The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1924-01-11
EARLY DAYS 1M MONTANA
HAPP0EST, SAYS OLD TIMER

/ should be corralled in the customary
manner and camp made with all pos
sible speed, but that not an unusual
move should be made until then.
When the signal was given the wa
CONS were corralled in an astonishly
short time and the camp was no soon
er in good shape than Indians began
to approach, quietly and without any
indication of unfriendliness. The
wagon boss quickly advanced and met
them singly. They we're given sugar,
tobacco and coffee, and then one of
them, with his blanket pulled care
| fully around him, lounged into the
corral. Then another came in and
still another was coming. But that
wagon boss knew his business and
stepping quickly up to the first Ind
ian made rapid move and pulled off
his blanket, under which he had a
gun concealed. The others of course
were following the same plan, but
this cut their game short, for the
wagon boss had his gun on the first
Indian before he could move, and the
others, crestfallen, sullenly retired.
On another occasion, near old Fort
Laramie, Francisco's party had camp
ed, travellers not being allowed inside
the reservation. Two soldiers were
out in front looking after consider
able band of army horses. Mr.. Fran
cisco was fishing in the stream near
by, we'll concealed by thick growth
of willows. While so engaged he
saw small band of Indians sweep
past the fort and before the two sol
der guards had a chance to grasp
what was going on and get over their
surprise the Indians had taken the
entire band of horses along with
them Mounted soldiers soon took
the trail. but the Indians made for
the mountains, divided up into small
parties, and not horse was recover
ed. Charley maintained his position
as an interested but very, very quiet
spectator of that little drama and was
not seen at all.
The Good Old Days
Over at Whitehall reside "ths two
Belle girls" who made the trip across
the plains with the same company as
Mr.. Francisco. He always goes to
see these ladies when he is within
hail of whitehall.
Looking back to the real pioneer
days in Montana" says Mr.. Fran
cisco, ST consider that that period
was the happiesf part of my life. We
lived pretty we'll and it seems to me
that we got more out of life in those
days than we do now. There may
not have been so much money, but it
was divided up better. There was
honor and the latch string was al
ways out. People lived closer to each
other and there was willingness to
help. We had our good old parties
and used to dance all night. Perhaps
that might shock some of the strict
church people of today, but it would
not have shocked them then. And
our women, they were the very salt
of the earth. They would join with
US in the all night dance and make
the most wonderful breakfast in the
morning. I always feel that we can
not sufficiently honor the noble wom-
en- of our pioneer days"
Mr.. Francisco, who in spite of his
rather foreign sounding name, is of
good old American ancestry, is get
ting along in years, but he is sur
prisingly active and youthful in
spirit. He expects to attend many
more conventions of the Society of
Montana Pioneers, of which he is an
honored member, and we hope that
he may.