The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1924-05-01

4 " II A1oS4 Aoo LIN
that Of John Golfer, is more thal
a twice-told tale. Trappers an,
fur traders, pioneers and the earl
press have recounted it, and it ha
been admirably rendered in verse b,
John Neihardt, the western poet, ant
nephew of the founder of the tow
of Neihart. This versified narration
is now issued as a text book for ust
in schools. Yet, Notwithstanding al
this publicity, comparatively few who
live in Montana are familiar with one
of the most interesting episodes o.
frontier days.
Nothing is known of the early life
of Glass, except that he was born in
Pennsylvania, drifted west, and be-
came a trapper. In 1924 he was
commonly referred to as "OId Glass
although his story really opens in
1928. He had taken part in the
Leavenworth campaign and was
wounded. At its conclusion he join
ed the Henry party that vas going
to the Yellowstone.
They followed up the Grand river,
their way often INSTRUCTED by thick
cts of wild plum trees, and such
OIACl oAl uO0 duo Il O05 DIS dI6 udIlNG
to that part Of the country. Like
trappers, they carried few supplies,
depending upon the game killed for
their living. Glass, being an ex-
cellent hunter, was sent ahead to act
in the capacity of provider for the
party.
Near evening of their fifth days
journey, as Glass broke through a
thick growth of underbrush into an
open space, he was startled at see
ing a large grizzly, or white bear"
as they were then called, lying close
to him on the sand. Being "the fe-
male of the species and with hun
CRY cubs anxious for meal time, she
did not lie long, but sprang at the
hunter, and tearing a piece of flesh
from his body, threw it to her cubs.
Taken utterly unawares and over
powered by the ferocious animal,
Glass could do nothing to defend
himself, but lay there helpless while
the bear mangled him fearfully, I'M
til some other hunters came to the
spot attracted by his cries, and kill
ing the bear and her cubs, saved his
life.
LUZ AO uOoIllICd ~ wv 1hdIl
doubtful; for how could any
one survive such frightful wounds as
he had received? He was unable to
move, and was delirious at times.
cas- was desperate, and the party
could not afford to be delayed long
by the disability of one of it's mem
oers, from any cause. Yet these men
we're not willing to abandon their
altogether. BY the promise
If a reward, two of their number
to stay with Glass until his
'ecovery or death, when they could
'ejoin the party.
Faithful to their promise for five
lays, the two did what they could to !
lelp Glass. At the end of that time,
eeing he was apparently no better, :
nd that he refused to die, they left .
i'm, taking with them his weapons, !
nd whatever else he had. Alone in !
be wilderness; helpless from his :
without shelter or food; u
urrounded by wild animals and I
rilder men, Glass did not die. {
In some n he painfully q
ound his way to the margin of the I
and there, subsisting on the I
lid cherries and buffalo berries
'ithin his reach, he slowly regained '
is strength to the extent that he t
1uld move away from there. Y
During all this time his heart had t
cen filled with bitterness because Il
Z his abandonment, and he only +
'aved life that he might be reveng- v
l on those two men. At first he k
,uld not walk; he craw1ed along the
round in the direction of Fort e
iowa on the Missouri, a hundred a
lies away. Berries or roots must Il
ave been his sole food, until he b
lanced on a buffalo calf the wolves a.
killed, and partially devoured. e.
e drove away the wolves, but how n
J did this weaponless, and in his "
eakened state, is not easy to under
and. From the calf he made a m
'arty meal, that greatly strengthen pr
him, and taking what he could 10
try with him of the remainder of &C
e meat, continued his journey, fur
stimulated by thoughts of the be
he would administer to fr
5 treacherous companions, and so in
length reached Fort Kiowa. II
Learning there that a boat was dc
out to leave for the Yellowstone, in
was only too glad to join its crew. IN
approaching a Mandan village W.
ass, to save time, decided to cut ly
a bend in the river to Tilton's an
It, a post built by James Kipp that tn
s constantly harassed by the Ari- ne
ras, who, since the unfortunate teri eff