The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-19
THAT FAMOUS FORGERY
Amos j. Cummings Relates a
Montana Indian Story.
GEN. GARFIELD'S TREATY
Trouble That Ensusd Through the Name
OF CHIEF Chariot Being Added to
1t Mysteriously-Tale of the
Flatheads.

Evening Post of Dec. 16, Amos J. Cum
mings, the distinguished eX-congressman
and newspaper writer, relates in an at
tractive manner a story well known in
Montana, as follows:
"Cold rains and wintry days are here.
The new congress is in session and both
houses are completing their organization.
The opening of a session always attracts
a horde of visitors. The other day dele
cation of red men from Montana were
among those appearing in the galleries.
In the number was a Flathead from the
Jocko reservation. His appearance re-
called startling incident in the history
of the relations of the government with
the Indian tribes. Before the war for
the union the Flatheads held a reserva-
ton in the Bitter Root valley in Montana.
When General Price was driven from
Missouri, in 1861, the terms of the six
months militia who were with him eX-
pired. They returned to their homes, but
not to stay. The union men arose against
them and they disappeared. A few of
them found their way to the Bitter Root
valley and squatted upon the Flathead
reservation. A century ago the word
Flathead had a significance now lost. The
skulls Of the infants are no longer COM
pressed.
Victor was their hereditary chief at the
close Of the war There was some trou-
Bile in the valley when the Missourians
appeared. 1t was settled by a treaty be-
tween Governor Stephens of Montana and
Victor. In 1872 Chariot, Victor's son, be-
came hereditary chief. The trouble was
renewed. 1t was in this year that Hor-
ace Greeley became a candidate for presi-
dent. General James A. Garfield eXhib-
tied a Greeley tendency, and his friends
were greatly pleased when, to escape po-
ltical complications, he gladly accepted
a mission to the Flatheads. He went to
the valley of the Bitter Root, said to be
the most beautiful valley in the North
west The soil is extremely fertile. Ihe
streams are clear as crystal and filled
with trout, and it's trees are tall pines
with a bright red bark. General Gar
fields object was to induce the Indians to
go over to the Jocko reservation, % miles
away.
after several days spent in parleying,
two sub-c.--1Ss, Arlee and Adolf, signed a
treaty by which they agreed to leave the
Bitter Root and go over to the Jocko.
From 1900 to 1,50O men followed Arlse
and Adolf to the new reservation. Arlee
became their chief. The government
built houses for him and for Adolf, and
| gave the Indians several punches of cat
| tie. Chariot, with $50 of the tribe, re-
| manned in the Bitter Root valley. few
| of these Indians were induced to take
| their lands in severalty, received their
patents and are now living with the
| whites on the reservation. Chariot and
most Of his band refused to accept pat
| ents and resolved to remain in the valley.
| In 1873 the Garfield treaty was published
| in the report of the commissioner of In
| dian affairs, General Francis A. Walker
| The treaty was printed in full, with a fac
| simile of the signatures of the Chiefs
| - n no lat ",
treaty purported to be witnessed by Gov
| ernor Potts, Wilbur F. Sanders, William
! H. Clagett, D. G. Swain, judge advocate
| U. S. A, and F. J. A. Wall Indian agent.
| Sanders was afterwards a United States
| senator.
1.-THE trouble between Chariot and the
| whites continued until the chief was
driven to the mountains, where he pre-
pared to open war on the government
| This was during President Arthurs adj
| ministration. The present Senator Teller
| was then secretary of the interior. The
| trouble gave him some concern, Senator
| George G. Vest, a member of the senate
! committee on Indian affairs, about this
time was invited by General Sheridan to
| go with him through the Yellowstone
| country on his annual tour of inspec-
| ton.
about this time the senate ordered the
| committee on Indian affairs to visit the
Indians in Wyoming, Montana and the
| Dakotas and make a report as to Their
| condition and grievances. Senators Dawes
| and Logan were chosen to go to the Sioux
reservation, where Sitting Bull was max
| ing trouble. Mr.. Teller urged Mr.. Vest
| who was also a member of the committee
to go to Montana, requesting him to visit
| the Flatheads and If possible induce
| Chariot and his adherents to join the
rest of the tribe on the Jocko reserva-
| ton.
| After procuring a copy of the Walker
| report, the senator started on his jour-
| ney. He visited the Flatheads on the
| Jocko and found them entirely willing to
accept Chariot as their hereditary CHIEF
at the head OIL the Bitter Root valley
| Indian Agent Peter Roman and Martin
! Maginns, a delegate from Montana to
| congress, accompanied him. On arriving
at the little village of Stevensvlle where
| the mission was located, it was learned
| that Chariot and his band were in the
mountains St Mary's is a mission of
| Jesuits. It's head at that time was Faith
| er Ravalli,a disciple of Father DeSmet
| He had been with the Flatheads 81 years
His lower eXtremities were paralyzed and
| he had been unable to walk for five years
The good father lay in his cell beneath a
crucifix performing surgical operations
| and prescribing for the Indians. He was
an accomplished surgeon and physician
This remarkable man had been scalp
| ed by the Blackfeet some years before
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