The Benton record. [volume] (Benton, M.T. [Mont.]) 1875-1879, 1878-11-01

RONTIER SKETCHES
gUMDER THIRTY two.
b. JOHN J. HEALY.
Little Dog.

Little Dog,
4! so rarely happens that au Indian is
fed with good solid sense, that when
Il Of this kind is born into the world he
IN becomes a prominent member of his
be. Not that Indians as a race are
biting in intelligence, bat there are few
IDse intellect is sufficient to overcome
III british instincts or to understand
81 their peculiar habits aud Oiode of life
slowly but surely wiping them from
face Of the earth.
biule Deg, the soldier chief Of the Pie
Rs, was one Of the noted exceptions to
d rule. He was braver than the brav
member of his tribe, a terror to his
smies, but always a devoted friend of.
whites. No doubt 'se isrisosts,gl ei.o
iver8al feeling Of his race that the whites
fe his natural enemies and opPressors,
4 he had the good sense to understand
H acknowledge that they were the
pcriors of his people in all things and
il entire submission to their rule could
u be a question of time. And these
Ihs he eudearored to impress upoa the
ads Of his tribe, using arguments when
great oratorical powers were likely to
wail, but adopting force when, in op-
6tion to his commands, the warriors
pmitted the slightest depreciation upon
surrounding settlements.
sittle Dog had son who vas the
her's counterpart in personal appear
Il and also possessed the reckless
Fage and remarkable Intelligence, Of
parent. It ia said, and / have per-
Ill knowledge of more than one instance
broof Of the assertion, that these two
n we're, in deadly encounter, more than
Batch for teu Of the best warriors Of tie
Be, and such was the confidence felt in
IN skill and prowess that war party
Aer their command would follow them
\ very Jaws Of death. ! will relate one
Rnce to show the sort of stuff these
HIudians were made of
war party of Piegaus, consisting Of
inty well armed aud mounted men, had
puutered six Assinahoins. The latter
fs1alser, shelter in an Indian warehouse,
sucture built of logs and affording a
mg and safe defense to those within
er fighting hard oil day the Piegans
Il unable to take the fortifcation and
DID probably have Withdrawn from the
lest after the sun vent down. But to
Ms evening, Little Dog and his son
Rcted by the firing, came up, and learn:
Ehat the warehouse was defended by
SIX meu, they laughed at the Piegans,
Rng them towards and squaws, and
hout d moments hesitation dashed up
HE FORT in the face Of deadly fire
d those within, leaped over the logs,
IA four of the defenders, and dragged
Remaining two by the hair out Of the
Aand turned them over to the squaws
be put to death.
was no uncommon thing when war
NJ returned to camp with horses or
III property stolen from The whites for
sIs Dog and his son to turn ont with |
sls and tomabawks in hand, and kill
III one of the thieves aud then return
property to its rightfll owners, but
ID the offenders we're too numerous to
FINISHED, the two men would leave the
aud live altogether with the whites
time or the improved conduct of the [
appoased their anger.
" the depredations Of the Piegans
hally became more frequent ia spite
III efforts Of the chief to prevent them
Radiug at last that his threats and
whments failed to have the desired
he came to Fort Benton to consult
he ageut as to the best course to be
81. Cad Y. Epson vas then agent |.
He Piegaas and tile agency was locat-