The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1927-02-18

The BIackfeet
In the heart Of the Blackfeet domain
from time immemOrial to almost sixty
years following the visit of Lewis and
Clark, it was held inviOlable by the Pie
gans and BloOds and eros Ventres. Many
were the bloody contests fought out here
by these tribesmen and members of other
nations Of natives. 1t was the stronghold
most warlike and most feared. Even fol-
lowing the trek of the intrepid Lewis and
Clark, but few trappers and traders ven
tured past or near this point until the
American Fur company, whose main trad
ing pOst-FOrt UniOn-had been estab-
lished at the mouth of the Yellowstone
Bay company's right to dominion Of the
Blackfeet fur trade.
The Hudson Bay Company
While the HudsOn's Bay company had
controlled the Indian fur trade of the en-
tire region now known as western Canada
and northern Montana, and had held it
with an iron hand, it possessed but a sim
gle permanent establishment in the whole
territory now designated as the state of
Montana. This was what has been called
the Flathead Post which is said to have
been situated south of Flathead lake, at
some point not far distant from the pres
ent town of Ravalli. This was but a
company OutpOst and the furs here secured
were transported down the Clark's Fork,
to the Columbia. up the KOOtenai, and
thence to the main trading establishments
at Bow River and on the Saskatchewan.
From the time Of the granting Of it's
charter by the English Crown in 1870 until
its consolidation with the Northwestern
Fur company. the HudSOn'S Bay company
had held almost complete sovereignty over
the entire Northwest. 1t was in 1881 that
the American Fur company, with the back
ing Of the ChOuteau Brothers in st. Louis
decided to penetrate farther into the do
main of the HudsOn's Bay company, by
establishing OutpOsts to the west of Fort
Union. in authorization of a portion of the
coveted Blackfeet fur and robe trade.
Kipp at the Marias
1t was not an easy task to secure vOlun
teerS for an expedition which had for its
objective a point nearer to the Rocky noun
tainS: for the reputation Of the Piegans
and the BlOOds had been demonstrated in
no uncertain quantity on several occasion
where trapperS had ventured forth int
their country. However. late in 1881
James K1pp and a select party set out
and Kip chose as the location of his fort
1.-THE mouth Of the Marias river, and in 1SS.
opened Fort Piegan on a level bottom OIL
the north bank of the stream.
The story of this fateful undertaking i
common knowledge. The HudsOn's Ba,
company was soon appraised of the knowl
edge that the American interests were in
yading their territory, and to protect It
and PieCans against the new company. Il
nc small manner did it succeed. Surround
ed as it was on all sides by high bluffs
the site of Fort Piegan proved q very poo
one. as it was particularly vulnerable t
native attack, and the next year, the com
pany was forced to abandon this prOjeC
and erect a post upOn a new location abOu
six miles up the Marias river. Here, Fol
Mckenzie was built and from this pOin
the American Fur company was successfI
in interesting the Indians and it carrie
on a lucrative trade here for many years
Historical Events
At Fort Mckenzie, in 1888, two interest
ing and historical events took place: tn
visit Of Prince Macmillan of Wied and
bloody Indian battle.
Macmillan, Prince of Wied, and living &
ID COhlenz, was of a scientific turn Of mine