The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-12-28
Written for the HOLIDAY RIVER PREss.
OLD MAN MONROE's ADVENTURE,
BY JNO. W. HANNAY.

There are very few persons in this part of
the TIE. ritory who have not met, or heard Of,
John Monroe, more commonly known as
cold Man Monroe" Monroe was born near
Montreal, and came out to the Northwest
when he was only eighteen years old-at
least seventy years ago-and he is, probably,
nearly the first, if not the first, white man
who travelled through the northern districts
of Montana after the expedition of Lewis
and Clarke. He served for many years IS a
| trapper and hunter for the Hudson Bay Com
pany, but, having married 8 Piegan woman,
he finally abandoned civilized life, and be-
came q quasi member Of the tribe TO (Which
his wife belonged.
Many are the curious stories he relates Of
Indian habits and customs. He is thorough
~ acquainted VITA all the ceremonies and
rites used by the Piegan medicine men
whether they be for curing the sick, or lay
ing an evil spirit. He has imbibed much Of
the superstitious nature of his Indian friends,
and will break off in the middle Of a most
interesting story to tell how he saw the devil
in q tree, or how he dreamed of porcupine
quilts sticking in his feet, which, he naively
added, was a very bad dream.
Some Of his personal adventures are SO
thrilling that they would make Ned Buntline
hide his diminished head, and the authors of
such tame narratives as s'Eloody Bill, or the
Ring-tail Roarer of Texas, turn green with
envy. From a number Of the tales that he
has related to me, I will select one, which,
although not quite so romantic as many Of
them, is still very interesting on account of
the insight il affords into Indian customs;
and | will give it as Monroe told it to me,
but without using his language:-
''Near Bears Head, / was behind the
moving band Of Piegans, with an Iroquois
Indian and a',young lad who was fond of me.
I had been informed that the Mosquitoes were
suspicious of the Iroquois. They had often
asked me about him, where he came from,
what he wanted, and all such questions. |
tried to quiet their suspicious by saying that
he was an old friend of mine, but it was to
no good, and I had fallen behind the tribe
this day il order to warn the Iroquois that
he had better get away from the party.
''These Mosquitoes were soldiers; they had
eagle claws on their wrists, and a 20 with
three arrows all painted red. They kept Or
der on the march, not allowing any stray
Cling, and also in camp; in doing this they
would attack anybody, woman or child, with
these claws, often making ugly wounds. II
resisted they would kill the persons who OPP
posed them. They were very fierce, and
were called Mosquitoes because they attacked
anything, big or little.
whilst behind the column, ! suddenly
saw a cloud Of dust, and thought that the
Mosquitoes were pursuing some one in the
main body but, seeing that the dust ad-
vanced in our direction, and was soon past
the end Of the train of l%odge-poles, I became
that they were after US.
presently Bad Chief, who was chief of a
band Of these Mosquitoes, and who had killed
a relative Of my father-in-law, Rising Head,
rode up to me at full speed and tried to strike
me with the claws on his wrists SO ! hit his
horse across the head with my whip, and it
ran away with him.
II then whipped up my pony and overlook
the pack-train. Just as [ reached it, Bad
Chief, at the head Of fifteen or sixteen Of his
soldiers, made a rush at me-. I tried to seek
8 place Of safety among the pack animals,
but they were SO huddled together that |
could not. In a second Bad Chief, who had
outridden his men, was by my side, trying to
get at me with his coup. stick. | had no time
lose IN making my escape, so | made q
oack-handed stroke at his horse with my
but missed the beast and struck my
enemy across the face. AS quick as light
he placed an arrow in his how and
straight at my heart; but he pulled
he string with such violence that it broke in
lis hand.
ellis soldiers were now sWarming around
ne, and, frantic with fear, | dashed again
amongst the pack animals, knocking some
and jumping over the lodge poles, un-
il I found my way to the other side Of the
/ stopped here to examine the
Of my gun, which, TO my dismay, !
.ound had fallen out. Whilst I was doing
his a Mosquito, whom | had not before seen,
me, and whipped my horse across
be face with such force that the beast reared
nc fell over backward, throwing me to the
Il was no sooner down than / was covered
With a swarm Of. Mosquitoes, some Of whom
we're trying to shield me from those who