The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1922-12-15

son, Gallatin and Madison rivers
where they unite to form the Mis-
souri,, engineers who were engaged
IN surveying work in connection
with sewer system for the towr
of Three Forks, Montana, discov-
cred ancient relics and portions OF
the ruins of one of the two oldest
forts or trading posts between the
Mississippi river and the Pacific
coast. A musket of the type used
more than century ago was TN
covered, together with some can
non balls. These undoubtedly were
left behind by the survivors of the
expedition sent out in 1909 by the
first Missouri Fur Company to
build trading post where the
three rivers flow together and form
the Missouri.
The point where the ancient mus
ket was found is one of the most
historic spots in the west, famous
first because Lewis and Clark
found there one of the detectives
of their expedition-the discovery
of the source of the mighty Mis-
souri,; and famous also because on
the exact spot of its location there
was built 113 years ago a fort
which was the scene of many
bloody battles between the whites
and reds, and which the trappers
of the Missouri Fur Company were
unable to hold against the Indians.
An examination of the ground
surrounding the spot where the
relics were discovered showed the
searchers something still more in
teresting. They found unmistak-
able evidences of the old trading
post, itself. Time and the encroach-
ment of the river on the land had
destroyed the greater part of even
the ground on which the fort stood,
but on one side was plain to be seen
the broad ditch which had formed |
a moat surrounding the post, and
there we're also some of the timbers
visible at one point in the bank.
In order to understand fully the
reason for the fort being built at
the Three Forks and to visualize
the conditions under which it was
constructed and maintained for
nearly year in the face of fire.
quent attacks upon its garrison by
the savage B1ackfeet, it is necessary
to turn back to the story of the
man who, more than any other
dominated the upper Missouri re-
gions during the first quarter of
century after their discovery to the
civilized world by Lewis and Clark.
That man was Manuel Lisa, the
Spaniard, as strange mixture of
character as could we'll be inagin-
ed and a picturesque and notable
figure in the great drama of the
west. Lisa was born Of Spanish
parents in New Orleans in Septem-
Der, 1772. AS a young man he NOV ;
I'd to St. Louis, where he began his
,areer as a trader first under the {
Spanish regime, then under Ameri- Z
an authority. Probably next to
[ohn Jacob Astor no one man ever :
70 completely dominated the fur T
rade. He has been called the Cor {
ez of the Rocky mountains.
He was man of curiously mixed t
character, combining with true
greatness in some respects much {
hat was petty, brutal and base. He
lid not scruple to use the vilest
lcoholic mixtures to gain his ends T
n trading with the Indians, and his I
reatment of his Usage wife, !
1itain, is one of the most cruel in !;
idents in the annals of the time. !;
Lisa's Western Career +
1t was not until after the return i
f Captains Lewis and Clark that (
ne first American fur company !
vas formed. This was the result :,
f the keen sagacity of Lisa, who T
had been with a Spanish !
that operated on the
ranches of the Mississippi Fear
IS and daring, the Spaniard was T
-illing to brave the dangers of the a
1dians and the treacherous waters al
{ the Missouri to gain the wealth 0,
{ the beaver described by Lewis 81
I'D Clark as being SO plentiful on p,
lie upper Missouri.
His first move was to engage as T
is chief guide and advisor George
rewyer, who had been hunter and til
terpreter for Lewis and Clark, oil
Id who knew the upper reaches of til
lie Missouri. In the spring of 1907 al
lisa set forth with a small party in Te
keel boat. At the mouth of the al
latte river they met boat with fl
~@%1x,o1 i