Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1929-03-07

(By MRS. M. E. PLASSMANN)
GENERAL JAMES tells us, in his &C
count of his adventures in the
~ northwest that when Cheek, the
TennesSeean who was a member OF his
company, warned Manuel Lisa he
would never return II he went to Three
Forks, Lisa turned pale, and imme-
diately afterwards decided to go to ST.
Louis, leaving Menard in charge Of the
expedition.
Lisa was not loved by the Americans
of his command. and with good reason,
If we may credit General James. On
the other hand, Lisa was none too fond
of the American trappers who were
not altogether under his control.
Menard was a man OF different cal
iber. Always considerable and tactful,
he understood how to control men
without antagonizing them. The Amer
lean trappers welcomed the change in
authority, and were willing to follow
wherever he led, even to Three Forks,
which was known to be dangerous re-
gion but rich in beaver.
They managed to reach their destin-
alton safely. Here James and a few
others planned to follow the Missouri,
reached the falls. The rest of the
xAAlANA AN0AAo RAA0 O0OAS AZ Ia
all, were going in another direction, up
the Jefferson. Menard stayed to fin
ish the fort, which would 500 be need
ed for protection from winters cold, as
we'll as from hostile Indians, from
whom an attack might come at any
moment.
This fort was situated between the
Jefferson and Madison rivers, and con-
sidering the imperative need for its
quick construction, it seems strange
that Menard did not enlist the aid of
the whole company until their winter
quarters were ready for occupancy.
The TenneSseean, Cheek, went with
the larger party, up the jefferson. He
tried to dissuade James from going
down the Missouri with SO small a par
ty, for he had always been a good
friend of the latter. James believed a
small number Of men would run less
risk from Indians than a large COM
pany. Each went his way at length,
fully persuaded his Judgment was the
better.
AS they separated, Cheek said:
James, you are going down the Mis-
souri,, and it is the general opinion you
will be killed. The Blackfeet are at
the falls, encamped, I hear, and we
fear you will never come back. But l
am afraid for myself as well as you.
/ know not the cause, but / have felt
fear ever since I came to the Forks.
I never was afraid of anything before.
You may come out safe and l may be
killed. Then you will say, There was
Cheek, afraid to go with u down the
river for fear of death, and now he has
found his grave by going up the river
I may be dead when you return"
Cheeks party left the fort and went
up the jefferson, about 40 miles, it was
reported by one of the number-Immel
who escaped to tell what happened.
Three of the men, including Cheek,
were getting the camp ready for the
night, and the rest out setting traps
when those at the camp saw 80 or 40
Indians rapidly approaching, some on
foot and the others on horseback.
Vale, one of the three men, urged
his companions to catch the horses and
ride for their lives. This Cheek re-
fused to do. He said his time had come,
but he would kill two, and her he
didn't care. "One mar ran about ex-
claiming My God, My God! what shall
I do?' SO overcome by fear he was un-
able to mount a horse"
Immel heard Cheeks gun and then
those Of the Indians, when Cheek must
have been killed. 1t was growing dark
when Immel and another man reached
camp. They thought it had been
changed as they saw no INT there the
Indians having gone.
If it had been thought another spot
would be more desirable for the camp,
SO Immel reasoned, undoubtedly Cheek
and the others would have left some
word or sign to indicate its new loca-
ton. However, before they could look
up the camp, a noise was heard from
the direction of the river, Immel de-
cided to investigate. Perhaps Cheek
was there, in which event it would be