The Benton record., 1878-11-29
Original Story.
RONTIER sketches
NUMBER THIRTT-s SIX .
By JOHN J. HEALY,
A Bad Scare.

4 In the early days of navigation on the
bper Missouri. the river was so little
hown anu understood that the most ex-
Eerienced steamboatmen were always aP-
bsebensive of some misfortune after reach
III higher point than the mouth Of
Milk river. Snags, Indians and low wat
Il were obstacles always to be feared, and
aaIess the inducement was very great, the
aeamers rarely ascended to Benton after
he river had fallen to fair stage of
#ater.
In the month of July, 1855,
he steamer Deer Lodge unloaded
ber cargo at the mouth of Milk river.
/ was understood that the train Of the
Diamond R Co. would he in waiting to
receive the freight when the steamer ar
lived, but no wagons being on hand, Cap
lain Tom Ray, Master of the Deer Lodge.
Ind John G. Copelin, son-in-law OF
Captain Wall, agent for the Diamond Z
&c., started for Benton in q buggy to
Angry up the trains.
A few miles up the river Ray and Cope
lin come upon war party Of about
Aweutv Grow Indians, who were out hunt
Dug for Piegan horses and scalps. The
Crows were on friendly terms with the
whites and Ray was well known to all the
Indians along the river, 50 The meeting
WAS quite satisfactory to both parties and
they agreed to travel together.
Nothing Of Importance occurred until
the cortege arrived near the Mariss hill,
about twelve miles from Benton. Here
the Crows, knowing they were approach
ing the enemys country, became more
cautious and took the usual Indian pre-
caution to guari against surprise or to
discover if possible some detachment OF
the foe small enough to justify an attack.
On arriving at the foot Of the bill, the
Grows were some distance ahead and
were eagerly scanning the country from The
top Of the hin. Suddenly the men in the
wagon saw the Grows trying to screen
themselves behind the brow of the hill,
aud a nom mt later they were alarmed by
the rapid firing Of rife shots, followed BY
loud and threatening war -whoops. Al
The same time they saw that some Of the
Grows were gestculating wildly, as if To
warn them Of coming danger and to
make their escape, but before the Captain
and Copelin had time to decide what to
do, the whole party Of Indians came rush.
ing pel NELL dewn the hill as if herd Of
buffalo had suddenly charged upon them
Without stopping to hear the news the
men jumped from the wagon, cut the ira
ceg, mounted the horses and joined the
flying Crows.
Meanwhile, Captain Wall Of the Dia
monl n Co., had started the wagons out
after the steamers cargo. The train had
gone but short distance from town when
it was joined by party Of Piegan Iii
dians, among whom were several sqpaws,
The train went on without obstacle until
reaching the Marias hill, Which ii was
slowly ascending, when most unexpectedly
from the top of the Hill come volley Of
rife shots, and squaw fell from her
horse dead. The Piegans seemed to IN.
derstand in a moment what was up and
With creditablo bravery charged up
the hill in . body, never once wavering
under the bot fire until they reached the
top and sent the foe flying down the hill.
The attacking party Of course were the
Crows who accompanied Captain Ray and
John Copelin.