The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1923-03-09


Russell, two of the trappers. discov
cred a moccasin. AS the countr
was known to be infested with wa
parties of BIackfeet, Bloods, Piegan
and Crows, who came from the terri
tory to the north, now included il
Montana, every precaution was takel
to guard against a surprise attack.
Nighttime, usually in the earl,
morning hours, was the favorite pc
Rod for an attack by the Indians
They wanted to fight in the dark al
much as possible, being able to hide
themselves by lying down. AS re
suit in the daytime they usually tooh
| to the timber when an engagement
was in sight. These traits were shown
in the fight which took place, the
following morning, in which sUncle
Billy" landed his first Indian scalp
| The party was awakened about 4
a. m. by two shots, followed by 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,
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 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
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 dead Indian.
boy, this is your first opportunity
Lift the scalp from that buck. 1t
belongs to you" Williams said to
Hamilton.
"Of course I 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
the knife around the head under the
hair, cutting through to the skull
bone, then taking hold of the scalp
lock and giving 1t a quick jerk The
scalp would come off and you could |
dry 1t afterwards on a hoop"
Visited Noted Hot Springs
The party then moved northward |
passing the famous Thermopolis |
Hot Springs and camped several |
miles northward in the valley of the |
Big Horn. Four days later then en-
countered scouts of the Shoshones, |
who, under Chief Washable, were
from hunting trip to Elk
Water, which was the name given by
them to the Yellowstone river.
I'm the morning the village arriv-
I'd, Chief Washable coming first with
1 bodyguard of 20 men, said Uncle
Billy, in telling about the trip. I'VE
soon had feast prepared and
smoke. The plumber we had taken
rom the dead Blackfeet was spread
,ut and lively trade sprung up, par
icularly with the squaws. They
would give pair of fancy moccasins
or almost anything that belonged
o the Blackfeet. The chiefs son
brought a good horse and gave 1t to
ne. A present from an Indian means
hat he wants something you possess.
soon found out 1t was one of my
calps, and gave it to him. He was
noble youth with the characters
les of his father and both were ex-
remedy friendly to the whites.
Adept In Sign Talk
81 had learned the sign language
o rapidly that now / was able to
ak to them on almost any subject. s
dy proficiency pioFcu a udifCl " /.
thief Washable and he would not be-
ieve that / had not been raised by J
ONE Indian tribe. 1t was amusing
O hear the questions the women ask
d me: with what tribe had
Ived?' Where was my woman7' Had ,
left her?'
Scalp dances and war songs we're
in that evening by the
Dung folks, and the chiefs son made
ute a show with the scalp / had !
iven him. An Indian celebrates !
yer scalps just the same, whether =
e killed the victim or not, just so :
ing as it belonged to one of his
'ibe's enemies.
"a few days later, however, I had I
a opportunity to see real Indian
attic and incidentally to participate. e
nth some Shoshone scouts and Z
oung braves we went down the river q
nd one afternoon we discovered IA
orses guarded by two Blackfeet v
he Shoshones charged and the two
ION were in the happy hunting d
Riding to the top of hill :
9 saw about 80 more running to-
ard the brush In the river.
E4unf IN pIaaGa LADY TsovpQ