The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1904-04-26
TALE OF TWO INDIANS
They We're Good Indians and They
Helped the White Men TO
Find Gold.


Montana pioneers who were al Fort
Benton in the earliest days recall an
Indian named Little Dog. who was the
big chief Of the Indians around those
parts In the days when white men first
came up the Missouri Little Dog was
not a bad Indian In the days when the
first prospectors for gold were coming
into Montana; in fact, none Of the In
dians around Fort Benton gave much
trouble to the whites, says the Ana
eonda Standard.
When the post at Fort Benton was
opened up and white people came more
numerously into the country. Little Dog
frequently saw these brass buttons
without eyes" ard learned Of their
value. They were gold ive-dollar
pieces He told In Fort Benton about
the box Of "eyeless buttons he had
concealed on the banks Of the Snake
river. and many were the expeditions
organized for the purpose Of hndingthis
hidden box az gold pieces. For some
rnexpiaineg reason Little Dog would
not himself accompany any Of these ex-
petitions. but roughly described the
point Of concealment as a rock promon-
tory overlooking the Snake river close
"a the foaming waters. So far as
known tha box 81 gold pieces was Ieger
found
Another friendly Indian Of those
time was a half-hreed known as Cut
LIP Jack. He spoke a little English,
ard was a noted character for years
prior 20 1873. Old-umers believe that
he was the real discoverer Of gold and
silver h the Belt mountains. II Is re-
lated that n 1862 & party Of Salmon
river miners arrived IN Fort Benton on
their way back to the states. There
were less than dozen OF them who
crossed the mountains by way Of the Nez
Perce trail from Elk City and the Bitter
Root Az Fort Benton they happened
70 meet Jack and showed him some Of
the gold specimens they had brought
along
After looking at the gold Jack told
them he knew Of q place to the south
ives; where there was a whole lot Of
rock with yellow spots He pointed 20
a mountain range off 10 thdsoutheast
He also said that a short distance from
Berton toward the south there was
plenty OF white mineral similar to the
specimens OF silver shown him Hewas
questioned closely in regard 10 these
matters. and said It was about two
days ride to the white metal The white
men distrusted him, and were afraid
TO follow him according 20 his proposal
Doubtless Cut Lip Jack was the original
diFcoverer Of the Barker mine.
Cut Lip Jack was afterwards killed
al Whoop Up by Piegaus in row caused
BY his attempt to defend some white
friends.
Little Dog also met with a tragic fate,
several Montana old-timers witnessing
his death Ore Of these was Col. John
H. Curtis. The colonel says in regard
10 this.
"A party Of eight Of ms were fishing
around the point below Fort Benton
one " the party being John Healey
who was sheriff Of the county at the
time We were taking a lunch Of fried
fish when Little Dos and party Of his
men approached US. and kept circling
around US. yelling and dancing as
though on the warpath Healey called
to Little Dog to know what was wanted
Little Deg said they were young braves
with him. and he couldn't restrnin
them: they we're bound to 60 on the
warpath. They demanded our arms.
Little Dog took our part, and told the
young men they should not interfere
with u.s. as we were pefceable citizens.
not out on the warTsth, but out after
FISH and game. He finally persuaded
them to leave us. but before they were
out Of sight we saw the young braves
shoot their chief. Little Dog. asd also
his son. That was because they had
taken our mart"