Great Falls tribune., 1922-04-23

trip, the most outstanding being hi
discovery of the Yellowstone wonder
land, known for many years afterward
as Golfers hell. The Crows were tn
only Indians to respond to Lisa's Mr
3! Of trade, and flocked to Fort Manuel
| bringing large quantities of choice furs
Lisa enjoyed profitable trade tha
winter. and in the spring, with 8 littl,
fleet of boats loaded with petry repre-
senting what in those days was for
tune, started for st. Louis.
I. This was the first fur laden fleet
| OF boats to 60 down the river to St
Louis, and was an historic incident, in
asmuch as it made of the river town
the headquarters of the fur trade of
the United States. a position that the
city enjoys to this day. Thereafter, for
three-quarters Of a century, every sea-
son came boats bearing cargoes of furs
to st. Louis. and this ceased only with
the development of railroad transpor-
tation
Great Event In st. Louis
The arrival of Lisa and his little fleet
was great advent in st. Louis. 1t was
the talk of the town The st. Louis
Gazette carried a story of his success
in the quaint newspaper phraseology of
that day. Officials who had attempted
to block his undertaking the year be-
fore now sought to do him honor. He
was hailed as the first of the Kings
of the Upper Missouri" position Of
prestige which he held to the end Of
his days.
Black Manuel" as be was some
times called on the river, did not let
the grass in the field of opportunity
grow under his feet While the finan-
ciers and officials were warm over his
exploit he organized the Missouri Fur
company. He brought into this all the
Louis, which, during his absence.
through the Louisiana purchase. had
become an American town Among
bis associates were Benjamin Wilken-
son, brother of General Wilkenson. who
had been against them the year before;
Pierre and Augustin Choteau. his form
er bitter rivals in trade: Reuben Lewis,
a relative Of Captain Meriweather
Lewis. and General William Clark,
Lewis associate in exploration. and
who was later to be governor of Louis
lana. and others, together with his old
associates. Menard and Morrison Gen
eral William Clark. then the most in
fluential man in Louisiana. was elected
president and made the company
agent in St Louis Lisa was general
manager. Through Clark, Lisa was au
thorized to organize a portion of his
men into military company. and was
given contract by the federal govern
nent 10 take back to the Mandans
Chief Shehaha, who had been induced
oy Lewis and Clark, on their return
rip from the coast. to 60 with them
o Washington. to pay visit Of cere
nony to President Thomas jefferson. /
One bright day in June. 1900, all Of
st. Louis made a holiday and lined the
,anks Of the river to see Lisa and his |
leet of 13 keel boats and barges make .
he start. Lisa had under him $50
nen. about half American frontiersmen
nd half Canadian voyageurs, who were
IL well armed; artisans of all kinds.
surgeon, an abundance Of supplies
nd a large stock Of goods for trade.
'erhaps the wine of success had gone
Q the head Of this remarkable man.
sho had broken down all opposition,
nd, As he was absolute master. he may
ave abused his autohrity. He was /,
harsh to the Americans,
nd by the time the fleet reached the
landau villages more than l25 had
eserted. Trouble with the Mandans
fsulted in part of the expedition, in
|uding those escorting Chief Shehaha.
lrning back, but Lisa, with the larger I