The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-06-22
A THRILLING ADVENTURE WITH
THE INDIANS IN THE EARLY
DAYS OF MONTANA.
(Special to Inter Mountain.)

Especial to Inter Nountain.)
Dillon, June 22.-The summer of 1877 is
one that will never be forgotten by the
people of southern Montana, especially
the residents of Madison and Beaverheal
counties for it was that year that Chief
Joseph and his tribe of Nez Perc"s
marched through Montana on their way
to the friendly shelter of the British p IS
sessions. The young men of that time
were a venturesome lot and were ready
for most any escapade. Over around
Pony lived several who We're always
hunting for some wildcat chase. Fol-
lowing the wake of Joseph's march came
stories of the fine horses his Indians had
stolen on their way through three states.
and tales We're told of the thoroughbred
stations that were found in the bard
and Of wonderful, coal-black Arabian
horse, which was the pride of the Nez
Perez tribe, as we'll as the envy of eVerN
white man who had ever laid eyes on
the beautiful animal. which, it was said.
could out-run the wind.
Now these young lads from Pony ha
been raised in Montana. and. like all
Montanas of that day. they were natural
horsemen. good riders. and they loved d
horse almost better than they did their
best girl. Time and again they talked
of this Arabian beauty, and they finally
decided that. as old Joseph his been
stealing horses indiscriminately. they
would turn the tables on him and do
some stealing on their own account.
They did not consider it a crime to steal
a piece of horsefesh from an Indian: it
would only be case of recoN ering stolen
property, anyway.
So they fitted up a pack outfit and
started for Henry's lake, it being report
ed that the Indians had gone that way
after the battle of CANVASS meadows.
They did not make much fuss when they
started from Pony. but their avowed in
tention was to bring back this wonder
full black horse, and it is said that they
had matched race with the swiftest
horse on Willow creek. to be run when
they returned from their expedition.
The second day out from Pony the
boys went into camp on the West Fork
of the Madison. One of their horses was
picketed closely, While the others vera
turned loose and We're grazing in the
little bottom just above where the bridge
now spans the Madison river. Their
West Fork unites its waters with the
making an excellent camping place.
where they would both be hidden from
pryng eyes and sheltered from the any
thing but gentle breeZes which have
made the Madison valley famous. Some
of the boys We're fishing, others were
preparing supper and one or two We're
looking on with hungry eyes and dis
cussing who would be the first man 10
ride the Arabian when he should become
their property.
Suddenly their ears We're startled by
war whooNs. and every individual hair
On each r>an's head stood on end, as
twenty bucks rode pell nell down over
little hill not 300 yards away. and, yell
ing like demons, and punctuating mat
tiers With bullets from rifles which pat
tered the earth around the Pony resi-
dents, they got behind the dozen saddle
horses in the river bottom and ran them
off under the very noses Of the white
men. The tethered pony snorted in
alarm at the unusual noise and con-
fusion. and he pulled up his picket pin
and Joined his companions, leaving the
residents Of Pony afoot and helpless 80
miles from the nearest ranch.
1t was pretty blue lot of fellows that
atc cold supper that night. The vision
of the beautiful black Arabian that could
outrun the wind had fled and in it's place
came the reality of walking home, and
the jeers and jibes that would greet
them when they would arrive in Pony
fontsOre and weary.
Nor was the thought that they We're
afoot their only worry. No one knew
which way old Joseph intended coming.
When the boys left Pony there was an
industriously circulated rumor afloat to