The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-05-11
INDIAN FIGHT
Crees, Piegans and ASSN
iboines Engage in a Fierce Con-
tlict Across the Border.
Disease Decimates the Blackfeet
and Their Foes Prepare to
Wipe Them Out.
Battle Near Whoop-Up that Came Near
Wiping Out the Entire Cree
Nation,

It is within the knowledge of most Of the
|esidents of the northwest, that the Indian
population of the territories is composed
aainly of two great divisions-the Crees
md Assiniboines forming one, and the
flackfoot confederacy, or the Blackfeet,
Floods and Piegans the other. Speaking
iferent languages, inhabiting different
hough adjoining parts of the territories,
md with different manners and customs.
hey have been enemies from time immem-
rial, and it is unquestionably due to this
Rct that the rebellion in British America
b 1885 was SO quickly and easily put
own. Had the Blackfeet forgotten
heir old enmity and joined hands with
be Crees, it is hardly possible to calculate
be enormous additional loss of life and
foperty that would have followed, and we
pinot therefore be too devoutlv thankful
pat out OF evil there came good-that an
ereditary feud between the two great
kmps was the means of ensurinR peace and
fety to a large and populous part of the
prthwest.
l have said that most nor'westers ara
ware Of tho two great divisions, and posi-
of the fact that they are mutually an
Ronistic; but venture to say that few of
OIL AAOW eA4oes az tuo pEo60uC 81C0 OF the
ait coal mine, these two races came to-
ther in mortal combat, and fought out
10 of the greatest Indian battles of the
lst fifty years. propose telling the story
briefly as possible, because believe the
emit to be worthy of record, and also of
terest to the people of Montana.
e was late in the fall of 1870. The pre-
rough the Blackfoot tribes and left in its
IKE whole camps of dead lodges" the
prtality being estimated by competent au-
ori2!es at forty or fifty per cent. The
|ees and Assiniboines thought this q ia
rable opportunity to strike decisive
pw at their powerful enemy Indians are
generous foes) and accordingly organ
"a and despatched q war psrty, number
IN the neiRhborhood of six or eight
|ndred braves. Big Bear, Piapot, Little
Puntain and Little Pine-names which
came rather we'll known in '85-were
long the Cree and Aasiboine chiefs,
oef present themselves or represented by
pr bands. and they were largely REIN
Geo oy south AssinibOines.
me hlackfeet and Bloods were then
nped mainly on Belly river between Kipp
Whoop- Up. two whisky trading posts
put twenty miles apart, but the Bisckfeet
Pmseives were not numerically stronc.
. South PieRans we're camped on the 81.
rye, above Whoop-Up, which il at the
pction o! the Belly and st. Aary's, hav-
been driven north of the line bv the
petition against them under Col. Baker.
Leg. Black Eagle and Heavy Shield
= their chiefs: Grow Eagle led the
"a f.eGsns, and Bull Back Fat ana But
10 we'll armed with REPEATING rsfSes
IDLE guns and revolvers, the Bioods we're
20 we'll equipped, while the Crees and
biniboines had only old muskets. Hudson
fukes and bows and arrows to depend
he Crees reached the Little Bow, about
Fnty- 1--we miles away. and small parties
suoceeded in stealing several horees
m ANAL camps shout Whoop-Up. One
ht, however, about Octo6sF Is IT,