Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1881-03-01
MARKHEAD'S EXPLOIT.

At Bismarck (Dakots) the mountain
men often tell the story Of MarAhead's
exploit with the Blackteet.
Il is the same Ma, lhead who. five or
six years laler. was troacherously muir
dered by the MeSicans, near Taos. AT
the time OF his d1ath he WAS not more
han twenty seven years o d, and he
could hardy have beer more than
TWENTY-FIVE when he had this B.acktoot
adventure.
Tie old pioneers Of the upper Missouri
SPEAK of Markhcad as most remark
abe boy, so muscular aud OF such
powers OF endurance, that lie would run
fifteen or twenty miles without appar-
ert fatigue. Indians he held in trining
regard. and delighted in q skirmish with
them; though he bore the scars Of not
less than a dozen of their bullets and
arrows.
At the time alluded TO. he had gone
on a trspping excursion for beaver, up
one of the head creeks OF the Yellow.
stone; locality not much resoried t.
by other trappers, on account OF the
deadly hostility OF the BiIckieet, who
were very jealous Of the white hunters,
and killed every hunter they could sur
prise.
As was his custom, lie had his horse
with him, for carrying traps and pro-
visions. and al this time had made his
camp in a clump of cottonwoods, on
the blank OF the creek, near the foot oil
range of bluIs which fronted the stream
on the east side.
That morning-it Was in the month OF
October-he had set OF early 10 look 10
his beaver traps, of which he had line
both up and down the creek. He had
proceeded but short distance. when
he found one OF his steel traps missing
from under the bank where he had set
IL.
There were bear tracks in the mud
abou, the bank; very large ones, lead
ing back into the cedar bushes, toward
the buff.
The trail was fresh. and Markhead
followed il cautiously through the
cedar.
Coming al length TO The foot Of the
bluff. tie found that the animal had
turned aside, and gone further up the
bottom. But just at that moment be
thought he heard it thrashing about in
the cedar little way ahead.
So he carefully mounted the side OF
the bluff. twenty or tb.rty feet, hoping
10 catch sight of the animal over the
tops of the bushes. From this point he
saw q large grizzly, sitting on broad
aat rock. not more than forty or fifty
yards distant.
Watching the creature moment, he
found thai it limped painfully, and that
il walked short distance on three legs.
Finally. it turned about and limped back
70 the stone again; and Markhead now
perceived that the grizzly had his
beaver trap hard and last on one OF his
torep=xs.
The bear was much annoyed by the
trap. IL sat down on the stone again.
and from where he lag; Msrkhead cou.d
see him examining il attentively, ho.c-
ing it close up To his nose and grave!S
turning his paw over and over. Ihen
IL would tip its head 10 one side and
look At the trap from out the corners o.
its eyes, in a most comical manner, as If
4, an entire loss TO make out what the
novel and painful appendags could be
that had got such fast hOlj OF his toes.
Anon he ruyyle'' spimsl would trv
TO step on lis foot; bot instantly to- X 1t
I'D from the stone again, with low
whimper, and would then commence
licking tie trap, as if wishing 10 sppease
is anger and coax il into letting 90 It's
grip.
TLis pantom'me so interested the
trapper that he could scarcely take aim
with his ride. But not wishing To lose
Lis good steel trap. he was on tie point
of shooting the bear, when he was
startled from it by the neigh of a horse
Glancing out over the tops oil the
bushes, he saw, some four or five hun
dred yards down the opposite bank oi
the creek, n party of six Indians. sitting
ON their % nies. They h; d reined up,
and stood among some little sand-hil;
LOCKS looking across, directly toward
where his camp was, in the cotton woods
II then flashed 20 his mind that 1t was
his horsr which had neighed. Iha'
was vhy the Indians had pulled up SC
sudden,y and were staring across the
saah