Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1886-11-06
a Scrap of History

from Fort Benton reaching tHe river Nuilo
late, and not taking the usual precaution
to guard against thieves, for the reason
that the boys were worn out by ineessant
guard duty after a long and tedious trip.
During the night a party of Piesan In
dams stole every horse the party possess
ed and pushed north with all possible
haste. When morning came and a strict
search disclosed the fact that their AMI
mails had been stolen by the Indians, the
traders held a council and finally decided
to pursue the thieves. After carefully
looking over their strength, it was decld-
ed that the following named persons
should constitute the pursuing party:
John Evans. G. NJ. Bell,
IT Hale Geo. Hammond
Thos. Hardwick, F. Fogle,
G. Harnar Moses solomon,
las Hurhes. Jas. Marshall,
Jeff. Devereaux. S. Vincent,
These men, armed with Winchester
rifles. started on the trail Of the stolen AMI
mails on foot, pushing forward night and
day, finally coming upon the thieves, VINO
had Joined quite IA large party OF Indians.
in the Cypress hills. 100 miles north OF
Benton, and about eighty miles north OF
the British line. The party halted and
sent men to camp, found their property
and demanded it's immediate return
These demands were met with scorn ana
insult, and the men told if they wanted
their horses to come and get them, and
also warned them that if they did not at
one decamp that every man would pc
s.alned. A council of war was at once
called and the situation discussed, Ev-
ery man was of one opinion, "lhese
British thieves have crossed the line and
stolen u animals from the very suburbs
of Fort Benton; we have followed the
thieves and tried to get possession of our
property by every friendly means at our
command; we are $50 miles from home,
without provisions and in danger OF be-
ing surprised and murdered at any NOM
ent should we attempt to return; the die
is cast; we are here in sight OF our prop
erty; let us make Que more demand, and
if refused, take it or
PERISH IN H ATTEMPT.
The demand was made, and was ans
wered by a deadly volley from the guns
of their confdnnt foe. Ed Grace fell
mortally wounded and died before the
fight was over, but his heroic friends TAX
/ ing to the hills in a circle around the hos
tile village, each with the knowledge that
they must conquer or die. The fight be
gan and the deadly circle each moment
grew smaller; the brave men taking ad-
vantage of the ground as best they could,
and sheltering themselves from the bullets
of the enemy, they poured forth 2 Deadly
and inces$Snt lite rom ..4ose fatal Win
chesters, using the utmost care that every
leaden messenger should do its work.
An hour passed and yet the death circle
grew smaller until each man was in q
position to command the village. Every
Indian that exposed Lis person was riddl-
ca WIN puiiEbS. iliittiIt IA % Stilt tiit
traders were masters of the field. Those
Of the enemy who had not made good
their excaEe were dead some tilirty-tllree
Of them persisted in tie blood fight. Ed
Grace was buried and the parry returned
to their homes at Fort Benton. In June,
1915, the British government sent spies
to Fort Benton and had these men arrest
ed and taken to Helena for trial. All old
settlers will remember the great eztr&ai-
ton trial which lasted for weeks.
H BRITISH GOVERNMENT EMPLOYED
Col. w. F. SANDERS
and a man named Page to prosecute these
men, and it was said at the time that they
were the only two men to be found who
would take the case. For the defense
were the firms Of Toole, Johnston 6
1'oole, and Chumasero s Chadwick and
Shober & Lowry. The men were acquit.
ted, and many of them are now doing
business tn the territory. John Evans,
jeff Devereaux and Jots aainmcnd, a
brother of Mr.. Hammond, OF the firm OF
Eddy, Hammond & Co, of Mlssoula, and
Mr.. Hale were in 1871 citizens Of Gallat.
in county and were among those brave
and fearless pioneers who were q God.
send to Gailatin county, for in the early
and dangerous times these men, with
many others, being constantly on the from
tier and a hulwark, Sc tospeak, protecting
the settlements from constant Indian
raids. which were seldom siiccessfnl be