The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1910-01-16

Z
through my country on his way to
Canada, / refused to take his hand be-
cause ii had white blood on ii. and
told him if he hurt Il single one of the
whites in the Bitter Root valley |
would attack him with my warriors
at once.
There he said. pointing to an old
blind Indian in the room, lis a man
who drew his revolver and defended
the wife of the blacksmith at Stew
ensville from the NeZ Perces at the
risk of his life. He said Chariot.
pointing to the cell of Father Ravaili,
which joined the room i'm which we
were. was there and knows that re-
fused to sign the Garfield treaty. |
have no faith in what you say now,
for til" government has broken all the
promises made by your great father
in 1865
Il watched the chief very closely
when he was speaking. and came to
the conclusion that he told the truth.
Turning to my companions | said that
we would take a recess for an hour.
and | then took the Indians up to the
little village tavern aud requested the
landlord to give them the best dinner
he could furnish, as they We're actual
ly furnishing for want Of food.
Father Ravaili's Testimony.
AS soon as could do so without at
tracing attention, | went back to the
mission. and. going i'm Father Ravalli's
cell. told him what Chariot had said in
regard to the Garfield treaty and asked
him If he was there and knew the
facts. He said very earnestly: do
not want to have anything To do with
this matter. | am an old man and
have only "A short time to live. ! do
not want any collision with the govern
ment nor with the white men In this
valley, who seem determined to drive
Chariot and his friends out of il. have
heard of this publication by the Indian
commissioner but have never said
anything in regard to its truth or fall
sity. ! hope you will not ask me to
make any statement now
Il said to him. Father Ravalli. you
have devoted your life to the cause of
humanity and justice. Chariot and his
men cannot remain in this valley. As
you know. there viii be an armed col
lision between them and the whites,
who are resolved to have their lands.
| can call on the commandant at Fort
Missouia for troops. but | am unwil-
ling to do SO. for such action could
only result in the virtual determination
of this remnant of once great tribe.
of which Chariot is the hereditary
chief. The United States has not
complied with its agreement as tn the
survey of the Bitter Root valley. I
Twenty eight years have elapsed and
the president has ordered the Flat
heads to leave the Bitter Root valley
and go over Ia the Jocko reservation
If Chariot didn't sign the treaty. he
has been grossly outraged. and | do
not blame him for feeling as he does
1t seems to me your duty is To tell the
whole truth and prevent bioodshed
which must occur unless matters are
changed
Father RavaIli was silent for some
minutes, and then he said: 1 hoped to
avoid any statement. but YOU are right .
l will soon join my Master pointing
to the crucifix above him. I was
there, and | know that Chariot re-
fused to sign the treaty. while Arlee /
and Adoiph. second and third chiefs ,
did so. Chariot is a brave. honest .
man. while Arlee is shrewd. bold and !
cunning Indian and always takes good .
care of himself
To Washington. /
After the Indians We're brought from +
the village in much better humor. and I
We had again assembled ut the mis-
sion. | asked Chariot how he would .
like tn go tn Washington and talk 4
with the great father. bringing with .
him his agent and Interpreter. After
together for some time he
replied that he would he Very glad to
go. as he wanted to ask the great
father for permission to remain in the
Bitter Root valley. brt he did not conn.,
NIT himself to anything further. On
the next day We returned tn Fort Mis-
soula and then visited the Blackfeet.
Crow and Piegan agency. near Fort
Shaw. and the agency at Fort ASSN
niboine. inurneying before reaching
the Canadian line through what is
known as the Buffalo Plains. the most
iesnlate ard depressing region imag-
Unable, Beside the crows. which cawe1
harshly over our heads, and a single
Wolf. We did not See a living thing
in going $50 miles. This is the coun-
try where countless huffaloes once
roamed. and where the Fiatheads and