The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1927-02-04
(By MRS. M. E. PLAsSMANN)

AEANY of the journalists, and 9TH
M er writer's of f~ur-trading days,
Ava claim for the Crow Indians, the
one virtue, as they deem it, of being
invariably friends of the white men.
That even this merit is not theirs, is
proven by the following story related
by Joe Meek.
He was at that time with Bridger's bri-
gade, in the Yellowstone country. One day
when he was trapping on the Rocky Fork
of that river, and unfortunately alone, he
saw a large party Of Crows approaching.
They also saw him, and cherishing no il
iuRiOnS of friendship for his race, Meek re-
allied that his only safety lay in flight.
Out off from the prairie by the Crows, he
hurried down to the creek, which he tried
to cross. The beaver, however, had been
busy with the result that the creek bed was
mud, and there was very little water. The
mule Meek was riding became miredS and
its rider, knowing he faced death, resOlv-.
ing to sell his life dearly, aimed his rifle
at the Indians, so accurately that the lead
er, not caring to lose any Of his warrOirS,
indicated by signs, if Meek would lay down
his gun, sally" his life would be spared.
swell, 1 liked to live said Meek, "be-
ing then in the prime Of life, and though
it hurt me powerful, l resolved to part with
Sally. l laid her down.
As I did so, the chief picked her up, and
one of the braves sprang at me with a
spear, and would have run ne through,
but the chief knocked him down with the
He was then led out on the prairie, and
handed over to the women to be guarded,
while the men held a conference, following
the preliminary smoke. The consultation
endured for three hours, which Meek i'm
proved by counting his captOrs. There
were 1S7 men, Q boys, and three women.
This knowledge was to be of service to him
later.
The head chief, '"The Bold" then deliv-
cred his Ultimatum to the prisoner, who
paid close attention, we may be certain. Il
have known the whites for a long time as
serted The Bold, land l know them to be
great liars
"Then I thought to myself" says Meek,
|they will fetch the truth out of me, If
thar is any in me. His h~ighness continued
Tell me whar are the whites you be-
long to; and what is your captains name
Il said 'Bridger is my captains name; OF
in the Crow tongue, 'Casapy, the Blanket
Chief
"How many men has hep
81 thought about telling the truth and
living; but l said forty which was a tire.
mendous lie; for thar we're two hundred
and forty. At this answer, The BOLD
laughed;
you shall live, but they shall die
Il thought to myself, hardly; but salt
nothing"
The Bold then asked where was the camp
and this time Meek told him the truth, TO
he wanted the Indians to meet the brigade
and that there should be a fight.
II was afternoon before the band set on
to Bridgers camp. Meek was again givel
in charge of the women, who ridiculed hin
numerically, haunting him meanwhile wit
the fact that he was now very poor. In tn
words of Meek, 'the fair sex war very mucl
amused" They kept on the march unit
midnight, two warriors riding MeekS mule
and he walking and carrying mOccaSinS
When they went into camp, he was place
in the center, to prevent his escaping. w
can easily credit Meek's statement, g
didn't sleep very well that night. I'd a heal
rather been in some other place"
The next morning the party set out i
the same order, with the spies ahead, as o.
the preceding day, followed by seventy wal
riOrS; then Meek and some women, wit
the remainder of the band bringing up tn
rear. When they stopped, the prisoner wa
designated as cook, and also waiter for tn
crowd. This was the program for thre
days, the women continuing to derive an
USement from laughing at Meek. But,
said he, Il remained mighty quiet"
On the afternoon of the fourth day, Nee
read from their signs that the spies ha
discovered the Bridger party. What wa
worse" added Meek, II knew they wOul
soon discover I had been Icing to them. a
( had to do then war to trust to luck.
Soon they came to a hill overlooking tn
Yellowstone, about three miles from Brio
gers camp. eat the thought Meek's "heal
beat double quick and l once in
while put my hand to my head, to feel
my scalp war thar" His scalp was in il
rightful place; but its wearer could fe
no assurance it would remain thar lOni
He was at the mercy of the Indians, an
ne had lied to them.
Meek was at heart a poet, as the follow
ing description proves: while l Wa
watching our camp, 1 discovered that IL
horse guard had seen us, for | knew Il
sign he would make if he discovered II
dams. I thought the camp a splendi
sight that evening. 1t made a pOwerfl
show to me, who did not expect to see
after that day. And it WAR a fine sigh