The Carbon County news. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1924-1931, 1929-08-08

~ heroes (Which are but little removed
from the dime novel class, read what
Doctor Grinnel who is one of the very few real
authorities on the history of the American
frontier, has to say about Maj. Frank North and
Capt. Luther H. North In his book 1.-TWO Great
Scouts and Their Pawnee Battalion" published
recently by the Arthur H. Clark company Of
Cleveland
In the introduction to that volume you will find
these words:
major Frank North died In 1885, in his early
middle life. He was great leader of men and
his character won for him the absolute devotion
and trust of those he commanded Whether it
was by his good fortune his SKILL he never
lost man in battle This no doubt was in part
an explanation of the faith his men had in him
In his success. Himself always in the forefront
of the battle, he never said to his men Go on,
but always Come along and his always
strove to keep up with him.
Needless to say, ne was brave and he ex-
pecled in his men the courage and steadfastness
that he himself possessed. In one fight when he
and his scouts were in the open exposed to the
fire of concealed enemies and some of his men
showed disposition to retreat, Frank North said
to Them shall kill the first man that runs No
one ran.
"The experiences of Capt. L. Fl. North cover
more years than those of his brother and
wider His iourneyings have extended from the
international boundary, south through Oklahoma
1.-THE old Indian Territory and he has spent much
time in the Rocky mountains He is today the
greatest as he is almost the last, of the odtme
scouts of America.
Ellis knowledge Oh the Indian and of the In
dams ways of thought is profound AS a hunter
of wild game he lost expert and successful
and the most certain and best rifle shot that |
have seen.
"At this late day few men survive v no were
scouts in the Indian wars OF these, Captain
North is probably the Oldest as he is certainly
the most experienced and the most able. Cap
tain North and his brother Frank North, were
in the class with Bridger and Carson. They
and such as they, did the tremendous work of
making available what is called our western
empire
High praise that-to class the Norths with such
great pioneers as Old Jim Bridger and Kit Car
son-and coming from such source it is all the
more impressive. But an inspection of the record
as it is set forth in Doctor Grinnell's book. will
show how worthy the Norths were of the title
of "empire- builders" Although their careers on
the frontier were filled with enough thrilling
experiences to delight the soul IF any dime nov
elist, fortunately for their enduring fame these
purveyors of sensation passed them by in favor
Of lesser men. And there be no doubt that
both Frank North and Luther North were the
best pleased of any one that they did pass them
by For, like most men who have accomplished
great deeds of daring and danger, they were least
inclined to talk about Them If they to
receive any recognition for the work they did,
they no doubt would have preferred it to come
as it has-from the hands of an apprecatve and
understanding friend (for the friendship of Doc
tor Grinne and Captain North dates from the
old Indian-fghting days more than half a
century ago)-in the form of a straightforward,
matter-of-fact narrative, such as Doctor Grinnell
has written, with the ring of truth and accuracy
In every line
Thomas j. North, father of the two great
scouts was native of New York who removed
TO Ohio soon after his marriage His Oldest son,
James e. North, was born in Ohio in 1888 Frank
North was born in New York In 1910 and Luther
North in Ohio in 1916. In 1855 the elder North
emigrated to the newly organized territory of
Nebraska and a year later brought mis- family
to the tract of eighty Of tmberland on
the borders of Omaha which he was clearing for
the owner of the land. North was also a sur
yeyor and that winter while laying out town
site on the California emigrant trail he was
frozen TO death.
Upon the three brothers fell the responsibility
of caring for their mother and their two younger
sisters. Eventually the family settled near
Columbus, Neb. where the boys obtained work
of various Sorts Luther North then thirteen
years Of age, become mail carrier between the
towns of Columbus and Monroe and Frank NORTH
Joined forces with three men who were making
living by trapping and poisoning wolves for theil
hides II was during this time that the NORTH