The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-09-10

persed and Joseph felt confident that
Captain Rawn with his infantry would
not dare pursue him until the arrival
of reinforcements. Joseph did not an
ticipate the arrival of Gibbon. The
telegraph was an unknown institution
to him and he believed that Rawn
would be compelled to wait until the
arrival of Howard, who was many days
behind him, coming along the trail that
the Indians had themselves traversed.
The march of the Indian column
through the Bitter Root was, therefore,
leisurely.' There was no occasion for
haste and there was much need for
rest and recuperation. Horses and In
dians were worn with the hard and
rapid march that had been made from
the Clearwater over the Bitter Root
mountains. Joseph consequently moved
slowly up the Bitter Root resting his
horses, trading the ones that were worn
out for new ones, buying his supplies
of the ranchmen, but in no case mo-
testing any private property. The set
tiers in the valley were frightened and
hastily collected in garrisons, but their
fears were groundless. Joseph had no
desire to provoke the whites further
than he had already done. The war
was not of his seeking, anyway, but
was brought on by the hotter headed
young men of his band and he was de-
sirous of conciliating the settlers as
much as possible. His march through
the Bitter Root was consequently I'M
eventfuI and the Notifications and bar
ricades that had been hastily construct
ed by the settlers were needless. Farm
ers received good prices for what they
sold to him and some of them were so
mercenary that they even supplied the
Indians with guns and ammunition for
large sums. These men deserve the
severest censure. Joseph and his band
had travelled through the valley many
times on their annual hunting trips to
the buffalo country and had acquaint-
ances among the whites. 1t was this
fact that enabled them to make pur-
chases as they did, and some of them.
for the sake of barter with the Indians,
even discussed with the latter the out
RACES across the range and congratu-
lated the reds upon their escape from
Howard. Joseph was thus enabled to
recuperate his forces. BY the time
that he reached the head of the Bitter
Root valley he was equipped with
fresh horses, an abundant food supply
and increased stores of arms and am
munition. Not all of the Bitter Root
people, however, were thus criminal
There were numerous notable excep-
tons. Some of the storekeepers closed
their places of business and warned
the Indians not to touch them.
The Indians adhered strictly to the
Chief Joseph and not life was taken
on the journey through the valley. In
only one instance is there a record of
the destruction of property. Near the
head of the valley lived a farmer
named Lockwood. His family had been
removed to a place of safety and the
Indians broke into his house and took
all of the provisions that they found
there.
There is a legend to the effect that
Looking Glass, Joseph's chief advisor
was not in sympathy with his chiefs
plans on this retreat. He urged great
er haste. He said that he feared pur-
suit. but, as stated. Joseph considered
that the only troops that could come
after him were those of Howard in Ida
no, and he took advantage of their de-
layed pursuit to rest his forces Had
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