The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-17

great that they could not wait for his
arrival at the camp. The greetings be-
tween the missionary and his dusky
charges were always the same. The In
dams could not express the joy and sat-
isfaction that they felt at the safe re-
turn of the priest and he in turn was
overcome with joy to note the gladness
of his charges. 1t was Aug. 80 when
the main camp of the tribe was reached.
With all the native dignity and pomp
of this rude people, their chiefs extend
ed to the missionary and his party the
welcome which, was sincere and sub
lime. 1t was an occasion that beggars
description. Years after. when he de-
scribed it, the eyes of Father DeSmet
would fill with tears as he related the
devotion of the Indians to him as the
representative of the new religion, for
which they had sought so many years.
1t is scene worthy of q master
brush, this meeting of the brave young
priest and his new people. Imagine the
| impressive surroundings; the crude
pomp of the savage tribe; the earnest
endeavor to express the joy that welled
into the hearts of this people; the strug-
gle between the native reticence Of the
| Indian and this desire-and, on the
| other hand, consider the feelings that
| must have surged through the hearts of
| the priests, who had sacrificed every
thing to carry to this people the story of
| t.
That first service must have been an
| impressive one. The prayers of thanks
| giving and the hymns of joy must have
been eloquent with sincerity and must
have made a deep impression upon this
tribe, assembled there to greet the
| priests. But the tribe was on it's way
| to the buffalo country for it's food
supply and for skins. To delay this ex-
petition meant possible suffering dur
| ing the winter and that was to be
guarded against if possible. 1t was
therefore agreed that the main body of
the tribe should proceed on this jour-
ney to the plains of Eastern Montana,
while the missionaries with a small es-
! cort should make their way to the Bit
ter Root valley, where they would es-
| tablish themselves and await the re-
turn of the hunting party, which would
| return in the fall Accordingly, Father
| DeSmet and his companions crossed
the continental divide and entered the
Deer Lodge valley. From there the
journey was easy and was made with
out incident. The route lay through the
Deer Lodge valley, along the river to
the mouth of the Little Blackfoot
which is near the site of Garrison and
the junction of the Northern Pacific and
Montana Union railways to-day. Still
following the river the priests passed
down through Hell Gate canyon. This
canyon and its stream the missionaries
named st. Ignatius' river and can
yon, but the other name has survived.
Down through this canyon. then a dense
forest, the little party made its way to
| the head of the valley where Missoula
stands to-day. Thence the route crossed
the valley Of the Bitter Root river and
days journey along this beautiful
stream brought the party to Its perma-
nent stopping, place, which was to be
made the site of the first mission In
Montana, a point in the magnificent
meadow that lies between the present
town of Stevensville and the river.
Tho Bitter Root Reached.
In the calendar of the Catholic church
Sept "a Is designated as the Feast OF
Our Lady of Mercy. 1t was upon this
day that Father DeSmet and his party
reached the Incompatible valley Of the
Bitter Root and made their camp upon
the broad prairie bottom beside the
river. Influenced by this propitious in.
cident the priests bestowed upon the
snow-capped peak that rose above theil
new camp the name, st. Mary's, and st
Mary's peak it has remained. 1t is nj
, wonder that the party was pleasantly
impressed by the scene that presented
|, itself to them as they looked out over
the valley that was to be their home
: Around them on all sides stretched tht
grassy plain, dotted here and there will
, | groves of pine and cottonwood-the ont
: bright green with their never-fadins
) | foliage and the others taking on th'