Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1927-03-25
THE NEZ PERCES

After the steamer had put Off her load and
dropped down the river about a mile to
take on wood, a small 'Mackinaw' boat
containing two men came floating around
a bend Of the river above the camp. They
Informed us that the Indians crossed the
river at Cow Island two days before and
had gone north, carrying OF with them all
the available stores landed by the boat we
had been using. amond which were sup
plies Of clothing, groceries. hardware and
Ammunition for merchants at Fort Benton
and Helena. A gun was fired to attract
the attention of the boat and signals were
made for her return. The crossing of the
command was at once begun and as soon
as that OF the mounted forces was COM
: pleted the boat dropped down to the camp
of the wagon train, which 1t ferried over"
1t will be seen from the foregoing, that
but for the stoppage OF the boat, which
must have been the last one down the
river that season, the troops could not have
been taken across the Missouri, and believ-
Ing, as they did. they were ahead of the
Indians. they would have made no haste to
cross If they had not learned from the two
men who were In the Mackinaw, of the
Indians being ahead OF them.
The question at once suggests itself to
the reader, who were these men In the
Mackinaw, and how did they happen to be
near the Musselshell? This is a story
which, so far as ! know, has never been
published, and / am indebted for 1t to Mr..
Devlin of Havre, who heard 1t from parties
NuO lOuh part Ill lut dufcuLuIt.
There were then a few soldiers at TT.
Benton, for the purpose OF safeguarding
our northern border east of the Rockies.
When Chief Joseph entered Montana, 1t
was feared that all the Indians living
here might see In his coming a chance to
join forces with him and pay OF some of
the old scores they held against the whites.
TT. Benton was In the Blackfeet country,
and the agency for that tribe was first
established there. They still constituted a
powerful tribe; but, in spite of their war
like reputation, had given no intimation of
q desire to unite with the Neg Perces.
When the news reached FIT. Benton that
the latter tribe was headed north, evil
IDENTIFY purposing to cross into Canada,
Major Guido Ilges, who was then stationed
at TT. Benton, conceived the idea of de-
laying or turning back the advancing In
dams. A Mackinaw vas Communicated, or
hastily constructed, and with about a dozen
men, he set out down the river. 1t APP
pears that the whereabouts of the Nez
Perces had not been learned before the
last steamboat left for down river, and by
this time word must have arrived that the
steamboat then on its way up would come
no further than Cow Island.
This was not an unusual occurrence. I
was one who learned by experience this
fact, and was compelled to make the over
land journey to TT. Benton In a covered
wagon. The captain of the boat had tele-
graphed from some point lower down that
he would be unable to reach the head of
navigation, so there might be time after
receipt of the news to dispatch conyeyances
to take on the passengers and the mer.
chandise. In this instance, at the time of
Joseph's flight, the wagons were not wait
ing at the landing for the stores left there
by the departing boat, as Captain Romeyn
says they were taken by the Indians.
With his company, which included In Its
number the late Judge Tattan, Major Ilges
started down the river, but for some rea-
COMFORTABLY an injury to the boat, they
terminated their journey at Cow Island
Here they landed, being unable to go on or
turn back.
/ have no recollection Of this island
whether 1t was large or small; ~treeless, or
covered with vegetation. In the latter case,
1t could have served as a good hiding
place for the white men, which soon was to
be greatly desired; for they were not there
long before the enemy they sought arrived
on the south bank OF the river and started
to cross to the north side.
Major Ilges quickly saw that 1t would
be impossible for him to stay the prog
ress OF the advancing horde, and that the
best he could do under the circumstances
was to keep out Of sight. This he tried
to do, but signally failed as the Indians
saw the white men but went on their way,
making no attempt to attack them. In
showing this magnanimity, the Nez Perces
made a great mistake, as was later proved.
After collecting the loot on the northern
bank, which had been left by the departing
steamboat, the Indians continued their
march toward the Bear Paw mountains,
where they were to make their last stand.
Major Ilges knew that General Miles was
following Joseph, and that he might not
have learned where the Indians then were.
All Of the company could not go down the
river to tell Miles that the enemy had
crossed the river at Cow Island, but q
couple of men were sent to carry the news.
These were the men In the Mackinaw. and
the information they brought was what
prevented JOSeDh rom reaching Canada.
without 1t, Miles would not have gone
north, as he believed the Indians we're In
his rear, and there was no reason for haste.
Watch Cuticura Improve Your Skin
On rising and retiring gently smear