The Ronan pioneer., 1917-01-26
F0RTWALSH KEPT
PEACE ON BORDER
INDIANS AND UNSCRUPULOUS
TRADERS BOTH RESTRAINED
BY POLICE GARRISON.
Here United States Commissioners
Met Sitting Bull and His Chiefs
and Were Subjected to What In
dians Intended as Great Insult
Introduction of Squaw to Council.

In the troublous days of Montana's
early development the Northwest
Mounted Police of Canada served an
efficient partnership with the sheriff
of Chouteau county in suppressing
the operations of the whiskey trader
and the horse thief and generally in
keeping the peace of the border.
Within the limits of the present prov
inces of Alberta and Saskatchewan
forts were established. OF these the
most closely associated with the
early history of this state was Fort
Walsh. erected in the spring of 1875
In fertile valley In the Cypress
hills a short distance across the line
and abandoned in 1883, when the
Canadian Pacific was extended across
the prairies. Scarcely a vestige of
this old outpost, the nearest of all
forts to the border, remains, and its
site is now occupied by large and
prosperous ranch. Here the United
States commission headed by General
Terry in October, 1877, met in con-
ference with Sitting Bull and his as
sociated Indians chiefs in vain at
tempt to induce the defeated Sioux to
accept the pardon of the American
president and return across the line.
Here the American commission was
subjected to one of the worst insults
ever offered by an Indian to white
man-the introduction of squaw
to the council.
Named After Its Founder.
The fort was named after it's foun-
der, Inspector j. M. Walsh of B di-
vision of the police, in accordance
with instructions to proceed to the
Cypress hills to choose a location for
an outpost which should serve to
keep in check the wandering bands
of Crees, Salteaux, Assiniboines, Sioux
and other tribes near the inter
national boundary. These Indians,
many of them members of tribes in
the United States, particularly Mon
tana, were subjected to many tempta-
tions by traders who crossed the bor-
der when the red men went north to
hunt buffalo.
hills" writes A. l.. Hayden, the his
torian of the mounted police, "must
have gazed with considerable sur
,
string of uniformed riders toiling
slowly over the plains from the
south. But they were more sur
prised still to see the high, square
stockade of the fort rear itself, with
it's bastions at the four corners, and
its tall staff in the center from
which floated the British flag. Stra-
logically considered, the new post
W. in OF
it lay in a valley bordered by precip
itous, bush-clad hills, which would
have afforded vantage-ground to an
enemy The site was hastily chosen;
winter was upon the heels of IN
spector Walsh's little force, and they
had to find shelter without delay.
Inspector Bluffs Sioux Chief.
''In those days when the painted
Crees rode in on their wiry little
ponies to treat with the commanding
officer, many were the interesting
scenes enacted at the historic old
fort. Several times a tragedy was
narrowly averted by Il 9 presence of
mind and bold bearing of the inspec-
tor and his officers. On one occasion
a large number of Sioux, followers
of the redoubtable chief, Sitting
Bull, skulked in the underbrush of
the hillside and were ready for any
excuse to fire upon the troopers be-
low. At this critical moment, the
commander of the little garrison
went out bravely, tackled the old
chief in person and bluffed him SO
successfully that the band moved on
without giving further trouble. On
this occasion, by the way, Inspector
Walsh literally carried his life in his
hands. When he rode toward the
Sioux camp he had on a short blue
Jacket with black braid, while his
men were all wearing greatcoats. At
the sight of the hated blue, the
American color to all Indians, the
rifles of the braves went up instant
ly, covering the inspector. Seeing
his danger, one OF the foremost
troopers had the presence OF mind