The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-03-03
THE EARLY FORT BENTON |
Thu Mission Records Show Il Was
at Ono lime Known as
Fort Campbell.
Some OF the Old Time Scenes
Graphically Described by
Father Palladino
How the Presence Of = Priest Prevented
hull Team Prom Going Up the
Big nm.

The following from L. h. Palladino's
forthcoming work on Indian and White
IN the Northwest" will be read with inter
eat By those who taks an Interest In the
early history OF the state; Fora Benton
might be called the oldest white settlement
IN Montana, II the terms white" and
'ssttlsment" could have been applied 10 10
from it's beginning. IL vas originally
trading post. established in 1876 by the
American Far company, and derived I"
name from Senator Benton, OF Missouri ~
that time leader In national politics. IL
replaced Fort Louis. or Lsvis another
trading establishment erected By the same
company two years before, and which
stood near Pablois' island. few miles be-
low the new location. Another company
having built on the same spot in the same
year, 1876 a rival trading posi- named after
the CAmpbslls, from ST. Louis. who belonged
20 the latter conesrn. the place was also
known for a while as Fort Campbell. This
il evident from the earliest mission records,
where the locality is designated under both
names 10 there fret appears as Fort Ben
ton. in 1855; a. Fort Campbell in 1855, and
becomes again the former this tune per-
mansntly, in 1860. Thess two rival estab-
lishments stood a short distance apart on
the low bottom bordering the Missouri and
within she present city limits. The village
was incorporated as town in 1863 aud,
some time later. 10 also became the location
of a military post where few companies
of UAitsd states troops were quartsFed for
several years.
Fort Benton has seen very prosperous
DAYS In abe past and was in pfs-railroad
shines she mart Of commerce, the shipping
and supply center for the whole upper
Missouri county and all the regions in the
north. Perhaps nowhere else we're ever
sesn mother crowds Of feAthered Indians.
buckskin arrayed half -breed nobility, moe
casinsd trappefs, voyageurs. eold-soekers
and bull drivers; all cOngreRating 81 sans
point on she opening OF the boatlnR sea
son In the pGlmy days of the towns pros
perity. The Montana cowboy had not yet
been evolved a. this date.
Nor likely was there ever an unRodlier
spot on earth shan was AZ this time. the
steep hill ovsThanging the town on the
north side. The amount OF swearing and
Gu sing done here By ths driver ana the
hall whackoT of those days. was much in
excess of the enoI nous amount OF freight
hauled up that steep embankment. rather
henetrsY was riding one day close up 20 a
prairie schooner, which was driven BY sew
freiqhted with supplies for some OF the
missions. On reaching the foot Of that
unhallowed spot. the animals seemed to
dread the ascent before them, and, after a
few more steps. came 20 standstill. The
cracking OF the bullwhacker's whip over
their heads; It's more than earnest spplioa-
tion 10 their backs. now Of the leaders, now
of the wheelera, and all the reat, made no
impression. The cattle would swing
themselves little 20 and fro
without budginR an inch. gen
tlsman Who was riding along with
Father Menetrsy here tainted the driver
with the remark that the bulls we're lazy
and no pullsrs. Keep that priest back,
Just one second" whispered the driver into
the gentlsmsn's ear. and you will see II
once the hint, and was not slow TO devise
an excuse TO take Father Menstrsy little
aUart aud out Of the teamstef's way. No
sooner had the fellow seen the father be-
yond sarshot than he wsns al she cattle.
less with his whip than with his tongue
and spoke 10 them some bull talk that
seemed we'll understood BY the beasts. and
up they went as II they had neither hill TO
climb nor load TO haul. The gentleman
had now caught MP with the driver who.
With an air of triumph, said 70 him: Now
sir. can't they pullf They would not pull
before. because / could not speak TO thsm,
the priest was too close"
1hs hrst white dWellsrs Of Fort Benton
were the fur trader. the trappef and Voy-
agsur, the two latter being mostly French
Canadians. The occupation OF the VOy.
Reenr and trappeF was not only TO hunt and
run eTfands for their employers, but also
20 help the boats up the stream By the cor
dele or tow line In their hands, great and
constant sxertion being necessary to stem
She current OF the upper Missouri. Many
of these white savsges, who borrowed much
OF their Rrotesque costumes from their
Ted-skinned cousins. bore names that were
famous in the annals OF the wilderness, and
the narratives Of their exploits would I'LL
entire volumes of most interesting and ro-
mantle reading. They were, generally. not
only on friendly terms with the Indians
but bound to them also by marriage ties.
The glory OF these yenturssome and daring
child en- of the woods is al this time well
nigh extinct. and will soon be no more than
a pleasing legend OF the forests and inland
waters Of the American continent
qoto TnrneK hall this avanfny IN the Grand