Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1927-05-20

events occurred.
The Nez Perces had encountered Gen.
eral Gibbon on the Big Hole river, in a
battle which had materially crippled both
sides, and they entered the park know
ing that General Howard was marching
with a strong force in pursuit, and not
many days behind. Chief Joseph felt
that by taking this course, he might
elude his pursuers and gain time.
(Which, to a certain extent, he accom-
plished.)
The Nez Perces were utterly unfamiliar
with the park region. The country proved
of such a bewildering nature that even
their most experienced guides were help
less to conduct the war party through
without hazardous loss of time.
An Unwilling Guide
On the evening OF August 20, as they
were striking their first camp in the
park, they found and captured an old
man named Shively. who was making
his way from the Black Hills to Mon
tana. AS he knew the park country well.
the Indians pressed him into their serv-
ice in the capacity of guide. He was
with them thirteen days, and was treated
considerably. They had offered him a
reward for his services, and they declared
afterwards they fully intended to pay it,
but at the end of the thirteen days
Shively made his escape as the Nez
Perces were crossing the park boundary
line in an easterly direction.
Several u~nsuspecting parties Of pleas
ure seekers and explorers were in the
park at this time. General Sherman was
there on a tour OF inspection and mar
rowly escaped meeting the party. As he
had but a small company of men, and
was not prepared to fight. it is probable
that an encounter with Chief Joseph
would have had disastrous results for
the general.
General Sherman's Narrow Escape
-.- 49,
park, he met a company OF tourists from
Helena, Montana, going in towards the
Grand Canyon and falls Of the Yellow
stone. These were A.. j. Weikert, Richard
Dietrich, Frederick Phster, Joseph Rob
erts. Charles Kenck, Jack Stewart. Au-
gust Foller, Leslie Wilke, l.. Duncan and
a negro cook by the name Of Benjamin
Stone.
The Cowan Party
As the party of ten men were entering
the park, some pleasure seekers from
Radersburg, Montana, were about to
break camp n return home after q
weeks sojourn In the wonderland.
General Sherman saw both parties. The
general had just left the park when the
Nez Perces entered 1t. On the Indians
first night In camp, and shortly after the
capture OF Shively, some OF the warriors
the presence OF the Raiders
burg party. There were " ladies In
LAC AOAllRaAlJy VA a. 0OOlkC - SoW0 1AAA i
young sister, Ida Carpenter. The men
included George F. Cowan, Frank Car
penter, Charles Mann, William Dingee,
Albert Oldham. A. J. Arnold and a cook
named Myers. They had a permanent
In the Lower Geyser basin on the
site OF the present Fountain hotel.
Cowan Party Waylaid
Early On the morning OF August "a,
the Indians began to pour into the tour
lists camping ground. Aside from help
themselves to the food to which the
had no appetite because OF their
apprehensions, the Indians did not offer
the white people any indignities. After
breakfast. the party Of tourists fastened
to depart homeward, the Indians follow
Ing in fast increasing numbers. Finally,
party was surrounded and compelled
to turn and accompany their captors up
. fork of the Firehole river (now called
Nez Perces Fork. where the chiefs held
q COUNCIL. Mr.. Cowan anu Poker Joe,''
q Nez Perez who spoke English, were the
spokesman.
1t was decided that the party should ,
be permitted to depart, but that they
could do so only after they had ex-
changed their fine horses for sorry-look-
Indian cayuses. This they readily
agreed to do, feeling considerably relieved
at such liberal terms. d
The second start was made by the
Radersburg party. This time they were
again olloWed by a number OF the In
who, however, professed friendli-
ness. Not more than q mile had been
when they were overtaken by a
party Of young warriors who seemed bent /
upon mischief regardless of Chief Jo- {
command that the white people +,
should be allowed to depart unmolested.
One OF the friendly Indians, fully aware {
Of the disposition of these young war I
riors, quietly warned Arnold and Din {
who made their escape into the G
thick growth at the side of the trail, Just q
as the remainder Of the party were sur {
rounded and forced a second time to re-
with their captors. They were led S
back toward the scene OF the mornings {
council Of chiefs. riding in silence and q
regarding their situation as remarkably c
rave. v
COwan Shot y
Suddenly, without warning the sound t
If firearms was heard, n a moment t
.ater, Cowan. partly falling, partly dis q
mounting, dropped from his horse to the t
ground with a bullet hole through his /
Mrs. Cowan was out of the saddle 3
at her husbands side in an instant,
wen before she realized that he had been A
'hot. The Indians, seeing that their VIC r
i'm was not fatally wounded. tried to /,
irag Mrs. owa away in order tina they r
get a second shot at her husband c
harming her. Although she b
lung to him with unnatural strength o