Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-03-19

crumbling tibia.
One hundred and seventy three Pie
Eans fell in the fight and, to the shame
of the attacking forces, nearly thirt
of these were women and children
this battle. struck the blow which i'm
pressed upon the Blackfeet nation thu
futility of continuing their campaigns
against the whites and followed more
to the letter than the spirit the terst
instructions from General Sherman
IF you have to fight the Indians, hi
them hard"
The, Piegan campaign was brought
about by series of depredations il
central and northern Montana culmi-
mating in the murder of Malcolm
Clarke in 1869. and the refusal of the
Indians to give up the guilty men.
Adventure Appealed to Clarke
Malcolm Clarke was fine type OF
the men who blazed the trails into
Montana. He was graduated from
West Point in Sherman's class. and
brilliant future was predicted for him
by all who knew him. A life of adj
venture, however, had more charms
for him tnan tho routine of army life
and in 1871 he came to the northwest
and was for many years connected
with the American Fur company. II
was life which pleased and suited
him and it was not long before he
gained the reputation of being one OF
the most skillful Of Indian traders:
His ability was so well recognized
that the Hudson's Bay company Of
fered him a position as it's main rae
tor. an offer which he. however, de-
clined. He continued in the Indian
trade until the sixties. wnen he set
tied in the Little Prickly Pear val
lev. in 1865. proposing to devote the
rest of his life to stock raising. He
was twice married, his first wife being
the daughter Of Blackfeet chief.
He was at first called White Lodge
Pole. name of particular honor
among the Indians. but afterwards
won a name for himself. On a trip up
the Missouri. Clarke killed 30 grizzlies
in 30 days and in one day killed four.
This remarkable exploit filled the In
dams with admiration and they forth
with named him NoSo ke-i-o, -Four
Bears. Helen T. Clarke. his daughter.
In one of the publications of the his
torical society gives the following In
cident of her fathers power and in
llHSHtc OSeI tAt
There is commotion in the
camp; the dogs are barking and the
women are yelling; the wigwams are
deserted and most of the inhabitants
are collected before lodge on the
edge Of the village. The assemblaSe
numbers about a hundred men. Con
versation is carried on in highly ex-
cited tones. the name Of Ne-SoKe-i-o
be ng frequently repeated. 1t is
learned that he has knocked down an
Indian. Strange that he should i'm
peril his life. There must be good
reason The Indian had taken liber-
ties with him and had attempted TO
steal the goods Of the American Fur
company He stands at the opening
of the lodge. his eyes flashing. keep
ing his enemies at bay. two derringers
in bis hands. ready to fire. And be
did. Wells, Cries.
Clarke Attends Council
1.-THE Calf Shirt, chief of the Boods,
then spoke in tones that could be dis
ting.lished above the noise and excite
ment This man shall live; he has
big heart Quiet and order is once
more restored. Soon after this Calf
Shirt sent an invitation to my father
to attend council. On entering the
lodge he was given the seat of honor.
The pipe of peace was handed around
and smoked. Silence then reigned for
while. but. finally the oldest man
arose and opened the meeting with
speech Each warrior in his turn fol-
lowed him and did likewise. The sub
stance of all can be summed up in the
closing remarks of Calf Shirt:
My friend said he. addressing my
father you are continually acting in
Il manner displeasing TO the nation.
We think you wicked: that is nothing;
but this touches us. You give us less
for robes than the other traders.
With that silvery tongue of yours. you
make my young men come and go at
your beck. and we cannot understand
it, There is my brother-in-law. Little
Beaver alexander Culbertson) who
gives me-gives US all-magnificent
presents: pays us richly for our
robes: treats me in every way graft
flying to great chief. But what is
most singular. your very smile will
make men take their robes from the
others and give them to you. There
is something about you that steals
away our hearts against our inclina
tons. What power do you possess
Has the spirit. of Manitou fallen
upon you? ] say to you that ! hate
the white man. but l hate you less
than any white man / ever knew
THE pipe was then handed to my
father. After smoking a few puffs
he quietly said: ! thank you for
your good advice. There is wisdom in
it. In the future Four Bears will
take heed But as to the power that
belongs to me. reply to you in the
words of the great ones of the nation:
1t is my medicine The grave war
riors bowed their heads and as each
one left the lodge he shook hands with
Four Bears and held for him ever
afterward great respect
This little incident shows what
wonderful power Malcolm Clarke had
over the Indians and illustrates the
strong, determined character Of one
of Montana's notable pioneers. NAL
colin Clarke's biography reads like a
romance Of century ago. when every
chapter had its hairbreadth escape
and every paragraph its deadly peril. :!
Clarke's life was one of continual ad-
venture. in which one startling incl
dent followed close upon the heels of
another. and his daughter tells them
with the charm of personal knowl-
edge.
= One time when he was in command