The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1923-10-19
BY Donald G. Fisher

UOlH 1898 biOhOA dh'
w alone in the wilderness sur
w rounded by hostile Indians
If you were in this predicament, wha
would you do?
This is exactly what happened tt
George Cowan in August, 1877. Hi
party had been in the Yellowstone
Park for about ten days and had de
cided that the next morning they
would start for their homes. Along
about daylight on the morning Of
August 22d, 1877, he was awakened
by Mrs. Cowan who informed hin
that she heard Indians talking. He
Immediately sprang from the be6
and peeking out of the tent he saw
small band of Indians, possibly a
dozen in number, talking to two OF
the party who were preparing to get
the breakfast. He hastily dressed
and secured his rifle. At that time
he found that he had only five cart
ridges left. At the time his party
left for the park he had only forty
cartridges for his rifle and as it had
been his duty to keep the camp in
fresh meat he had expended all ex-
cept five of them. He placed one of
thO Sdl u 1O6OS Ill lll6 llliC anu JUN
ling the belt around his waist, he
stepped out of the tent. BY this time
several more Indians had Joined their
comrades and the party numbered
about twenty-five. Walking up to
the party, Mr.. Cowan found that one
of the Indians, Charley or Red Scout,
could speak very good English and
upon questioning him he was inform
ed that they belonged to the Flathead
tribe. Being familiar with the va
rious Indian tribes of the northwest
he was convinced that they did not
belong to that tribe. After a series
of questions the Indian was caught
and then admitted to Mr.. Cowan that
they were members of Chief Looking
Glass's band and not Joseph's, saying
that Joseph's band was the band on
the war path and that Looking
Glass's band was friendly to the
whites. During this conversation the
Indians came into camp in small par
ties all on foot and well armed until
they probably numbered at least
fifty. About this time, Mr.. Cowan
noticed that one of the party had
opened the sugar and flour and was
In the baggage wagon and preparing
to issue it out to the redmen, who
in turn were holding their blankets
preparatory to receiving their share.
He ran to the baggage wagon and,
thrusting the Indians aside with his |
rifle, he ordered the man to tie up
the sacks and to get down from the
wagon, stating that they had just
about enough rations to last until |
they reached their homes and he did |
not care to be starved by bunch of
Indians.
At this time the Indian who was
doing the talking informed Mr..
Cowan that Chief Looking Glass was /
seven hours ahead of them and that
Joseph was two sleeps behind them.
He said that Looking Glass wished to
see Mr.. Cowan. Knowing that it was
a ruse to get him out of camp and
that if he left camp he would be
killed, he told the Indian that he had
no business with Looking-Glass; that
Il he wished to see him he would have
20 come to the camp.
Becoming alarmed as to the safe
y of their horses he ordered one of j
The men to bring them into camp,
harness up annd prepare for the ;
lomeward journey. During the time )
hat they were putting their camp .
outfit in the wagons and making !
for the start they we're t
lot molested in any way. Cowan
old the driver of the baggage wagon Y