The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1886-11-03
Ascrap or history.

In the latter part Of May, 1873, small
party of traders camped on the Teton
river, four miles north from Fort Benz
ton; reaching the river quite late and
not taking the usual precautions to guard
against thieves, for the reason that the
boys were worn out by incessant guard
duty after long and tedious trip.
During the night party of Piegan In
dams stole every horse the party possess
ed and pushed north with all possible
haste, When morning came and strict
search disclosed the fact that their ami
mails had been stolen by Indians the
traders held council and finally decided
to pursue the thieves. After carefully
looking over their strength it was decid-
ed that the following named persons
should constitute the pursuing party:
John Evans, G. NJ. Bell,
T. Hale, Geo. Hammond,
Thos. Hardwick, F. Vogle,
G. Harper, Moses Solomon
Jas. Hughes, Jas. Marshall,
JEFF Devereaux, s. Vincent,
Ed Grace.
These men, armed with Winchester.
rifles, started on the trail of the stolen
animals, on foot, pushing forward night
and day, finally comingupon the thieves
who had joined quite large party of In
in the Cypress hills, 100 miles north Of
Fort Benton and about so miles north of
the British line. The party halted and
sent men to camp, found their property
and demanded its immediate return.
These demands were met with scorn and
insult, and the men told if they wanted
their horses to come and get them, and
also warned that if they did not at once
decamp that every man would be scalp
ed. A council of war was at once called
and the situation discussed. Every man
was of one opinion: "These British
thieves have crossed the line and stolen
our animals from the very suburbs of
Fort Benton; the animals are all we have
in the world; we have followed the
thieves and tried to get possession of our
property by every friendly means at our
command; we are 100 miles from home,
without provisions and in danger of being
surprised and murdered at any moment
should we attempt to return; the die is
cast; we are here, In sight of our proper
ty; let us make one more demand, and if
refused take it or perish in the attempt"
The demand was made, and was an
swered by deadly vollev from the guns |
of their confident fee. Ed Grace fell |
MORALLY wounded and died before the
fight closed, but his heroic friends, taking
to the hills in circle around the hostile |
village, each with the knowledge that
thev must conquer or die.
The fight began and the deadly circle
each moment grew smaller; the brave
men taking advantage of the ground as
best they could, and sheltering them
selves from the bullets of the enemy,
they poured forth deadly and incessant
fire from those fatal Winchesters, using
the utmost care that every leaden mess
enger did its work, An hour passed and
yet the death circle grew smaller until
each man was in a position to command
the village. Every Indian that exposed
his person was riddled with bullets.
Finally all was still; the traders were
masters of the field. Those of the enc
my who had not made good their escape
were dead; some thirtv-three of them
perished in the bloody fight. Ed Grace
was buried and the party returned to
their homes at Fort Benton.
In June, 1875, the British government
sent spies to Fort Bent on and had thes
men arrested and they were taken toe
Helena for trial. All old settlers will re
the great extradition trial which
asted for weeks
The British government employed Col.
w. F. Sanders and man named Page to
these men, and it was said at
he time that they were the only two
men TO be found who would take the
'ase For the defense were the firms of
Toole, Johnston & Toole, Chumasero &
Chadwick and Shober & Lowery.
Che men were acquitted, and many of
hem are now doing business in the ter
Itory, John Evans, JEFF Devereaux and
Ieorge Hammond, a brother of Mr..
hammond, Of the firm of Eddy, Ham
nond & Co., of Missoula, and Mr.. Hale
we're in 1871 citizens of Gullatin county
nd were among those brave and fear
ass pioneers who were Godsend to Gal
ltin county, for in the early aud danger
US times these men, with many others,
eing constantly on the frontier and a
ulwark, so to speak, protecting the set
ements from constant Indian raids,
hieh were seldom successful because Of
lese ever watchful and intrepid hunters.
John Evans is now in the horse bust
ess near Fort Benton; JEFF Devereaux
in the same business near Benton;
gorge Hammond is with his brother at
issoula; g. NJ Bell is a well-to-do
Fighter at or near Benton; Mr.. Hale is
id to beat Gardiner, this county, where
} has feed stable.
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