The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1920-04-09

charges on his cargo of gold. But
he found an intelligent passenger, by
name MacNeil, who agreed to look
after this for him. Among the miners
were many rough characters VINO
tried to escape paying the fare ask
ed and who were looking for trouble.
All charges were payable IN gold
dust, and it was favorite trick to
mix black sand with the dust, prof
liable form of cheating II undetect-
ed. But black sand never passed the
eye of MacNeil, and he made the pas
sengers pan their dust in his pres
ence and wash out the sand.
At the mouth of Milk river the
Luella ran aground on a sandbar,
and while the crew worked to dis
lodge her the passengers most OF
whom carried their gold dust in lea
Their belts about their waists, stood
along the side of the ship to watch
One of them, man named McClel-
Ian, fell overheard. The water was
barely two feet deep, but the current
was swift. He was carried off his
feet, and so great was the weight of
his treasure belt that he was dragged
down and drowned before help could
reach him. Even his body was never
recovered.
Building Fort Buford
A few days later the boat passed
below the mouth of the Yellowstone
a small camp of soldiers. 1t proved
to be Company G, 18th Cater 22nd)
infantry, under Captain w. G.. Ran
kin, engaged in starting to build Fort
Buford, a new military post. This
handful of troops were being con-
stantly attacked by the Sioux, and as
the Luella pulled up to the bank,
lurking party of Indians almost cap
tured the young and beautiful wife
of Captain Rankin. The plucky young
won desperate race with the
reds by a narrow margin, her horse
being shot in the flank by rifle
ball. Later Fort Buford was attack
ed again and again by Red Clouds
band, and Sitting Bull, with a hand
jul of picked warriors, even succeed
I'd in capturing q sawmill just out
side the walls of the post, and he
lsed the big circular saw for a war
lrum. 1t was reported time after
line that the garrison had been mas
but they managed to survive
he winter and the following spring
we're reinforced by enough troops to
lold the post safely.
Steamer Attacked by Sioux
Eleven miles below Captain Ran
inns camp, the Luella went ashore
gain at the mouth of White Earth
liver and was holly attacked by the
ioux. The passengers were pressed
nto service for fighting the Indians
nd finally drove them off
Some days after the fight at White
larth river bad man on board,
hose name was Gilmore, started
rouble among the passengers. Cap
ain Marsh threatened to put him
shore, and Gilmore swore to kill
i'm. He had not the nerve to act
penly against the captain, however,
ntil the boat had passed through
ne perilous Indian country Then,
ne day when the Luella had been
breed to the bank by strong winds,
ilmore insulted Captain Marsh
shore. Marsh walked up to the des-
erado and challenged him to fight
istol duel, but the suggestion cool
GiImore's fighting blood, for he
as a rank coward. He refused to
ght, whereupon Captain Marsh
ruck him in the face and threaten
to kill him unless he would fight.
assengers prevailed on the captain
press the matter no further, and
Sioux City Gilmore left the boat.
The remainder of the trip was
ithout incident, and the Luella ar
we'd safely at st. Louis October 5,
caring on her trip profit for Cap
in Marsh of $4,000.