The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1906-05-16
SAVED By A SQCAW.
Two Well known Stoekmen Might Have
Died From Cold and Exhaustion.

The coolest and wettest rain storm
l ever encountered, p" said John Harris
a recent meeting of the Story
Tellers' club, ''was in June, 1887. The
Of that year had been just
about as dry as the present season.
but it was followed by soaking rains
that destroyed several miles of the
recently constructed Great Northern
track ia the Milk river valley.
"It was the first week in June that l
from the Marias with q bunch
of steers to be delivered at Fort Bel.
KNAPP on a beef contract, Frank
Adams, now Of Highwood, assisting in
the drive. Our camp outfit consisted
of a wagon sheet, blankets, coffee pot,
pan and a small stock of pro.
visions carried OF a pack horse, so we
were not very we'll prepared for stormy
weather.
1.-THE first night we camped out on
Lonesome prairie, and soon after sun.
down it commenced to rain. Adams
and myself took turns at night herd,
and both of US got wet to the skin. We
started on the trail next morning and
got as far as Graveliy c%oulee, a few
miles from Fort Assinniboine, where
we found an old wagon box standing
in the hollow and as it vas still raining
hard We decided to camp there. We
spread the wagon sheet v the wagon
box and ate a frugal meal with a roof
over our heads. after which | left
Adams to sleep until midnight while I
herded the cattle. The rain kept COM
ing down harder and harder, and the
darkness increased every hour. Had
it not been for two or three white steers
in the outfit, l could not have seer the
cattle, but by watching for these white
ones I managed to keep track of them.
1t "a impossible to locate the camp
at midnight, aud when daylight came
l was three or four miles from the
coulee. It was still raining torrents.
upon reaching camp l was aston
ished 10 find that during the night a
rush of water had come down the cou-
lee and our camping ground had been
converted into a lake, in the middle
of which vas the wagon box. l rode
out to it and found Adams standing
up 10 his knees in water, a predica-
ment from which he was quickly re.
lieved, and after getting together Jul
water soaked outfit we again took the
trail. 1t was still raining, and the
wind was unusually cold.
Late in the afternoon we reached
Box Elder creek, a short distance
from where it emptles into Milk river
The creek was running bank full, bu,
we crossed the cattle. and horses: then
we took OF our clothes, made them in
to bundles and threw them across the
stream and swan Il the other side,
We were close to a small patch of tim
Der and decided to camp there, bu'
when we undertook TO start a fire W,
discovered that our matches were wet
duu udN w give w tuc JOOs
"Upon looking around, however
we discovered an Indian tepee on tn
other side of the creek, and concluded
to ask assistance from that quarter
After much shouting from two chilled
and hungry men, a big squaw cam'
out to ascertain what was the matter
and We managed TO inform her b!
sign language tina. we wanted som
matches. She quickly sized up tn
situation aud returned TO the tepee II
get the goods.
"The sQuaw soon came back con
tinued Mr.. Harris, ''and held VI
the matches to show us it was al
right. She then removed part Of he
upper garment and wrapped tn
matches in it, for the purpose, "
supposed, of throwing the packag
across the creek. But, to our SUI
, prise and embarrassment, she slippe,
, off the remainder of her clothing
. quickly made it into a bundle an
tied it OF her head, plunged into tn
creek and swan across like u duck
and climbed up the muddy bank.
:. "Fine looking squaw:' inquire
one OF the younger members of tn
club.
b swell, l can't say that l great
admired her shape" responded til
narrator, sit was decidedly disposed t
embonpoint: but the exhibition Taste
only a few seconds. She united tn
. bundle. slipped the drapery over he
, form, and was again in full dress
/ That squaw, gentlemen, saved on
lives, for we were almost dead frol
cold and lack of sleep. She shove
Us a new trick in starting a fire wit
wet kindling by gathering a bunc
of rye grass and twisting it back an
, forth until the moisture was wOrke
-, out and it was. a mass OF dry shred,