The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1923-01-05
FORT WALSH KEPT
PEACE ON BORDER
INDIANS AND UNSCRUPULOUS
TRADERS BOTH RESTRAINED
BY POLICE GARRISON
Here United States Commissioners
Met Sitting Bull and His Chiefs
and Were Subjected to What In
dams Intended as Great Insult; In
PRODUCTION OF Squaw to Council.

In the troublous days of Montana's
early development, the Northwest
Mounted Police of Canada served an
efficient partnership with the sheriff
of Chouteau county in suppressing
the operations of the whisky trader
and the horse thief and generally in
keeping the peace of the border.
Within the limits of the present prov
inces of Alberta and Saskatchewan
forts were established. Of these the
most closely associated with the
early history of this state was Fort
Walsh, erected in the spring of 1875
in a fertile valley in the Cypress
hills, short distance across the line,
and abandoned in 1888 when the
Canadian Pacific was extended across
the prairies. Scarcely yestige of
this old outpost, the nearest of all
the forts to the border, remains, and
its site is now occupied by large and
ranch. Here the United
States commission headed by General
Terry in October, 1877, met in con-
ference with Sitting Bull and his as
ISOLATED Indian chiefs in a vain at
tempt to induce the defeated Sioux
to accept the pardon of the American
president and return across the line.
Here the American commission was
subjected to one of the worst insults
ever offered by an Indian to a white
mantle introduction of a squaw
to the council.
Named After Its Founder
The fort was named after its foun-
der, Inspector j. M. Walsh of B di-
vision of the police, in accordance
with instructions to proceed to the
hills to choose location for |
an outpost which should serve to |
keep in check the wandering bands |
Of Crees, Salteaux, Assinniboines,
Sioux and other tribes near the inter-
boundary. These Indians,
many of them members of tribes in
he United States, particularly Mon
ana, were subjected to many tempta-
ions by traders who crossed the bor-
Ter when the red men went north to
lunt buffalo,
1.-THE red hunters of the Cypress
lills," writes A. L. Hayden, the his
orian of the mounted police, must
lave gazed with considerable sur
rise at the long wagon train and
tring of uniformed riders toiling
lowly owed the plains from the
outh. But they were more surpris-
d still to see the high, square stock
de of the fort rear itself, with its
astions at the four corners, and its
al staff in the center from which
oated the British flag. Strategical-
z considered, the new post was not
/ very strong position, for it lay
/ valley bordered by precipitous
ush-clad hills, which would have af-
,rded underground to an enemy.
he site was hastily chosen; winter
as upon the heels of Inspector
yalsh's little force, and they had to
nd shelter without delay.
Inspector Bluffs Sioux Chief
Gin those days when the painted
rees rode in on their wiry little |
1nies to treat with the commanding .
fficer, many were the interesting
,enes enacted at the historic old
,rt. Several times tragedy was
arrowly averted by the presence of
ind and bold bearing of the inspec-
,r and his officers. On one occa-
on large number of Sioux, follow
s of the redoubtable chief, Sitting
I'LL, skulked in the underbrush of
Ie hillsides and were ready for any
,cuse to fire upon the troopers be-
w. At this critical moment, the
of the little garrison
emit out bravely, tackled the old
lief in person and bluffed him so