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

! at Fort Benton, six Blackfeet came
riding in asking for protection. The
Arickarees were after them in bloody
earnest. The banks Of the Marias
had just been the scene of a merci-
less battle between the Blackfeet and
the Arekarees and in it the former
had met with a most humiiating de-
feat and had been forced to flight.
These six had been separated from
their companions and forced to seek
shelter at the fort. The great gates
Of the post had hardly been closed
when 800 angry and determined Arick-
arees came riding by. They fiercely
| demanded the surrender of the refu-
| gees, which was. of course, refused.
! Helen Clark. then mere baby, a
| blind Indian girl and an Indian boy
were out on the banks Of the Missouri
some distance from the fort when this
occurred. and Clarke Immediately sent
out Robierre. one of his men. to get
them to the fort in safety. But assist
ance was too late The blind girl was
seized by the Indians and shot. 1sa
dore. the boy, was frightfully cut and
mutilated. but he finally escaped from
his torturers and swan the river to
! an island, from which he was rescued
by Clarke amid shower of darts and
poisoned arrows. Miss Clarke escaped
| with a sound spanking and Robierre
carried her in safety to the fort.
The Arickarees were angry at being
They Immediately held council and
determined to storm the fort. For
several hours they kept up the fight.
but finally, finding their ammunition
nearly all gone. their arrows broken
and no signs of Welding at the fort
they rode away. Not a single person
at the fort was wounded although
many. including Malcolm Clarke, had
narrow escapes.
In the summer of 1852 occurred
Clarke's quarrel with Mckenzie. which
ended so fatally for the latter The
cause of the quarrel was trifle, but
Mckenzie would not listen to reason
and his friends urged him on to wipe
out an assumed insult. Near Fort
Union. while Clarke was in the cabin
Of one of the American Fur company's
boats. Mckenzie. blinded with drink.
suddenly entered and when within two
feet of his presumed victim leveled
his pistol. But Clarke was too quick
for him and in an instant Mckenzie lay
dead at his feet. Mckenzie's friends
had not expected this result and threat
ened to avenge the death. Frank Wor-
den Of Mssoula was the only friend
Clarke had on the boat On his ad-
vice horses were procured and Clarke
followed by his son. Horace. started
overland for Fort Benton. where they
arrived in safety.
Stolen Horses Started Row
The beginning of the trouble which
led to the murder of Malcolm Clarke
and the bloody slaughter on the Marias
began in the summer of 1867. when
party Of Piegan relatives Of Mrs Clarke
visited them. They had not been at
the house over week when their
horses and Clarkes were stolen one
night. a search was made and the
trail discovered. and the tracks showed
that white men were the thieves This
was an objectionable offensc in the
eyes of the B!ackfeet visitors and
Clarke made every effort TO secure the
return of the animals. but was unsuc-
cessful. for it was held in those days
that an Indian had no rights that n
white man was bound to respect.
But the theft of the horses while
on a visit was something that Ne-tus.
che-O. Mrs. Clarke's cousin. could not
forget nor forgive. and he determined
ON revenge to wipe out the insult.
He chose his opportunity when Clarke
was away and one stormy night stole
away with his family, all of Clarke's
horses and field glass. which he ap-
propriated Clarke returned soon after
and he and his two sons took up the
trail over the Benton road, but was
unable to find the fugitives.
Information was soon brought that
the horses were at Piegan village
and Clarke and his son, Horace. left
reached the camp before Ne-tus- che-o
riding Clarkes favorite
horse. Before Clarke could interfere,
Horace had rushed at Ne-tus- che-o.
dragged him from the horse, gave him
q sharp cut with his whip and called
him vile dog.
This stirred the young warriors. al
ready sullen and suspicious. to a fren-
~ and, stripped to the waist. they i'm
surrounded the boy, chanting
the death song. Then the old men
of the village rushed out to the rescue
and just in the nick of time. thrust
the young braves aside and ordered
them to their lodges. But it was
very close call for the young man. who
came very near paying the penalty of
Peace was patched up between
Clarke and Ne tus -che-o, who finally
himself in the wrong.
But it was probably only trick to
give the Indian more time TO complete
his revenge. for Clarke in the nepotia-
tons had called him an old woman and
The blow given him by Horace could not
be forgiven.
It was not long before the Indians
had other causes for complaint In the
summer of 1859 four or five wagons
about Is miles from Fort Benton were
attacked by Indians. afterwards found
to be Crows. One White man was kill
I'd and when the news reached Benton |
The people went wild with excitement |
md while the news was fresh Mountain !
Chiefs brother and young Blood In |
dian arrived at Benton. carrying in |
structions from Alexander Culbertson |
Without question or thought, without |
explanation or inquiry, these two In
lians We're shot down like dogs in re-
yenge for the attack on the wagons, |
at that time to have been the |
work of the Blackfeet.
Ne-tus-che-o's RIGHTEOUSNESS.
When the news of this cold blooded
murder reached the Piegan village it
lroused q storm Of anger and brought
determination for revenge. Prepar-
ltiOns for war began at once The !