Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-08-27

was extremely costly to each, as they
both were warriors of the first order
and loved a fight.
BIackfeet Assent
ITO the proposal of the Crow chief
the head man of the Blackfeet readily
assented, and he stated that on the
morrow everything would be arranged
for the council, which was to be an as
sembly of the leading chiefs of both
nations.
'The council began and proceeded
without a sign of hostility. Many ora
tors of both tribes spoke eloquently
and it was determined that a course
should be pursued that would make the
Crows and Blackfeet friends, instead
of enemies.
Finally, a treaty was arranged to
the satisfaction Of all, and the council
adjourned to give place to feasting and
dancing during the night, and to give
time for the great Blackfeet medicine
man. Skoon-a-tape-e-guan or the
Strong Man. TO arrive and be present
at the final agreement. The feasting
and merriment continued and the best
of feeling existed between the ancient
enemies as they awaited the coming of
tn Strong Man.
A Bloody Scalp
From time to time stragglers from
the main Crow camp dropped in. and
occasionally a belated party of Black
feet would arrive. With one of these
parties came an old BIackfeet woman
who sought out the chief and told him
that she had found a bundle of Grow
moccasins hidden in the bushes along
the river, and in them she had found
a freshly taken Blackfeet scalp. The
Blackfeet chief quietly went out around
the Crow camp and 10 was amazed
to see, dangling from the neck of a
Crow brave, the sun glass of the Strong
Man, which the latter had secured some
time before from a Hudson bay trap
per and used for lighting his pipe. The
chief knew the glass and was certain
that it belonged to the Strong Man. for
whom he had been waiting so anxious
". He felt sure. too, that the Strong
Man would never give his consent to a
treaty of peace with the Crows.
Going back to the council lodge,
therefore, he told the Crows that it
would be impossible for him or his
people to sign the treaty of peace until
the Strong Man had given his consent,
and further, until such consent was
given, they would be considered enc
mics. Having thus delivered himself,
he walked out, followed by several of
the leading men of both tribes, who
inquired the reason for thus breaking
ND the council. His only answer was
to the Crows, whom he told to go to
their camp and prepare for war.
A Council of Chiefs
Later he called a council of Black
feet chiefs, informing them of the
murder of their medicine man and of
the turn affairs had taken, and plans
for action against the Crows were
made.
''The. council having been ended so
suddenly, the Crows felt that it would
be good. policy to place as great a.
distance between the two camps as
possible. They therefore hastily moved
their camp down to what used to be
known as the breaks of Sun river,
some Is miles above where the village
of Sun River now stands. Here they
threw up Notifications somewhat after
the manner of white soldiers and pre-
pared 10 stand off the Blackfeet if
pursued.
The Blackfeet, on the other hand.
sent runners to the different camps.
When night came the host of Black
feet warriors already assembled was
increased by another thousand, and all
night could be heard the constant hoof
beats of war horses ~galloping to the
council camp. The particulars of the
murder of the Strong Man had been
learned by several of the outside
camps about the same time the chief
had discovered it.
1t seemed that the Strong Man had
received the summons when it first
went out and had Immediately set
forth accompanied by his assistant.
the council camp they were set upon
as they were lighting their pipes, by