The Kevin review. [volume] (Kevin, Mont.) 1922-1929, 1923-03-08

river was reached, when Evans an
Russell, two of the trappers, discov
cred a mOccasin. AS the countr'
was known to be infested with wa
parties of Blackfeet, Bloods, Piegan,
and Crows, who came from the terri
tory to the north, now included il
\ Montana, every precaution was taker
to guard against a surprise attack.
; Nighttime, usually in the earl
morning hours, vas the favorite pc.
Rod for an attack by the Indians
They wanted to fight in the dark as
much as possible, being able to hide
themselves by lying down. AS a re-
suit in the daytime they usually took
to the timber when an engagement
was in sight. These traits were shown
in the fight which took place, the
following morning, in which 'Uncle
Billy" landed his first Indian scalp.
The party was awakened about 4
a. m. by two shots, followed by a Sc
ries of wild Indian yells that were
fierce enough to send terror into the
hearts of any but the bravest from
tiersmen. Then the redmen COM
menced to fire into the camp, using
their Hudson Bay flintlocks and
bows and arrows. The trappers used
the flash of the old-time guns used
by the redmen to show them where
to fire. Two Indians were killed in
the first fusilade and when later in
the morning an effort was made by
their companions to recover the bod
les another was sent to the happy
hunting grounds.
Lifts an Indian Scalp
When daylight came the Indians,
who were of the Blackfeet tribe, had
disappeared, leaving the three dead
bodies. These were scalped and
then the party set out in pursuit of
the others. A trail of blood, show
ing that some of the Indians had been
wounded, gave the pursuers a lead
and they came upon the Indians
about five miles away near a spring.
The trappers divided forces, three
men staying behind the Indians on
the brow of a hill, with boulder
breastworks for protection, and the
others circling them and getting into
a grove in their pathway. There were
eleven Indians, two wounded, and
they were thus caught in a trap. All
of them were killed. In their plum
der were found rifles, ammunition
and trinkets belonging to a party of
.trappers they had surprised.
On their way back to camp they
came upon the body of a dead Indian.
boy, this is your first opportunity.
Lift the scalp from that buck. 1t
belongs to you," Williams said to
"Of course ] knew how to scalp,
having watched the trappers lift the
hair from the three dead Indians"
said "Uncle Billy" in recounting the
story of his first fight, land / soon
had the feat accomplishing. Scalping
was easy. The method was to run
knife around the head under the
hair, cutting through to the skull
bone, then taking hold of the scalp
lock and giving it a quick jerk. The
scalp would come off and you could
Try it afterwards on a hoop"
Visited Noted Hot Springs
The party then moved northward
passing the famous Thermopolis
Hot Springs and camped several {
northward in the valley of the
Big Horn. -Four days later then en-
countered scouts of the Shoshones, {
hO, uhQCl ShlCl w ashanti WClC 4
returning from a hunting trip to Elk '
which was the name given by q
hem to the Yellowstone river. '
I'm the morning the village arriv- >
ID, Chief Washable coming first with !
bodyguard of 20 men," said Uncle :
Billy, in telling about the trip. 1--WE z
'oon had a feast prepared and a
moke. The plumber we had taken
rom the dead Blackfeet was spread =
tut and a lively trade sprung up, par 3
icularly with the squaws. They Q
would give a pair of fancy moccasins .
or almost anything that belonged =
0 the Blackfeet. The chiefs son u
a good horse and gave it to g
ne. A present from an Indian mean !"
hat he wants something you possess. I,
soon found out it was one of my Y
and 1 gave it to him. He was q
noble youth with the Characters q
les of his father and both were ex- a
friendly to the whites. =
Adept in Sign Talk 81
Il had learned the sign language M
D rapidly that now l was able to x
Xix to them on almost any subject. 81
Iy proficiency proved a marvel to Y
hief Washable and he would not be- &c
eve that l had not been raised by "a
Indian tribe. 1t was amusing le
hear the questions the women ask
! me: With what tribe had I
ved?' Where was my woman?' Had *
left her?' 81
Scalp dances and var songs were so
in that evening by the -
oung folks, and the chiefs son made =
lite a show with the scalp / had ~
ven him. An Indian celebrates ~
yer scalps just the same, whether ~
3 killed the victim or not, just so =
ng as it belonged to one of his
ibe's enemies. w
"a few days later, however, I had u
/ opportunity to see a real Indian
lttle and incidentally to participate. er
18th some Shoshone scouts and "a
,ung braves we went down the river al
i'd one afternoon we discovered IA pa
,rses guarded by two Blackfeet w
ne Shoshones charged and the two w
were In the happy hunting do
'ound. Riding to the top of a hill
3 saw about 80 more running to-