The Anaconda standard., 1895-11-10
QUAINT CHARACTERS
The Agency Mail Carrier Is a Joe
Dandy, 0, Law, Yes.
AT THE JOCKO RESERVATION
Charlie Gardner. the Scout, Well
Known Figure on the Plains
They Entertain a
Reporter.

Missoula, Nov. 9.-The ride from Ar
lee station to the Jocko agency Is
pleasant and interesting one, and IL 1t
is taken with the mail carrier who
daily travels the road that leads over
the rolling plain to the agency build
ings, four miles away. II is especially
so. The carriers name is Weldon, and
he rides in light blackboard, drawn In
good weather by sturdy buckskin
pony and his mate. The two chunky
horses are so nearly alike that only
their driver can tell them apart, and
he never wearies of narrating their
achievements and sounding their
praises. "Climb in," he says, as he
pulls up in front of Alex Dow's store,
trains a little late, and I've got to
hurry some to make the eastbound
mail. o, law, yes. Make II easy
enough. That boss can go some. Don't
look very good now, but he can go.
You bet. o, law, yes. I've drove him
over this road heaps o times. Makes
no difference whether it's day or night.
He knows the road. Ought to have
better road here. Might cut off a mile.
Good enough road. but too long. o,
law, yes. I've been driving a long
time. Never missed day till last win
ter, when had to go to tn hospital at
Missoula for three weeks"
Then follows a detailed account of a
successful surgical operation performed
on his leg and the subsequent return
to work. The leg is still weak and has
to be used very cautiously. But It's get
ting better. while 1 was gone one of
the boys drove. He can tell you how
fast this boss can go. Why, he made a
bet with some of the boys at the agen-
cy that he could drive from there to
Arlee in less than Is minutes. o, law,
yes. He won. Had the horses shod
fresh, cause there was plenty of snow
on the ground. Then he drove the hoss
for two days to get him used to the
shoes. Then he said he was ready.
You bet he went some. He drove four
miles and a half in IA minutes and a
half. o, law, yes, this is the same
hoss. Don't look 1t. does he?"
A brief interval of silence follows.
driver starts in again. Got any folks
at the agency? Thought maybe you
had. o, you're one o. them paper fell
lers. Ever been here before? o. you
have. Great place amt it? Indians
have a soft time. Government gives
them everything. and then feeds them.
/ tell you If some white folks was as
well of as the Indians. they'd be all
right. Say. look a that coyote. See
him run. Never see one when have
gun. They're cunning. o, law, yes.
I've caught them young and raised
off. Can't tame them. Indians is like
coyotes. Rather be wild. Dress them
up and try to civilize them and they run
of TO their blankets soon as they get a
chance. No use trying to make men
OF them. Well, here we be. No, not a
cent. Ride again when you come out"
There are two other quaint charac-
tiers at the reservation whom the visit
or at the agency will meet If he re-
mains long. They are in the govern
ment employ and have supervision of
the agricultural work at the agency.
Charlie Gardner is one OF them. He is
well known all over Western Montana,
where for many years as scout and
guide. he was prominent figure. 1t
was he who carried the mail from
Blackfoot to Walla Walla, alone and
on foot during the winter that Gen
eral Mullan was building the overland
trail. He made the trip both ways
alone. most of the way on snow
shoes. Gardner has voice
that seems to come from
his boots and speaks in a peculiar
French dialect that is extremely diff
cult Tor stranger to comprehend He
is fond of narrating the incidents OF
his famous trip and. II one gets accus-
toned to his language. his account Is
OF deeep interest. While coming down
from the summit of the Idaho divide
on the return trip. his provisions gave
out and for two days he had hardly
anything to eat. He had expected 10
hnd camp of road builders at Nine
Mile and pushed forward to that point
but the camp had been moved since he
went westward and he knew not
where. He was faint from hunger and
chilled from exposure. He had not
eaten for 36 hours and had been
tramping all days. but ne struggled on
and four miles farther up the river
found an Indian camp. The red men
took him in and cared for him and In
three days he was able TO resume his
journey. Supplies were secured suf-
ficdent 20 carry him through and he
made the remainder OF his lonely
journey without accident.
Charlie rather enjoys his life on the
reservation. although he does not ap-
preciate the enforcement OF the prohi-
bition regulations. MAN dat drink
no whiskey. not good for dam" he
says. SO. when he can stand Il no
longer he gets a brief leave OF alb
sence and goes outside the limits Of the
reserve. When he returns, he is an
right again He likes to tell about his
Alder gulch experiences. His was the
first saloon in the famous camp. He
had brought from Walla walla a bar
rel Of whislCey. a barrel OF alcohol and
some other concomitants that went to
make up the whiskey that was sold
here then. and as soon as he learned of
the strike in Alder gulch. he took his
booze over there. You bet dem good
time"
Jim Blodgetts name is familiar to
all Western Montanans. He was the
guide that led the troops in the Big
Hole battle. During that famous en-
gagement he received injuries which
left him permanently disabled but he
manages 10 do Hight WORK and IL
most interesting man. During the Big