Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1886-09-04
VIC SMITHS MARROW ESCAPE.
How the Noted Montana Scout Came
Near Furnishing r1e Subject for
Lynehing Bee-sHhich Explains
Why He Hates Vigilance
Ceror ~ ;f4eae
Committees.

nOndent OF the Pioneer IfesS.-Ine
season for small game shooting III the
territory opened the Is Of last month,
and for large game it was opened the
10th. AS this IS the most favorable
region for all kinds Of game, guides.
scouts and old-time hunters are az
irving to be in readiness to conduct
tourists hunters to the BEST hunting
grounds and probably shoot their
game for them. \ large party from
Chicago. at the head Of which was
Editor Bracket, Of the Field, arrived
here this week, secured a camping
outfit and started for the Clarke's
Fork country, with several guides
augnenting the party. All were am
bilious 10 kill q bear, Of which there
il j redundancy IL the upper country.
The Marquis and Lady de AEores
came uD here Oh the 18th, from their
home at LeloSa, Oak, and will go
up to the Boulder. The Marquis
was here 4 short time ago with Vie
@uith, Hind most renowned 5cont IA
territories. aad made i record ~ Eli
ing the 11rga5t bear aver EilIo3 in
ta,s region. VIC Smith arrived here
ths ether day. IL Is noted a. the
most daring scout ii Montana TO day,
and tie indians never hear his name
mentioned without a thrill OF terror
There are many thrilling experiences
connected with his career now thirty
siz years of age. and came to tho
West from his home at Milwaukee at
the g OF seventeen. He vent to Et.
lotion on Devils lake and was en-
gagged running a dog train in winter,
carrying mails. In the summer time
he Travelled on saddle. About a year
after he vas thus engaged he com
menced making regular trips from Ft.
Abercrombie to a point where Grand
Forks is now located. Grand Forks
was then unnamed and a dog station
was located there. around which a
number Of wolf men lived. These
wolf men only worked in the late fall
and during the winter, the killing Of
wolves being their labor. At that
me wolves were as plentiful in Da-
Eata as sheep are now in Montana,
aid offtimes q hundred or more Of the
animals were poisoned IN one night,
heir skins bringing $3.50 each. Thus
camp at Grand Forks was then com
posed ola worthless individual named
Thompson. It was in the month OF
October that a man named Brown ar
rived at the camp and gave It out
that he was hunting a desirable piece
Of land to locate On. He had an ex-
ceiIent horse and about $500, but
among these men there was nodanger
Of any harm happening him. Two
days before he intended taking his
departure tot Abe.crombie, Thomp-
son LEFT the camp. stating that he
would be absent several days. After
Developments show that he went up
the trail some distance and awaited
the arrival OF Brown, whom he muir
dered, taking his horse, money and
pistol, and leaving the body Of Brown
directly in the path, where discovery
could not help being made. The
body was discovered next day and
the facts told the wolf men, five OF
whom started out and determined to
catch and lynch the murderer. Vic
said he was not very well horsed, and
when Thompson proposed a trade Of
horses he atonce signiied his willing
ness to make a change. This was
made easy by Thompson offering $50
boot, and the riders changed equines.
Before leaving Thompson handed Vic
a pistol. on which was engraved e.
8. Vic thought Thompson was a
mighty generous man, but afterward
thought he himself was a most tender
pilgrim Vie had camped hat night
and had just finished a repast when
five wolf men steepedinto the shanty.
Come in, boys" said Vic, "and
make yourself to home. There is
lots to eat here. Cook it to suit