a fine big coal and wood stove just in case the steam We were buying flour and salt by the carload
heating would not be adequate for the very cold days using the old store for a storehouse.[...]

All the while we were petitioning the commission- 0 ,
ers to build a bridge across the Yellowstone to the[...]had raised a headgate holding back flood waters,
the rush could not have been more definite. People
ru[...]s,
two elevators and many small stores. In short, the
town sprang up overnight and turkey red wheat was
the crop. It was being stubbled in or whether it was[...]to 70 bushels and grew
everywhere it was planted. The women are to be
praised. Many of them left good,[...]A bushel of turkey red had won first place at the his bushel of wheat. So our Co[...]a sign below the depot very conspicuous, "Business[...]these settlers on the dry land, for haven't we seen the[...]cattle trail for miles for water in the dry years?"[...]harvest time the grain wagons would be backed up[...]a quarter of a mile waiting their turn at the elevator.[...]Deeney, -- -----····· Drew. · though the farm rs summer fallowed, still the dry

RAPELJE, MONTANA, 1918

truck to the Billings outlets. The Rapelje High School
has a high scholastic rating[...]MOLT
has developed outstanding basketball teams. The con-
struction of oiled roads into Columbus and east to When the railroad came into the Basin in 1917
Molt may detract some from the volume of business several townsites were platted. One of these was the
on Rapelje's main street eventually, but there wi[...]Town of Molt, situated on a tracf of land donated by
ways be room for the present business establishments Mr. and M[...]the postoffice of Stickley.[...]victim of the close proximity and oiled roads to Bil-[...]handle the large volume of winter wheat grown in the
eastern portion of the fertile Lake Basin.[...]"The postoffice was originally Stickley, located on
the present John Leuthold ranch. It was established[...]in 1909 and Jesse Keefer carried the mail without pay[...]moved to its present location, and the name changed[...]smith shop, bank, etc. Today the business roster lists
only the Molt Farmers Elevator Company and the[...]only seven dwellings occupied, beside the teacherage,
used during the school term.[...]one of the top communities in our nation in the pur-[...]World War II and rec ived a citation from the Secre-
tary of the Treasury to that effect. nother oddity is[...]It wm still b a happy home to the f w of us still
Upper: Elev[...]

One of the interesting events which marked the Muggins Taylor, a scout attached to the 7th
thrill-packed life of this pioneer was a ride of nearly Cavalry, had left the battlefield area and headed
200 mile pony-express[...]in carry- for Bozeman to spread the news of the annihilation
ing th news of the Custer ma sacre from his stage-[...]he was exhausted.

ome of the inventory of the e tate of Horace Countryman. Creditor claims left a net estate of
about 3,000. The "old man" had given away most of hi hard-e[...]

He had been discovered and pursued by a band ALEX COUNTRYMAN
of Indians, and but for the fact that he managed
to guide his horse to the junction of the Big and Alex Countryman, four years younger than his
Little Big Hom Rivers, where the supply steamer, brother, Horace, was born at the family home in
Far West, was waiting for orders[...]Cleveland, Ohio, February 18, 1828, and crossed the
Taylor could have been overhauled and killed. S[...]to California with his brothers Horace and
ing the steamer, Taylor began firing his revolver[...]ving
and shouting, which attracted attention of the sol- in the Yuba River area, panning gold, he was mar-
diers on the boat. Seeing these armed men, the Sioux ried to Mrs. Catherine Plitspler Kern in 1860, to
band retired to the hills. Noting Taylor's condition, whom were b[...]Jr.,
. Col. Wm. H. Norton, who was a reporter for the
Helena Herald, condensed the report that Taylor
was carrying and sent Countryman to Fort Ellis to
put the release on the wire, and to report that Tay-
lor would spend the night in Stillwater. Arriving
there he made a verbal report to the officer in com-
mand and then drove on about three miles to Boze-
man. The telegraph line was down, so he picked up
a new mount at the stagecoach stables and pro-
ceeded to Helena.
About noon, when Andrew J. Fisk, reporter for
the Associated Press, and a writer for the Helena
Herald, were scouting for news, a dirty,[...]"Countryman, old friend, what in God's name
is the matter? What has happened?"[...]1 Mr. Countryman and a
command all wiped out on the Little Big Hom by nephew, Charles (son of Eli Countryman) came to
the Sioux."[...]in Montana. Alex moved his family onto
When the messenger had been sufficiently re- a homestead a mile east of Columbus. Charles took
vived by refreshments and a brief rest he told the up a claim on what is now a portion of th city of
story as it had been told to him by Muggins Taylor, Columbus and wa th original town ite. H got a
which was concluded with the lines "Curley, the d d to this tract in 1884.
Crow scout, was the on\y person in the battle who Alex ountryman died in hi horn in Columbus
escaped to bring the news. He said the firing was D mb r 19, 1 6. His wife, who[...]Pennsylvania on eptemb r 14, 1912, remain d in
the tearing ~f a blanket."[...]orth
Dakota, and official notification was sent the gov-
ernment.[...]TRYM
Reporter Fiske, however, had one of the bigg t On of th ons of ountryman was
"'scoops" of his career due to the pluck and endur- Dani 1, born in Jan ill[...]abeth Payne wer married in operating the ranch of his , r .
a small town in Illinois. Four ·girls and two boys R on the W t Ro bud, January 9, 1910.
were products of thi[...]Dan was on a lazy mul , and
He was high in the Masonic circle of pioneer days. his dad on a fi[...]Danny about not g tting th
January 15, 1898, at the age of 64 and was buried mule in motion. Th y wer attack d by a bunch of
at his own request in Deer Lodge. Indians who cam whooping toward the pair. Their

THE COU TRYMAN FERRY (1882 TO 1894)[...]

waited until they were a lather of sweat. Then Uncle
Bill suggested the next step, which was to plunge • ' ,,[...]l,\.l~ "''\ '~;' I \( ~ i 1
into a pool of the water of Fishtail Creek, big enough
to submerge them. Uncle Bill went first and the ( ~l._ '4'\W.. ".t,, l (h \\ \[...]turn. I am inclined to think he
never completed the survey l It's certain he gets a
cramp every time[...]drink of
good whiskey, and Uncle Bill was not of the minor- ~ t5~t ~--[...], ~ .,,, ~N. - -~t
ity. One night he came in from the mountains and I\.'.~ - ' ·l C l. -
decided to camp across the river in the brush above
the old ferry. He must have gazed long on the bottle
before he went to sleep. The next morning Bill White
came to his camp and tried to rouse him, but couldn't
so he went across the ferry and told Col. Allen that
Hamilton was dead. They quickly returned to the
tent, and Col. jounced him up and down until he
w[...]do?"
he said. He resumed this crude treatment and the
corpse opened his eyes. "Hello, Colonel, what are[...]you can't let a man die if he wants to."
This was the end of his camping out as he built a
shack on the north bank of the river that winter.
This was to be his winter home the remainder of
his days, but he rarely failed to spend at least six
months a year trapping and hunting in the mountains.[...]od job of making it. He also could cook
meat with the b st of them , using as flavor a com-
bination of weeds and bark that he had learned from mong the venturesome homestea<lers who came
the Indians, and he wouldn't let the secret be known. into the East Rosebud in 1901 was Malcolm S. Mac-
All in all, though, he wasn't the succ ss as a chef kay, who filed downstream a few miles from the
that he was as a trapper. " ncle Bill" had his fa[...]men hav , but he was courageous and brave, the trapper's official base during the season. Uncle
honest and straightforward, warmhea[...]errand boy. The attach d reprint is of a note by[...]Mr. Mackay, in later years, transplanted the
While rather temperate and careful in his ea[...]king, ncle Billy Hamilton used consider- the rugged old trapper had m ant.
able quantities of[...]ut more often enjoying a pipe. A lot of the f llows who know the rrand boy,[...]ntire day, removing it while he ate, and the dignified alibi, which was written many years
res[...]us quo immediately after com- later, when the tenderfoot was a res rved, well-
pleting h[...]

"UNCLE BILLY" HAMILT[...]p a mall cannon (whic had
One of the most substantial, if not the most g d from th army for ju t uch an ion)
pretentious, was the cabin (or "Castle" a he pre- black[...]that
ferred it be called) which was built by ncl Billy shook th town. Ev ry hour of t day th t r
Hamilton about 1883, one of the first four perma- th cannon would b fir d,[...]a grand · blast in ju t un-
b come the village of Stillwater. It was built of do[...], and unti r -
connected to the big room with a swinging slab[...]rth.
i s w re always k pt cl an and ord rly.
The author a on two occasion a ictim of The a t Ro bud
a Tom Sawyer deal, which had be n rigg d up by F ire of I 99
Prof[...]tl ' · ·
of the Yellowston just across th road from th[...]ad got fairly dirty h
on the outside. Mr. Hawkins sold nd Billy th[...], and aroused enough patri- i
otic spirit in the ighth grade class at chool that t]
th[...]

Thomas Hamilton was his knowledge of the sign LESSO TE[...]signs. In his illustrations and descriptions of the In-
his 60 years on the plains, and he was finally to be dian sign language, in many instances, is voluminous
called "The Master of The Signs." He is said to have and not to the point in teaching students a quick
been able to c[...]t knowledge in acquiring proficiency in the sign langu-
five tribes of northern Indians.[...]many instances his mode of describing move-
The Columbus school kids were among his pupils.[...]awkins was never hesitant about in- him the first sign he ever knew in 1876. He was ap-
trodu[...]s chief in name only while he remained with
teach the students the sign language, the cautious the army. Scouts reported to him, he being on Gen.
In[...]ve at Crook's staff.
least 15 lessons at the Tri-County ews office to be 1. Clos[...]ont,
When school opened in September, 1905, the horizontal. Move arm from right to left, as
first lesson appeared in the ews. Here it is: pointing[...]downward and draw back to body quickly-
The following signs are made with fingers held in[...]front 18 inches palm down, A D THE L ST LE O -13
move right hand back down[...]sweeping motion forward, arms length. "Go- the following ign . It will expedite learning the sign
ing to war."[...]OUR - A IMALS carefully the following. Many signs by hand in ame
1. Extend both hands in front p[...]d x breast high,
cating beaver striking the water with his tail pointing outward[...]ght and ind x fing r horizontal,
3. Ends of the three last finger in right hand of[...]deer." zontal, and bring the hand in a circular mo-
4. Third and little[...]x finger horizontal, place ame on wrist
by side, ends of thumb placed on nails of[...]e hand from right to left in a half the time."
circle movement and flip fingers[...]ith ind
as hand reaches extreme left of the movem_ent projecting. "Th other on[...]eer. "Black-tail deer." the course in sign language.-Wm. Hamilton.)

This brought on one of the most interesting extra- "I desire to say[...]ion that these
curricular maneuvers ever known in the Columbus mines were discovered and worked more than 20
schools. Every Friday afternoon the last half hour years ago by Mr. Hubbell and others before the reser-
was devoted to sign language, with assigned lessons vation was ceded to the Indians by the government,
on which to practice over the week end. Because of and 14 years ago by Anderson and myself, the present
space needed this subject was taught in the school occupants; but by false testimony offered before the
yard. On first appearance a by-passer would suspect Sherman commissione[...]af and dumb ~chool, or a very different the effect that there were no mines or miners working[...]henics. It was new and we worked hard on the reservation, this section was included in the
at it, but after about a month of it, the students started Crow reservation, and Mr. Hubbell and a number of
a new approach to the project. They developed some others wer[...]nd
new signs of their own, and slyly conversed in the have remained absent until the recession of this por-
classroom with their new m[...]ication, to tion of this reservation to the United States. We did
the distraction of others and extra alertness by the not return until the line was surveyed and we were
"Perfessor." One of the most popular girls in the class assured our land was off the reservation."
was asked a question by the teacher. She answered
him in the new sign language and was told to leave Hamilton Was Slow in Acquiring
the room. Frank Shane, who was part Crow, and American Citizenship
knew some of the language of his mother, punched One of the things that surprised and astonished
the writer in the nose when apparently I had got Uncle Billy Hamilton was the sudden realization that
mixed up. Some of the older modest girls slapped he had to be a naturalized citizen in order to vote or
some of the older boys because of their signs. By way hold office, as of the year 1894. -Called as a witness
of a holiday proc[...]lings, over a mining matter, he
Hawkins abolished the classes in Uncle Bill's pro- was challe[...]t was great while it lasted! the fact that Hamilton was two years old when he[...]came to the United States, he was nevertheless not a[...]Major Armstrong ably the shortest length of time ever utilized he be-[...]nited Stateser as a Tri-County News clipping
The following item in the Billings Herald, March of October 6, 1894 shows:
20, 1884, shows that the agent and Hamilton were
bitter enemies in their e[...]of the application.
A long communication is published from "Uncle
Billy" Hamilton in regard to the burning of the miners "Damn fine thing," said the veteran frontiersman,
cabin near the mines on the Upper Stillwater by the "Hope they don't disqualify some of my a[...]Benton, and a deputy in other law
Indian agent at the Crow Agency near Absarokee. enforcem[...]"but maybe I should ask for a refund of the poll taxes
they sneaked onto the reservation was "maliciously I have paid!"
false" and that they came and went by broad day-
light by the nearest route, "Before we went on the
claims," Hamilton writes, "we obtained from Major[...]"Uncle Billy" Jobs Wong Toy
Blake who ran the lines last year, a map showing con- W[...]veloped quite a sense of humor. On such
miles off the reservation. The cabin burned belonged an occasion he saw Wong Toy fishing through the ice
to Jack ye and was nearer the reservation than the near the Hamilton. Toy was doing right well, and just
other three, two of which were owned by McDonald tossed the fish on the ice as he unhooked them.
and myself, and the other by A. S. Hubble and "Shook- "Catching 'em fas[...]taining bedding, mining supplies, hole in the ice, and was apparently not gaining any
and gener[...]"chased
that his police did not find and destroy the other me across the bridge and as far as the White ranch,
three."[...]

Smith, this little crew[...]The Crow agent, Dexter Clapp , sore because there
tio[...]was too much booze being sold to the Indians, got an[...]executive order that closed the northside of the river
Teams soon arrived and moved the party to[...]worked for the government for three years, but when
tried fannin[...]the northside was again opened to settlement, he
tables with their last dollar in the venture. Grass-[...]filed on 160 acres, which is part of the Columbus
hoppers completely wiped them out. Bill[...]townsite, and built his own store in 1883 (where the
freighting contract and made good profit. He then[...]w stands). He operated this store for a
went into the mining business but with varying suc-[...]Billy Garrigus, and went
cess and in 1875 came to the Countryman stage stop,[...]into the sheep business until 1899. He then partially
wher[...]retired on his 200-acre farm adjoining the townsite[...]sembling the anti-bellum type of architecture. Here[...]born on the Isle of Jersey, England, and came to
oa• day i11 the hllla. cut off from water,
GREAT BATTLE WITH[...]The couple were domestic employees in the east for
THE INOIANS.[...]tic-n, bot wen oTCoom• by bnte they were married in 1876. Th[...]less a recluse, and her only association with the town
IUL CUITAR'I COMMA~D[...]was as member of the Ladies Aid. Following her hus-[...]to the community. She died in the local hospital,
CUSTAR KILLE·D![...]r family cti•d at ~• laud of their
Left on the F ield. column[...]wu Dot kDo,na. one-time correspondent for the Helena Herald, and
Both the adJut&At ud .......-, major rewrote the Muggins Taylor official notice of the Cus-
Oen. Cuetar•• Two aroth.,e, a[...]ter Massacre, and sent it on to Helena by Horace
. .phew, llrotfler-ln•Law, and[...]Countryman> the telegraph wires being down. It was[...]the first press realease of the tragic battle. When Yel-
up the u&tl1 B orn from Ha moet.la.
f!p,dt1t I>WJ)Olcll[...]representative, and was again named as the first rep-
boDa. arrhed laen lut :,i,[...]o t e &laick- ~ eoauuod a& JI.no. Wlaeu the Ia-
_. portl p. Nodliq ia[...]iD • uamnr n 'rioe. TIie .-a ,,..
the c:S.d. llaj?t Beno oo mancled[...]ol ou of lda ~ I Wlled.
hess release prepared by William H. Norton as it appeared in[...]

WILLIAM H. WHITE[...]. Miss Julia, a daughter of Chief
Crooked Foot of the Crows was born in the Stillwater
Valley in 1862. She passed away in her[...]me WILLIAM H. WHITE FAMILY
the parents of William H. Jr., Mary E. "Mamie,"[...]mie."
Minnie, Frank and Ada Montana.
This is the condensed biographical data on two of as he told it to historian, Dr. Thomas B. Marquis
the important makers of history of this area. A reads:
reader can then trace some of the events of his life
as he narrated it to reporters[...]V w re 1 d by 1. John ibbon,
"My parents died when I[...]ounty, Indiana. Louisville, Kentucky, to the Y llowston in Mar ril our
was the trading center of that region and in the four troop of ca alry, un[...]·oin . W
to see more of the world I had taken all my be- th n mov[...]map
coln, so I went to the station wher it hung. It was his d ision f[...]to go up Rose-
a recruiters office, and despite the fact that I was not bud r ek, wh b would g u
quite of age, the sergeant swor me in as a oldi r of Big Horn and Littl Horn. Our four troo f
the nitel States. We first were assigned to J Her-[...]and all
During this period Mr. Whit had the frightful fore s had b n kill h[...]that
experience of vie ing th Custer Battlefield the day night camp d at a h y now
after the Custer massacre, as well as having the pain- tand . W saw hu f a k as
ful duty of helping care for the dead and wounded e w r going into[...]o in his ngage- came, w turned in for the nty of
ment of that[...]

The next morning we could not see an Indian[...]w many strange dian University-one of the first Crows to be ducated
looking objects on the hills east of the river and about th re.
the same time saw a large moving group of men and[...]mbus,
we contacted them we learned that they were the wh re he work d at odd jobs in partia[...]of Major Reno and that there had After the death of his wif , h moved to th Crow
been a fierce fight with the Sioux and Cheyennes for Agency and became[...]did not possess the natural stoical instincts of her tribe.
It was then that we knew the report at the mouth[...]was a student and lover of natur that imp 11 d
of the Big Horn was true. The objects we had seen on
her to enjoy life by her own tandards, rath r than
the hill that morning were corpses of Custer's com-[...]own people. Her obituary
mand! Upon investigation the sight was terrible~[...]tion, a display of human "An Indian by birth, Mrs. White at all times
savagry beyond belief. Most of the bodies were never prov d a true Christian[...]a charming mother,
But our job was to move the wounded 53 soldiers
ever blessed with the inherent love of the wild. Out-
of Reno's command. We had no tents or[...]tepees, still intact, we found bodies of The editor of The Columbus ews, (who was Jim
dead Indians, arrayed[...]Annin at that time), who has be n a pet of the de-
bodies we tumbled and moved to get the robes and ceased for nearly thirty yea[...]atisfactory litter on which death and xtend to the berea d our d epe t sym-
the wounded could be moved slowly, but surely."[...]traight-laced," who d cri d mok-
maiden near the Countryman trading post. This ing,[...]of dan ing.
daughter of Chief Crooked Foot became the future His firm faith wa own in th[...]night thr
wedding this pair worked at the newly tabli hed f da[...]our t, pla d o
table for the agency mploye . a ing all th ir ag[...]an hunting trip into Wyoming, and thi
wa d crib d by Mr. \ bite a a "rich, lazy, happy
life."
In[...]s 1 ct d on th south id of th Y 1-
lowstone wher the olumbus bridge was lat r built.
Th ir home wa a s[...]tman, ro d ha k
and forth daily whil he work d on the building
being con truct d in th illage of tillwa[...]tt r
housing on th ir farm and u ssfully op rated the
layout, one of th ir proud ac ompli hment[...]

post as a base for operating the gold fields of Wolf After finishing element[...]n known to exist, but which to this day at the Indian School at Carlisle, and La Vanita en-
hav[...]d from Mansfield Normal at Mans-
Ultimately the fort was abandoned, and soon field, Pennsylvania.
after burned by the Sioux supposedly. The Major In 1883, the son returned to Montana where he
consequently, h[...]t load of supplies cut and supplied hay for the railroad contractors. He
at Fort Keogh.[...]aVantia became an accomplished musician
this up. The establi hment of Fort Keogh, 75 miles and[...]done a good service in influencing The long, eventual life of Major Pease ended Oc-
the Crow Tribe to cast their lot as friends of the white tober 20, 1920. He was laid to rest in the Rosebud
men rather than an aggressive alliance with the Sioux. Cemetery in Absarokee in the heart of the country
When the meeting was held to form a townsite that[...]among other men, he was chosen to it in the heritage of the Crow Indians.
direct the company of Matt Carroll and Paul Mc-[...]eral years ago we visited Harriet Mallon Clark at
the present site of Columbus. the ranch on the Boulder River, south of Big Timber.
Later Pease became interested in developing the She told me she had a letter written to her by Owen
Clarks Fork mines and he also became interested in Wister. In it he acknowledged that one of the main
the Bozeman Coal Company. characters, or THE main character in his book, "The
When the town of Livingston was laid out, Pease Squaw Man" was Uncle Dave Pease."
saw the opportunity for a new business there. In 1882,
he established himself there in the Livingston Coal
Company. Then in 1883 began the manufacture of
lime. He was an associate with a Mr. Myers under
the name Myers and Company. The first lime kilns
on the orthem Pacific west of Duluth were just a
few miles south of Livingston, on the Park branch.
Then Pease became intere ted in a brickyard and
manufacturing plant under the firm name, Decker and
Company, one mile from Livi[...]rable learning as a boy in Pennsylvania and
along the long trail of pioneering. He was an avid
reader,[...]tion in eastern schools. His oldest son, Leet, at the
age of 8 and his little daughter, LaVantia, age 6, were
taken to Minnesota to the Major's oldest sister's. A
poignant story was told of the separation of these
children from their mother, M[...]children and loaded them in a small
boat and down the Yellowstone to a steamer. Imagine
the grieving mother following along the rocky and
brushy shore along the river as long as she could see
them, carrying in her arms the youngest son, George.
After a year with the Major's sister in Minnesota,
the children were taken to live with the grandparents, Over 4,000 people watched 1[...], at Osceola, Pennsylvania. the Jubilee honoring their return in 1919

the Yellowstone Valley after his first wife had died.
ear the present town of Columbus, in 1872, he mar-
ried a Crow woman, and lived on the creek that now
bears his name, five miles south.[...]buried on a hill that overlooks his
ranch, while the remains of another old Indian grave,
that might well have b en his wif ," hangs in a pine
tree near the top of the ridge, some two miles from
the present road.)
At a dance, he met WilJiam T. " ncle Billy"
Hamilton for the first time, and th ir paths cross d
many times in the near half c ntury that followed.
Gradually this man tr kk d ov r the mountain
into the Yellowstone and sp nt sev ral y ars trapping
and[...]is tim h as official
supplier of wild meat for the crew that wa building
Fort Pease, and for some of the army detachments
operating against Indians in this region.
At the time of his death, he was the last living
survivor of the Sioux attack on Fort Pease. During
this time he had b en an official scout for the Major
Reno command, and sp cifically as igned to the de-
tachment of Lt. Doane, whose proj t wa[...]

Dusky maiden! Radiant spirit o' the night! seen old Colonel practically every day that we have
Her mantle off; the tawny beauty cast, with been in town, a[...]met
Raiment lightly clinging to fair waist, the lithe, him. ext to the Countrymans, Colonel is the "father"
Agile form! Soon came warm perfumed[...]His wanderings located him here in the early 80's,
With hair, the round form to caress, daintily kiss[...]tionery shop where he still holds out. The little shop
impassioned[...]which was built by Joe Porter, and used for two years
Sigh, waf[...]as a meat market, was one of the aristocrats of the
telling[...]hut, and to the person who views it with an eye of
Whilst the dark-eyed, tender, sweet voiced[...]civic price it is a menace to the business beauty of
maiden[...]siness connected with
Upraised, appealing to the moon, bathed in "Colonel Allen's." It[...]light. 'Oh Moon, fair moon,' Around the old wood-burning stove in its sawdust
she cries base the "old cronies" of the town have gathered for
Grant to me this boon that I may lover win! nearly 40 years. The patrons of the "free heat" have
Fleet footed; hunter, keen[...]been representatives of every type. In '95 it was the
Fearless with all foes! A lover, fond and true! cow-punchers of the Dun Looie gang that, tiring of
Grant this O Moon-my lonely heart's request! the game and brawl of the saloon, would gather
Still near the vision bright, entranced I saw 'round the fire and sing songs or tell stories; or it
H[...]oax, lightly toss might have been one of the ladies of the south side
Kisses from finger-tips, heavenwa[...]purchase here a bottle of her favorite per-
The beaming moon! Eager, low stooping, a[...]pausing in her purchases to pass the time of day with
She took, fond omen of desire; poised; wished; the gang there assembled '(for rem mber, back in those
Then cast it on the water. Through glittering days the best of us were none too good, nor the worst
shower[...]too terribly bad); later it wa th quarryman or the
Of silvery spray, the branch I watched; drifting, wool hauler by summer and th wint r trapper who
Darting adown the rapid current of the stream, dropped in to ay "h llo" to th olonel and njoy
I turned to meet the Indian maid-when lo! his hospitality; while today it i the r nd zvou of the
Mist clouds arise; my dream is o'er;[...]rk and void." ments in the mail, hurry to th pla to complain of[...]their lot and longingly pin for, and r call the won-[...]oth at ht
pass over the pioneer history of the town without · again;[...]h r adth ap ; ard
getting at the history of olumbus, we are going to
the i "hid[...], pani av rted,
Our first hazy recoil tion of the Colonel dates the li ation and[...]pot" of individuality and id al .
an anise s d in the middle of it. Since then we have And[...]

by the aroma of "Dixie Queen" and fireside jokes were ed a dollar watch. "I haven't a watch/' said the store
always just a little richer, the peanuts just a little more keeper, "but I can sell you a fine pair of gum boots,
savory, and the candy just a little bit sweeter than or maybe a copy of the Police Gazette." Colonel has
that purchased anywhere else in the town. handled, in his time in the business, about every[...]commodity known to the merchandise game-and then
It used to be a sta[...]some. For every purchase Colonel would throw in a
the Colonel was approached by a customer who want- little s[...]" EARING THE E D OF THE TRAIL"

buildings which were once the housing of the Crow of the commissary, the assay office of the Minneapolis
Indian Reservation personnel. Our roa[...]Mining and Smelting Company, owners of the camp.
that takes us up the West Rosebud, thence along the Far up on Verdigris Creek is a big frame house con-
divide to Grove Creek where we hit the old Bridger ducted by two girls engaged in the boarding and lodg-
Trail over to the Stillwater. Narrow is the road .along ing business, and the noon call for chow is generously
sharp grades, and the dangerous hairpin curve, and responded to by many miners of the camp. Down
across the bridges that Joe Kern and his crew are[...]"Old Suis," quarter blood Indian provides for the im-
cator, the official 'freighters' for the new mining town. moral life in her new location.
We came to the bank of Verdigris Creek (Big Thing Over by the river is a log shack where Lee Lute
or Silver Creek) and reach a hump in the road from is running the first non-union laundry in Stillwater
which we can see the city of ye. County, at such times as he is not prospecting. The
It is built of one street, running east and west rest of the town is a nondescript mess of frame and
and here all the business of the town is transacted. log houses with a few canvas-frame shelters for the
Here are six saloons of frame and canvas, all of[...]newer residents of Nye. Higher up on the mountain
are destined to be destroyed by a ew Year's Eve sides,[...]eplaced, but half as many, the many prospect shafts being driven in the search
of more substantial logs and building material. Here for valuable ore.
is the big store owned by Tommy Ross and you can An inventory of the personnel of the camp re-
buy anything from toothpicks to rubber boots. At the veals between three and four hundred men, with the
end of the street we can see the fine frame buildings p[...]

George Emory, Minneapolis attorney for the com- ment from the locally constructed mill on the West
pany, was a frequent visitor, and Messrs. Griffith and Fork that brought all the lumber supply out prema-
Cole came to inspect the works on many occasions. turely, except for the larger booms and cedar timbers
Jack Radenick acte[...]and his brother, that had to be shipped in by rail and freighted.
Steve, doubled as book and time keeper. Jimmy The smelter was modem in every detail and
Hedges tended the commi~sary, and directed the cook geared to handle low-grade ore that had been tapped
shack. The biggest saloon and gambling joint was i[...]silver, but mostly copper. ot
owned and operated by Jerry Toohey, who later came only did the Minneapolis concern have good prospec-
to his death in Red Lodge via the bullet route. Other tive volume, but several[...]able to supply ore.
each with a spread. Ladies in the camp were scarce. It looked like a very Merry Christmas to the folks
Mesdames Mushback, Toohey and Seeley were the who had placed their faith in the ye City mining
first three white women in camp but later on many districts-the new Butte of the worldl
of the miners sent for their wives. At the height of the[...]been working in the Stillwater Basin area, and over
necessary, church unknown and officers of the law
the range from the new mining town of Cooke City.
unwanted.[...]Their paths finally crossed.
The company worked industriously through the
Nye City wasn't a part of the federal domain in-
next two years. Despite the fact that the rock was[...]the Crow Reservation!
graduations of copper, such as copper-nickel carrying
as high as seven percent of the latter; some copper, Appeals were file[...]ying from IO to 50 percent cop- to see that the smelter would function, the area de-
per. There were also small amounts of silver and veloped, and the Crow tribe enriched by such opera-
traces of gold. Private prospectors were also coming tion! The government was adamant and Congress
up with some[...]etermined in its regulations and laws prohibiting the
tended areas.[...]line for removal was set, and within the next year the
By Christmas in 1887, a small type smelter had[...]plant was qismantled and all the equipment, materials
been assembled, -well in adv[...]and supplies faded down the long torturous road to
weather conditions. The company had anticipated
the village of Stillwater. Over $200,000 in actual cash
that movement of the heavy machinery, metal pieces,
losses to the concern which went bankrupt with this
pipe and other materials from the railroad point of
venture; the wasting of grubstakes and years of sav-
Stillwater to the mine site would not be possible until
ings; the sweat and toil of five years spent usele sly;
after the high water, despite the fact that much of
the despondency and futility of honest labor and hu-
it had been delivered to the rail head. Fording was[...]f those who
dangerous, and nearly impossible with the heavier[...]visioned another "richest hill on earth!"
pieces; the ferry could not handle these type loads, and
the normal ice cover could not hold. Old timers recal[...]s, drifters and tim-
that 1886-1887 winter. After the first of the year a bermen stuck around for a few months[...]n a chinook, then several w ks p arances the camp was a "gho t." Later on, as set-
of below zero weather. The crust of ice that formed tler took up land in the valley, som of th logs and
wiped out many stockme[...]logs that lay in the clearing of the mountainsides,[...]f th lost city that might
It was a boon for the freighters. Ice bound trails[...]have made history if the urv y tak had fitted the
and roads made it possible to use bobsleds instea[...]pattern!
the heavier wagons, apd a rate of travel nearly twice[...]operation stated that "at least eighty percent of the judgment deed for $12,255. H held the property for
heavy, unwieldly equipment was hauled up the new several years, watching the operation of the individu-
trails of the Stillwater River from its confluence with als who crune in, after the Indians ceded the land
the Rosebud, and in less than one-half the time that in 1890, and mine-staking was again within the law.
the mining company had anticipated." At the same And there were a few[...]

VERDIGRIS (OR ILVER) C[...]

the Boulder to find hidden placer that kept him good Lute and his crew, the prospectors finally banded
with his creditors; "D[...]together for a practical trial shipment in the summer
Hawks Creek (so named for him); John Willi[...]of 1904. Taking true samples from each of the several
"Gus" Oetjerdes were partners in a drift[...]h potential massive production,
such promise that the latter got shot and Willis got they sacked up from five to ten hundred-pound units
five years in the penitentiary, as the partnership ex- from each claim and mad[...]prospector to Omaha for smelting. The results were disappoint-
came out and reported that the place had a future; ing. In no instance did the final production live up
and Nels Soderholm left his Cooke City store in to the assay analysis, and in no case would the value
charge of his wife, while he spent a few weeks in the of the ore warrant production under conditions that
area[...]at time!
had interested some of his countrymen in the new The old patented claims of the Minneapolis Min-
venture and the Tri-County News of October 15th,[...]purchased some of them
Nye, where he will inspect the property of the Chi- from Park County for tax title,[...]as Stillwater Placer o. 2 into
Still inspired by the faith and persistence of Lee a public c[...]a mile of the Stillwater River-a most beautiful spot[...]was manifested in the ye area mines. As it pro-[...]William M. "Bill" Mouat, a nephew of the presi-
dent of the pioneer Minneapolis Company became in-[...]terested sufficiently to look over the abandoned prop-[...]mining experience in the early camp of ·Maid n and[...]MINE CABIN, 1913
tart of chrome rninin1 in the Beartooths on Rock Cre k. years, exc pt[...]

,. . ,[...]

a few helpers to complete the necessary assessment
work to hold the claims.
Then came World War II and the sudden need
for chrome. Columbus and the Stillwater valley
bloomed overnight-new business -houses and homes,
a paved road to the mill site of a new mining venture
that far exceed[...]The biit millinit plant is due to be removed.[...]uat. Japs had chok d off th hrome

The jut-jawed discoverer of th hr me.

prosperity in gen ral. Then victory for the lli s, and
no further ne d for our xpensi ly mined chrom
But let an article from one of the popular magazin
of the day tell th story:

"Ghost Town, 1943"
"The handsomest ghost town of orld War II-
Mouat, a 15[...]es w r unscratch d. o pa-
tient had sl pt in the sl k new 50-b d hospital, fitt d
with X-ra[...]

they start walking west> and fast. The hatchetmen it on account of Lute's potential wealth in the mining
started to protest, at first with pleading[...]bbery; or was it (as most
der about 50 yards down the road> drew his revolver peace officers suspected) just the work of a couple of
and hit the rock. He then pointed to the shoulder of criminals who had found the picking too thin in
the larger invader and signaled the startling informa- Frisco and sought greef)er pastures for their nefarious
tion that the next bullet would go there. The men occupation?
reached for their grips, but Rosner allowed-as-how
the luggage might weigh them down on their journey, The long case carried a saddle carbine, a long
so they had best leave it. Another motion of the bayonet-type sword and a Derringer pistol. The suit-
revolver got the men in motion, and they started up case had normal clothing and a packet of unidentified
the road with the gunner a short ways behind. They drugs. All of which would lead to the theory that
planned to follow as far as the bluff, but the guards they were professional highwaymen.
got[...]course, they could have been tongsmen,
town from the Cardwell ranch seven miles west and bent on death!
upon hearing the story, they offered to act as a re-
lief detail and escorted the bandits as far as Merrill Lee Lute left Co[...]dressed to W. H. orton,
train that was stopped at the siding. and dated at Hong Kong[...]that these same two had arrived safely here the 18th of September. The steam-
intimidated a Chinese lady in Billings for money; they er for inland China sails the day on the 19th of Sep-
tried to strongarm another countryma[...], your obedient servent. Lee
play quite a part in the early Frisco Chinatown); was Lute.

Montana Meteor, operated by its inventor, T. C. Ben- The damage to the craft was considerable and
bow, was brought safely to the ground three miles Benbow did not have time to make another flight for
south of the Fair Grounds. Benbow said a leak de- the official entry, and the grand prize. The Baldwin
veloped in the gas line that made it impossible to ship with its more perfect construction and power
return to the concours.e landing in the face of a stiff only made two trial flights, on the second of which
wind, and the loss of power, when the motor died it broke its moorings and was lost in the darkn ss. It
out, made it necessary to steer for[...]yond further competition, thus eliminating the last
This was the beginning of Benbow's bad luck. On entry in the contest.
his next trial, with the machine in perfect running But Benbow[...]reinforced motor for extra power, he had run the concourse as he had done before, for $500
circled the concourse, directing the machine perfectly, daily for a flight. Before the fair gates opened, he was
when he decided to take the 15-mile test course. He starting on a flight, but was prevented from going up
ordered the guy lines cut and was raising up over the by the enforcement of the Jefferson guard, on the
grounds, when an anchor snagged and the balloon was grounds that the flight could not be made until the
entangled in the wire walls of the enclosure, where gates were open to the public or until the fair crowd
the wind whipped the carriage mercilessly. The spec- was big enough to warrant payment of the flight.
tators expected him to be thrown out of the carriage This was the end of the Montana Meteor. The
at any minute, but he was equal to the emergency gas bag was deflated, and the motor and cab boxed
and cooly came down a rope to the ground, while up and shipped back to Red Lodge. Baldwin also got
the gas bag remained snagged hopelessly."[...]

not so stringent and unfair. The "stalls" were emptied of the meet. After the guards had deterred him from
of airships.[...]one of his flights, one of the St. Louis dailies quipped:
In reading the many news releases, Benbow with "Oh, don't you remember the airship, Benbow;
his small ship, his persistence and simplicity of his The airship that tickled the town.
craft, won a place in the hearts of the fair-goers, The airship that never once needed our smiles,
second only to R_oy Knaubenshue who was the hero And cared not a whit for[...]

fortable was done at once. An engine[...]raig and trip. His body was crushed in the mail car and burned
Line went on it. Many from this place drove to the to ashes. Engineers Vaupel and DeGroat> Fireman
scene during the day. Loucks, Express Messenger Lewis, Brakeman Ken-
When the first carriage from Columbus arrived ney, D. A. Brace and son, Robert, and Mother Superi-
at the scene there was little left of the five or six or Ameidens were among the injured."
baggage, mail and passenger cars that w[...]0 0 0
the fire having devoured everything except the steel, The collision between the two passenger trains
iron and other fireproof substances. The sleepers and was insignificent, however, to an[...]that oc-
coaches remaining were pushed away from the burn- curred almost six years to a day later, and within four
ing cars by the passengers and section men. The loco- miles of each other.
motives, both large[...]mens of their kind, About eight o'clock in the morning of Saturday,
were telescoped together and[...]September 25, 1908, westbound freight 1287 and the
The strange thing about it was that both locomotives[...]ific Flyer Number 16 met head-on near
remained on the track. Young's Point, resulting in the death of 21 men, and
Fireman J. A. Campbell on number four was injuring 43-the greatest tragedy in the annals of Still-
caught in the cab of his engine and crushed against water County.
the boiler, then burned. Mail Clerk Andras Lundwall Engineer Willard Smith was rated one of the
took George Van Winkle's place on number five, to smartest engineers of the orthern Pacific line and
allow the latter to hear Sousa's Band in Billings. But the ranking member of the freight division. His con-[...]

MYSTIC LA[...]

east railroad spur, and warehouse[...]Having satisfied themselves that the plant could
erected. The contract involved seven two-ton trucks, handle more water than what came through the tun-
three five-ton trucks, and one two-ton truck. The nel in the bottom of the lake, the Montana Power
five-ton trucks averaged 11,200 pounds per load; the Company went to work constructing a dam at the
two-tonners 7,520. The biggest months haul was in mouth of the lake, some three hundred yards below
August, 1923 with 1,306,256 pounds; the next wintry the original tunnel intake. After several months this
month of March, cut the tonnage to 156,850 pounds. project was[...]. An addi-
tonnage was developed primarily due to the new tional 42-inch depth can be added to the lake by the
hundred-thousand dollar road-the last fourteen miles use of splash boards with which the overflow from
of the route to the lake. the lake can be pretty well controlled. This dam has
The actual figures show a total pf 11,652,166[...]uded 1,700 tons of lumber, one-third of The latest development at the plant occurred on
which was the wood staves; 1,160 tons of steel, of September 16, 1960, when the plant went on semi-
which half was used for the penstock pipes, and the automatic control, and the normal crew of eight op-
balance for cleats and bands. The two Pelton wheels erators and maintenan[...]to three.
of generators were loaded and hauled, the largest Despite the fact that the normal flow of the
single piece of equipment being a transformer at 35 West Rosebud has been changed, and the beautiful
tons. This had to be loaded on a truck[...]nt crew of
with a "helper" power unit in front of the tandem. fishermen, campers and outdoor lovers enjoy the
In all, a total cargo necessitating 200 freight c[...]f this region, somewhat aug-
gondolas was used in the power project. mented by the courtesy and generosity of Lyal Piatte
Cn Ma[...]d charge and his company directors.
of the work for Winston Bros., got a clearance dis-
charge, and the plant was ready. M. E. Buck then
pushed in a swit[...]ot" job of 2,000
watts of juice throbbing through the system, as a
stream of water reduced to an 18-inch head into the
Pelton wheels from a six-foot intake tunnel exert[...]a
human body with needle-like force quicker than the
fastest known projectile. The full volume was gradu-
ally accomplished with a m[...]William S. Spratt, a long-time employee became
the first foreman and remained boss-man for twenty-
one years. When he retired in 1946, he was followed
by five other short-term managers, including Bill
Sh[...]VEN SCENES AT MYSTIC PLANT
field and Lyal Piatte, the present director of opera- Top-Pipel[...]am, plant camp, surge tanks. Bottom: Inside plant the
tions.[...]

Family Brands still[...]

seared the outline of a horse's head on the wide left Ed Cardwell had marked his stock with a long slash
ribs of the dogie. A lady's leg, below the knee stood that ran from the top of the left shoulder to the lower
out on the right ribs of cattle that belonged to Mollie part of the left thigh-this in 1886. Away to the east-
Loffer of Park City, and Andy Miller of the same ern end of the state in 1884, Teddy Roosevelt, was
locality sele[...]who three brands-a triangle, an elkhorn or the Maltese
hit the Limestone Butte area in 1894 just used a plain[...]Cross, on the left ribs. For the greater part, however,
B E M on ,the le£t ribs. Ira Whitten, first breeder of
registe[...]brands that could be run with
out a round hole in the center of the right ear to let a straight bar, if the complete brand was not in one
folks know the animal was his'n. In the meanwhile, piece.[...]

engine would 1:,}e the proper caper, so they brought down to the depot. There they were hooted and
down o. 464,1 the hog of the Rocky Fork branch, jeered until it became[...]upled her on. Then after speeches from Cun- the railway company to take them anywhere out of
ningham and Hogan the engineer, James B. Harmon, Billings, excep[...]rieks, and she steamed slowly out amidst The Coxey train was captured at Forsyth Wed-
tremendo[...]. nesday night by the troops from Fort Keogh. They
The deputies stayed up by the roundhouse until surrendered without resistance and will be taken to
late in the afternoon, when their special was backed[...]

advised the Brady woman to leave as soon as day-[...]the stairs under the trap door!"[...]Brady's body was buried just across the road,
and the grave was marked. A stage driver, some[...]flowers on the mound of earth, and paid for a pole[...]enclosure around the grave.
But the affair did not end here, although the joint[...]never operated again, as Nordstrom heard of the in-[...]While holding up at the line camp of the "7~' on[...]rode into camp. (Ramsey was the first deputy of[...]Yellowstone County when Jim Ferguson was the first[...]"Hi, Farley, do you happen to have a hand by
the name of Patterson in your crew. A Mrs. Brady was[...]in the mess tent," answered Farley.[...]"Ask him to come out," said the officer.[...]him," was the answer.[...]to the door.[...]please come along quietly. We know some of the
details of this deal, as well as the caliber of the Brady[...]TON SMITI:I STA DS IN RECESS THAT WAS The only way you will get me there is as a dead man."[...]ed to drop in on Brady. Mrs. Brady By this time the members of the line crew had
was alone in the saloon when the trio entered, and gathered round, and lo[...]ent.
little. At this time Brady returned, entered the room,
"O.K.," said the deputy. "You have us highly
and sensing trouble,[...]utnumbered, but I am coming back with a possee
on the wall at a comer of the bar. Two shots rang
big enough to take in the whole damned "79" outfit
out and Brady dropped dead. As Mrs. Brady reached
for the rifle, Patterson "winged" her slightly, and held if necessary." And they turned into the twilight to-[...]ward Billings.
her at gun point while the other two searched the
premises. In the supplies they found a quantity of After their departure the crew went into a
"knock-out" drops, as well as a couple loaded billys huddle.
cached under the bar. Further investigation showed a[...]as a lost soul," explained
trap door in front of the bar, that dropped into a cellar Patterson. "The[...]h up with me if I were ever to
fore emerging near the bottom of the gulch. This ex- appear in anything as public as a witness stand."
plained the possible means of getting rid of the The cowboys finally agreed that the best way to
victims who were slugged or drugged. Patterson then get rid of the mess would be to get lost for a while.

"A BRONC TO BREAKFAST"
The rider is supposed to be "Doc" Nelson; that[...]

his bunkhouse. Only this time the notch in the handle to see what all the shooting was about, was seriously
of the revolver had not been cut. The gun was still wounded. Despite the efforts of a posse, and swift
clutched in his hand. action by officers of the law, the home-breaker was
\Vhen news of this suicide was relayed to sher- never apprehended. But the description of the man
iffs in the Montana Territory, the pieces began to fall who had instituted this bizarre tragedy fitted that of
in place. In the early spring of 1883 in a Nevada gold Pat Patt[...]nd another His death, though regretted by Farley and Gar-
miner where they shouldn't have b[...]brought peace of mind to this pair
spouse, but in the melee that followed the husband who also carried guns when a trio[...]eath, and another man who had come an end to the hell hole in "Dead Man's Canyon."

as theirs was a peaceful exi[...]LM AND UNRIFFLED . . . SILENTLY SORROWFUL"
obtain the necessities of life by their skill as hunters
and trappers, while their idle time was devoted to the
enjoyment of living as their ethics and dispositions
saw fit. The summer months found them on the great
grass-laden prairies to the east, where they followed
the buffalo, taking robes for their tepees and beds, and
food for their winter larders. In the fall, they loaded
their horses and travoises and hied themselves toward
the feeder streams of the Stillwater, where they stored
their goods and made their encampment for the snow
period of the seasons. Game had been abundant, and
the tribe prospered for many moons beneath the
snowy caps of nature's sentinels.

river. Here the moving mass stretched across the
narrow canyon, blockading the stream, while the body
of Little Moon drifted with the receding waters be-
low the barricade.
The skies cleared as rapidly as they had darkened,[...]and the moon cast a swallow, pale light, revealing the
damage by the fury of the storm. At the camp a
young boy watched the lowering waters, and while
gazing in fright at the awesome phenomenon of na-
ture, he saw the body of the girl drift into a quiet
pool. He sounded the alarm, and the grieving N emid-[...]The moonlight touched the still smiling features
of the dead, with a wonderfully soft light, as her lips[...]with fear and grief, Nemidji sprang into the pool to
rescue the haunting remains of his beloved.[...]Just as he reached her and turned toward the
shore again, the huge wall of debris gave way behind
the impounded waters, and with a wild rush the on-
coming torrent engulfed the two, N emidji being
swirled into the abyss with his sweetheart tightly[...]The swifly flowing current washed out great[...]patches of earth and trees, widening the course of the
river, and cutting a lake for half a mile. As the flood[...]water receeded there remained a bayou where the
speed of the water was absorbed and distributed into[...]riffleless flow through that portion of the stream. The
tribe called this the hallowed place, Stillwater, which
is the Stillwater as we know it.
BOX CANYON OF THE STILL WATER Prosperity again came to the people. The unlucky
curse, possibly brought on by the fierce love of Wee-[...], was displaced and every autumn
well. Gently did the women watch over her body, season saw the encampment on the Stillwater in the
while the old men grieved their hearts out for emid-[...]is changed. Domestic animals feed
leading down to the river they placed the remains of quietly on the grounds where the deer and elk were
Little Moon, amid sorrowing splendor-the last token once on the alert for their stronger foes; great fields
of love from the camp. of green and golden yellow have replaced the grass-
ight came on, following the service that had land and browse of long ago. White mothers croon
taken the most precious thing in life from the village. to their babies in houses built among the trees where
A flash of lightning followed by continuous thunder once Weeluna wa1 packed as a papoose on her
was the initial appearance of the storm. Two hours mother's back.
later it was raging-one of the wildest the mountains But Mother Nature remembe[...]increasing. Rain ages ago, and has told the t>tory to her waters and
fell in torrents, washing down in great volume in the things to which she gives lifo. No plant or flowers
every gulch and coulee and from even the sidehills, at have ever returned to the spot where once stood a
the foot of which was the camp, barely able to with- great fir tree[...]to release a pre-
stand this flash flood. High on the ridge a great cious charge to the wild waters. For in this place the
boulder loosened and came rolling downhill. It[...]e always quiet. They pay their last homage
struck the fir tree in which Weeluna had been buried, to Weeluna, the Little Moon, as they tip-toe breath-
uprooting it and crashing it into the mass of mud lessly by in the moonlight, placid and clear, calm and
and rubble where the body of the bride-to-be tossed unriffled, silently sorrowful.
violently on the crest of the 5lide, until it reached the -Jim Annin, Columbus[...]

Afterwards the wolf returned and made the same manded him to do the same with the woman and all
report. Then as the duck had first returned the spirits animals. So he opened the eyes of the woman and
went first to the south to see what he had done, but the animals and all were able to see.
they were dissatisfied with the land, for the duck had Then the man and woman began to live together,
left too mu[...]house and did not know how to
and lakes, and even the land was low and marshy. make one they dwelt in the hollow logs and trees.
They then went to the west to see what the wolf had From this time forth men and wom[...]with that land and told multiplied upon the earth, but all the human beings
the wolf that he had done well, for there were plains dwelt in hollow logs. The buffalo made war upon the
and rivers and mountains forming a country beauti[...]nd drove them forth and
to behold. Then they told the duck to go and live in were very fierce so that men were not able to with-
the wet country he had made and permitted the wolf stand them. At last the buffalo killed a man and de-
to dwell in the finer country made by him. voured all of him except one arm.
When all this had been done the spirits took the When the spirits saw this they were displeased
dust of the earth and rolled it in their fingers and cast and one made a bow and another made arrows and
it upon the ground and it became a man, who ran a gave them to the first man and said to him: "It is not
few steps and groped blindly, for though he had eyes right that the buffalo should kill and eat you, but
he could not open them and saw not. Then the spirits that you should kill and eat the buffalo, for they were
took more dust and formed a woman, who did as the given you for food. Take this bow and arrows and
man had done. Then in the same manner they made slay them and eat the flesh." So the man took the
animals and all creatures that live on land of ea[...]faloes. Then he shot a third time, but this time the
that they could not see. Then the spirits told the buffalo was only wounded, but the herd took flight
man to open his eyes but he could not and they and the wounded buffalo tossed the arm of the man
opened them for him with their fingers[...]

ran away. Until then the buffalo had no hump upon till it reached the summit of the range. From this
the back, but the arm they carried away became a point[...]ll buffalo have had a hump through the most beautiful valley they had ever seen,
upon the back.[...]sweet, long, green grass and shaded with
As the people increased in number upon the an abundance of luxuriant timber. Upon both sides of
earth the spirits divided them into tribes, but as yet the river, gleaming through the foliage, could be seen
all spoke one language. But at last the spirits spoke numberless white lodges, stretching up and down upon
down from above the earth calling all the people to- both sides of the river till they were lost in distance.
gether, an[...]had assembled, they gave each This was the Spirit-land and these were homes of the
tribe a different tongue and none understood the dead. Innumerable forms of spirits who had gone
tongue giveri to the others. The spirits also appointed before them were seen walking about or reclining
the place for them to dwell and then commanded all among the trees and all seemed peace and happiness.
the people to shake hands together. There were people The Crow warrior gazed upon this scene with
of all colors there but the white people stood nearest delight and, as his wife had preceded him many years
the spirits, and the spirits said so as to be heard by to the Spirit-land, he hurried forward, anxious to have
all: "All people are dear to us, but the white people her again by his side. As. they neared the village, a
are dearer than all the rest and we command you to spirit came forth to meet them and directed each to
live at peace with the white people." Afterwards he the lodge he was to go. The Crow bounded into the
commanded them to disperse and the tribes spread lodge where he had been told he would find his wife,
themselves over the land. and, tr[...]e approached her
This, says Little Face, is the creation as originally with beaming face but she only looked at him sternly
believed among the Crows, but of late years they had and as[...]our
learned to doubt some parts of it, especially the form- time. You are still young and our chi[...]ere. But this is grown old, then come to the houses of the spirits."
undoubtedly the idea of the creation held by them He turned sadly away and commenced to re-
before the whites had any dealings with them as[...]father. the sound of many voices engaged in weeping. As the
To the above, Little Face subsequently added[...]him and ere
that all people, good or b3:d, go to the same place. long the bandages in which he was confined were
He knew of[...]to a tree in grave clothes after the manner of Crow
burial. Great was the wonder and delight of his[...]riends to find him restored to life, and rapt was the
The Land of The Hereafter[...]attention with which they listened to the recital of
'What I am going to tell you now," said Little what had befallen him in the land of spirits.
Face, "the Crows have no two talks about. In many[...]nt beliefs, but in this we all back from the home of the dead, who confirmed the
believe alike. And as far back as the Crows have any account of his predecessor in all respects. When he
knowledge this faith has been the same among them." entered the lodge pointed out to him he found his
A long[...]sness and found himself then sat down by the side of his second wife and
traveling towards the south along a well-beaten and received a dish of the food eaten by spirits. It ap-
pleasant trail, which bore the impress of naught but peared to be pound[...]weetened
human feet, with cuts and ravines across the trail, with sugar· and was delicious to the palate. After the
which it appeared no trouble for them to leap. Th[...]and
was another trail just like it running along by its side, regained his consciousness to find himself on earth
and he found himself in the company of another de- surrounded by fri ends whose sorrow was exchanged
parted spirit[...]ht limp, being lame. Being bound The heaven of the Crows would thus appear to
for the same place, they journed together, and at last[...]st and peace, where, free from sorrow,
found that the two trails came together in a pass pa[...]xiety, they pass their lives in luxurious
between the hills, which ascended higher and higher[...]

and, unlike most tribes, seem to have no idea of the the Crows the Wise Man. He was also distinguished as
presence of game, rendering the hackneyed term of a warrior and gained[...]the Bannocks and Piegans, who were then leagued[...]y found a camp of their enemies near
The Punishment of Sin
the Sweet Grass Hills (northern part of Liberty Coun-
The Great Spirit has commanded all people to ty), but as they appeared strong the Crows were
live good lives. They are especially e[...]own tribe, but it is per- fully. Thereupon the Wise Man dismounted from his
missible to steal fr[...]orse, and, filling his pipe, said: "If my father, the
war. To those who do well, long, pleasant lives are Sun, lights the pipe with his own fire, we may attack
promised, but the contrary to those who do ill. The our enemies with assurance of success; but if he does
depletion of numbers and the wars that the Crows and not, we must retreat else we sha[...]ered is attributable to their dis- then placed the stem in his mouth and began to draw
obedience of the commands of the Great Spirit. Not upon it as if smoking. His warriors watched intently
only did the Great Spirit lay his command upon them and ere long saw a slight smoke rise from the bowl
in the beginning, but he occasionally appears even of the pipe. It increased in volume and presently the
now and enjoins them to correct lives. The Crows tobacco was seen to be on fire.[...]ear his voice but that he is not to be that the victory was theirs, for the sun had lighted
seen. the pipe, and they attacked their enemies without[...]ained a decisive victory over them.
The Spectre Warriors This is how the Wise Man disappeared from
among the Crows: He once saddled his horse and
When the Crows are engaged in battle with their[...]rode forth from the camp. It was a foggy spring
enem:es, a spectre ho[...]ng when one could see but a short distance and
of the ·r force to aid them in their fight. These horse[...]he was soon lost to sight in the fog. It was supposed
men are invisible to the Crows and they only know[...]h in search of his horses, but as
of them through the accounts of their enemies. The[...]ot return, search was made for him. His
Sioux and the Cheyennes say that they have repeated-[...]mp, saddled
ly seen them and that, however small, the forces of
as when the Wise Man rode forth, but he was no-
the Crows appear at first, no sooner are they joined[...]where to be found. The ground was examined but
by these ghostly warriors than their numbers appear[...]was there any sign that showed where the Wise Man
The Sioux and other Indians say that they have re-[...]has wandered. In the opinion of the medicine men
peatedly concentrated their fire on[...]but one thing could have happened to him-the sun
and sought to entrap them in various ways, bu[...]e had ridden to him upon
seem never to be touched by bullets or arrows, and[...]remembered by the Crow6, and in times of difficulty
upon a distant part of the field. Who ·these allies are[...]or distress they invoke him and wish that he were
the Crows can not surmise, but they are not a little[...]Tattooed Forehead's advent.)
The Flood
Little Face says that the Crows have always be- The Spirit of The Rivers
lieved that some time after the creation a flood came
that destroyed most of the inhabitants of the earth, but The Crows have believed from the earliest times
he is unable to give an account of[...]ll rivers and large bodies of water contain
after the flood the Great Spirit informed them that spirits or[...]ho are always hungry and
he would one day destroy the earth again, but in as ready to devour[...]mplished they do not know. On that account the Crows when about to cross such
The flood was occasioned by heavy rains that fell from a stream always throw food into the water first to
the heavens for many days.[...]also believe that by painting their bodies with spots[...]and stripes of bright colors it will frighten the crea-
The Child of The Sun tures away and enable them to cross in safety. These
The Child of the Sun grew up to be a man, and creatures have of ten been seen by the Crows and
on account of his wonderful knowledge was called by are apparently of the human form except that they

motion and traveled along over hill and valley and the number. Here he camped above the fort and was
plain as never had Crow traveled before. As he rode, visited by men from the fort, who asked him what he
he heard the continual clatter of hoofs close behind wante[...]as not friendly
him as though he was accompanied by a troop of they left him and returned to the fort. The chief
animals like this he bestrode, but they di[...]sh said that he did not want these and
not verify the hope that had sprung up in his breast demanded powder. The powder was refused, when
that the apparition in black had carried his generosity he threw the tobacco into the river. Finding that he
so far as to present him with the whole herd and sent was there for no good, ma[...]heels. When it came night he and returned to the Crow camp. Others visited the
halted and dismounted and lay down to sleep, taking fort, but finding the doors closed against them at-
the precaution to lay upon his breast with his hea<.~ tempted to shake hands with the whites over the walls,
in the direction of the village that by no mischance, which their height prevented. A[...]tly
through a sudden awakening, should he gaze to the offended against these who favored the whites and
rear. In the morning he resumed his course, and after orde[...]r this
two days more travel reached home, and, to the Arrapooash fell in a battle with the Gros Ventres not
amazement of all the village, brought home one hun- far beyond Fort Benton.
dred of the large and splendid animals that were not
The following is an instance of his power as a
only to take the place of dogs as beasts of burden, but[...]. He once described two horses which
also to bear the Crows upon their backs in all their[...]he said he had been informed by dreams were in the
future travels. From that time forth the Crows con-[...]was a pinto with a large
tinued to acquire horses by purchase and trading until[...]was otherwise peculiarly marked, the other gray of
since have they been without the aid of these useful[...]a party of warriors accompanied him for
"because the man in black said that they could bear[...]that purpose. They approached the camp of their
it."[...]the two horses with which they escaped. When it[...]grew light enough to make out the color of the ani-
mals, behold! they were the very horses described
Arrapooash, Rotten Belly, was a great chief and by Arrapooash as seen in his dreams.
medicine man but not so great as Long Hair. His
medicine was the thunder. He had dreamed what Arrapooash was a great friend of the white people
the thunder was and carried something representing and even the trading post at Fort McKenzie was re-
it, but what it was none of the Crows ever learned. garded highly by him with friendly eyes. Finding,
Once when Rotten Belly was camped with some of however, the Blackfeet were supplied there with arms
his peopl[...]them and ammunitions, he complained that the white men
that the Great Spirit had been talking with him in a[...]ing him success in making captives if mies the means of killing them and requested that the
he went in a certain direction. A number of warri[...]be discontinued.
joined him and he led them into the Judith Basin Finding, however, that his remonstrances produced
against the Piegans. Here while looking out from no effect and that the Blackfeet still purchased these
the hills they discovered some 60 persons approaching[...]and under-
on foot, which Rotten Belly pronounced the people took the expedition already mentioned. When he
promised by the Great Spirit. As they came nearer camped above the fort the whites visited him and
it was discovered that they were all women of the requested him to call at the fort but he refused to
Piegan tribe. They were ea[...]nd told them he was no longer their friend.
26 of the youngest and handsomest, the Crows re- It was then that the presents of knives and tobacco
turned to their country. A part of the women escaped were offered.
on the way, but the most were carried to the Crow The following is another instance of his foresight
village and adopted into the tribe. Three of these as a medicine man. He dreamed one spring that there
women are yet living with the Crows (1875). was a gray mare with a red face in the Piegan camp,
Arrapooash once raised a war pa[...]s mare as a
do, led them against Fort McKenzie on the Missouri present for his squaw, and, telling of his intentions
(at the mouth of the Marias). Little Face was one of in hi[...]

He was laughed at when he spoke of the promised but securely sheltered in th[...]and was asked when such a thing lodges, the Crows feared nothing, and after a time
had ever happened. No, it was impossible, no mare the storm passed by and they were left unharmed.
ever had two colts a[...]d that Arrapooash to his wondering band, and the next day
all would turn out as promised and finally a number by his orders they remained in camp. All understood
of warriors consented to accompany him. The camp now that the storm had been brought by Arrapoosh as
was found, the mare captured, and found to agree with a punishment to the Gros Ventres and in anxious ex-
the description Arrapooash had given her except that pectation awaited the developments to follow. A con-
she was lame, and in time she gave birth to the two stant watch was kept in the direction of the Gros
colts, thus once more confirming before his people the Ventres village, for all felt sure that the day wou]d
greatness of Arrapooash as a medicine man. bring a delegation of the repentant people, and, sure
A still more striking instance occurred under enough, the sun had scarcely passed his highest point
Little Face's own observation. Arrapooash was once in the heavens when a numerous party on foot and on
upon a visit with the River Crows to the lower Gros horseback was seen approaching the camp. They drew
Ventres or Ah-mah-chay. While there the Gros Ven- near and it was seen that the principal chief of the
tres stole from him a favorite bay horse and upon Gros Ventres was at the head, leading the bay horse
demand being made for him failed to giv[...]the Gros Ventres' chief thus addressed him:
"But[...]ight
shall learn my power and what it is to incur the dis- there came upon us a furious storm of[...]rced to see shelter where they
march, accompanied by his followers and camped could. The hail beat down our corn and pumpkins,
early in the afternoon. It was a beautiful day with and our fields that in the morning promised a rich
not a cloud in the sky or any sign of impending tem- harvest[...]e shall we look for
pest, but Arrapooash directed the people to secure food for the coming winter? But we do not complain
their lodge[...]esides a large present of robes and other
setting the example with his own lodge. The day things, which we expect you to ac[...]your anger against us that we receive no further
the medicine of Arrapooash had deceived him for punishment."
once, when suddently from the interior of his lodge[...]To this Arrapooash made answer that he bore the
came four loud blasts upon a large bone horn he[...]Gros Ventres no ill will. They spoke the language of
carried. Said Little Face: "Your bugl[...]the Crows and he wished to regard them as brothers.
noise but they are as nothing to blast from the horn "I will accept your presents," he concluded, "and in-
of Arrapooash." The people heard the blast and ran, jure you no more, but you did well to curb my dis-
asking themselves what now is the matter with Arra- pleasure, for this wint[...]essed.
wind that set their lodges to rocking like the boughs I would have heaped it over your villages so that you
of a tree such a wind as the Crows had never known could not have escaped and must have perished. They
before but thanks to the precaution advised by are fools who incur the resentment of Arrapooash."
Arrap~oash not a lodge was overthrown. Ere long
the rain commenced to fall and the heavens seemed At this point Little Face said these were all the
to be pouring forth all their water, conv~rting e[...]edicine
ravine into a formidable river and turmng the low man of which he was personally cogn[...]e
ground into lakes. But this was not all, f~r as the could remem her, but he had heard of anot[...]ame fallmg down which had been handed down by the old men which
in dense masses crashing against the lodges and was no doubt true. It happened when Arrapooash
bounding like balis all over the land; hailstones ne_arly was a young man, when the tribe was still on the
as large as a man's fist that no one could stand agamst, waters of the Arkansas River. The Crows were at

war with four tribes, viz., the Cheyennes, Arapahoes, white men who in his day visited the camp invariably
Powder People and Wolves, but the[...]them.-J.H.B.)
village of their enemies higher up the river and it In connection with the foregoing sketch, the ref-
was resolved to leave behind the children and old erence to Arapooish (Arrapooash) by Washington
men and women and proceed against the enemy with Irving is interesting. In the "Adventures of Captain
all the young men and women and warriors able to[...]they were about to start someone addressed the Crow country as given to Mr. Robert Campbell,
the multitude and said: "You are fools. What do you of the Rocky Mountain Fur Company.
expect to do? It is vain to go against the enemy[...]fore we accompany Captain Bonneville into
without the guidance of Arrapooash and he is not
the Crow country, we will impart a few facts about
am[...]this wild region and the wild people that inhabit it.
now and persuade him[...]We are not aware of the precise boundaries, if there
The Crows thought well of the counsel and sought are any of the country claimed by the Crows. It
Arrapooash, where he sat silent in his lodge, paying appears to extend from the Black Hills to the Rocky
no attention to the warlike preparations around him. Mountains,[...]at he should lead them embracing many of the plains and valleys watered by
and awaited his answer. When it came, it was not the Wind River, the Yellowstone and Powder River,
favorable to their wishes. "Why," they demanded, the Little Missouri and the ebraska. The country
"will you not bear the pipe for us?" "Because I do varies in soil and climate, there are vast plains of sand
not like the composition of your party," was the reply. and clay, stubbed with large red sand h[...]Let us give the account of the country as ren-
and we will not listen to a refus[...]dered by Arapooish, a Crow chief, to Mr. Robert
"as you insist and as I wish the Crows success over
Campbell, of the Rocky Mountain Fur Company.
their enemies I will[...]must kill or injure a single bird during "'The Crow country,' said he, 'is a good country.'
our march upon the enemy's village, otherwise harm The Great Spirit has put it exactly in the right place;
will befall us."[...]whichever way you travel you fare worse. If
The required promise was made and the expedi-
you go to the south, you have to wander over great
tion started. All remembered the injunction concern-
barren plains; the water is warm and bad and you
ing the birds and were careful that not even by acci-
meet with fever and ague. To the north it is cold; the
dent should one be injured. It was in ·the spring and[...]rs are long and bitter and there is no grass; you
the young birds were just beginning to fly, rising in[...]not keep horses there but must travel with dogs.
the air, fluttering a few yards, and then sinking to[...]What is a country without horses?
the earth again. It happened that one of these young[...]t a young squaw, who afterwards '"On the Columbia they are poor and dirty,
became the mother of the present Chief Blackfoot, paddle about in[...]taking fish bones out of
unfortunately killed it. The circumstance was report- their mouths; fish is poor food.
ed to Arrapooash, who went to the spot and for some "'To the east they dwell in villages; they live
time gazing at the frightened girl in silence. "It might well, but they drink the muddy waters of the Mis-
have been more serious," he said at last, "b[...]s bad. A Crow's dog would not drink such
that for the killing of the bird that one life shall be water.
lost; but this girl's brother will fall in the battle we " 'About the forks of the Missouri is a fine coun-
are to fight at the village." try; good water, good grass, plenty of buffalo. In
The expedition then moved on and in due time summer it is almost as good as the Crow country, but
reached the village. Here they fought a fierce battle in winter it is cold; the grass is gone and there is no
with their enemies and routed them with great loss, salt weed for the horses.
but the only one killed among the Crows was a young " 'The Crow country is exactly in the right place.
man, the brother of the girl who struck and killed It has snowy mountains and sunny plains, all kinds of
the bird with her riding whip. climates and good things for every season. When the
(In reference to the known friendship of Arrap- summer heats scorch the prairies, you can draw up
ooash for the whites it is to be remarked that all under the mountains, where the air is sweet and cool,