, 1923-09-05

of the old Montana trail blazers, was
"Liver-Eating" Johnson. Today
there are still living in the state hun
dreds of pioneers who knew Liver
Eating" Johnson well, and who have
laughed at his quaint stories of ex-
p~eriences on the plains. 1t was an
exploit of Johnson's in a famous In
dian battle at the mouth of the Mussel
shell river in 1870 that won for him
his name of "Liver-Eating." says a
lifetime friend in telling the story in
the Livingston Enterprise.
"No history of Montana would be
Eating johnson.
"a sailor by occupation, he came
from the Pacific coast to Montana in
the COS, and being exceptionally ex-
pert with his rifle, was soon known
as a bad man to impose on. He fol-
lowed wolfing and hunting, with a
big sprinkling of Indian fighting, for
over 20 years. The adventures and
hair-breadth escapes of this man
would fill a large volume. No man
of the frontieris is better known than
"Liver-Eater." The manner in which
he gained his name is as follows:
"At the mouth of the Mussellshell
river in the summer of 1870, Captain
Hawley kept a trading post, and quite
a number of wolfers stopped at his
place in the summer time, doing
nothing. One hot day in July Mrs.
Jennie Hawley, accompanied by a
squaw belonging to one of the wolf
ers, was about 800 yards from the
post, engaged in picking June ber-
ries, when they were fired on by
Sioux concealed in the brush.
Woman Is Shot
MRS. Hawley fell, shot through
the neck, and the squaw was shot
through the fleshy portion of her an
atomy, but was able to skip for the
post, yelling at every jump. The
wolfers responded quickly, but be-
fore they could reach the scene of
the shooting, the noble sons of the
prairie had relieved Mrs. Hawley of
her scalp. On examination it was
found that the bullet had only creas-
ed her neck, striking the cords and
stunning her. Water dashed in her
face soon revived her. She was as
sisted to the house and the party of
wolfers, consisting of johnson,
George Grinnel, Jim Deer and seven
others whose names have slipped my
memory, went after the Indians.
"The savages kept on the outside
of the timber for about half a mile
and then dropped into a washout,
intending to ambush the whites.
Johnson's quick eye detected the ruse,
and the wolfers came down through
the willows and appeared close to the
washout-so close,in fact that the In
dams dared not look out and the wolf
ers dared not look in. The washout
was about 80 yards long, 10 yards
wide and about 10 feet deep.
"The Indians would rise their coup
sticks and the boys would amuse
themselves by shooting them in two.
Various plans were devised for GUST
ing them from their stronghold.
About shutdown two of the party went
around to the mouth of the washout,
which they found barricaded with
shields made from the necks of buff
falo bulls, also blankets were hung
up to keep the whites from taking
aim.
"The two men who went to the
mouth of the washout. being armed
with Spencer rifles lat hat time con-
sidered q splendid ARM, opened fire
and the shields and blankets offer
ing no resistance, the balls came
whistling through. The savages i'm
mcdiately commenced singing their
death song and started to climb out
over the side of the washout. It of
fered n splendid chance for the boys
to avenge the injury to Mrs. Hawley.
Thirty-two of the savages passed in
their checks in almost as many sec
onds.
Was Johnson's Indian
"One Of the Indians was hit
through both hips and was sitting up.
Jimmy Deer approached him, and
drawing his pistol Ia cap and ball af-
fair), he held it close to the Indians
head and snapped. The caps, being
next to the revolver, could not be dis
charged. The Indian lodged. blink
ed, and finding himself still alive.
begged for his life. He was told that
he was too good to live in this wick
cd world, and that his home was in
heaven. AFTER swapping the remain
Ing five chambers with the usual
amount Of lodging, blinking and
pleading by the Indian, Johnson step
nod nm md claimad him Ms his In