The Bozeman courier., 1927-11-04

IFE of the present age has detracted |
little from the glamor OF the OLD
IL West, with its prairie schooners,
Indians on the warpath, and bold, !
sure-shooting frontiersmen ana sololers.
There are many towns in Montana 10 !
Gated near a spot that witnessed clashes :
between the aborigines and their white I
foes. Chinook, in northern Montana, is !
not far from where Chief Joseph surren- ,
dered to General Miles; Hardin, in south
eastern Montana, is near the place where
General Custer met his fate in an un-
successful engagement with the Sioux
and Dillon, in southwestern Montana, is
close to where General Gibbon and Chief
Joseph fought the Battle Of the Big Hole
which turned out to be draw.
One Of the most picturesque cfiaI acters
now alive, who bridges the gap between
present day America and the period Of
Indian wars, is Mole-Te-Gu-op, The
Man Who Talks With His Hands"
Mole-Te-G -Gu-op, or Maj Gen. Hugh
Lenox Scott, former chief OF staff OF the
United States army, now retired, is a
resident of New Jersey, but he frequently
comes to Montana to attend celebrations
connected with Indian history, or to Vlslt
the Indian reservations. Tall, digntTied,
still possessing the striking ANIMATION OF
youth despite his IA years, Scott repre-
sents the conquering invaders VINO Sc,
cured what is now Montana Tor united
America. man Of few words, one can
understand why that clever Indian, Chle1
Big Wolf, of the Cheyennes, many years
ago gave Scott the name OF MOLE -1e-
Gu-op. The general became so pro1lclenC
in the universal Indian sign language
that his taciturnity was an ineVltaole
result. Great deeds took the place Oh
An Authority on Indians
This man, who had given his best
wears to the service of his country, is
,a 40 living A1lTnOrlIN
ON Indian affairs. His career began When
he was graduated in 1876; in June, JhaC
month in which the brave Custer rode 10
his death in the Battle OF the Little Big
Horn. For many years Scott had oeal-
ings with the Indians and came 70 kAO"
them thoroughly, studying their ways
their minds, so that the problem OF Jhelr
ultimate welfare might be solved.
The general is a -great-grandSon
of Benjamin Franklin on his moJher
side. Perhaps that accounts AoT CIle Plo- -
neering instinct in him and the Will IC
succeed At West Point he was popular
Il is related that he once saved q com
paniOn from punishment for neglect OF
dutv bv assuming the blame himself. Al
another time he rescued drowning com
rade after q half hours struggle IN Jht
Hudson river. being all but dead hlmseH
when he got the man to shore. IhaJ was
the tvpe of individual who later was tC
make a name III the annals OF American
affairs.
Fired with enthusiasm to join in the
crusade AGAINST the rebeUiOus Sioux, the
killers of General Custer, Scott, as
second lieutenant, secured a command
in the 9TH cavalry, that portion OF Gus
ter's troop which had been spared th'
tragic death he met. 1t was great ap
pOrtunity for @ young man, fresh IRON
the classroom, to get actual experience II
the new kind of warfare. He mad veteran
of the Civil war, northern and southern
men. with him, whose lives had beer
hardened by the shock Of battle. In mOd
ern parlance, Scott was a rocky pu
he soon resolved that he would rise from
that class.
Fought Several Tribes
For several years Scott went through