The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1912-01-04
Pioneer Closes
Earthly Career

known pioneers in the Milk river
valley. died at Great Falls last Thurs
dav. The funeral was held at Har-
lem Sunday afternoon. Mr.. Powell
was a relative of Mrs. Oliver Herself
man of this city. The Great Falls
Tribune of Friday, Dec. 90, 1911
has the following account of the
early life of the deceased pioneer:
Captured 80 years ago on the
banks of Milk river when that old
chieftain was on the warpath with
more than two hundred of his braves,
later taken by the redskin warriors in
the Cypress mountains and doomed
to death in fire when cabin near
where he was captured was made
the finder to consume his body but
from which he escaped, George
Powell of Harlem, one of the pioneers
who helped blaze the trail for the
people who later brought the newer
civilization into the state of Mon
tana, yesterday lost his fight against
disease, dying at the Columbus hos
pital i'm Great Falls after two weeks
illness.
The life of Mr.. Powell would
make material for thrilling story.
Coming to the frontier when mere
boy, not tet go years old. he faced
the trials and privations of the
frontiersman, fought the Indians as
they gradually were driven from the
plains, helped make the plains a
a place for habitation by freeing them
from many Of their dangers through
his vocation in those early years Of
hunter and trapper and also in his
work of aiding in establishing trading
posts.
When travelling from Buford to
Fort Peck 80 years ago with three
other companions, Thomas Curry, a
member of the present board OF
commissioners of Cascade county;
George Farmer, formerly of Kalispell
but who died there five years ago,
and Philip kafel Of whom the other
three lost trace IS years ago and has
been believed dead, the party was
brought face to face with Sitting
Bull lust after they had crossed Milk
river on their way north. Powell
and Curry were travelling little
ahead of their companions who were
following with cart drawn by 9
pony in which they carried their am.
unitions and supplies. There hal
been band of 900 braves crossed
the Milk river for the south only {
few hours before and had Just missed
the four pale faces. Sitting Bull
and seven of his braves were trailin!
after the advance guard and had jus
reached the brow of the hill whel
Powell and Curry gained the top O
the incline. There they came fac
to face with the Indian chieftain
He spoke to them in Indian Ian
guage and gave them to understand
that he was the master of the situa
ton by ordering his associates t
gather round the pale faces when til
other two came up. Then he drew
circle and dog which Rafel owne
and was following the party wake
to about the center of the circle a
the white men stood about an
talked to Sitting Bull. The dog la
down. being tired from long trave
and Sitting Bull. who was sitting o
pony with rifle in one hand and
revolver in his belt, took the revo
Il YER out of the holster and shot til
If dog through six times.
N He allowed the party to go, +.
~ they themselves believed, because /
-. saw that with four to seven, and TIL
four fearless fighters, he stood to To-
as heavily as they did before |
70 could either kill them or captu
I'd them.
g. Mr.. Powell, later, was captured
IT the Indians in the Cypress mountain
:" and they concluded he would he be