The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-01-16
LITTLE DOG AND CUT LIP JACK.

Montana pioneers who We're at Fort
Benton in the earliest days recall an In
dian named Yittle 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 pros
pectors for gold were coming into Mon
tana; in fact none of the Indians around
| Fort Benton gave much trouble to the
whites
| There was a story told in those early
days. however, of how Little Dog, about
the year 1915. made a hostile expedition
against the Blackfeet with a war party
of his Piegans and found himself well
down on the waters of the Snake river
on the trail which reaches into oregon by
way of Fort riaH. The old story runs that
! he captured or robbed a train bound for
! Oregon. He told years afterward that in
one of the wagons of this train he came
across box Of brass buttons without
eyes" Not seeing what use these but
tons were without eyes he hid the box
along the Snake river.
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 with
out eyes" and learned of their value
They were gold five-dollar pieces. He told
in Fort Benton about the box or "eyeless
! buttons lie had concealed on the banks
of the Snake river, and many were the
expeditions organized for the purpose OF
finding this hidden box of gold pieces. For
some unexplained reason Little Dog would
not accompany any Of these expeditions,
but roughly described the point of con-
cealment as n rocky promontory over
| looking the Snake River close to the
foaming waters" So far as known the
box OF gold pieces was never found
mother friendly Indian of those times
was a half-breed known as Cut Lip Jack
He spoke a little English. and was a
noted character for years prior to 1919.
Old-timers believe that he was the real
diseoverer Of gold and silver in the Belt
mountains. 1t is related that in 1862 4
party of Salmon river miners arrived in
Fort Benton on their way back to the
states. There were less tnan a dozen OF
them who crossed the mountains by way
Of the Nez Perez tran from Elk City
and the Bitter Root At Fort Benton
they happened TO 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 place TO the southeast where
there was whole lot of rock with yell
low spots. He pointed to q mountain
range off TO the southeast. He also said
that a short distance from Benton toward
eral similar TO the specimens Of silver
shown him. He was questioned closely in
regard 10 these matters. and said it was
about two days travel to the yellow and
one days ride to The white metal. The
white men distrusted him and were afraid
10 follow him according TO his proposal.
Doubtless Cut Lip Jack was the original |
discoverer of the Barker mine.
cut Lip Jack was afterwards killed at
Whoop Up by Piegans in row caused !
by his attempt to defend some white |
friends
Little Dog also met with g tragic dfate. i
several Montana old-time-s wi Messing his |
death. Ore Of ,Aese was Col John H !
Curtis. The colonel says in regard to /
this:
"A party Of eight Of rs were fishing /
around the point below Fort Benton. one
OF the party heingJohn Hesley. who was |
sheriff OF the county at tn tine. We 1
were taking 4 lunch Of fried fish when |
Little Dos and a party Of his men APP /
preached us. and kept eircl.ng around rs,
yelling and dancing as though on the /
warpath Healey called 80 Little Deg 10
know what was wanted. Little Dos sid /
they We're woung braves with him. and
he couldn't restrain them; they were
bound 10 go or the warpath. Thsy de-
nanded our arms. Little Dog took our
part ard told the young r,ea they shoula
not interfere with Us. as We we-e peace
able citizens. Tot ont on the varpath. bnt
OUT after fish am game. He finally Per-
sCaded them - leave US. but before thev
Were cut OF sight We SAT- The yoU,g
braves shoot their chief L;ttle Dog. ard
also his son That wSs because they had
taken OUR part '-Anaeonds Standard