The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1924-05-09

A scene on the Rocky Boy Indian
far from Hayre. 1t is a pretty coun
and trapping. They also cut cord
wood for the contractors who had the
contracts to furnish the fort.
In June, 1888, the country east
of the Marias and north of the Mis-
souri, rivers, which was part of the
| Blackfeet and eros Ventres Indian
reservations, was thrown open to set
Element. The stockmen soon brought
in herds of cattle and flocks of
sheep; the game was rapidly destroy
ed and exterminated by both the In
dams and whites and it was not long
until the Indians were in precari-
Gus condition. Different winters the
authorities at Fort Assinniboine is
sued rations to them.
The Indians turned to many ex-
pedients to live and many of us can
remember the numbers who met all
trains, selling polished buffalo horns
and bead work to the travellers.
Gradually the tribe split up and ga
thered in small camps in the vicin-
ity of the larger cities, living off the
discarded rubbish of the white folks, |
CcIIlnS IOluot lIOn Lie
houses and animals that had died |
from natural or unnatural causes, the
carcasses of which had not been des-
troyed.
Lax Morals
In the meantime, there came about |
laxity of morals among the Indians.
In fact they became a menace to the
health and welfare of the white peo-
pie.
To remedy these conditions, Mon
tana city authorities decided to ap-
peal to congress for relief. Real
izing that these Indians were rightly
the wards of Canada, our representa-
tives in Washington succeeded in get
ting the state department to take up
the question of returning these peo-
pie to the country from which they
came. The British ambassador was
notified of the condition existing and
a demand was made that Canada take
back her people and care for them.
This program was decided upon and
the British agreed to have detach-
ment of troops meet the Indians at
the Canadian boundary if they were
delivered there by the American au-
.horities.
Pershing Detailed to Job l.
The story is familiar to the Mon
ana reading public of how the gath
sring up of these scattered Indian
antilles was detailed to Lieut.. John
T. Pershing, then an officer of the
10Th cavalry stationed at Fort ASSN
liboine. 1t is matter of local his G
DRY how effectually he did this job. t
However, it is not so we'll known how I
he deportation finally came out. :
My information is not official, but f
indian and soldier talk, and it is not v
ny intention to vouch for all of it, v
tut I give the story as I have CLEAN t
d it from different sources the last v
% years. C
1t appears that in spite of the will t
ngness of the Canadian government
o accept and care for their hayward u
yards, many of the Indians feared to S
eturn to Canada for fear of the VEN a
eance of the fathers and husbands h
f their victims in the Riel rebel n
ion. I know of one Indian whoI
ommitted suicide while the roundup
onducted by General Pershing was
aking place, rather than return to
anada.
However, by dint of much riding
nd effort, they we're finally rounded
p and started towards Canada,
uarded by some 300 regulars from
ort Assinniboine.
The story goes that our army Off
ers, relying upon the assurance of
lie British ambassador that a de-
tchment of British troops would
Ieet them at the boundary, took
ong considerable quantities of re-
'eshments such as soldiers in all
arts of the world relish, and that
lie mess supplies and refreshments
ere carefully husbanded during the
ip so that ample quantities would
) on hand when American officer
ct British officer In fact so spar-
g was the use of the refreshments
at real drought prevailed on the
ay to the border
Canada's "Troops"
Arriving at the designated time
Id place of meeting, the command
of the American forces with his
aft rode forth to meet the COM
ander of the British What was the
rprise and chagrin of our warriors
hen, up to the agreed locality rode
solitary mounted police sergeant.
,ked if he was the detachment of
.itish troops he replied: mo, in
ed, I have with me one policeman.
left him in camp washing the
eakfast Dishes"
1t appears that the Canadians were
more anxious to secure the return
the prodigals than the people of
ontana we're to keep them and had
nsidered that they were fulfilling