The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1923-06-08

spent practically all his time In the
employ of the government in various
capacities. Before being confined IL
the hospital by his last illness he was
stationed at Fraser as an agency EN-
ploye.
Thrilling War Trip
Shortly before his death he told OF
one of his early day experiences in
Montana as follows:
Always will 1 remember a trip
I made with my father in 1872 to
the camp of Old Chief Red Stone who
then was camped on Snake creek,
where in 1877 Chief Joseph, one of
the greatest Indian generals and
fighters that ever roamed the plains
of Montana fought and surrendered
to General Miles in 1877.
Little did 1 believe when on this
trip with my father that / would
afterward become one of General
Miles scouts, In 1877 my father was
a close friend of Chief Red Stone and
we had gone to Snake creek for a
visit with the chief and his people,
the Assinniboines, who always had
been friendly with the whites, and
also for buffalo hunt.
while we were in Red Stones
camp war party numbering about
$50 Sioux Indians came from the
Missouri river en- route to the Bear
Paw mountains in search of their
enemy, the eros Ventres Indians,
who made their hunting grounds on
Beaver creek and in the Bear Paw
out for Blood
''This war party of Sioux Indians
raised the ire of the young Assinni-
BONES, the fighting men of old Chief
Red Stone, and they Joined the Sioux
on the war path. At this time the
eros Ventres were camped on Beaver
creek, just below where Fort ASSN
niboine now stands. These Indians
always had plenty of good horses and
were well armed with Henry rifles,
which had just been manufactured.
after the Sioux and Assinni-
BONES had feast and council they
started on the trail. From the place
where they started on Snake creek
it was not much more than so miles,
by the route they took, to Beaver
creek.
Some of the Sioux and Assinni-
BONES were mounted, while others
were on foot. There were number
Of women in the party. One of these
still lives in Poplar. She is
he widow of the late Jacob Wirth. |
Flying Shield also was in this party. |
He still lives, and is great friend of
he agency office in Poplar.
"The scouts who had been sent out |
oy the Sioux and Assinniboines dis !
covered the camp of the Gfns Ven
res on Beaver creek at a point |
Known as Bull Hook, south of the |
present city of Havre. After the
scouts returned with their report it |
vas planned to attack the eros Ven
res camp at night. The Sioux and
Assinniboines ran off the horses be-
onging to the eros Ventres and then
ired into their camp. No one was
injured. The eros Ventres picked
Up their horses and soon were on the
rail of the enemy, running them like
)uffaloes. The eros Ventres, being
much better armed than the Sioux,
Don made quick work of killing a
lumber of the Sioux and Assinni-
'oines, and retaking nearly all of
heir horses. 1t was a great victory
or the Gros Ventres.
Celebrated Too Long
AFTER returning to camp with
arge number of scalps they had the
line of their lives for three or four
lays dancing the scalp dance.
:. 1t was pitiful sight to watch the
sioux and Assinniboines returning
With their wounded into Red Stones
amp. OF all the sights / ever wit
lessed it was in that camp when the
Jews was brought back by the re-
urning war party of the killing of
he young braves. The squaws wept,
tut off their hair, and also chopped
III the first joints of their little fin