The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1927-01-28
3 JOE MEEK
KO1U Meek Led Vanguard of Emigration to II

His accOutrements were as fine as his
riders. The saddle, crupper, and bust
girths cost one hundred and fifty dollars;
and the musk-a-mOOts fifty dollars more.
All these articles were Ornamented with
fine cut glass beads, pOrcupine quilts, and
hawks bells, that tinkled at every step.
Her blankets were Of scarlet and blue, and
of the finest quality. Such was the outfit
OF the trapper's wife, Umentucken, Tukutey
Undenwatsey, the Lamb Of the Mountains"
1t will be noticed hat aside from the
eyes Of her husband number two, no
attempt is made to describe her features;
her dress, and its exhOrbitant price re-
ceive the most attention. Undoubtedly her
eyes were soft and dark; the feet in the
decorated mOccasins, stingy enough to have
won the envy of Cinderella and that her
hair was of sufficient length to suit the
fastidiOus taste Of James Oliver CurwoOd.
her voice, like that of other Indian women,
was remarkably sweet and the hands
which held the reins of the dapple gray,
were small, and well shaped.
Umentucken's Bravery
Aside from her beauty, Umentucken was
possessed of other attractions. She had
plenty of character, and knew how to de-
fen1 herself, when necessary. Once, while
with a company of women who were pick
ing berries along the Yellowstone, they
were attacked by a band of Blackfeet, and
several Of her companions captured. Umen-
tucken saved herself from a similar fate
by swimming the Yellowstone while the
bullets of a hundred gum rained about
her head.
Some Utes who had been purchased from
the Snake Indians by an Irishman named
O'FallOn, managed to escape. O'Fallon, who
expected to reap a profit from these slaves,
suspected that Umentucken had a hand in
their liberation. and set out, armed with
n whip, to punish her. Umentucken had
been warned of his coming. She straight
way FASTENED to her lodge seized a revOl-
yer, which weapon she knew very well how
to use. and, as The lrishman stopped to
enter the lodge, she slipped out of the rear,
and going to the front, presented the pistol
at the head of her ~astOnished visitor.
All the camp had now gathered round
to witness the outcome of the affair.
Umentucken charged her wOuld-be assail-
Meek was not there to defend her. Meek
would have killed him, but this she now in
tended to do herself. O'FallOn was under
the impression that the plucky woman
meant exactly what she said, and not only
apOiOgized for his conduct, but was forced
to beg for his life. This, Umentucken grant
ed, and the Inundated bully crept away to
hide his shame, as a shout went up from
the witnesses of the Scene-"Hurrah for
the Mountain Lamb"
Meek Rescues Umentucken
At another time, the trappers had been
hunting buffalo on Powder River. While
returning to camp, U~mentucken fell behind
the rest of the party, and was captured by
Crows. When it was discovered that she
was missing, several OF the men set out
with Meek to find her. They did not have
far to go, before they caught sight of the
woman they sought in the midst Of her
captOrs, who were tOrmenting her, and
g~lOating over the thought Of soon being
the pOssessOrs of the finery she wore.
So angered was Meek at seeing his wife
i'll treated, that he urged his horse to it's
utmost speed, in which effort he succeeded
so well, that the horse ran way, and right
into the midst of the enemy. Noting their
leaders daring, those who had accompanied
him so far continued to do so, and began
shooting right and left with such good
aim that a couple of Crows were killed,