The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1920-02-12

began to decline, was made up of the
boldest, most reckless adventures
that ever glanced down the sights OF
a rifle or challenged death each day
the sun arose. No man could face
the untold perils of the wilderness
as did they unless his eye and hand
were ever ready and lightning quick
to act; unless his heart was steeled
against fear, and unless he could
walk alone in a wild and terrible land
and ignore thai grim shadow that
stalked ever at his elbow.
These free trappers were men of
lion courage, with the cunning of the
black fox. Willy as were the plains
Indians, the free trappers were even
more crafty. Many of them used to
boast that the scalps of a hundred
reds were worn at the belts of the
trappers for every trapper's scalp
gings of the Indians.
And, trained in the brutal school
of plains and mountain warfare,
these white pathfinders reverted in
some respects toward the status of
the savages, although it would be IN
just to rate them with mere rene
gades and desperadoes. The trapper,
whatever his faults, was yet every
inch a man. Bravest of the brave,
cool and sagacious in the strategy of
border war, capable in any emergen-
cy, faithful to his own code of honor,
generous without limit to all but his
foes, there was something heroic in
this fierce and uncouth figure who
dominated for a. time the vast area
that today comprises Montana and
it's neighboring states along the east
ern and western slopes of the Rock
les.
Ranged Over Vast Areas
These free hunters of the far west
were great rangers. Men of the type
of Bill Williams, Killbuck, La Bonte,
Bridger and Walker, whose names
are found in the pages of every story
written about early western fur trap
ping and trading, knew not only the
valleys and mountain defiles of our
Montana, but had travelled as we'll
every hunting ground as far south
the Mexican line. Many had push
ed through from the Great Salt Lake
across the desert to the southern
Californian missions, whittier they
rode in small bands on horse stealing
exhibitions.
Two of the most famous of the
free trappers we're Killbuck and La
Bonte, mentioned above, whose ad-
ventures on the Yellowstone were re-
counted by that unfortunate young
explorer and hunter, George
RuXton, who died at st.
Louis in 1848 after spending a cou-
pie of years with the free trappers
N the Rocky mountains. RuXton, in
his story of the trappers, gives a
graphic account of an expedition of
Ia trappers, of which La Bonte and
Killbuck were members, which rode
On a foray after horses all the way to
southern California and returned
he same year with 200 head of fine
mares and stations, which
hey sold at Bent's Fort in Colorado
It a big profit. They were attacked
many times by Indians and lost 200
lorses, or half of the number they
tole from the Spaniards at the mis-
ions on the way back. They also
ost two of their party, one in the
'attle with the Spaniards which they (,
and won before they were able
o round up the horses and drive
hem away. The other was killed in j..
fight with Indians. :
There are doubtless ranging the :
fontana prairies today many des- !
endants of these mares and stations !:
hat were brought back on that and :
Their raids made from this side of !.
be main range into Spanish settle !
tents. In view of this, a brief sum I
larry of the trip is of interest to Mon
ana readers.
Free Trappers Raid California b
Killbuck and La Bonte, after an q
episode with the Blackfeet p
n the Yellowstone, headed south b
nd by chance met the party of IL a
easoned trappers, whom they Joined, b
the number of the band to t.
as mentioned above. Although h
OF a large party, it was a formidable
AXE to the trail to southern Califor- 81
ia. Fourteen good rifles in the b
ands of IA mountain men, well a.
ounted and equipped, spelled ei
ouble in plenty for any foe that II
light bar their way. Before them
retched a thousand miles of dreary ii
,sert, infested with hostile savages. W
anime and drought threatened tt
EN-. Beyond these dangers lay the tr
settlements of the S%paniards tr
least of which contained ten CO
mes their number of armed and bit TT
r enemies. When they reached W
ese there must follow their sudden L
upon their countless herds of til
ules and horses-the fierce attack al
d bloody battle. Then, if success fr
their adventure, there still tn
7aited the perils of the return jour al
y, for all along their dangerous a
all would await war parties Of IN Sc
determined to Stay the whites of
d capture their horses. FL
But the cavalcade rode merrily wi
ong without thought of what might W;
ahead. Never a more daring
crossed the mountains. In the of
arts of the trappers burned a de- in
e for vengeance against these fiji
Indians. Grudges for many co
ivations, for wounds and for lost a
remained to be paid. So ar
,kless were they, says Ruxton, that M
av invited trouble and at night tn