The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1883-06-06

party gave this as truth, but the compiler
of these chronicles can find no previous
traces of the party; probably they were
going down the river in boat and were
surprised and killed by Indians while in
camp. The ferry boats were pulled up
the rivers by pony and hand power to
their respective places, ropes were
stretched across the streams and every
thing prepared for the large immigration
that was expected. Many trains started
from the States but the military would
not allow them to come over this road,
as the weak policy of conciliating, the
Sioux was then in favor with the govern
ment. When Cartright and party found
that there would be no travel they start
ed back to the settlements, the men at
the Clarke's Fork ferry joining them as
they passed. At their first camp from
the latter place on Rocky Fork, some In
dams came in making signs that they
were friendly, one of them had on cav
airy sword. He stepped up and handed
this weapon to Col. Smith, and asked in
return to see the latter's pistol which was
hanging on belt at his hip. Col. Smith
very foolishly gave it up and was instant
ly shot dead. The other whites ran for
the brush and saved themselves, none of
them being hit but Mich Boyer, who
was shot through the muscle Of his leg.
troublesome wound but not dangerous
From this on they travelled at night and
arrived at Davies cabin without further
incident. Davies had been running the
Yellowstone ferry and building Mackin-
avs all summer, he had seen Indians sever
al times, but had been bothered by them
but twice, once when a party of seven
came to his cabin, he held a double bar
| relied shot gun across his knees all of the
time they we're there, while his wife
cooked for them. The shot gun kept
| them quite civil. When they were gone
| Davies examined the gun and nearly
! tainted, for it was unloaded.
About month before the Big Horn
ferrymen had come in, three men, Camp
| bell, Ford and another (name unknown)
| started up Mission creek prospecting,
they were travelling up the bottom, which
| is about equally divided between open
ings and brush patches, and when about
four miles from the Yellowstone, just as
they entered small opening they were
fired on by Indians, who were ambushed
in the willows, two Of the whites being
instantly killed. Fordv the survivor
amidst storm of bullets, jumped from
his horse and ran to the creek. Finding
on it's banks pile of driftwood and see
ing at glance it would make good
breatwork, he stopped behind it to fight.
His rifle was muzzle loader, and the
charge IN that and six in his revolver
were all that he had to depend on, as all
of his extra ammunition was left on his
saddle. The Indians came charging
right after him; as they came near he
raised and fired one shot from his pistol
and killed the foremost Indian. The re-
mainder drew back, but in moment
came charging again. This time he fired
two shots, the second taking effect in the
heart of one of his enemies, when but
about eight feet away, the momentum
acquired while running sent the dead
man forward so that his neck fell across
the top log of the drift. In this charge
Ford was hit between the thumb and
finger. They made another charge in
which he emptied his pistol and succeed
ed in stopping them, though not killing
any, he receiving bullet through the
muscle of his left arm. He now gave up
all hope of getting out alive. He had but
the one charge in his gun left, and de-
termined that this laF shot should be
made to count, 80 carefully raising his
head above the logs he looked around
and saw his chance; through an opening
in the brush and about sixty yards away
an Indian was sitting on the ground fix.
ing pistol. Ford took careful aim and
pulled the trigger; when the smoke
cleared away he saw the Indian lying
motionless, and he now sat down behind
the logs awaiting his fate. The Sioux did
not know Of his defencless state, and
having acquired some knowledge of his
skill with firearms, kept at respectful
distance. At dark he, with hope surviv.
ed, stepped into the creek and followed
it for 6. quarter of q mile, then into the
brush and down the bottom to the Vel
lQwstone. He was weak from loss of blood
and it took him till four o'clock the nex1
afternoon to get opposite Davies camp
He was seen dragging himself up the
river and q man went over in boat tt
get him as soon as he saw help was neal
he tainted away. Davies took good cart
of him till chance came to send him t.
Bozeman, where he was faithfully nurset
at Fridley's house till well, and he wen
his way rejoicing at his great deliver
ance.
Several parties went down the river b.
boat to the States this season, it beinl
the shortest and quickest way. A part.
of five bought boat and started from tn
canyon and never more were heard from
and there is no doubt that they wer
massacred by the Sioux.
Two men were camped about mil
: below the canyon, and while engaged il
building boat with which to 60 dowl
, the river were attacked by twenty Indi
+ ans; they retreated to a low bluff nea
by and threw Up some boulders to figh
a from. The Indians rode around the tw
and fred rapidly at them. Several shot
were fired in return without effect. A
, one of the boys raised his head over tn
rocks to shoot one OF the bullets from tn
, last volley fired by the Indians hit hin
' in the temple and he dropped dead. Tn
Sioux had not the satisfaction of know
! ing that they had killed him, for the
. left Immediately. The survivor burie,
q his comrade and went up to Emmigran
Gulch and in short time went down tn
river with another party.
o After Cartright and party had rested
y few days they helped Davies load hi