Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1927-11-25

cred that he had killed the gun thief.
A raft was moored nearby. This the
two fugitives managed to pole across the
river without being noticed. Arrived at
the opposite shore. they abandoned the
raft and tool to the mountains. While
they were not followed, their condition
was not to be envied; wanderers in a
strange land, surrounded they feared, by
hostile Indians, with only one gun n
no provisions for the journey, the pros
pect of ever being rescued, or reaching
a place of safety was not what might be
termed alluring. However, but in what
length of time we are not informed, the
two came at last to Fort Vancouver, then
in charge Of DR.. Mclaughlin.
Aided by Mclaughlin
Consider the situation. These men
who stood in pressing need of help from
the supreme ruler of the northwest, were
members, and one of a partner of a rival
company, which. to express it mildly,
had not been over scrupulous in it's op-
erations hen dealing with the Hudson's
Bay company. There was a suspicious
similarity between the amount of money
which enabled Ashley to retire from
business and the value Of the furs taken
from Peter Ogden. DR.. Mclaughlin was
not ignorant of this circumstance yet
here were a couple of men worn with
travel. half starved, and absolutely beg
CARED, the Indians having taken or de-
stroyed the result of months of trapping.
What would a modern captain of indus
try have done in such a case? Would he
do all in his power to aid his impov-
erished rivals n help to re-establish
them in business? Yet this is exactly
what DR.. Mclaughlin did.
To be sure it may be volunteered that
part Of the action taken was dictated
by self interest. 1t would never do to
let the Indians think they could plumber
any white man, and escape punishment.
After hearing Smiths story, a punitive
expedition was sent out against the
Shastas-Smith's property, that there
was remaining OF it. was not only re-
covered but In marked contrast to the
Peter Ogden incident, returned to him.
Meanwhile two other members of the
Smith party, It's remaining survivors,
found their way to the fort. One Of
these, named Black, after vigorously de-
Tending himself, managed to elude the
Indians, escape to the woods n finally
took refuge with a friendly tribe until
he went to Vancouver.
The other man, Turner, was acting
as cook when the Indians attacked the
camp. He is said to have been unusu-
ally strong, which fact stood him in
good stead on this occasion. Busy with
his pots and kettles when the war whoop
sounded, he had time to seize a gun,
- Ao4AAA 0o a WCapOil III a
burning stick he drew from the fire,
and with 1T laid about him UGH effect
that -four Indians were slain. Taking
advantage of TIE ensuing confusion he
slipped away and at length reached the
fort.
Peace Between Companies
Here were four men of the Rocky
Mountain Fur company enjoying the
unstinted hospitality OF DR.. Mclaughlin.
Nor was this all. The governor Of the
Hudson's Bay company chanced to be
spending that winter at Fort Vancouver.
He offered to send Smith to London on
a company ship. There he could dis
pose of his furs at the highest price, but
Smiths heart was literally 'in the high
lands" of the Rocky Mountains, to which
he fastened to return, after selling his
furs to DR.. Mclaughlin.
There was a desirable aftermath to this
a1falr-a singularly bright spot in the
relations between the British and Ameri-
can companies. When Smith was found
by Joe Meek in Pierre's Hole, where the
latter had been dispatched by Sublette
and jackson in search Of their missing
partner, he told the story of his mishap
and the succor given him by the Hud-
son Bay officials. The Rocky Noun
tain company decided because Of this,
to abandon the Snake river country to
the British, and there was peace be-
tween the two competitors.
This did not end Smiths misfortunes,
however. While he was trapping on the
Colorado river, and attempting to cross
1t with a large amount of furs, he was
again attacked by Indians and lost
everything. Not altogether discouraged
by this unfortunate occurrence. he hast
ened to st. Louis where he outfitted once
more and started for Santa Fe. This was
his last journey, as for the third time
the Indians waylaid him and he was
slain.
Smiths death led to the reorganiza-
ton Of the company with which he had
been associated, and its passing under
the control of Bridger. Fitzpatrick and
Milton Sublette. the brother OF william
Sublette. The parties connected with
this company made frequent journeys
into Montana n were familiar with the
country as far north as Great Falls east
Of the main chain Of the Rockies.