The Carbon County chronicle. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1924-1924, 1924-09-03

as to float the boat into the current,
but were finally forced to give it
up as impossible. The timber in
the stranded Tower was of great
assistance to us in building our
post. and we utilized much of the
old steamer.
after we had been in camp
about three weeks a W.. party of
Sioux came in as we were having
supper. They appeared quite
friendly and after having had
something to eat, borrowed a ket-
tie and cooked some hump ribs Of
buffalo, inviting us to join them IN
a soldiers feast. OF course we
were particularly anxious not to
offend them and a refusal would
have been taken as an insult, so we
appeared to accept cheerfully, al.
though the buffalo meat was as fat
as soap and not very palatable.
During the feast one of them
told us what fine chance they
had of killing us all few sleeps
back. We questioned them as to
how and when and naturally did
not believe them. They appeared
angry at this and forthwith de-
scribed the place, and it was Fort
Bear at the dry creek. They fur
thermore described just how every
man was sitting and the little ex-
cursion Ivey and | took. The only
thing that saved our lives that
night was the fact that the Indians
wanted a trading post at Pouchette
for the winter. Otherwise OIL
scalps wouldn't have been worth Z
moments purchase as there was al
ways sufficient temptation for al
| Indian to kill white man in order
to secure his gun and scalp.
1--WE finally got the post fixed III
in January, 1871. There were NJ
| Indians around us to speak OF TN
| til the middle Of January, whel
5000 lodges of Sioux moved in
1--WE had been fortunate enough
some days previously to kill ]
buffalo, and by good luck had tn
carcasses hanging in one of tn
buildings when the Indians arriv
ed. All of our supplies were 500
disposed of in trade, so that W
were left with absolutely nothinI
, to eat but meat, not even salt wa
left.
Owing to the deep snow tina
: winter and so many Indians i
camp, we had nothing else to liy
: on. The Indians made a rul
! among themselves that no huntin
, should be done except on one ola
of the week, which they name
hunting day. The object was I
let the buffalo come close up I
camp. as on account of the dee
snow neither the Indians nor I'll
!, ponies could have gone far froi
Q camp, as they would have starve
G to death had indiscriminate hun
: ing been permitted. We were a
$ WAYS asked to Join them on hun
I ing days, as we were all enthu
O iastic sportsmen, but the fear of
D stray bullet kept us back. II
q stay of the Indians lasted $
e weeks and our stock of meat WI
< reduced very low, but still we d
g not dare take part in the week
> hunt.
t Finally the Indians were r
r duced to such state that thu
Is couldn't even spare the usual boz
&c they had been accustomed TO brii
e us. BY this time we were begi
"a ming to feel the pangs OF hung
y and it was a question of hustle
'e starve. Finally we went out abo
half mile from the fort al
h picked up bear we had poison
te in December. We had seen the
~ dams frequently cook poison
lr wolves, and we tried the same pls
e. that is by long boiling which TAX
n the poison out Of the meat. '
n boiled that bear and it tasted go
IS, to our far1lished stomachs and
IS i'll consequences followed. Had
as baked it, it would have killed
Ip. all. The Indians were likewise
tie duced to the extremity of eati
ne poisoned wolves which we h
lst killed during the fall.
in. "Durfee & Peck, the firm
til which we were working, were v
ire aware that we must be runni
short of provisions and suppl
ras and three times they started
nd mule trains to our post but ev'
ty. time they were driven in by Slit
om Bull. Finally the late Tom OH
W. lon, who died at Fort Belknap
ars 1899, started out with one Sic
y