The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1885-01-21
THE CROW INDIANS
SOMETHING OF THEIR HABITS, HIS
TORY, ETC.
Together With Some Facts OF General Interest
Regarding Other Indians of the Great
Northwest.

The Crows orUpsarokas have alwaysin-
habited the skirts ofthe Rocky mountains
and at this writing occupy large tract
Of land, set apart by the government for
their use. Major Armstrong. few years
since was appointed their agent, he took
his post with the intention Of lettering
their condition by carefully aseertaining
theirwants and requirements sincerely
believe that he has accomplished all one
man can do in this direction; but the
outcome is far behind his expectations
Some, it is true. have been induced to
take up farming, but the majority, espec-
tally the young men, do not take natnr-
ally to the pillow but instead, would rather
herd band of animals.
From the first accounts given Of the
Crows ! find their old people, their
children and their wives nestled
among the sheltered and well-wooded
valleys, lying among the Rocky
mountains, and watered by the Big and
Little Horn rivers. Then they We're
wild people Of predatory habits, large
band of marauders, crossing and recross-
ing the mountains on their fine horses,
making free-booty Of everything that
was in their way, and displaying an
amount Of skill and audacity for horse
stealing that was said to be astonishing.
Now, they occupy but small portion Of
their former domain, remain near their
agency, and lazilly tend their gardens,
for fear of PUNISHMENT in the shape of
curtailment of their governmentalall allow
ances. Great bands of horses however
still range in the valleys of their reser.
walton, watched constantly by the eagle
eyed scouts upon high cliffs and promoD-
tories. who, themselves unseen, can dis
Germ every crawling thing that moves
over the subjaeent plains and valleys.
And here Il word or two concerning
the future Of this tribe, who on white
mans food is fast passing to the happy
hunting ground. Agriculture they are
not by nature suited to- an the only I'M
dertaking which they could successfully
follow. seems to me. to he that of ras-
torial nature Their reser yation too,
would provide nutritious bunch grass
sufficient fol inrumerable bands Of stock.
For the past decade or more the III
sarokos or Grows as they are called from
the resemblance their habits once bore
to that bird, have been peaceful and
quiet. although perfdious white men
and neighboring Indians, have from
time to time stolen their ponies, they
have not in late years been detected in
any act of violence, but in several IN
stances they have been detected by
the neighboring stockmen in horse steal
ing. BY taking a red-hot frying-pan
the red man cruelty obliteratesal brands
the animal NAV have, and the traveller
through their country will be confronted
at every turn Of the trail, by ponies,
Iarye.sized American horses and mules,
with large burns on their sides. The
equestrian skill and hardihood Of these
arrant free-booters was once their boast
at the camp fire, but aside from racing
they possess no more skill than the
white COW boys who pass a great portion
l1of their time in the saddle.
Mr. Armstrong has had much difficulty
+ with the white squaw men : who have
taken to themselves a red women, who
i draws sufficient rations for his and her
support, and not even having TO furnish
the water necessary for his existance, he
lives life of Incidence and apparent
pleasure. Agent Armstrong has BY all
/ the means in his power endeavored to
rid his people from these nefarious out
casts of society and oftimes fugitiycs
from Justice, but has found the job to be
/ beyond his powers. The men sometimes
prove more treacherous and barbarous
than the Indian with whom they con
sort. To these camp followers, who
combine the vices of civilization and the
sayagerv of Indian life, many Of the
violent acts and blood-shed Of the last
few wears have been wholly attributable.
They are successful in poisoning the
Indians mind against their agents, fur
nish theIa with whisky and accomplish
many OTHER acts calculated TO keep the
Indian ii: the path Of bar5arity And
i here let me say that when whisky was
/ first brought to the Crow camp and the
effects experienced chieftains would not
allow their braves to thereafter drink it.
But three years ago / saw at least one
dozen Of the oldest men Of the Crow
camp, seated in teepee, drinking from
/ i black bottle. "40-rod Of the vilest IN
gradients.
The engineering party, sent IN 1879 70
survey the route Of the Northern Pacific
railroad through the Crow reservation,
we're in constant fear Of the Grows, whe
mere disposed to question the privileges
Of this company which permitted them
10 build through their valley without
paving for that right The SURVEYORS
stakes we're often removed and twice the
workmen we're forced to leave their
labor. The presence of a small band o.
soldiers however had the effect Of dis
Dersing the Indians, without firing gun,
New the Indian brave has become so ac-
cnstomed to the iron horse, that he
frequently abandons his natural convey
auce and admirable equestrian habitsides
and address, to take an excursion on the
ears. Generally he sits on the platform
ar when his cherished hard-ridden steed
X taken along, seated beside the animal
he hugely enjoys the rush of the train.
1 BUD BAKER
TO BE CONTINUED.
MARRIED