Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1927-09-02

never could he get as much as q drop
to cool his parched lips.
Blackfeet Were Troublesome
So the blackrobes did not meet with
much opposition in their efforts TO
Christianize the Flatheads. But they
did nave one problem hat gave them
considerable trouble. st. Mary's mis-
sion Itself was not secure 1T being often
menaced by the enemies of the Flatheads,
especially at the hunting seasons when
most Of the men of the tribe would be
away In the buffalo country. At times
even as much as to venture u of the
stockade which the priests had built for
their protection, was unsafe, as they
were in danger of being shot by some
Bannack or Blackfoot Indian prowling
about or lurking In the brush.
The Rlackfeet particularly were
troublesome. Father DeSmet gave con-
siderable thought to this problem and
hoped in some way to induce them to
bury the war-hatchet n conclude a
lasting peace with the western tribes. He
first met the Blackfeet / n what is now
eastern Montana in 1840 on his trip from
st. Louis. A year later, December rs.
1841, he baptised one Of the head men
Of the tribe with his whole family at the
st. Mary's mission. In 1874, he visited
the Blackfeet In their own country.
The next missionary to visit the Black
feet was Father Nicholas Point who spent
a whole winter (1846-47) among them.
Father Point learned that the Blackfeet
had come to believe that when they had
received baptism they could conquer
an enemy For this reason he was be-
sieged with requests for rites Of the
church, but he refused baptism to all
those who apparently sought 1t only
as a sort of protection to go about COM
mitting crimes.
They did, however, revere the sign OF
the cross and Father Point is authority
for the statement hat they would harm
nc one, not even a deadly foe, If he had
a cross about him or If he knew how to
bless himself. This became so we'll
known among the whites that even non
Catholics and men of no religion, II they
had to travel over the Blackfoot country
where at this time no mans life was
safe. would learn to make the sign Of the
cross, and not fail, besides to carry with
them the little cross.
Blackrobes Came in 1859
In 1858, at the suggestion OF Father
DeSmet, Major Vaughn, Indian agent
over the Blackfeet, forwarded a petition
to the Jesuits from the Indians asking
that a blackrobe be sent to them.
Father A. Hoecken and Brother Me- gri
were assigned by Father Congitato. the
general superior of the Indian missions
in this part Of the northwest, to look
up a suitable location. The two mis-
sionaries arrived among the Blackfeet In
April, 1859 and spent the whole summer
following the Indians from place to place,
keeping their eyes open for a convenient
site whereOn the new mission could be
located. The first spot they chose was
on the ank of the Teton river, close to
where Choteau stands today, not far
from the Great Northern railways siding
known as Flume. Hence h name
Priests Butte given to the struggling
peak some distance off and by which
that towering landmark has been known
ever since.
On his first site three cabins were
erected by Father Hoecken and Brother
Magri. The two missionaries were the
first white settlers in that part of the
country. In October they were Joined
by Father c. Imoda. he too having beer
assigned by the superior to the same
mission. The fathers spent the winter
here, learning the language and teaching
the rudiments Of Christianity to a few
Indian children.
The location, however, did not seem
to be very desirable. Hence another had
to be found, n on March 10, 1860, on
the banks of Sun river, close to what
afterwards became Fort Shaw, a couple
Of cabins were constructed. But soor
after, August 8, a suspension of building
Voc ~ ~ ohHNAAOi 4 obAASA WI
gaito. What may have been the cause
no one today knows. Father Imoda anc
Brother Magri were directed to report
to st. Ignatius on the Flathead reser.
vation, while Father Hoecken returnec
to the states.
Third Attempt to Build Mission
The following year, 1861, Fathers
Giorda and Imoda, with Brother Francis
DeKock, were assigned to the Blackfoof
y, troinr T1nx ,ar d{r.ntoI 81 xN~nCaaf
to Fort Benton and pass the winter there
They were further instructed to ook III
a location for a permanent mission fol
the Indians. IN located the new mis-
sion was to be called st. Peter.
The following spring, 1862. Fathe,
Giordas n Imoda and Brothers F
DeKock and Lucian D'Agostina, the las
mentioned a new arrival, secured thu
country in search of a suitable location
They found at last a desirable site or
the banks of the Marias, but several O
, the chiefs strongly objected to having
the mission there because 1t was 6
buffalo hunting ground.
Finally they struck q place along tn,
north bank OF the Missouri river. some
six miles above the mouth of Sun river
about where the station on the Grea
Northern known as Flood now is. Their
the new mission was located IN Febru
airy IA and received the name Of st
Peter. Log cabins were soon constructed
a numbe of Indians came around and
taking up places to their liking, pitched
their tepees here and there in the vicin
ity.
In 1854, two new missionaries wer'
assigned to the mission. They wer'
Father Anthony Ravalli, whose name 4
indelibly written on the scroll of grea
Montana pioneers, and Father F. x
Kuppens.
In the winter of 1865, the rumor wa
spread that gold had been discovered IL
the Sun river valley. 1t was during