The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-05-17
THE SNAKE BUFFALO HORSE
lBOYHOOD EXPLOITS OF A PROMI-
NENT MONTANA CITIZEN.
The Wonderful Buffalo Runner Secured
by BIackfoot Indian Trick Played
ON the Fur Trader-JOseph Kipp's In
When Only Fourteen.

Va the EUR Ifader-JOseph hipps IN
vasion of an Indian Camp at Night
When Only Fourteen.
In the spring of 1864 some Indians
from the great camp of the BlaclSfeet
came to Fort Benton for the purpose of
renewing their supply of powder and
ball. They reported the camp as situ-
ated on the Judith river where game
was unusually plenty, and said that the
chiefs had decided to move in to the
fort as soon as the women could finish
tanning the winters take of buffalo
hides. The greatest piece of news they
had to tell was about a buffalo horse
they had captured during battle with
the Snake Indians. Never before had
any of the people seen an animal so
beautiful, swift and well trained. So
great were its powers of endurance that
its owner Owls Head, had killed TWEEN
ty-three buffalo in a single run With
out the guidance of bride it would
swerve to the right or left, go here or
(, there according to the swaying of the
riders body or the pressure Of his
knee.
In those days, when the only COM
-
q good buffalo runner was the most de-
sirable and useful piece of property a
man could own. The voyageurs and
other employees of the great trading
company therefore, listened with great
interest to the stories these Indians had
to tell about the horse and each one
determined to try to buy it. But had
they only known it, they would not
II CT ho; Go,1 III, ,ai1
chances. Major Steel, one of the part
ners of the firm, had himself determin-
ed to buy the animal. Not that he
had any special need for it, but he loved
to ride out on the plains with his men
whenever his duties would permit a
short absence from the fort, and when
he did go he rode the best horse to be
found in the land. He said nothing of
his Intentions, however, and bided his
time.
One morning the people of the fort
saw long column of horsemen string
ing down from the prairie into the wide
fiat across the river. 1t was the adj
vance guard, the chiefs, head warriors
and medicine men of the Blackfeet, and
hurried preparations were made to re-
ceive them with the pomp and show so
dear to the Indians heart. AS the head
Of the column rode slowly down to the
river and across the ford the cannon
and howitzers in the bastion began to
thunder a welcome, to which the Indi-
ans replied by firing their guns and
singing song of war and triumph.
Every one of them was decked out in
all his war finery of embroidered buck
skin, ernline fringe and fluttering
plumes, and they presented an impos-
ing sight as they rode their prancing
horses up to the fort and dismounted
at the gates. The heavy portals swung
open, and the agent, Major Steel, him
self, wearing blue uniform and sword,
stepped forth to greet them. After
shaking hands with the whole party he
invited them to the council room, where
the great stone pipe was filled, lighted
and passed from hand to hand around
the circle, each in turn taking few
whiffs of the smoke. The agent and
the chiefs meanwhile exchanged the
news of the day. The Indians told of
the prominent members of their tribe
who had died of illness or who had
fallen in battle during the winter; of
the successes of their people against the |
enemy; of the large number of buffalo |
robes and pelts of beaver and wolf they
had brought to trade for the white |
tnan'sg Gods.
An hour elapsed, and the big pipe had
been refilled many times. At last the |
women of the fort appeared, bringing in |
huge kettles of boiled meat and sugared |
tea, pans of stewed dried apples and
hard bread. Here was luxury indeed! |
Meat was almost the sole food of the |
Indians-and the whites, too-in those |
times; feast comprising sugared tea, |
hard bread and dried apples was some |
thing to be talked about and remem-
bered for many a day to come. The |
kettles and pans were soon emptied, |
and then the pipe was again lighted. |
and during the general talk which fol-
lowed the agent asked Owls Head for
his buffalo horse. The Indian fatty re-
fused to part with it for any considera-
tion whatever, saying that he had risk
ed his life in battle to capture it, and
that he loved the animal as he did his
children. Major Steel therefore said no
more on the subject, and presently the
Indians having each received present
IF tobacco, went out and remounting
their horses rode back across the river,
where during their visit at the fort the |
sreat camp had moved in. -Four hun
1red lodges now dotted the plain which
had been desolate a few hours before. |
thousands of horses were being driven
ID water or out on the hills to Craze.
From each lodge arose the smoke Of the
newly lighted fires. Hundreds of chill
1ren played and yelled along the shore
if the river; women gossiped and laugh
I'd with one another; dogs barked,
1orses neighed.
Early the next morning the great
rade began and lasted for number Of
lays The warehouses were emptied of
he goods they contained and refilled |
With robes and skins The women strut
ed about in new gowns of bright-hued
,alico. Every one had a new blanket. j.
The men bought new guns, saddles, ;
,elts and knives; every one was happy. j.,
One day, much to Major Steell's sur =
rise Owls Head entered his office and
him the end of a lariat said: .
'Mo-yok lSo-tas." (Heres your horse.) =
The agent went to the door, and sure ,
nough found that the end of the lariat =
vas fast to the most beautiful horse he :
,ad ever laid eyes on Black as coal,
trong limbed and deep chested with
mall head and deiledlely pointed ears,
Is neck arching gracefully as it pranc- =
y about reSt1aSS1V at the end fbp