The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1924-01-11
BY L. G. WINS

Charley. Francisco, now of Judith
Gap, but for many years prominent
as a rancher in the Gallatin and in
the White Sulphur Springs countries,
was a recent visitor in Lewistown.
Few men in central Montana are bet
ter known than this pioneer, who
came to the state back in 1864. But
eight years earlier, when he was but
a boy, he had crossed the plains
making the trip by OK teams from
Nebraska City on to near Salt Lake
City, so that this covered wagon
stuff is an old story to Charley. He
hailed from Missouri. and with an
older brother and four more youths,
Joined big freighting outfit that was
taking supplies to Johnson's army in
Utah. Five of the young fellows quit
the train after getting into Utah and
started back on foot for home, hay-
ing a pack of blankets and grub for
each. They might not have made 1t,
for the Indians were on the war path
and the youths had no arms.
passed by Pony Express rider who
told them that man was coming
on from Utah, bound for Missouri,
and suggested that they wait for him.
They did so and found him very sus-
picious. Mr.. Francisco's older bro
Their had been keeping company
with daughter of Colonel McChes-
ney, a rather noted man at Chepel
Hill, Missouri, and learning that the
traveller from Utah had lived near
there he asked if he knew the Nc
Chesneys and when he said he did,
young Francisco showed him the
photograph of the McChesney girl.
That ended all suspicious and the
five youths were invited to join the
party and the trip back home was
made under fairly pleasant condi-
tions.
Came to Virginia City
Charley Francisco remained at
home until the war broke out and
then entered the southern army. fin
ally serving with General Forests
cavalry. In 1864, before the close
of the war, his health failed him and
in company with several others a
wagon train was formed to take a
miscellaneous stock, including min
ers' tools and groceries, to Virginia
City. The party did fairly well in
this, reaching Virginia City in 1864,
and from there Charley went to Last
Chance Then he freighted to Fort
Benton, and put in a good deal of
time in the Gallatin. While there he
and two others went up into the Bit
ter Root country and bought some
wheat, barley and potatoes. They
paid $40 bushel for the grain. eve
paid in gold" said Charley, "as the
greenbacks had little value in those
days" That was about 1865. There
were only three men living in that
section then and they failed out the
grain.
On one occasion in crossing the
plains, the party Mr.. Francisco was
with had ridden for hours through
a country that appeared to be most
peaceful and all the members but one
were wholly unconscious of danger.
That one was the wagon boss and
Charley happened to be riding with
him. He was startled when the wa
gon boss said to him, quietly, that
they were surrounded by Indians.
Francisco could not see an Indian or
sign of one anywhere, but the
wagon boss directed his attention to
some rocks and told him to keep his
eye on them. Sure enough he saw
an Indians head rise slowly in a few
minutes. Then he could see them
spying in other directions.
Indians Attempt Trick
Finally the wagon boss, moving
about slowly and giving orders in the
quietest possible way, directed that
on a signal from him, the wagons