The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1927-05-27

he struck the Indian over the head with
it, splattering him with grease. The
grabbing his gun, he poked it into the
Indians stomach and knocked him down..
He then seized the Indian by the breech-
clout, pulled it of n whipped him over
the head and face with it. This was the
worst insult he could offer al Indian
warrior.
It once Writ concluded that the end
for both Of them had arrived, but he re-
solved to die gamely; and while the fight
was in progress, he stood by cool and de-
termined, with his rifle cooked and lying
over his arm. TIL Sioux chief rushed
over and told him to make Landusky
stop at once. MY young mems hearts
are bad and they will kill you BOTH" he
said.
Writ merely pointed to Landusky who
was still furnishing the warrior, and said
"wha-sta," meaning 1T is good"
BAG Medicine
At this moment, while the Sioux were
hurrying over from their camp, one of
the warriors pointed to Landusky n
made the sign for "crazy man." He be-
lieved land very reasonably sol that only
a man without his senses would a
such chances. This explanation Of
pixies" ungovernable rage was accepted
by the remainder of the Sioux; and as
all plains indians were possessed of a
superStitiouS fear regarding a crazy per-
son, and as it is against their medicine
and religious beliefs to harm a person so
afflicted, they Immediately caught up
their horses and fed. This war party
Of the Sioux we're on their way to the
Crow country to steal horses, and they
sought the good favor of the Great
Spirit on such an expedition. Thus, they
wanted to be free from h influences Of
a crazy man. Ten days later, they re-
turned after a successful raid, and pre-
sented Landusky and Writ with 10 horses
to compensate for the harm they had
done them by destroying their furs.
From this day forward, however, de-
spite the amends made by this war party,
the hatred of Pike and his partner for
the Sioux knew no bounds, and Pike
thereupon declared a feud against these
particular tribesmen that lasted for years.
To the time of his death he hated the
Sioux nation.
"FlOpping Bill"
These two continued to trap together
for some time with good success; but
finally they parted. Three years follow
ing this incident with the Sioux war
party, Landusky started out in pursuit
Of the inglorious profession of horse
thief. In this capacity he operated with
anotl - noted character Of those early
days man whose real name was Will
liam Cantrell, but who was known on
the cattle ranges and along the river as
"Flopping Bill" Cantren was undoubt-
edly as tough a character as you could
have tOund in q weeks ride in those
parts. Later he gained considerable no
toStety as a contracted executtoner OF
horse and cattle thieves. At the time he
and Landusky became partners, he was
a wolfer and woodhawk on the Missouri
Landusky n "Flopping Bill" started
down the Missouri toward Poplar river
and quite suddenly n Unexpectedly
encountered a party Of three or foul
Sioux Indians coming up the river. III
recognized among their number the In
dian who had taken his meat from the
frying pan three years previously. In ar
instant he had thrown his rife to his
shoulder. and shot b warrior through
the heart. The other members Of b
Indian party beat a hasty retreat, anC
Pike proceeded at once to scalp his vic
tim. Not content with this, he cut the
body open. extracted the Indians blad'
der, and later tanned it, using it for
tobacco pouch to h day Of his death.
Lucky Fort on FIatwilIOw
Pike, during the years which followed
divided his time between trapping, hunt
ing n woodworking till 1890, whel
with a man by the name Of Joe Hamil
ton, and an Indian a named Johl
Healy he built old Lucky Fort tradini
post on Flatwillow creek, about 20 mile
southeast of Lewistown. It was at thi
lpost and on December 8. 1880 that Pix
was crippled and almost lost his life
Joe Hamilton was q man OF iron nerve
but withal jovial and kind. Ia his heal