The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-05-08
STORY OF EARLY DAYS.
Uncle Bill Hamilton Recalls Incidents
Of Indian Troubles.

D''
Of Indian Troubles.
Last weeks issue of Forest and
Stream contains the concluding arti.
Gle of a series by William T. Hamil'
ton on the Indian council at Fort
Benton, a chapter Of Montana history
never before published. "Uncle Bill
ly" Hamilton. then sheriff OF Chou.
teau county aud deputy United States
marshal, had been commissioned TO
go through the Indian country and
summon the various warning tribes to
the council. This he had done, &C.
companied only by an Indian friend
called Jack. The two had several ad.
ventures, the most important being q
fight with a war party OF seven Black.
feet, every member Of which they
killed. The crows had refused to at.
tend the council, but the eros Ven.
tres, to the north. had agreed to meet
with the commissioners at Fort Ben.
ton.
"Uncle Billy" in his last chapter
tells how the Indians gathered at Fort
Benton and of the council that fol.
lowed. The commissioners we're mex.
perienced in Indian ways and would
have accomplished nothing had It not
been for Hamilton and other traders
and trappers who knew how to handle
red men. The situation was critical,
for some of the Indians were at war
with each other, and it was with diff.
Guilty they could be induced TO remain
at peace during the few days the coun'
Gil was in session. In the end az
agreement was reached and Hamilton.
under the direction of the commits
sioners, distributed the presents pro-
vided by the government. The In
dians we're not satisfied with the
agreement, and with the departure O.
the commissioners began to make
trouble. Concerning this the old Scout
writes:
about 10 a. m, one hour after tn
commissioners had left, Little Dog
chief of the South Piegans, came intt
town and found us. This man wa,
one OF the noblest and bravest chief
living of that day. He was q friene
of the whites, and had killed four o
the under chiefs of the tribe for war
ring against the whites. He coul'
muster about $50 warriors. When h
found me he told me that the Nortl
Piegans under Mountain Chief, tn
Bloods and the Blackfeet had secure'
some whisky and were getting ugl,
and singing their war songs. Littl
Dog advised the whites to remain il
their houses. He believed that thes
northern people would attack the Gro
Ventures camp, and might also shoo
at the whites.
''Some Indian women had warne
us of the situation just before Littl
Dog came In. Now the agent had
underground q We put this i
] an Adobe building which was used a
> a warehouse, and through the wa
I knocked q hole about twelve inches i
I diameter for the muzzle. as we'll d
several port holes for the rifles. Thel
' was no one present who knew muc
' about canuons, but we loaded II
! piece with six pounds OF powde
rammed tight, twenty pounds OF on
: ounce balls and some smaller bullet
for we were determined to have
!. double shotted. j. V. Cochran, WI
r lives at Billings, Mont, had char.
of the cannon He was and is as gan
. as q war eagle, and il called npt
would have fred the cannon If it hi
q burst in q thousand pieces
> Fortunately there vas no occasit
e to use the cannon, the anticipate
i trouble not developing, and a sat
d factory settlement being effected.