The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1920-02-12
FREE TRAPPERS OF YELLOWSTONE RADDED|
CALIFORNIA MISSIONS AND STOLE HORSES

camista was worn, cut low. Gold and
silver ornaments of ancient pattern
decorated their ears and necks. They
wore quaint little shoes and no
stockings. They showed extreme
grace in dancing.
At n end of the long room were
seated the musicians, their instru-
ments being a species of guitar, a
"bandolin," and an Indian drum.
Round the room lounged groups of
Mexican men. scowling out of their
serapes at the more favored noun
tain men with jealous eyes. The free
trappers, Invested of their buckskin
hunting coats, appeared in their
brand new shirts of gaudy calico and
close-fitting buckskin pantaloons,
with long fringes down the outside
seam from him to ankle. They wore
moccasins ornamented with bright
beads and porcupine quilts. Each
around his waist wore his mountain
belt and s~calp-knife. Most had pistols
sticking in their belts.
The dances were without form or
figure. Selling his partner around
the waist with the grip of a grizzly
bear, each m~ountaineer would whirl
and twirl, jumping and stamping, and
introducing Indian steps used in the
scalp or buffalo dances. Occasional
ly unearthly cries OF the chanting of
Indian war, hunting or beaver songs
would be shouted, and sometimes
the whole band of trappers would
take up one song and sing it through.
They had the floor all to themselves.
for if a Mexican stepped onto the
floor, a blow from a g~alloping trap
per would send him reeling.
During intervals gourds of whisky
would go the rounds, and as the night
advanced the dancers grew more
boisterous, while the hatred of the
Mexican men burned ~fiercer. Sud-
denly an Infatuated Mexican stopped
La Bonte and pulled his sweetheart
him. Standing erect, La Bonte
raised his band to his mouth and
gave a ringing war-whoop; then he
seized the rash Mexican, lifted him
over his head and dashed him against
the wall.
Kit Carson Saves Day
Twenty Mexicans drew their knives
and rushed upon La Bonte, who stood
his ground and swept one after an
JULIET uOWu WIFI HIS nuSG list, Willie
with an answering war-whoop, his
comrades rushed to the rescue.
Knives glittered in the light as the
.rappers stood shoulder to shoulder,
and many a hilt was driven "up to
Green River as the mountaineers
ohrased it, meaning up to the Green
River trade mark stamped on the
iteel nea the hilt.
The shrieks of the women brought
endorsements for the Mexicans, and :
he odds were beginning to tell :
the whites when Kit Carson's s
eye caught sight of a heavy
tool with three long, thick legs.
this, he tore off the legs, Z
which were soon in the hands of him
elf, Dick Wooton and La Bonte. !
sweeping them around their heads s
hey charged the Mexicans and {
racked many a skull. The Mexicans
ouId not stand before the assault r
nd bolted. The trappers also beat T
hasty retreat to the hotel, where e
heir rifles had been left. i
The town %prefecto, or marshal, ]
DON appeared and demanded their t
urrender. A yell of derision greet
d his proposal, but as they wished T
D remain in Taos for a few days, the a
rappers settled with justice by hand t.
lg forth a few beaver pelts, to be Ct
Did to pay for the singing of masses o
Or the souls of the dead Mexicans. ii
For a day or two the merriment v
as kept up, and then Killbuck and
a Bonte departed for the head wa
RS of the Yellowstone, once more
, trap the beaver and fight the
lackfeet.
-o--