davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1920-01-22

the white settlement at Hellgate,
near where Missoula stands today,
and went to Fort Benton, where he
built a log hotel and proceeded to
operate it. He was also appointed
sheriff of Chouteau county by Gov
ernor Green Clay Smith, and at the
same time was appointed deputy
United States marshal. At that time
Chouteau county was as big as the
state of New York.
The population at Fort Benton
was a motley one. There were some
trappers and free traders, mostly
good men. The remainder we're en-
ployes of the Fur company, in all
about As white men. There were
also some halfbreeds, the outstanding
one of which was Joe Kipp, a good
friend of Hamilton. The Northwest
Fur Company had bought out the old
American Fur Company and had
put I. G.. Baker in charge. Carroll
& Steele, former clerks of the old fur
company, had opened a store at Fort
Benton, and T. G. Power afterward
opened one there.
The territorial delegate at Wash
ington had asked for protection for
the white inhabitants against the In
dians, and a commission of three per-
sons was appointed to consider this
matter. 1t consisted of Acting Gov
ernor Thomas Francis Meagher,
Judge Lyman H. Munson and E. w.
Carpenter. They arrived 1t Fort
Benton early in September, 1865, and
determined that the Piegans, Bloods,
Blackfeet, eros Ventres and Grow In
dams must be brought into Fort
Benton and there induced to make a
permanent peace. Runners were
sent out to invite the Blackfeet, the
Bloods and Piegans, who were all of
the same confederation, to come in,
but no one could be found who
would undertake to hunt up and
bring in the Crows and eros Ven
tres. The reason was that the coun-
try between the Missouri river and
the Yellowstone was overrun by war
parties of Sioux, Cheyennes, Arapa-
considered all who did not belong to
their own party as enemies and act
ed accordingly.
Hamilton's Services Enlisted
The commissioners sent for Bill
Hamilton and urged him to carry the
message to the Crows and eros Ven
tres, which tribes were hunting
somewhere in the country infested by
war parties, and after some persua-
sion, gained his consent. He was
considered the only white nan avail
able who could perform this service.
Hamilton informed the commis-i
sioners that he must have a certain
Piegan Indian, named Eagle Eye, for
companion on the trip. A runner
was sent to Little Dog, head chief of
the Piegans, and in two days Eagle
The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1920-01-22

met the eros Ventres, who agreed to
push on toward Fort Benton.
By the time Hamilton and Eagle
Eye reached Fort Benton the Black
feet, Bloods and Piegans began to
come from the north. Three days
after their return a steamer from
st. Louis arrived with a large load
of presents for the Indians attend
ing the council. By then the total
number of Indians camped on Fort
Benton bottom was upward of 1000,
and another thousand arrived, ma
king the number around 5000. The
Indians from the north-Blackfeet,
Piegans and B1oods, pitched their
lodges mostly on the upper end of
the bottom, while the eros Ventres
placed their camp some three hun
bred yards east of the old Fort, at
the lower end. Formerly the eros
Ventres and the Piegans and Bloods
had been friends, but for the past
four years they had been at war and
there was bitter hatred between the
tribes. Hence this wide separation
of their camps.
The council chamber at the Black
feet agency had been put in order,
with the American flag handsomely
displayed. The eros Ventres chiefs
at first refused to attend the coun-
Gil through fear of their numerous
enemies, but on promise of protec-
ton, they came in.
The Fort Benton Treaty
September 20. 1865. the reading
of the treaty began. This was a for
midable document of some so closely
written pages. The clerk began read
ing it by sections, which then had to
be Interpreted, first by the interpre-
ter for the Blackfeet, Piegans and
Bloods; and then by the interpreter
for the eros Ventres. Hamilton at
once saw that it would take weeks to
get through the document at that
So did Little Dog, the Piegan
chief, who told his interpreter to in
the council that an adjourn
nent would be taken till the follow
ng day in order to make a change in
he manner of conveying the infor-
nation, which was contained in YER
pose legal phrases, to a wild, rest
ess lot of Indians. 90 per cent of
whom had no desire to mix with or
leal with the whites. except to trade
or certain commodities of which
hey stood in need. The commission
RS we're entirely at sea about the
but Hamilton and the inter
effected a condensation of the
reaty in simple language that could
'e read and translated in a very
,rief period.
The following morning the council
net again. The Small Robe band of
claimed all the land or the
outh side of the Missouri river as
ar south as the Musselshell. They
eded in the treaty all their rights to
territory. other Piegan and
blood Indians claimed land along
he summit of the Rockies south to
he Little Plackfoot river. and thence
The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1920-01-22
THRILLING SCENES AT FORT BENTON TREATY COUNCIL OF 1865;
WHITES NARROWLY ESCAPED MASSACRE BY 5000 INDIANS

William Il. Hamilton, or "Uncle
Bill Hamilton, rs he was univer-
sally known, who died in Saltwater
county in 1908 at the ripe old age
of 50, was perhaps the last sur
vivor of that old-time race of trap
pers whose courage, skill and en-
durance led to the discovery, ex-
ploration and settlement of that
vast territory which lies between
the Mississippi river and the Rocky
Mountains. He left st. Louis in
1912 with a company of free trap
pers, numbering eight, which was
led by the redoubtabIe Bill Will
Hams, dean of the mountain men,
whose name figures in a hundred
stories of romance and adventure
in the early western wilderness.
} Bill Hamilton vas the ideal
mountain man. His wide knowl-
edge of the history of Montana's
earliest days after the coming of
the white man make the writings
he left of the greatest Importance,
and one of the most interesting of
these was his story of the great
treaty council with the plains In
dams at Fort Benton in 1865,
which is said by George Bird Grin
nell, to whom it was given by Ham
iIton, TO have been the last article
that came from the pen of Hamil-
ton.
The treaty council at Fort Ben
ton, in 1865, like so many other
councils called by the government
for the purpose of robbing the
plains Indians of their hunting
grounds, was a farcicaI proceeding
ing. 1T resulted in no understand
ing with the Indians that was OBJ
served. 1t did result in a gather
ing of some 5000 untamed red
men on the Fort Benton river bot
ton made up of half a dozen bands
from powerful tribes that were
hostile to each other, and a mar
row escape from a gigantic Indian
battle that threatened to wipe out
the small white population that
lived in and around the old fort.
Bill Hamilton has left a vivid and
.ccurate description of that pictur-
'sque incident in Montana history
nd the part he played in it. His
tory is summarized as follows:
From 1853 to 1865 a chronic state
f warfare existed between all of the
indian tribes of Montana territory.
n the course of this warfare, miners
nd freighters had sustained serious
osses in stock, and many miners and
ettlers had been killed by the In
ians. At the mouth of the Judith
so miles east of Fort Benton,
vas stationed one company of sol
iers, but they were infantry and
ould render no protection against
lounted Indians.
In 1864 "Uncle Bill" Hamilton left
The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1920-01-22

territory, a repeating weapon that
cost him $106. Eagle Eye had a
Sharp's rifle. Each carried a brace
of AS pistols. Eagle Eye also car
ried his bow and arrows.
Eagle Eye, On the way to Fort
Benton, had met a war party of Pie
gans, who told him that the Crows
had been camped at Medicine Springs
between the North and South Moe
casins, but had moved their camp.
Hamilton also learned from his com
panion that there were three Black
feet war parties out after Crows and
eros Ventres.
Locate Crows and eros VentTes
The route taken by Hamilton and
Eagle Eye took them across Arrow
Creek, 80 miles from Fort Benton;
thence to Rafting Buttes at the east
end of the Highwoods, where Eagle
Eye killed a buffalo COW with his
bow and arrows in order to avoid
rifle fire, which might attract war
parties. From there a trail to Wolf
Greek, near where Stanford stands
today, was taken, where the trail of
a Blackfeet wal party vas struck.
The two messengers followed across
Willow creek and reached the Judith
river, and finally, after some excit-
ing experiences, reached Medicine
Springs, between the Moccasin
ranges, where they found the Grow
village had been encamped. They
followed the travels trails across an
open and dangerous country to the
east end of the Judith mountains,
and went from there to Flat Willow
creek, just above where Box Elder
creek flows into it, where Hamilton
realized that they were in the most
dangerous part of the entire west
from the Panhandle of Texas to the
British line. They pushed on to the
Musselshell, finding many traces of
Indian war parties, and from the
forks of that stream toward the Bull
mountains.
Heading for Porcupine creek,
where they expected to find the
Grows, they were attacked by a party
of five Blackfeet Indians. They let
the reds get within so yards; then
themselves and ducked. The
Indians foolishly fired their flintlock
guns, and before they could reload
or draw their bows, Hamilton and
Eye killed the five Blackfeet.
Eye was afterward blamed by
the Piegans for killing the Black
feet, but he felt entirely justified in
doing so under the circumstances.
Sioux and Crows Battle
When the Crow camp was finally
reached, Hamilton and Eagle Eye
found a battle raging, the camp hav-
ing been attacked by a war party of
Sioux numbering 200. The Crow
totaled 800. Hamilton join
the Crows in the fight, and the
Sioux were soon routed, leaving a
number of slain on the prairie.
These the Crows scalped.
Hamilton then gave some presents
70 the Crows and told them his err {
The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1920-01-22

southeast to the Missouri river. In
the treaty they ceded all the territory
from the mouth of the Marias river
up the Marias to the Teton river, fol-
lowing the middle of that stream to
its source, for a stipulated sum to be
given to them for 20 years. The
eros Ventres had no land to cede.
Neither did the Blackfeet, and ac-
cording to the views of many the lat
ter had no right to be present at the
treaty, as they were living in Can
ada. Some of them wore medals
given by the English sovereign.
Indians Get Ugly
All the country east of the Teton
river was set aside for a Piegan and
Blood reserye Hamilton states with
much truth that, without the influ-
ence of some of the mountain men
who were present and were friends
of the Indian chiefs, the treaty could
not have been made at that time.
Undoubtedly Hamilton's influence
was invaluable, although he believed
the Indians were being done a great
wrong. He saw, however, that the
reds had no alternative than to sub
nit, and that fighting would only
make things worse for them.
The next day began the distribu-
tion of the presents, which lasted
two days and was rep1ete with funny
incidents. The commissioners then
left for Helena with the Indian agent
at Fort Benton, Cad e. Epson. Ham
ilton declared that the latter knew
as much about an Indian as he (Ha-
milton) knew about the inhabitants
of Jupiter.
The commissioners had hardly
disappeared up the trail for Helena
than Little Dog, chief of the Piegans,
came to Hamilton and told him that
the North Piegans, Bloods and the
Blackfeet had secured some whisky
and were getting ugly and singing
their war songs. Little Dog advised
the whites to remain in their houses.
He believed that the three bands he
mentioned would attack the eros
Ventres camp and might also try to
wipe out the whites.
Hamilton and some of the other
whites loaded a 12-pound brass can
0 and placed it at a point of want
age. Rifle pits were dug and there
were As whites to defend them. At
the Fort the Northwest Fur Com
pany's men, numbering 10, locked
themselves in and prepared for a
siege.
An Exciting Scene
Hamilton, with Little Dog, who
was a firm friend to the whites and
a fine Indian, and Eagle Eye, then
rode to the eros Ventres camp. The
eros Ventres had already been warn
ed and had pitched their lodges in a
circle, their ponies corraled, and
rifle pits dug all around the village.
All the warriors we're stripped to
the breech-clout and painted. Little
Dog informed them that he would
try to prevent the hostiles from at
lacking them, and advised them not
to shoot first if the hostiles came. He
declared that he and his people
would be their friends, meaning, by
people, the South Piegans. Ham
ilton then rode to Little Dogs camp
with him, where they found the
young warriors preparing for battle
At this time much bad blood ex-
listed between the North and South
Piegans. Hamilton visited all the
The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1920-01-22

rand. The head chief of the Crows
said they could not go to Fort Ben
ton, as their ponies feet were tender
and there was little game between
where they were and the Fort. They
said, further, that they had been told
to go to Fort Union, at the mouth of
the Yellowstone, the next moon to
meet ONE white chiefs in council.
Hamilton and Eagle Eye then
made a Decline for the mouth of the
Musselshell river and forded that
stream. They then struck out for
the Little Rockies, near where they
The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1920-01-22
Butte Faces Potato Famine

Butte is threatened with a potato
famine.
The available supply in Butte to-
day is not sufficient to meet local
demands and will be entirely ex-
hausted within three weeks. Adj
ditional supplies cannot be readily
procured while prices r steadily
advancing.
Potatoes selling in Butte this
week for $4.75 a hundred will pro-
badly advance to $3.50 a hundred
before the end of the week, pro-
minent growers say.
w. J. Lutey declares that farm
ers of the northwest who have
potatoes for the winter dare
not open such cellars during the
cold weather for fear of causing
the tubers to freeze. Washington
wholesale prices exceed local retail
prices at present.
The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1920-01-22

camps and told the chiefs that they
must control their young men.
About IL o'clock in the morning
500 naked warriors in war regalia,
painted and mounted on their best
ponies, which were also painted,
rode down the bottom toward the
eros Ventres village, yelling and ut
tering their war-cries. The ground
fairly trembled under the thunder
ing hoofs of the ponies. Every one
expected that a fight was on and
wondered where it would stop. Lit
tie Dog had so warriors at the upper
end of town. Hamilton remained
with him. The Indians rode furious
ly around the eros Ventres camp. If
one shot had been fired by either
party a bloody fight would have fol-
lowed, as the Indians who were held
back by their chiefs would then have
Joined their friends. Hamilton said
that if a fight had started, Little Dog
would have joined the whites. He
notified the hostile bands hat if
they attacked the whites, they would
have him to fight. The advice he
gave the eros Ventres about not fir
ing the first shot undoubtedly pre-
vented the touching of the match to
the powder.
The hostiles rode around the hos
tile camp many times, yelling, cali
ing names and challenging the eros
Ventures warriors to come out and
fight; but the eros Ventres remain
ed quiet in their rifle pits, despite
the hot blood of their young men.
Finally the mounted warriors rode
back to their camps, stopping on the
way near the agency building to sing
songs and to call the white men
dogs and women The whites warn
ed the hostiles to stop their talk or
they would kill them, and presently
the riders gave a yell of defiance and
left.
AS the whites were eating a hasty
lunch, a fearful yell was heard. Ham
ilton and Little Dog mounted their
horses. Hamilton decided that if
the hostiles attacked the town and
Little Dog attacked the hostiles, he
would remain with him. If Little
Dog failed to act he could return to
the town and fight there.
The yell was given by 1900 paint
ed savages, each of whom had tied
from five to 20 yards of calico to his
horses tail and they started out to
run all over the bottom. Each In
dian was trying to make his pony
step on the calico tied to the horse
ahead. They were yelling and shoot
ing in every direction. 1t was a wild
that would take the brush of a
Russell to paint.
That night the eros Ventres ST.
lently moved their village, without
being discovered by their enemies.
The next morning all the Indians ex-
cept Little Dogs band left for the
north. Before they left, two war
of Piegans and Blackfeet
had been organized to raid the min
ers and ranchers in the western end
of the territory. Such was the re-
of the treaty. Most of the In
dams were dissatisfied and looked on
the whites with hatred. A chronic
of warfare between the tribes
and between Indians and whites con-
tlnued for years, as it had in the
past.
The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1920-01-22

Eye reached Fort Benton. Hamilton
had once saved his life. He was a
cool and brave Indian and would die
for Bill if called upon to do so. He
had accompanied Hamilton on two
previous trips of great danger.
Hamilton selected his two fastest
horses for himself and secured two
almost equally good saddle animals
for Eagle Eye. They took along an
extra pack horse, carrying presents
for the eros Ventres and Crows.
was armed with the first
Henry rifle that ever came into the
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-02-11
Tire Wooden Figures

Tire Wooden FEsurea
ire chief figures n rae window
ara the ura11EkizE made of cigar box
rood- These hare teen CIT olI and
mounted and represent srUErs o.
various grades and so many attitudes
They are Te-T attractive and show
what ingenuity viii accomplish
Other features N the display are
arst aid kits which the scouts cz--y
and know how 10 use. their insignia
and pins. also tie Shoulder srnoleris
and marks Of promotion and Etu7i'a-
decorations. Altogether the win log
Is a Tery comprehensive display OF
SCOT. activities
Troop Two ts directed By l. r.
Rzae, soou.nas-er. The troop IL re
crusttng for additional members. ac-
cordtng 20 tire poster In the E1n-ov
which says there is roOm for ten
more boys II the troop
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-02-11

dow very srrssttczliy. With the scoz'
azn1e-s As q background 1-Dcng
.tese is The banner which the boFs
have been awarded for their Eork 70
the Liberty loan campaigns and si1aa-
lar rEr work
La the center Of the window .s
drawing made u Ivan Larson degc1-
ing The soo1s work X shows plat
sc--a with the rlxzaks CO the scout
aw. Leading 10 tais s. the ladder
wsseh TIE hcys mist ciunno, and lead
ing from Ea1s are steps 70 s1ccess II
lzfe. TIE Young artists a1ez Is sYlea-
cs1 ana his drawing is 11rsaalfy
good
ReEJes This drawing -tcre sr-
po-se others in the display. and q
number q kodak pictures taken On
the hikes. These have been framed
IL little rustic frames with slender
tree branches making the frame
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-02-11
VIII Never Come From Salves
Ointnents, or Other Local
Treatment

A -nssfsor gziso-s cs a,ticrsf, c1-Et'
rrents, saves cr ctasr FORMS q %
ca! .-ex.-a.1. ss1 70. Ezr. z-y
real pe-=sne-t -..sst from sf1-
6ss-aseL c.. iA5s sact E-zly 4
! y0-- -1i-5. AID tae-e Il bop. for
yo.
II yo- hare sre- b.sn zG1r-s.1
rrit5 erzs-za, -stt.r, b1s.lE, e-rE'-
tsc-E, Or ot5e- sz--1la- fElo a--z-z-
sao1s goz cz- appreciate Il. real
Terrifying 62spo-21o-t that co-ss
f-o- lies. Ssss-a.-E E1d VIA.
y0u are booking so- 10 not merely
fsuporEF. palliative rs!as. inat
gay case the terrible burning AID
;sras-g 90 zazte fo- awhile, bzzt
real ge-zzo. relief that Ehskes CT
f1e sazrk1es Of In. disease, and re-
STORES TIE skin 70 ia !o.ls-
healthy cc15siao1-
FoatoB the teachings Of science
ard ror viii learn that TIE ska Is
fed ty the blood, and naturally,
fte-, she condition Of y0ug fk1n
wsii 6eDe1d aapoa tns condition o.
yoar b3oo1 If the blood becomes
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-02-11
SURE RELIEF FROM
ITCHING SKIN DISEASES

I s-ser-sa with --iTiiio,s Of try dst.
ease germs that ATTACK IN. sEan
1 th.- n. 6srr Irritation s5d m
.s-F. strtl-E VII remain with yo-
r--g .1aes. Et-=Es are ATTACKED az
Inssr sozrc. and -s-aorsS IRON TIE
tloo1
Esn-i-. -.1s.E. .he-.to... 1zz
o-Ey be e-5scrr5 frr-1 3 tr.aezsns
int gees r5gn. 80 the scat Of the
t-ozble, z-2 strikes ~ rs cz1s-
Szr5 q rrz1e5y is s s. g. TIE reEs-
zt2s Cd blood pr-16e- that kills
Il. germs Of 6iscase, ard se-cs :
z.w supply OF r1r1 red blood roZ-s-
Srg through tie Tcz1s.
s. S. s. hzs been -Sed s-cc.rsfri-
~ IL Bo--e Of II. worst csfes OF
.sczs-1z AID cthsr Ek1a disorders.
and i can be -elisd upon 70 cleanse
the bloos thoroughly CT the germs
winch rsrte these complaints.
:. 6 s Is also q splendid to1sc zad
sys:-7-buii6e-. and Il builds ~
and adds -rw vsgo- 10 the whole
syrtel
Go 20 ros. drug store and get q
oottj. Of 8 s 5. to-day. and begin
tle right treatment for skin dis
esseE. Tt-a Il you feel tia. yozr
case requires special medical adj
vice, yo1 can obtain sane without
cost. by writing TO Chief Medical
Adviser, Is Swift laboratory. AZ.
Lzn.z. Ca
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-02-11
DON'T FUSS WITH
MUSTARD PLASTERS!
Musterole Works Without the
Bligter-Eagicr, Quicker

THERE'S no sense Ia mixing mess
of mustard, four and water when you
can easily relieve pain, 6orsneas or riff
meas With little cIean, white Mu2teYole.
Musterole Is made Of pure oil Of
mustard and other helpful Ingredients,
combined in the form OF the present
white ointment. II taxes the place Of
mustard plasters, and viii not blister.
MuGterole usually gives prompt relief
from sore throat, bronchitis, tonsilitia,
Group, stiff neck, aGthma, neuralgia,
headache, congestion, pieurigy. rheuma-
tism, iumbago, pains and aches Of the
back or jointa, spraing, core muscles,
bruises, chilbIaine, frosted feet colds Of
the chest 0t often prevents pncLncnia).
3oc and Coo jars; hospital size $3.50
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-02-11
less is Al
IIe openi
| a..a Lid

|aollar Isl
Is work 4
|hs big d1
g condud
(ing nier,d
! in KeoH
|. oon,e I'll
" outsid|
| bargain
n hand,
| bargain1
he last 4
|ternber a
\ minutel
! fair to |
! more. i
but the \
the dolla
h n,alad1
Big to tra
pne gland
Etonor1
81 skept1
'rchants |
u bargai|
hefit Of q
D be h|
ie territ|
IRE Of tn
! Of tow1
es to con-
DDS in Cd
tyice is
&nces for|
this mol
THE bari
a luxuri|
q and Al
here will
& Of the|
|urself. |
al
|out the
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-02-11
HER NEW DRESS
COST FEW CENTS
Diamond Dyes Make Faded, Old
Shabby Apparel CoiorfH
and New.

Don't worry about perfect reEults.
Use Diamond Dyes" guaranteed to
give new. rich, fadeless color to any
fabric, whether ii be wool, silk. linen.
cotton, or mixed goods,-dresses,
blouses, stockings, skirts. children's
coats, feathers, draperies. coverings.
The Direction Book with each pack
age tells 30 plainly how to diamond
dye over any color that you can not
make a mistake.
To match any material, haye drug
gist show you Diamond Dye" Color
Card.
The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1920-02-11
BETTER THAN CALOMEL
Thousands Have Discovered
DR.. Edwards Olive Tablets
Are a Harmless Substitute

Dr.. Edwards Olive Tablets are the
reeuIt Of Dr.. Edwards determination
not 10 treat liver and bowel complaints
with calornei. For II years he used
these tablets "a vegetable compound
mixed with olive oily in his private
practice with great guccess.
They do ali the good that calonel
Goes but have 10 bad after effects. Ne
pajns, no gripping, no injury TO the
runs or danger from acid foods-yet
they stimulate the liver and bowels.
Take DR.. Edwards Olive Tablets
when you feel "logy" and heavy"
Note how they clear clouded brain and
oerk UP the spirits. lOc and sc a box.