The Progress. [volume] (White Earth, Minn.) 1886-1889, 1889-03-16
A BRAVE RUN FOR LIFE.

How John Golfer Escaped a Ter
rible Death.
sued by Bloody and Relent-
less Foe and at Last Reachesj
q Place of Safety.
What is known as Lewis and Clarke's
expedition to explore the Missouri
river took place in the year 1905. 1t
was manned by Captain Merriwether
Clarke, three sergeants and seven SOL
diers of the United States army, ac-
companied by twenty-six other per-
sons, among whom were number of
Frenchmen. Their adventures and
discoveries are not of so much impor-
lance as the fact that John Golfer and
John Potts were members of the expe-
dition. These two men were either
discharged from the command, Or
after the expedition had returned to
its starting place, went back into the
Indian country on their own hook.
This point, as well as the exact loca-
ton of their adventures, appears to be
clouded in doubt, although their en-
counter is fully authenticated. They
were trapping beaver near the con-
auence of the Madison river with the
Jefferson fork. The Blackfeet Indians
were in that region and one of them
had been killed by Lewis. Aware of
the bitterness of Indian hostility Col
ter and Potts set their traps at night,
drew them in each morning and lay
concealed during the day.
They were examining their traps
early one morning, in a creek which
they were ascending in canoe, when
they suddenly heard a great noise,
resembling the trampling of animals.
But they could not ascertain the fact,
as the high, perpendicular banks on
each side of the river impeded their
view. Golfer Immediately pronounced
it to be occasioned by Indians, and
advised an instant retreat, but was
accused of cowardice by Potts, who
insisted the noise was occasioned by
buffaloes, and they proceeded on. In
q few minutes afterwards their doubts
were removed by the appearance of
about five or six hundred Indians on
both sides of the creek, who beckoned
them to come ashore. As retreat was
now impossible, Golfer turned the
head of the canoe to the shore. At
the moment of its touching an Indian
S seized the rife belonging to Potts.
But Golfer, who was a rem arkably
strong man, Immediately retook it
and handed it to Potts, who remained
in the canoe, and upon receiving it,
pushed off into the river. He had
scarcely quilted the shore when an
arrow was shot at him, and he cried
out: 'Colter, am wounded Golfer
demonstrated with him on the folly of
attempting to escape and urged him
to come ashore. Instead of comply
ing, he instantly leveled his rifle at
an Indian, and shot him dead on the
spot.
This conduct, situated as he was,
may appear to have been an act of
madness; but it was doubtless the eff
feet of sudden but sound enough rea-
soning; for, if taken alive he must have
expected to. have been tortured to
death, according to the Indian custom.
And in this respect the Indians of this
region excelled all others in the inge-
nuity they displayed in torturing their
prisoners.
He was instantly pierced with ar
rows. so numerous that, to use the
language Of Golfer. che was made a
riddle Of
They now seized Golfer, stripped
him entirely naked and began to con-
suit on the manner in which he should
be put to death. They were first in
clined to set him up as mark to shoot
at; but the chief interfered,s and, seiz-
ing him by the shoulder, asked him if
he could run fast. Golfer, who had
been some time among the Kee Katsa,
or Grow Indians, had, in considera-
BILE degree, acquired the Blackfoot
language, and was also we'll acquainted
with Indian customs. He knew that
he had now to run for his life, with the
dreadful odds of five or six hundred
against Kim, and these armed Indians.
He therefore cunningly replied that he
was very bad runner, although, in
truth, he was considered by the hun
tiers as remarkably swift.
The chief now commanded the party
to remain stationary, and led Golfer
out to the prairie three or four hun
dred yards and released him to save
himself if he could. At that instant
the war-whoop sounded in the ears of
poor Golfer, who, urged with the
hope of preserving life, ran with a
speed at which he himself was sur
prised. He proceeded towards Jeffer-
son Fork. having to traverse a plain
six miles in breadth, Astounding with