The Ronan pioneer., 1917-07-20

would stroll into the stables to see
if kipp's horse was still there. He
carefully watched what was put
aboard the bull trains going to Fort
Benton, and he noted all arrivals
from there. 1t should be explained
here that Helena was not considered
in the Indian country and the mar
shall had no jurisdistion over the
sale of liquor there.
About week after Hardings ap-
pearance, Kipp was prepared to
move. He got George Scott, a Fort
Benton man, to ride Kipp's horse out
of town about 1 o'clock in the morn
ing, shortly after Harding had made
his last call at the stables before 60
ing to bed. Scott was to leave the
road we'll out from the mouth Of
Prlckly Pear Canyon, and cut across
to the mouth of Sun river, where he
would find Thomas with wagon
outfit.
kipp Fools OFFICER.
At daylight the next morning
Harding was up and immediately
missed the black horse. The stable
men would give him no information
about it, so he saddled up and hit
the trail for Fort Benton believing
klpp had gone back there after get
ting a load of liquor out of town in
some manner. He was no more than
we'll on his road before Kipp was ON
the way TO the Missouri with his al
cohol. There he got the teamsters
to make a raft of the rs cases, piling
them two deep, and binding them
together firmly with long poles and
plenty OF rope. On this odd craft,
hlpp set out for the mouth of Sun
river, at the present site of Great
Fails, and his journey was a wet and
unpleasant one. AS he passed
through every little rapid the water
swept the top of the raft and q hun
dred times day he had to jump
overheard and push it Off sand bars
But at sunset on the third day, he
arrived at the mouth of Sun river
and found Thomas waiting for him
with three four-horse teams and
wagons and two teamsters. Scott |
was also there and agreed to join the
outfit as cook. The raft was brought
to shore and the men began loading
the cases into the wagons. Within
an hour a start was made for the
north by way OF the Indian and Red
River cart trail. later known as the
Sun river stage road.
Harding Catches Up.
Three days later, just after cross
ing the north fork of Milk river,
kipp looked back and saw a lone
horseman coming at fast lopc on
their trail.
It's the marshal" said Kipp,
briefly, "and right here's where we
stand him Off"
Harding rode past the first and
second wagon without stopping, pull
ing up at the third, which Kipp was
driving at the time. "Well, Joe"
he said, with grin, "I've got you at
last. Just turn around and head for
Benton.''
Harding, you're just 20 minutes
late,' replied Kipp. "You should
have overtaken us before we crossed
the north fork back there
Come on" the marshal insisted.
mo foolng; this is serious business.
so turn your teams around'
''You have no authority here" re-
turned Kipp, "for on this spot we are
in Canada. The north fork of Milk
river, a mile back, is the line"
Harding was so taken aback that
he did not speak for minute The
boundary line had not
been surveyed and marked. No one
knew exactly where the monuments
would eventually stand, but it was
believed that Chief noun
ain and the north fork of Milk riv-
ar were on or very close one way or
he other to the forty-ninth degree of
north latitude, which constituted, the
boundary line.
Where Was the Line?
Harding finally said: "You have
10 proof that we are in Canada. I'll