The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-01-16
UNCLE BILL HAMILTON.
Leaf From the Unwr.tten Memoirs of
the Daniel Boone of the Northwest

A Leaf From the Unwr4tten Memoirs of
the Daniel Boone of the Northwest
+. Hough, staff correspondent of the
sportsman's paper of New York, Forest
and Stream, while here last fail made the
acquaintance of several old timers
through the introduction of John d. Lose
kamp of Billings, says the Recorder. He
was particularly interested in the roman-
tic relations of Uncle Bill Hamilton of
saltwater, and devotes three columns of
his letter on the "West of the Present and
Past" to brief biography of that well
known scout and hunter, and some of the
anecdotes of the early days before the
Yellowstone country was opened up to
the white man and when the west was
truly wild and unknown from the water
shed of tho Father of Waters.
Uncle Bill has had little newspaper talk
made over him, as modest as a girl ought
TO be, he has set an example the direct
opposite of that of most or many would
be old timers, says this biographer. and
has kept out of print all lie could. For
MISUNDERSTANDING scouts, wild west posers
and long-haired people he has a ready
contempt.
Uncle Bill is getting old now, beyond
the limit set for the average man, but he
is still straight as an arrow and there Is
fire in him yet. if you can only catch him
talking and thinking of the old timers in
the west. He is nearly 20 years of are
and was born in England, traces of his
saxon origin are notable even now in his
accent. That he is American in heart if
not in birth is evident from the tattered
flag whose colors arc never lowered from
above his cabin on the Yellowstone, whose |
green waters whisper up all kinds of |
things to the cabin window.
Ut the tender age of l. we find him ont |
nj a trading station, where Laramie now |
is. protcGe of Bill Williams, and from
whom he took his first lessons In the sign
language, which lie afterwards became So
proficient in, and is credited with being
the best sign talker alive to-day.
In these oil days Bill Hamilton carne IN
be an Indian in every respect of practice
ana habit. lie lived with them, rode with
them. hunted with them and followed |
their customs in every way. even TO that !
of costume. lie was widely known amony
the various Indian tribes and universally
respected by them. The Indians ALWAYS
said he was the only white man they ever
knew who could ride over the plains, dav
IN and day out, naked except for the
preech clout. and mover be burned or bills.
tered by the sun.
Uncle Bill was on tho plains sixty years
|
IN 43 Uncle Bill took in as an incident
but he cared little for gold. He pushed
on to the wilder north, filling various
posts IN the army rs scout, guide and
hunter. lie was employed BY the army
then stationed at the chief |
oregon post. TO cross the Rockies 70 tho |
east and thence 90 north in order TO feeI !
the disposition of the tribes (of what is |.
now Montana) whether friendly or hos
tile. Bill had with him one comnan,o,
These two men. absolutely alone. aUav
back in the days before Montana had
been dreamed of as gold field, crossed
the Continental divide making over tho I
rough Occur d'Alenes, and thence soutb.
vest, working east of the range as low
Down as what is now called Gold Creek. )
Then they went north, keeping east of I
he Rockies. getting beyond the 81 a
Mary s country, well up into the British
possessions They had long since devel-
'ped the disposition of the tribes and
ound them about all full of fight and I
carce of friendship. Hamilton cot :
through all right and made his reDort 10
he commanding officer. but his com. y
,anion vas killed. r
lie was sheriff of Choteau county. Mon. "
ana, during the widest days Of Forr Ben ).
on, and it was during this time that he Z