The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-12-18
RECALLS EARLY DAYS,
Captain John j. HeaIy Had Strenu.
Gus Times For Northern
Montana.

A writer in the Outing Magazine
gives an interesting sketch of Captain
John J. Hesly, the Alaska pioneer,
who was formerly sheriff of Chouteau
county, and who Is we'll known to
many of the present residents of nor.
thern Montana. The story Gays that
at the age Of eighteen he enlisted in
the Second United States Dragoons
and saw active service in the Mormon
and Indian campaigns in Utah long
before the Civil war, and later en-
gagged in mining In Idaho. BE finally
decided to go north. some of his ex-
periences being related as follows:
Montana was then in the hands of
Indians and fur traders, and young
Healy preferred chasing furs to seek.
ing gold. Before he became an In
dian trader, however, he tried his
hand at several things, as was the
fashion among the bold and adven-
turous spirits who aocked into the
untamed west. He hearkened to the
call Of the Comstock lode, and was
one of the early settlers of Virginia
City, and stayed in the most famous
silver camp OF history through the
red days of the Vigilantes.
Later he camped on what later be-
came the site of the capital of Mon
tana and was elected to the first legis.
lature of that territory. Declining
this honor, he moved on to Fort Ben
ton which was then the trading outlet
for the whole northwest. Healy was
not inclined to accept the terms of the
powerful fur trading companies which
ruled that region, and he became an
Independent or free trader, establish
ing post on Sun river.
The indians were hostile, and the
few settlers were unable to obtain
military protection. In order to keep
from being wiped out by the Black
feet. the settlers organized force of
their own called "The Sun River
Rangers. with Irish John Healy as
captain The ex-private of Dragons
proceeded 70 clear the range of hos.
tiles with Deafness and dispatch. Well
pleased with this campaign, Healy
dared to invade Canada at the head
of a band of free traders, and throw
down the gauntlet to the Hudson Bay
company. The purpose of the move
ment was to secure the trade of the
free trappers who had gone up into
tn 1T rich territory. The militant fame
of Healy had travelled far, for in or
der 10 drive out this invasion OF Am.
erican traders, the Hudson Bay COM
pany organized volunteer force of
25O men at Fort Carry. With an
artillery detachment in reserve this
mounted force marched to attack the
formid able defenses of Healy's post,
Fort Whoop. Up, expecting to meet a
regiment of "desperadoes and cut
throats.' To their chagrin, they
found Healy and two other orderly
and peaceable Americans who were
tending to their own business. Out
numbered, Healy retired with the
honors of war, but the force organ.
lied against him remained in the field
as mounted troop to patrol the
frontier, and became the nucleus of
the Northwest Mounted police.
Returning to Fort Benton. Healy
was made sheriff of Chouteau county,
which was half as big as the whole OF
New England. Healy bent his ener.
gies to the task of cleaning out the
road agents, horse thieves, and "bad
men" who made that part of Montana
hazardous and tumultuous. He was
sheriff for eight years, and his daring
was considered notable even in Mon.
tana, for he always made his arrests
single.handed, and although an ex-
pert shot, he never took the life OF a
white man.
BY 1885, Montana was getting too
civilized for man of Capt ain Healy q
stamp, so he pulled up stakes and
went to Alaska. Among the Chilkats
at Dyea he built q trading post, and
set to work to break down the high
handed monopoly OF the chief who
controlled all the packing of goods In
that country. Having succeeded in
enabling white miners to enter the
Yukon country without being at
tackled or held up, the Chilkats were
won over from violent hostility to
such terms OF admiring friendship for
strong man that they made him a
chief. This honor pleased Healy be-
cause after he had fought the Black.
| feet in Montana, they respected him
to the extent of making him a warrior
of the Elk band. He had twice proved
that an honest enemy can become the
best kind of friend.
For three years Captain Healy ex.
plored the coast of Alaska in those
early days, looking for passes into