The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1925-11-20

Speculation as to the fate of the
Indians should oil be found on their
territory, recalls a. story told me by
Mrs. Irwin, of a painting by some
early artist, depicting "The Last
Stand of a Race" wherein a little
group of Indians, having been driven
farther and farther westward, are
standing on a rock at the extreme
verge of the continent, with nothing
but the vast expanse Of the Pacific
Ocean beyond. Mrs. CulbertsOn, the
mother of Mrs. Irwin, is of this group.
One of our leading magazines REL
produced this painting some time
ago. I do not know the name Of the
artist, but a copy of the picture, if
not the original, should be in the
Montana Historical Library, if for
no other reason than the saving of
the Stevens Expedition by Mrs. Gull
bertson for which account I am also
indebted to Mrs. Irwin.
The Stevens party, when on it's
way up the river was attacked by
, Sioux Arrows and shot were falling
thickIy, the boat being the target.
The situation was becoming serious
for the passengers, as the Sioux out
numbered them, and were well
armed. Mrs. CUlbertsOn, who was on
board, was asked if she would help
them, and at once responded to the
appeal.
Stepping to the side of the boat,
in itself a brave deed, she opened
negotiations with the invaders by
means of the sign language, first
telling them that she was the wife
of Major CulbertsOn, whom these In
dians, together with others of their
race, held in high esteem. She told
them the boat would tie up at the
: shore, if its officers were assured
/ by the Sioux they could do so un-
mOlested. The Indians a%cceding to
these terms of peace, a feast was
given them by General Stevens.
Whether this was the time when the
/. Indians partOOk too freely of the
r white mems food, and nearly died
in consequence, I cannot say. It is
enough to know that the party es-
capped being massacred through the
; Intervention Of Mrs. CulbertsOn.
Some years after this incident
l occurred, Mrs. Culbertson was the
= recipient of a large silver loving cup
. in appreciation Of her services on
the occasion mentioned. It was in
l scribed with the appropriate senti-
; ment: "TO the POchahOntas of the
West"
While irrelevant to the subject,
but in connection with the gilbert
1 son family, it is interesting to know
that among the gifts presented to
j. Major ~CUlbertsOn, was a m-eerschaum
pipe donated by Prince Macmillan
9 The bowl, about three inches in di.
e ameter at it's top, rested on the
silver claws of an eagle. It will be
remembered that Prince MaximilliaI
70 commended Major Culbertson highly
in his journal of the Upper Missouri
r After this lengthy depression
\ would state that the town of Brown.
ing, although located on a plain
and distant from the mountains
" commands a magnificent view OF the
Rockies at the entrance to Glacier
National Park. Being on a plain
: there is abundant opportunity for the
town to expand in every direction
and that is just what it is doing. Thu
number of it's inhabitants is givel
p in estimates ranging from a thOus
y and to twelve hundred, determined
III altogether by whether the estimate.
. is of an optimistic temperament, O
- the reverse.
The town has three churches
Methodist, Presbyterian, and Catho
ts lie; two hotels; a bank; five genera
II merchandise stores; two meat mar
G kets; three cafes; two garages;
II cOnfectiOners; a bakery; harness
" shop, and two drug stores. Amuse
ment IS supplied by a moving pictur
house. There is a Woman's club O
fifty-five members, and the prOfes
siOns are well represented. It's edU
cational advantages are far in a6
vance of most towns of doubl
BrOWning's size. Thsre are found /
its school, which takes pupil
through all the grades and the hig
school, and the weekly paper-Th
BrOwning's size. There are found /
been established there, it's init;
number indicating that the public;
ton is destined to become a powe
in the community.
This brief summary will give
little idea of what the town is Xix
but it should be added, that eth,
the climate or the environment DR.
serves it's inhabitants to a ripe O
age. I met one woman, a form,
neighbOr of mine in Fort BentO.
who is lightweight years old. To 81
her one would not think her over ST
ty. She owns a home in BrOwnin
and is herself the housekeeper. H
son alone lives with her. Old res
dents of Fort Benton will rememb
Mrs. Hunsberger. She still preserv
in tact both sight and hearing, al
when I met her, was walking alol
the muddy street with no other a
than a cane.
My visit to Browning having be-
undertaken to renew acquaintance
and incidentally secure historic
data. I was directed for the latter
Mr. Mcknight.
A couple Of young women offer
to conduct me to him, and I set OF
pencil and notebook in hand that
might lose nothing of the comil
meeting. Taking our way along I
streets and through back yards, I
shortly came to the little hou
where dwells this ninety-year-C
pioneer.