davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1924-05-15
WHEN THE SMALLPOX WAS BROUGHT TO
INDIAN TRIBES OF THE UPPER MISSOURI,
RESUl TING DIM THE DEATH OF THOUSANDS

about thirty remained. 1t was i'm.
possible to bury the dead, so great
was their number. Thrown over q
cliff, the sickening odor from the de-
caying corpses was carried far and
wide.
Near the Mandans was a village of
Aricaras. For a time these escaped
infection. and the Mandans believed
they were in league with the whites
to bring about the destruction of the
Mandans. But they changed their
minds when the Aricaras were like
wise smitten, and almost wiped out
of existence. The Minnetarees, or
River eros Ventres, also suffered
greatly from the disease.
Notwithstanding what happened at
Fort Clark, the st. Peters did not
turn back, but went on to Fort
Union. The consequences of this
mistaken action might have been pre-
dicted. Besides the goods, which
must have inevitably carried the dis
ease, Jacob Halsey, a member of the
Upper Missouri outfit, and who was
sick with smallpox, stopped there.
He is said to have been vaccinated,
and was not so i'll as others who had
not taken this precaution. Whites
and Indians at the fort contracted
the disease from him, and there was
danger of it's spreading to the In
dams without, as the time was ap-
preaching when they would come in
to trade at the fort. 1t was decided
to put in operation stringent prevent
i've measures.
The only Indians within the stock
ade at the time were about thirty
squaws. These were vaccinated from
Halsey, with dire results. Most, if
not all of them, died, and the fort
became a veritable pest house. In
the midst of this, the Indians began
to arrive. 1t is claimed that they
were refused admission to the fort,
but as Halsey says ''the air was in
fected for half a mile beyond the
pickets," this preventive measure
could not have saved them. They
left the region of the fort, but
they carried the plague with them.
The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1924-05-15

! orally eXterminated by the plague
not one remaining alive. If this is
true, it is not surprising that the
Blackfeet became pacific, or as the
writer expresses it humble as fam
ished dogs"
That year trade in furs did not fall
off as much as was expected, but the
following year, although The buffalo
we're plentiful, there were but few
hunters left to kill them, and but
few squaw to tan the robes. This
resulted in great financial loss to the
traders. How they regarded it, and
how it doubtless affected their treat
ment of the Indians is best learned
from a letter written Feb. 25, 1888,
to Pierre Chouteau, Jr.: Late last
evening Provost arrived, and this
morning Sunday we have all been
occupied perusing the melancholy
details of plague, pestilence and dew
astation, ruined hopes and blasted
expectations" In al earlier letter
to Halsey, who, it will be recalled,
carried the smallpox to Fort Union,
the company says that 1.-THE calamity
was calculated to fill us with dismay
10 US ~ TAU vi NhC IlCDOdlA
for some years to come. We can
only view it as a visitation of Provi-
dence with which, though it would be
vain for is to contend, it behooves
us to make the best of existing cir
cumstances; to put forth all our en-
ergies; and by pursuing a course of
strict economy in u expenditures,
with kind and con~ciliatory conduct
to the Indians who have escaped this
dreadful pestilence, endeavor, by
prudence, fortitude, and p%ersever-
ance, to support ourselves under the
melancholy scourge."
Halsey we'll understood, or thought
he did, how much providence" had
to do with the introduction of the
disease among the Indians. Where
Providence appeared was in the Sc
quel, the pacific spirit it awakened
in the Indians and the expressed pur-
pose of the company to treat with
greater kindness the red men they
were exploiting.
The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1924-05-15

These Indians were the Assinni
BONES, and from September to winter
the disease ragged with the Creates
destructlveness," says Halsey, "a
least ten out of twelve die of it,
Although they thoroughly understood
the attendant danger, some of the
Asslnniboines continued to trade al
the fort. On being asked if they
were not afraid to do so, they laugh
lngly replied that they would soon
die anyway, and they might as well
enjoy life while it lasted. The In
dian rendition of "a short life and
a merry one"
Fort Van Buren, was the trading
post Tor the Crows. The infection
was introduced there, probably
throgh the fault of those in charge,
as it had been elsewhere in the upper
country. Fortunately most of the
tribe were hunting in the Wind river
mountains and valleys, and did not
contract the disease until later in the
season.
When the st. Peters was at the
mouth of the Little Missouri a Black
feet was permitted to go aboard the
boat, and then return to his tribe.
In this manner the smallpox was car
ried to the Blackfeet, where it
wrought havoc as it had done among
the Mandans.
AS has already been stated, some
of the Indians, notably the Assinni-
BONES, justly held the whites res
ponsible for the introduction of the
terrible disease, and called for re-
venge. But the same cause had a
contrary effect upon the BIackfeet.
They had been about to declare war
on the whites when they were strick-
en-. They believed their suffering
due to this premeditated act of
treachery against their pale-face
friends; that the Great Spirit was
angry with them, and they did not
choose to further antagonize Him.
Hence their voice was for peace.
A letter in the preface of Maxi
milian's Travels says it was reported
that bands of warriors on their way
TO attack the trading posts were lit
The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1924-05-15

aim. With the crack of the gun the
dust flew up away beyond the tar
get. He had missed the board, which
was not very encouraging consider
ing the close proximity of the mark.
AS the match progressed up to 500
yards, we had not made a single score
but at 600 yards Granville managed
to strike the board lear the bulls
eye. Up to this point we had been
making very light bets, but now con-
fidence was restored with a whoop
and betting ran high.
Powell began wagering horses two
to one, but alas for our hopes, Pu-
shigan began to more carefully mani
pulate his hoop-iron sight and up to
800 yards we had but one score to
our credit.
BY this time our crowd was "flat
broke" with not a pony, blanket or
butcher knife left. James Stuart
bantered Chief Tendoy to bet one
horse against his l~ong-range rifle, but
after carefully examining the gun.
the willy chief handed it back with
the simple remark, "Cultus," which
meant mo good"
We had to foot it back to camp.
arriving late in the evening, tired
and hungry, but sadder and wiser
men than when we started out so
gayly in the morning.
The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1924-05-15

language of the Bannacks, he went
to their camp to arrange the details
of the match. The target was to be
placed at a distance of 100 yards
and to be moved 100 yards for each
succeeding shot until 1000 yards had
been reached. This arrangement be-
ing entirely satisfactory to the In
dams we felt confident of the simple
and cheap way we had devised of
adding to our herd of ponies and
buffalo robes, for these would be
put up for stakes.
Early in the morning we rounded
up our horses and collected all the
blankets, beads and butcher knives
we could scrape together, and start
ed for the Indian camp. Arriving IN
the ground we found Chief Tendoy
ready for business. He had selected
one of his men named Pushigan to
do the shooting.
This Indian had an old fashioned
Dimmock rifle, weighing about 80
pounds. He had taken a piece of
hoop-iron and improvised a sight by
slightly turning up the end in which
he filed a notch, this contrivance be-
ing fastened to the gun barrel with
buckskin thongs, and by mean of a
small wooden wedge he could raise
and lower the sight to suit his fancy.
Johnny Grant had built some cabins
at this spot and was living there with
his family of breeds.
For a target we took the end-gate
Of his wagon-bed, a board three feet
square, in the center of which we
made a bulls eye on paper. Pushi-
gan fired the first shot and struck
the bulls eye near the center.
We had selected Granville Stuart
Tor our marksman. He stepped up
to the scratch and took deliberate
The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1924-05-15

| GOu1 Do " LhC IL
ficers of the boat to pursue would
have been to unload the goods, dis
infect them, and forward them later
by keel boats to their destinations
But this was not done, the boat con
tinuing its journey to Fort Union a
the mouth of the Yellowstone, Their
the head of navigation on the Mis-.
souri,.
Before criticising too severely the
officers for this action, it is well tC
view the situation from their stand
point. One thing is certain, if the
Indians contracted the disease, the
fur company would lose heavily. 1t
was to it's interest that the lives OF
the Indians should be safeguarded.
1t was likewise to it's interest that
the lives of its employees at the forts
along the river should be preserved.
The Indians knew the goods were on
the way, and expected to arrive at a
definite time. Their failure to do so
would cause serious trouble, and per-
haps attacks upon isolated posts in
the wilderness, far removed from all
possibility of being reinforced.
When the boat reached Fort Clark,
a post a little below the mouth of the
Big Knife river, Mr.. Chardon, who
was in charge there, did everything
in his power to keep the Indians
away from the boat, but without sue
cess. A Mandan chief (Fort Clark
being in the neighborhood of the
Mandan villages) stole a blanket
from a man on the boat, who had
--z ~ f-- Fo4 1900
made to buy it back, although the
thief was promised immunity from
punishment. BY June Is the plague
had gained a foothold in the villages,
and the inhabitants were helpless
and children rushed to the landing
when the boat came in, and nothing
the fort officials could say or do
could keep them back. In this way,
they were brought into direct con-
tact with the disease, if they had not
already contracted it from the stolen
blanket.
The virulence and quick action of
the epidemic is unsurpassed in his
tory. It's victims felt severe pains in
back and head, and in a few hours
were dead. After death the body
swelled to treble its size, and turned
black. Few who were stricken re-
covered. The Indians blamed them
selves, when too late, for not heed
ing the warnings of the officials, and
begged the white men to help them.
This the men at the post would will
ingly have done, but it was beyond
human power to stay the course of
the disease.
A few of the more intelligent In
dams, realizing that this horror that
had possession of them was caused
BY the whites, talked of vengeance,
which they were incapable of exc
before the plague moved
them down. Suicide was common
md many fled from their tepees only
20 die alone on the prairie. Rapidly
he death toll was levied until of the
great tribe of the Mandans only
The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1924-05-15
RIDGE MAY
BE NEW OIL FIELD
NEW STRIKE is 80 MILES SOUTH
OF GREAT FALLS; ATTRACTS
MUCH ATTENTION
Oil is 1873 Per Cent Gasoline and 9.3
Per Cent Kerosene, the Highest
Grade Petroleum Product in the
Mountain States Region.

Events in Coal Ridge district, 35
miles south of Great Falls, took on
increasing interest during the past
week, as various operators appear
ed in h open, leasing up districts
which have apparently been APP
proved by their biologists.
The leasing of major operators
has been between Hound Greek and
Deep creek, west of the Belts we'll,
which had the showing of oil in the
Sunburst sand.
Analysis of the oil by the Sunburst
refinery at Great Falls shows it to
have a gasoline content of 1877 per
cent, together with 9.3 per cent Of
kerosene, leaving but II per cen fuel
oil and residue-by far the highest
grade oil in the mountain states re-
gion.
The gasoline has an end point of
S47, as required by the new navy
standards. The oil used in this an
alysis was secured at the bailing
test.
1t became definitely known last
week that L. G. Stevenson has taken
$4,000 acres in this district, follow
ing the BeOlOSlcdl survey OIL
N. f. Jameson, who has been at
work on the district since the show
ing of oil was first reported.
The Ohio Oil company is said to
be leasing in the same general dis
trict. None of the leases have been
filed for record.
The Mid-Northern oil company is
at least interested in the situation.
Manager j. H. Clark of the Mid-Nor-
thern visited the we'll on Friday and
spent part of the day in the field.
This is his first visit here from Bill
lings, since his election to the office.
He was, of course, without an an
nouncement inasmuch as he has had
no time to study the conditions in
the south district.
1t is stated that j. e. Andrus of
Minneapolis, who financed the drill
ing of the test we'll on the Belts
farm, is preparing to drill at least
two wells, one with standard tools
and two or possibly three other
wells are in prospect during the
present year. Operators say that
five barrel wells at a depth Of 600
feet, with this quality of oil, will
be commercial.
The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1924-05-15

New York-Mrs. Celia Cooney, the
bobbed hair bandit, and her husband,
Edward Cooney, who terrorized New
York with their holdups for a time,
have been sentenced to 10 years in
the pen.
New York-Kate Claxton, famous
actress in the past, her characterize
ton of Louise, the blind girl" in
the Two Orphans, having made her
famous, is dead at the age of IL
years.
The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1924-05-15

Some time on
it's voyage and
before reaching
the forts, small
pox broke out
among the pas
sengers and the
crew. How many
e r affected is
not known be-
u of varying
reports, giving
the number of
cases from n to
many. 1t is likely
that from one,
many were in
f e C t e d. The
The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1924-05-15
Homesick Dog Returns from oregon

Homesick Dog Returns from Oregon
Last August, Con Stang, an old
time rancher on Cottonwood and
known to hundreds, left for Oregon
to reside. He took his sturdy dog
Butch along with him. Recently
men who knew this dog were amaz-
ed to see it come up Main street,
Lewistown, footsore and all in, beg
ging for something to eat. Butch
vas provided with a banquet by
Charles Porter, an old friend. The
dog clearly had made it's way back
in some manner from Oregon, where
the Stang family still is, to Lewis
The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1924-05-15
By Martha Edgerton Plassmann

TN the early spring of 1897, when
the river became navigable, the
Il American Fur company's steam
boat, the st. Peters, left st. Louis
for the upper Missouri posts, laden
with the annual supplies, including
presents for the Indians, and goods
to be bartered with them for furs.
The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1924-05-15

New York-Eight persons were
killed when the Twentieth century
train struck an auto on the outskirts
of the city.
The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1924-05-15
Tray of Radium

One of the elements possess
ing the property of giving off
rays.
Discovered by Mime. Curie of
France in 1898.
1t is refined from Uranium,
which is found in Carnotite and
Pitchblende ores. 1t is the most
valuable substance in existence,
selling for more than a million
dollars an ounce.
Radium rays exercise ~selective
action, attacking bacteria and
diseased cells more readily than
healthy tissue.
The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1924-09-04
THE SCHOOL ELECTION.

AS usual, too little interest was tax
en- in the school election in this district
last Tuesday afternoon when about %
of the several hundred qualified elect
ors turned out and voted on the two
trustees to be elected, to succeed A. r.
Fike and Andrew Stellmon, whose term
expired.
The election was held at the public
school building from 300 to 500 P. m.
Henry VonBargen received Is votes,
York Herren s votes, A. W. Mitchell
8 votes, A. R. Fike votes and Mrs
G. G. Pennell / vote.
The tie between Messers. Herren and
Mitchell will be decided and the new
trustees sworn in at the regular meet
ing Of the board next Monday night.
The holdover members f the board
are; A. o. Martin, Mrs. G. J. Miller, s.
L. Shoemaker and A. A. Hunter.
The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1924-09-04
KAMIAH HOST TO COMMERCIAL
CLUBS.

We all take off our hats to Kan
iah when it comes to the art of en-
tertaining guests. 1t happened agarn
last night, when representatives of The
commercial clubs of Lewis and Idaho
counties assembled there to talk over
better ways and means; Kamiah cit
izens listened attentively to what the
speakers had to say, and then fed the
visitors until they had to carry part
of it home because there was not
room for more, and finished the pro
gram merrily with clever bill of
music, dancing and dialogue.
The business of the meeting dwert
mainly on what's to be done about the
auto bus and freighting truck The
question was extensively discussed,
and a committee, composed of Attor-
neys G. H. Nugent of Craigmont, G.
G. Pennell Of Nezperce, B. Auger of
Grahgeyille and F. Fl. Rehberg of
Kamiah, was appointed to draft bill
regulating auto bus and freight bus
traffic in Idaho to be presented at
the coming session of the state legis-
lature.
The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1924-09-04
GARAGE CHANGES.

On last Monday the owners of the
Ford Garage-in this city bought the
building and equipment of the Price
Garage, a concrete and brick build
ing well equipped for the bust
ness, and took over the same. The
purchasing company will operate both
plants until work slackens later in the
season, when it will move into the
Price building. The plan is to make
this one of the very best car storage
and repair shops on the prairie.
Mark Price and B. E. Laier of the
retiring firm, are making arrange
ments to leave for other points in the
near future. Mr.. Price win 60 TO
California and Mr.. Laier will go on
the homestead he took up last fall in
the upper Middle Fork section.
The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1924-09-04
PRAIRIE GRAINS BEST
Exhibit at Spokane Fair In High
Favor for First Prize. Wheat
Wins Two.

The Lewis county Bluestem wheat
exhibit at the Spokane Interstate
Fair was awarded the sweepstake prize
offered by the Sperry Mills ON this
cereal, according to G. w. Kettman
who returned last night from that
city, where he had gone to help place
the Lewis county display of grains,
orasess and garden and orchard pro-
ducts at the big fair. This county, al
SO took first prize on Red Russian
wheat. second on Club No. 1913 and
second on Sonora. The award on the
best general exhibit had not been
made when Mr.. Kettman left, but he
said the display was considered the
best the county had ever made and it
certainly looked like winner. The
superintendent of this department said
there was big improvement in all
the general displays over those of
former years.
There are seven counties, roui
oranges, six communities and six indi-
yiduals entered in the general farm
crops department, and the space al.
lotted is inadequate to take care of
them.
President p. M. Harding of the Lew
is County Fair Association and Ralph
Stuart, collector of the exhibit, who
it to the city and had
the major part in its arrangement, will
remain with it through the fair week
there and accompany it to Lewiston
to look after it there during the fair
next week.
The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1924-09-04
OUT AFTER GRIZZLIES.

When Geo. Christensen came north
from Long Beach, CAL, a couple OF
weeks ago to look over his prairie
farms and old friends, he brought with
him his son, Glen, and Mr.. Brenneke
friend who has a penchent for OIL
margins and hunting big game. Big
game is such hobby with him, In
fact, that George determined to lead
him up to something that would
scratch and scratch hard, for he knew
it could be found in the mountains
east of here.
Last week he succeeded in organlz-
ing party which left Friday with
saddle and pack animals for the head
waters of the Selway river. The par
ty included Mr.. Brenneke and Glen
Christensen, with Joe Kachelmeier and
Joe Blackeagle as guides. George is
too busy with the art of making two
dollars grow where but four bits grew
before to bother with bruins that hug,
SO he stayed at home to make hay.
The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1924-09-04
LEw1sToN's sPEEDIEsT WEEK.

The Lewiston Charleston Tri-State
Fair will open it's gates on September
9th to a record crowd according to the
management who bases this opinion on
the fact that all communities in the
country surrounding Lewiston have
signified their intention of attending
this event which promises better ex-
hibits, more varied program, finer
type of entertainment, faster racing
and an all around higher class of per-
formance than ever staged before in
Lewiston.
The city has taken on a gala ap-
pearance and is decked with flags,
bunting and special lighting that add
to the holiday spirit.
Roman, pony express, relay, flat and
Indian races by the best racing stock
in the northwest, exhibition riding by
champion cowboys on OUTLAW horses,
spectacular, education and musical acts
will form part Of the daily program
with many other surprise features that
the management is keeping a mystery.
Governor day, defense day and
children's day will be given attention
with special programs.
The children will be interested in
the fine animal circus that win appear
every day. The educated ponies, dogs
and monkeys and the monkey jockeys
will furnish entertainment for the
grown ups as well as the children.
Bookings for night show attraction
insure enjoyable evenings to the pa
irons of the fair. The final day,
Sept. 18th will be devoted exclusively
to the motor style show and auto races
in which only registered drivers and
cars will take part.
The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1924-09-04
FAREWELL AT YATES HOME.

Mr.. and Mrs. Chas. w. Yates enter
tained party of friends at their
attractive home in Northwest Nez-
perce Saturday night in honor OF Mr.
and Mrs. George Clark, who left on
the following day to take up their
residence near Mabton, Wn., from
which place they came to Nezperce
something over year ago to take
charge of the meat business Mr.. Clark
had traded for. They lost their plant
by fire early in the summer.
The party enjoyed a season Of pi-
nochle and then social chat over an
excellent luncheon of sandwiches,
cream, cake and coffee served by the
hostess.