Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1907-08-09
REVIEWS THE PAST
Joe Lewis Tells Of His First Trip
Into WiIdS of Montana.
INDIANS KILL SOME OF PARTY
Saw a Whit, Girl That Had Been Ia
ken BY Indians Some Yerrs Before
--tT-er Parents Were Killed.

eavlng Council Bluffs, we cross
ed the Missouri river on rude fer
rY boat and camped outside OF
omaha at what was known as Mill
tary Grove bridge until all prepa-
ratlons were completed for journey
to Montana. Our route lay along
the then contemplated railroad,
passing the then small hamlets of
Fremont, Columbus and Grand Is
land. Arriving at North Platte,
tram was made up for journey INTO
the Northwest Territory.
Powers, Barton and Flanagan
from Sioux City, party of emf
grants bound for Gallatin valley,
Montana, and our party, made up
the train. We travelled together
for three days, when some disagree
ment arose between Barton and
Powers. Barton was a high. spirit
ed fellow and thought that we were
not moving fast enough so he cut
loose from our part of the outfit
d with the emigrant party struck
out. We kept moving slowly along
the North Platte until we arrived
at an Indian traders cabin, opposite
Ft Laramie. Here we camped
near a Cottonwood grove IN whose
branches a number of Indians were
buried. 1t was the custom at that
time to wrap the Indian dead in
there robes and s'plant" them high
up in the trees out of the reach OF
wild animals. While there we
learned that Barton was about three
days srayel, as we were wont to
travel, ahead of us. We also
learned that he had had some
tr uble with the trader and that
the latter had sworn vengeance or
him.
An incident occurred during oul
journey between Kearney and Lara
mle which wish to relate. About
1000 Sioux Indians were campeC
near us. They had made q treaty
with the government and were OF
their return from Laramie 10 Sioul
City. Some of the young buck
road into our corral and wanted
sugar, bread and tobacco. We haC
orders from the wagon master no
to give them anything, which mad
them mad. The next morning W,
found that they had butchered fou
of our fattest oxen. The wagol
master reported the affair to th
chief, stating that unless the affai
was settled he would report then
10 the commander at Ft. Laramie
The head men came to our cam
and forming themselves, with th
wagon master and bis assistants, /
a circle smoked the pipe of peace
passing the pipe from one TO th
other. The old chief, who wa
almost blind. proposed to give fiv
of their best ponies for the oxe
killed. OAel were then wort
500 a yoke. The. wagon mast,
and interpreter went aside and ha
long talk. We wanted seve
ponies or nothing, but the Indiai
would not concede TO this so Il
council broke up. We started c
our journey and had gone abol
seven NIL ., when upon lookir
back we saw gre at dust arislr
Ia the distanter Fearing an alta,
from the Indians, the wagon mast
ordered.us to corral our stock, p
the oxen inside and chain up d
gaps, get our rifles ready in case
an attack. We waited the comiI
of the red skins and were ready +
business, when 10 and behold the
came q party Of about 20 India
who delivered to rs the seven POM
and we soon continued on Our v
rejoicing. The old chief vas vi
them and ] noticed he wore a stri
around his neck, attached to Viii