The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-12-01
OLD MEDICINE TREE
Under Its Branches Two Braves Me-
in Mortal Combat.
1T is A LEGENDARY SPOT
Deeply Embedded in Its Trunk is
aHorn of Some Mammoth Pre-
historic Animal-A ReCep-
tacle for Offerings.

through the upper Bitter Root valley
to Ross Hole has heard of the "Old
Medicine Tree" Nearly everybody
who has made the interesting journey
TO the head OF this most beautiful val
lev in Montana has seen the tree and,
II the traveller had any sentiment in
his makeup, he has deposited his offer
dng in the big horn that is imbedded
in the tree. as was the custom OF the
Indians in olden days, when the red
mans gods were found in trees and
rocks and rivers and when his deieies
had their abode, like those of the
Greek and Roman, in somber canyon
or rugged peak or shady grove.
There was never an Indian, were he
Nez Perce. Blackfoot or Selfish. who
passed this tree without making some
offering to the Great Spirit. depositing
his propitiatory sacrifice in the horn
whose opening extended from the tree
like that Of a cornucopia. This horn
was an antler OF monster mountain
eheep or big horn. and. when white
men first discovered the tree, had been
there so long that IL was firmly inn
bedded in the living wood, which had
grown around II and made Ii almost
q part OF the tree itself. Now the
growth of the tree has nearly covered
the horn and but little of It is visible.
deposited articles of great value as
we'll as trlnkets dear only to the dusky
maiden or brave who, anxious to APP
pease the Great Spirit, left as an offer
ing that which was TO her or him
great sacrifice. Beneath this tree gaily
painted braves have assembled on the
eve of a battle and have sought the
assistance of their god in the contest
of the morrow. Here have gathered
hunting PARTIES TO pay homage to their
deity that buffalo and deer and elk
might fall before their fiint-tipped ar
rows. Here the young novitiate in war
has come alone to pray Tor strength
and skill that the ordeal which was to
establish his standing in his tribe.
Here. too. has come the lover with his
petition for success in his amorous
suit. Here have anxious wives, moth
ers and sweethearts united in an en-
treaty for the successful return OF alb
sent soldier husbands, sons and lovers.
Here has been poured out the fearful
invocation OF the wronged maiden,
whose anguish-wrung heart found COM
fort in communion with the god of
her people. Here have been offered the
supplications OF the red men for gener-
atoms and each petitioner has left
within the horn some offering as evil
dence of the sincerity of his prayer
An air of romance hangs about the
place. 1t is a hallowed spot, even as
the pagan temples on NreeCe ana Rome
are objects of veneration. II the god
to whom these rude prayers were Of
fered was not the true one, the peti-
lions were sincere and, in these days
before the advent OF the Black Robes
with their message of peace and good
viii. the Indians worshipped. as they
thought. In the true religion. But there
is not so very much romance In the
composition OF a cowboy and the early
riders after stock in the Bitter Root
rather discouraged the use Of the med
icine tree by the votaries who had
been accustomed to leave their Offer
ings at this rustic altar. Old timers
In the valley say that when the tree
was still in use by the red men. the
cowboys whenever they were In the
vicinity of the place would always
race for the old tree" The FIRST one
there was always sure to find some
thing to reward him for his effort
beaded buclskin. carved clay or some
other quaint Indian Offering. The In
dams were reluctant TO abandon their
ancient custom. but the cowboys Were
too much for them. No Indian wanted
30 play the votary ITO a cowpuncher, sc
the Old Medicine Tree was eventually
abandoned and now stands alongside
the trail ITO Ross Hole. a monument
to the devotion of the aborigines
There is an interesting story connect
ed with the tree and the manner In
which It was set apart as a thing sa-
cred. 1t was told in early days by the
Indians and was recently repeated by
an old timer ito a Standard man. Many
years ago. a party OF Nez Perce braves
was journeying down the Bitter Roo,
valley on the trail TO the buffalo hunt
ing grounds. They had crossed the
divide and were making good progress
down the valley. AS was their GUS
tom they had their women with them
to skin the game and cure the meat
Among these women was a maiden
whose beauty was so great that II had
made her famous throughout the
Northwest and her suitors came from
many tribes.
There were but two Of all her lover.
who found favor. One OF these was q
handsome brave of her own tribe and
the other was a valiant warrior of tn,
Blackfeet. She loved her tribesman
but her father. a chief. favored tn,
Blackfoot brave and the question o.
her marriage seemed fair never 10 b,
settled. But the old chief finally sale
that the two rivals should meet in per
sonal combat at the first opportunit,
and that the victor should receive tn,
hand of the peerless beauty.
As the hunting party neared the spo
where stands the Old Medicine Tree,
solitary Indian was seen approaching
from the opposite direction. IL wa
the Blaclfoot lover. who was ridini
ahead OF a hunting party OF his owl
tribe. bound for the deer haunte,
mountains OF the Bitter Root range
He knew Of the edict OF the old Ne
Perez and but little time was lost Il
the preparations for the duel. whicl
All knew would be a fight 10 the death
The weapons were to be tomahawi<
and the combatants were soon ready
II was a moment of awful suspense
Each OF the braves was the recognize
champion OF his tribe and the duel wa
certain TO be a splendid exhibition o
skill.