The Benton record. [volume] (Benton, M.T. [Mont.]) 1875-1879, 1878-08-02
Original Story.
.RONTIER SKETCHES
NUMBER TWEHTY-ONE.
By JOHN J. HEALY.

Nothing Of importance occurred ous on
pr way back to Lemhr except q slight ad.
snture with a huge grizzly bear, of the
Hminine gender, the largest aud fercest
Dimal Of the kind / ever saw. She prov
d too much for our rifles and we were
bhged to let her trot away followed by
er two cubs.
On arriving at the fort, we found Men
enhau and his comp anions entertaining
#surprise party. They we're accustomed
/ Il corral the stock within the fort at night
I'D in the morning at daylight to let
he animals out to Craze on the hills,
sharded only by single herder. On the
50rning previous to our return, the stock
8ere driven out as usual, but the herder
being detained at the 1ort for some pur-
bose or other did not follow the herd for
ome moments after it had passed out Of
be corral. AS the animals trottcd along.
war party of Indians concealed by the
fllcTs rushed out with their lariats and
Exempted to rope the horses. Fortunately
he herder came out In time to see the
bieves and give the alarm, and then rode
Flter the herd firing bis revolver at the
Endians as he went. The redskins were
Abligei to leave the horses and seek cover
fom the rapid discharge of the revolver.
hendenhall and the rest of the men, who
we're in bed and asleep, were aroused by the
bots and the herder'S cries, and without
Rking time to dress themselves rushed to
he assistance Of the herder in their shirt.
lsils. In point Of costume, however, their
foes had no advantage, being stripped to
lheir breech-clouts and moccasns. The
Whites were the most numerous and were
Yell armed, while the Indians had nothing
hut their bows and arrows. The reds, there
Fore soon found themselves oyermatched
Snd took to the hills, while Mendenhall
Hnd party assisted the herder to drive the
lock back to the corral. The willy foe
ben commenced making overtureS OF
Beace and one ventured to come to the
nrt and state that they were very sorry for
sausiug trouble and that they thought the
Aorscs belonged to some of their red
nemies or they would not have attempted |
y capture them. The plea was of course
IPo thin 10 deceive the whites, but the lat /
ler could not well afford to quarrel with
he Indians, and they felt that their best
golicy was to appear satisfied with apol-
ICY and to smoke with the reds. We found
Ihem thus occupied on our return. The
sedS, l3 in number, were all within the
prt, and / concluded they were war
aarty Of Kootenais and Pend OreiIles prob.
lbIy oil their way to have q fight with the
makes and Bannacks. They remained
flth us one day after the fight, and then
rossed the Salmon and we saw no more
u them.
We now held council among ourselves
snd ii was nally decided by the train
Iarty 10 abandon the wagons, cache the
arpluS stores, pack the remainder on the
Inimals and endeavor to find our way to
beer Lodge.i A few men from Washto
tho we're well mounted struck across the
puntry for Elk City, while the rest of us
Proceeded up the valley of the Salmon
antil we came upon good trail leading
Iorth. We followed this, and after few
lays travel found ourselves in large
alley, which was almost entirely flooded
ath water and causing us considerable
rouble to cross, Bulls make poor pack
nimals, and the party were employed pref
much all the time Ii re,packing and driv.
ag the beasts, who Bucked worse than
ayuses and we're more obstinate than
mules.
After crossing this valley We thought we
ere somewhere near the head of the Bit
Y boot, bat imagine our surprise when we
aDsequently found that ve had crossed
Y great divide and were then near the j
gia Missouri. afterwards learned that :