Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1886-10-16

the Indians knew not the nature of iron
nor is it probable that they We're acquainted
with copper, except when they came il
| contact with the AZtecs.
| ANY burial mounds we may find in this
| section, we may rest assured they are no
Of Indian construction. as it is contrary tc
their habits and customs. OF late the
question has been argued whether these
Indians lived in this part Of the country
at all prior to the fifteenth century; and if
proofs can be brought Of the same, we may
yet identify traces OF an inferior race, moi
migratory, but stationary in their labita
tlons, who were exterminated by the in
coming Indians. The sparsenses Of the
white population in Montana, has hitherto
been the reasolf9hst more discoveries have
not been made, but as a larger area OF
country Is cultivated, we may reasonably
expect more remains to be found, which
will serve 70 increase our knowledge on
the subject.
II any Of the remains are Of such an
ancient date Is 70 be Of the age OF the
Mammoth and frimeyal Elephant, we
ought not only to fad remains Of these
animals, btt also have traditions of them
among the tribes yet existing. Bostwick,
the scout (l1llled At tight at Big Hole told
me frequently, that tile Blackfeet and
other tribes had tradition which ran as
near as | can remember. thus That many
SHOWS have come and gone since the father
OF the Buffalo was alive: his nose was very
long, and touched tie ground: and he had
very long tooth on each side Of it. He
was very large, much larger than the buff
falo, and that often many warriors We're
killed While hunting him. Here then we
have as ali exact description Gf the Nam
moth as could be expected III the traditions
OF an unciyilized race, As no other animal
IS now alive in these regions of that des-
cription.
AS for the remains Of the animals, for a
sparsely settled country they have been
found plentifully. Their tushs and teeth
have been found ii the large coulees
south of the Bearspaw mountains. | saw
personally one tus'-- near Eagle creek over
eight feet long, and several teeth in that
They have also been seen
on De Pole creek, Arrow river, on the
banks of the Missouri near the gate OF the
in Prickly Pear canyon, and
Last Chance gulch. The remains found
In Last Chance gulch, [ understood were
found on bedrock while mining. had
the pleasure OF examining them ii 1866.
Exposure to the air had decomposed tlt.
outer covering some: but they were very
perfect. They were readily identified as
belonging the Ezepdas .imefleuutss, ana /
he discovery CT these remains on bed |
'ock, would signify that the auriferous !
gravel OF that guich was formed at the
lose Of the Post-Tertiary period I al1
satisfied from past experience. that many
arge bones found heretofore In high cut
mud banks, and ciassed at first sight as
,uHalo bones, would, on examination lie
ound to have belonged to the Mammoth
amily, or some other gigantic animal OF
hat period.
In conclusion, without referring to the
PAINTED Rocks Of the sweetgrass hills,
! hlskey buttes Of Poplar river, and other
laces, which are known to have been
iade by the modern Indian, If this article
ttracts the attention Of Others. to preserve
hat curiosities they may find, of ellarac-
+ similar in those have described. so as
} enlighten our knowledge on the subject
these races Of the past, | shall consider
y labor not 10 have been in vain. 5
Rendering that the people OF the past
ave left their traces by means Of mounds.
the north Of us on tie Saskatchewan. on I
.e east throughout Dakota, on the south y
us i'll Wyoming, we may feel well assa1r- t
there is yetan unwritten history in the |
ontana ones yet to be found open to all
1igent seekers, and Of vast interest to the
hole community at large. /
o. c. VI. t
School Report
Herewith is submitted a monthly report i
Great Falls school, ending October 1st, .
So. v
Number of pupils enrolled, 4o-girIs. a
and boys, 20; average daily attendance, il
number of days attendance, 517; days e