The Bozeman courier., 1927-12-30
ROuT -2o rniles below the mouth of

BOUT ~ miles DelOW Cne ulOuJn u
a the AIusselshell, where Telegraph
~ creek, known in the early days as
4 n Pouchette river, empties into the
Missouri river, there stood until recent
years a half -dismantled adobe chimney
all that was left of old Fort Pouchette,
once one of the liveliest trading posts on
the Missouri river. The story Of its
building, of its stormy life, Of the daily
perils faced by its adventurous garrison
was told in 1900 by the late Thomas
Curry, a pioneer of northern Montana,
who died a few years ago after having
spent the last two decades Of his honor
able career in Great Falls. Curry was
one Of the men who helped to erect and
garrison the fort.
Curry, in company with large party
of men detailed to erect trading posts
at Fort Belknap, Wolf Point and the
mouth Of the Pouchette, left Fort Butord
in 1870, Curry's party starting out on loot
for Fort Peck, an overland trip OF about
200 miles. From Fort Peck the trip was
made by the river and the story Of this
exceedingly arduous journey and OF lie
at Fort Pouchette is best told in the
words of Mr.. Curry as follows:
After a few days rest the various
parties which had rendezvoused at Fort
Peck started out for their destinations.
Our party got the big fat boat ready
The party consisted Of Jerome Higbee
william Courtney, William Shelton
George Powell, William Ivey, myself and
two scouts, Billy Benair and an ASSN
niboine Indian, Sunkawasta Tor Good
Dog). The trip up the river at this time
of the year meant hardship and lots OF
it, and our expectations were JUSTIFIED by
events.
our fiat boat was loaded with 80 tons
of freight for the projected trading post
at Pouchette. Attached to the bow was
a heavy line 800 feet long by which we
pulled the boat along. AS it was low
water at this time of the year. we were
forced to wade nearly every mile Of the
Close Brush With Indians
'The two scouts followed us, one or
each bank of the river, to give timely
warning of the approach Of any Indiar
war parties. On one occasion Good Dos
discovered a Sioux war party about {
mile away and he came running in, howl
ing like a coyote begging us to take hin
across the river out Of danger. w
sent a boat across and got him and theI
made a stand on the opposite banl
that we were in a most impregnable po
sition, and after firing a few harmless
shots at us. went away
Every night as a precaution agains
surprise, for the country was full Of In
dians, we selected our camping groun'
on a wide sandbar, digging a trench il
which to sleep. 1t was far from com
Portable method Of getting a nights res
after wading in the cold water some
times up to our necks, but safety de
manded it, 1t was growing colder as W
advanced and some mornings we had t
break the thin ice as we pulled our boa
along.
"One night about 10 days out, we de
cided to take a chance and get on
nights good comfortable sleep in DIR
quarters. We selected a dry creek wher
there was plenty of driftwood, and mad
our camp. We made a great fire an
thoroughly enjoyed the sensation Of get
ting warmed up and dried out agaiI
During supper we heard a suspicion
noise up creek in the timber. As bes
tracks were quite thick around there tn
rest Of the men laughed at my sugges
tiOns Of something more dangerous, bU
Ivey and took our guns and walked u
the bank a little way, but discovere
nothing. The others joshed us for OF
fears and called the place Fort Bea
We never knew until later how near "
were to Eternity
Five days afterward we reached OF
destination at POuchette creek and wei
glad to get any place out Of the Mis-
souri, river. Our hardships, however, ha
just begun. We had to start in to CT
timber for a stockade 20 feet high wit
block houses on the corners, and With
this erect buildings in which to live an