The Benton record. [volume] (Benton, M.T. [Mont.]) 1875-1879, 1879-01-31
VOL. IV.

upon the settlements and furnished them
a ready market for all the captured prop
ertY they could bring in for sale.
Thus encouraged, the Indians were
almost constantly prowling in the vicinity
Of the settlements and doing al the harm
they could with safety to themselves and
gradually becoming more reckless and
troublesome. This state Of affairs finally
grew tiresome to the whites, and when the
Indians began to show themselves in the
vicinity Of Benton, few brave and deter.
mined spirits, knowing that such visits
meant an attack upon the town, agreed
to inaugurate q war upon the hostiles by
killing all that came in their way, whether
belligerant or otherwise. The first oppor-
tunity To put their plan into execution
was soon offered them. A noted warrior
of the Blood nation came alone to Benton.
and relying upon the dread in which he
foolishly believed himself and tribe to be
held, he took pains to show the most in
sulting contempt for the few white men
who were scattered around the Fort.
He was not molested for awhile, and
gaining courage from the apparent timid-
ity of his enemies, he now began to count
coups against the whites, recounting
his deeds of bloodshed and plunder.
This sealed his fate. Bostwick, the hero
guide of Gibbons expedition against the
Nez Perces, and Joe. Spearson, afterwards
killed at Whoop Up, waited until the In
dian had finished his tale of blood and then
sent him to the happy hunting ground
with two doses of navy balls, and threw
the body into the Missouri river,
This affair occurred early in the month
Of May, and the news was swiftly carried
to the Blood camp on Belly river, in the
British possessions. and caused wild
commotion among the warriors Of the
Tube. The chiefs Of the Fish Eaters, Fat
Horse and Black Elk bands marshalled
about two hundred men, led BY their
respective chiefs, Calf Shirt, Medicine
Sun, Un-es tina and Big Snake, and made
rapid marches towards Benton, via the
Sweet Grass Hills and the Goose Bill,
and arrived at the Marias river about the
26th day Of May.
Meanwhile the projected town Of OPher /
had progressed 50 far that men had been
sent out to cnt timber for the first buildings.
The party of wood choppers were twelve
IN nurlber, all good men, bnt ine1peri-
eneed in Indian warfare. Just above the
mouth Of the Teton, they we're alarmed BY
he discovery Of this formidable band Of
indians riding down upon them, and
for themselves, instead Of
,etreating to more favorable point Of
defence or attempting to fortify them
selves in any way, they opened fire at
2nce without waiting 10 find ont the In
lians' intentions.
In after years I was told by some oe
hese same Indians that no harm what
.yer was intended these unfortunate men.
They claimed that they were going to
Benton to learn why the whites had
illed a member Of their tribe, and either
. fight or make peace according to the
esult Of their inquiries. When they were
red upon BY the wood choppers, they
ere astonished and called to them to (
.op, and the chiefs endeayored to re- {
train their warriors from returning the
re. The white men were proba " gnorant |
{ the meaning Of their gestures and Ian {
uage or were too frightened to under Z
and either. They continued to FIRE i
pom the Indians until the latter charged IL
pon them and they were borne down by $
numbers. I could never /
It any Of the Indians To acknowledge p
NV many Of their own number were q
lied They said all the men stood their u
,ound and fought like lions except one i
ho was we'll mounted and attempted to I
1t away. lie was followed and his horse Il
left him at the mercy Of the y
q. This was Burris. He was killed b
lere bis horse fell with him, and being q
light. delicate man, his resistance must II
We been Of short duration. There were it
141 - ..l L1.a.sI1 c4J i IT