Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1879-10-16


They were well equipped for the trip. an
to commence h'ew IN Il Wild country. hit,
ing IN their outfit seed. tools. provision.
horses and cattle. Tn tile Platte rive,
they conr',ele'l to 60 TO Oregon instead G
California. and turning north too soon
while no; exactly lost. they struck the Vel
lowstone river at the mcul: of the Bi
Horn.
). The winter season was near. and FIN
country being the f;lirest they had yaze,
upon. being in comparison with what II e,
had passed through IL paradise. therrfor
the conclusion to stop was soon arrive,
at Without much disctission or opposition
Cabins were erected; apple. leach an,
cherry seed were planted; provision Wi:
male for horses and cattle, and the li,tl,
settlement prepared well for winter, al
apparently being happy and contenie,I
influences were at work. however. thai
brought destruction upon them.
A young man who had come along in
the employ OF one Of the families. became
ena'nored with his employers daughter
while she had given herself to another OF
the party. The seed was sown. and tine
tree of discord grew right thrifiily. Dur
ing the winter the rejected: s,litor left the
settlement. intent upon cons,;nmatinp his
purpose, and wreakiny vengeance upon
those who had thwarted him. OF course
his disappearance caused anxiety. but it
was finally concluded that the missing
man had strayed off and perished, and his
absence restoring harmony. but few re-
grets were manifested. All being more
than pleased with their location and sur-
Foundinys. the temporary fmlting place
was made the permanent home OF the little
party.
The 8lacktoot Indians were at tI,i. time
lords OF the soil. although their title was
at times disputed by rowing bands of
Sioux; during this particular fall and win
ter their camps were on the Missouri.
Sun and Maslas rivers. and were visited
occasionally by white traders from For,
Benton. Clarke had been for some time a
resident among them, had taken a so,aw
for wife. and acquired influence in coun.
ell. How is it that the career of this man
has escaped the pen of the novelist? De-
scendcd from the Virginia F.. F, VS..
graduate OF West Point. and wealthy. he
buried himself in the Rocky Mountain
Willis. and finally perishetl by a Blrchtoot
bullet. 1t he had not survived until tle
ldvent OF white men in considerable n,:m-
Ders. lie too would have been recoesectel
only in camp fire stories.
Ills taking i wife WAS to exercise a Dow
'rfi'l Influence over the little settlements ,
'n the Yellowstone, for that particular
'quaw was sought after by rising Young
warrior OF the tribe. and when the white
nan bore off the prize, revenge was next
order. 1t would not do to attack Clarke
openly. so he must bi,le his time.
The lost man from the Yellowstone
''ade his way to the Blackfoot camp on
he Missouri. and fate decreed that the. two
elected su'tors should come together.
The ln'iian readily agreed to assist the
encga'lr. tor the blood of whites would 90
1r towards satisfying his vengeance: so
var p:rfy started for the mouth of the
''g Horn.
One morning. when the settlers were
ast preparing for the days labor. the
'hckfoot was upon them. and il was all
ver in few minutes. Not Il sou. escaped
all perishe'l by the bullet and knife. The
',eg:sde. even, was killed. in order that
ne bloody deed should not come to the
'rs Of the whites. The sad story was ,
armed ty a few old trlppers. whose s,ss- |
icion was aroused by seeing fine horses
nd household goods in the Indian ,cpees.
lat could only have been obtained by .
white men.