Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1927-07-08
(By A Il. CONWAY

TN all the length and breadth of Mon
tana, there is perhaps no single land
mark that was better known to the
Blackfeet Indians in the early days. or
TO the pioneers of that part of the North
west, during the old staging and freight
ing days. than Chief Mountain.
Situated four miles south Of the Cana
dian border and plainly visible from the
north end OF st. Mary's lake in Glacier
National park. this peculiarly cone
shaped mountain holds many a forgotten
secret and is the subject OF many an In
teresting Indian legend.
Chief Mountain stand far out to the
east of the main chain OF the Rockies,
appearing to rise from the plains very
abruptly. and o 1t is woven more
of the mysticism and history OF the
Blackfeet nation of aborigines than Is
associated with any other that
too within the domain claimed by
these warlike people. The saddest OF
these legendary stories OF this age-old
landmark was once told by one OF the
old Piegan chiefs, as follows:
In the old days, there was a young
man Of the Piegans who was noted for
his bravery in war. He soon became a
leader among the young men and, after a
time, he was made a chief.
About his time, he fell in love with a
Piegan maiden n married her. The
yDulR COuple WcIc very liuIll dCfOtSd w
each other, and the young chief. al
though he possessed enough horses to
entitle him to other wives, refused to
take others. the two living alone.
Soon, the Piegans became engaged In a
bitter warfare against their always-ene-
mics. the Crows. At first, the Piegans
were successful, but there came a time
when q great war party that had started
out to punish the aggressors met with
disaster. The Crows killed the entire
party with the exception of six, who
were each wounded.
This young chief was then called upon
to head another party against the Crows,
out OF vengeance for the practical ex-
termination OF the previous force. He
prepared an expedition. The morning he
was to leave, his wife came to him and
informed him that If he went at the
head Of the war party, she must also go.
This he forbade, and she in turn said
that If he went alone without her, he
would find his lodge cold and empty
when he returned, and his wife killed by
her W. hand.
The young chief reasoned with her,
and finally she agreed that 1t was best
that he should go without her. So he
started at the head Of a fine array OF
Piegan warriors, and they met and de-
feated the enemy but when his follow
ers returned to the Piegan camp at the
foot of Chief Mountain, they carried the
body of their leader. who had been killed
in the thickest Of the fighting.
When his wife had learned of the
young chiefs death, she became crazed
with grief. or, as the Piegans said,
touched by the Great Spirit" h wan
dered everywhere looking for her hus-
band. calling his lame. Her people
watched and cared for her, until one day
she slipped quietly way with her baby
and was far up the side of Chief Noun
tain before any saw her. Runners
were sent after her, but she was too fleet
and gained the top where she signalled
to those below in sign language that she
had found her husband, and they should
not follow her. Then she threw the child
far out from her over the p%recipitous cliff
that forms the face of Chief Mountain.
AS the tiny form hurtled downward to