The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1904-05-19
rALs G. Two gNo.
They We're Coed Indians and Thcy
Helped the White Men 10
FIad Gold.


Montana pioneers who we're at Fort
Benton in the earliest Gays recall an
Indian named Little Dog who was the
big chief OF the lncians around those
parts in the days when white men first
came up the Missouri Little Dog was
not q 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 10 tie whites, says the Ana
conda Standard.
When the post at Fort Benton was
opened up and white people came more
numeF0asiy into the country. Little Dog
frequently saw these brass buttons
without eyes" and learned Of their
value. They we're gold hve-dollar
pieces. He told in Fort Benton about
TIC box 0: ''eyeless buttons he had
concealed on the banks Of the Snake
river. ard many we're the expeditions
orrauiIed for the purpose Of fndire this
hiddea box OF gold pieces. Fer some
unexplained reason Little Dog would
tot himself accompany any OF these *
peditioas, but roughly described the
point of couccalms q as a rock promon-
tory overlool .zg the Snake river close
10 the foam.ag waters" so Tar as
knowz The hca ot coia pieces wes never
touuG
Another friendly Indian of those
tines was 3 half-hresd known ss Cut
Lip Jacf. lie spoke a little Enallsh.
ard was a noted character for years
PRIOR 70 1873. 0lC-iimrrs believe that
, he WIS tae real Cfsenrerer Of gold ard
silver 10 The Belt mountains Il is re-.
lated that lu 1852 q psrty Of salmon
river miners arrived 10 Fort Btaton on
their way back 10 the stats There
were lees thnu a Cezar of hem who
crossed the mountains BY way Of the Nez
Perez trail from Ell City ard The RI.ter
Rect. s. Fort B-r'er ihey happened
TO meet Jack ard showeG him some of
the gold speeimeas they hst brought
along.
After lootiag a. she rold Jack told
them he knew Of ? ace 70 the south
ives, where there was whole lot a
res With yellow Fre.s lie pointed ,c
q moustala r1afe oH TO hdsoaihsast
He also said THAT 4 short 6istnrcs grcn
+ Beston .owf-A fhr south there was
| p.ery Of white mineral similar 10 the
specimens e. sl.fe- showu hiu Hewas
qusstlo1sd cicseiy r. regard 20 there
ra',ers ard ssid e ws about two
eays ride tn The white metal The white
men dlstrusted tim and we're afraid
. follow BIN ncecrflae te his proposal
Douht,ess cnt Lip lack was TIE or.elna.
tlseoverer n the rsrler uins
Cut Lip Iac, vas Afterwards llllsd
q Whoop rp hy pieraufir arrow caused
By bis attempt 10 defend Fome white
friends
Little Dog also met with tragic fate.
several Montana old-tlmers witnessing
tls death ore q these was Col John
i. Curtis The colonel says In regard
10 this
"A party Of eight Of ne we're fishing
around the point below Fort Benton
ore ~ the party being John Healey.
who was sheriff of the county AZ the
time We we're taking a lunch of fried
hsh when Little DOG and party of bis
men approached us. and kept circllnR
around us. yelling ard dancing as
though OF the warpath Healey called
70 Little Dog to know what was wanted
Little Dog said they were young braves
with him. and be couldn't restrain
them. they we're bound 70 go on the
I warpaih. They demanded our arms.
Little Dog took our part. and told the
youue men they should not interfere
with uf. es We we're peaceable citizens.
rot ont on the warpath. but out after
sah ard game He finally persuaded
them 10 leave rs bat before they we're
out of sigh- we saw The young braves
shoot their chief. Little Dog aad also
his son That was because they had
taten oar mart