The Benton record. [volume] (Benton, M.T. [Mont.]) 1875-1879, 1878-11-08
Original Story.
RON TIER SKETCHES
NUMBER THIRTY-THREE.
By JOHN J. HEALY.
Rurning of Sun River Farm.

L The BIackfoot Indian Agency known
Ills the Sun River Farm was established
bbouttbe year 1850, by Col. Vaughan, agent
sOr the Blackfect nation, which includes
#he Blood and Piegan tribes.
Z The farm was located Oh Sun River
about haIfa mile from the bridge, and con
listed of numerous cabins, stables, barnes,
Etc., and owing to the high price Of labor
Ind building material in those days, the
whole was most expensive piece of pro,
Perty.
At that time the Sun River valley was
the fayorite roaming ground of the north
eru Indians, for the reason that it was the
freat buffalo and smaIt game coHutry. I'm
nense herds Of deer, elk ana antelope
aboupded it alI seasons, while during the
gaN and winter, ana often i'll the spring
md summer, the valley was literally
crowded xith buffalo.
The Indians were not always hostile,
but no white mans life could be consider
ed safe am3ug them, and at times they
we're disposed to kill every white resident
bn sight. The older and wiser memberS
bf the tribe were generally in favor oi
Beace, and a few were always willing to
hive upon terms of friendship with the
5ettlers, but the young warriors, ambitious
Do obtain distinction as great braves, were
never safe to trust except when opposed
bv superior force. Still, considering
4hat the settlers were few IN number
and the Indians in overwhelming force
Bnd not dependent upon the whites, as
they are now to a great extent, the tribe
was generally we'll behaved, and when not
3noested, or tempted by the accumulated
wealth of the whites, they we're not ex-
tremely troublesome or dangerous.
The writer had been left in charge OF
Ehe agency some time before the occurrence
IN the affair which will form the principal
subiect of this sketch, and had with him
oe HeaIy, Nick Sharon, AMI a young lad
Ebame Tex, the latter about eighteen years
fbr age. Nick is rather noted character
s. Montana and had met with some rough
Experience before making his home III the
Ererritory. He was sailor by profession;
and at one time, while on a whaling voy-
age. was wrecked off the northern coast,
aud with but three other survivors barely
succeeded in reaching land, where he
lived with Esquimaux for nearly three
years and was finally rescued by another
whaling yesse.. Nick is now coal-mlnng
in the vicinity Of Fort Mcleod.
A few weeks previous to the attack upon
lhe farm, war party Of Piegans came to
the settlement and demanded food and
Shelter for the night. Joe Healy happen
I'd to be alone at the time, and knowing OF
course that to allow party Of armed In
=dians to enter the building, fused as the
dwelling house Of the agency Was BY no
means wise thing to DO, he ordered them
Hpf, aud the party retired some distance
1rom the house, built large camp fire OF
fence rails and proceeded to smoke and
.Halk over the matter among themselves.
q Joe was by no means a novice among
IN iians, even at that early day, and his
Judgment in dealing with them was seldom
N ever at fault After watching their ac-
ions for some time he concluded that il
.Rhey felt 50 disposed, they could easily
sRurn or smoke him out Of the house and
lRelp themselves to what they wanted with
AQt his consent. So, after calculating the
chances carefully, he thought the best
policy would be to let them in, provided
sheg would drst give up their arms. fhe
proposition was made 10 them and they
consented reality, passing il thair arms
~ once to prove the sincerity of their pro
Snlse Of good behavior. after taking The