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

stampeding. says Father Palladino, and
none could be more serious than the
strife which it brought about between
the whites and Indians, and which
promised little good for the latter.
The natives had been from time i'm
memorial the sole possessors Of all these
regions, n naturally enough they re-
sented seeing them invaded and occupied
by the pale faces. On the other hand,
the discovery of gold was bringing in
the whites by the thousands from every
quarter.
Detached bands or war parties of Black
feet would fall on groups of miners,
prospectors, Transfers or travellers, and
mercilessly rob n murder every one
of them. The whites retaliated. Matters
grew rapidly worse, and from 1865 to
1869, the Blackfeet appeared to become
desperate, and bent on discriminating
every white man found in the country.
not even the mission was spared their
fury, SO Father Giorda in 1865 started
a search for a new location for the mis-
sion.
A new site was selected two miles east
OF Bird Tail rock, a landmark on the
present highway between the town of
Cascade and the hill known as Sullivan
rill. So in the winter Of 1866, Father
lmoda established camp at the new place
and with the assistance of another priest
n a number Of Indians prepared logs,
stone and all the necessary materials.
According to a record left by Father
Kuppens. they had plans that included
all the different departments for chapel
n community life: for school and in
oustrial training. Lumber was hauled
from Helena. During the winter, the
work was never interrupted n the
houses were virtually ready in the spring.
On April 27, 1866, they abandoned St.
Peters mission on the Missouri; on the
same day they opened the new st. Peters
mission at Bird Tail rock. The next day
they closed that mission temporarily.
Re-Opened in 1874
1t is not unlikely that the reason the
new mission was closed was because OF
the war parties of Blackfeet met by the
priests while they were moving to it.
Anyway, Father Giroda sent the members
of the little community to ST. Ignatius
n to what is now Missoula, whittier
also was transferred the stock and what
ever else could be moved.
Meanwhile. Father Giroda established
missions for the whites in Virginia City
and Helena. In order to take care OF
both the white people and the Indians,
ST. Peters mission was then attached
TO the mission of Helena. whence the
Blackfeet were to be occasionally visited
by Father Imoda. This, however, was a
temporary arrangement only. During the
whole interval from the closing of the
mission IN 1900, TO The re-Openlng In
1874, the premises and whatever else
had not been disposed of. remained con-
fided to the care OF Thomas Moran.
After It's re~-opening in 1874, st Peters
mission prospered for many years. There
were the usu agricultural and stock
raising activities to supplement the in
dustrial school for Indian boys. BY 1880,
the Ursuline Nuns were induced to come
there n establish a school for Indian
and half-breed girls. Within 10 years,
st. Peters had accommodations for 400
children. The buildings were substan-
tial, being of stone, and the school IA
~cilities were numbered among the best
in the west.
However, the mission had one great
handicap. The rapid settling of the re-
gion by the whites had caused the row.
eminent to restrict the territory of the
Blackfeet and, as a consequence, the
Indians were now placed on q reservation
some go miles to the north Of the mis-
sion. So finally, a new mission nearer
first this new dependency was located at
Birch creek On the outskirts of the
reservation. In 1885, 1t was moved to a
more central location on Two Medicine
; creek.
Thus did conditions come about that
caused st. Peters to decline, and q few
years ago the buildings were abandoned
and now nothing more han their ruins
are to be seen on the highway between
Great Falls and Helena. The land on
which the ruins are situated is still the
property OF the Ursuline Nuns.