Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1929-11-21

Campbell, land spent the night at
Davis cabin. That was quite a hang
out for frontiersmen Of all kinds
trappers, cattlemen and prospectors.
'They took me for a tenderfoot and
I guess / was. While we were all seat
ed around the fireplace that night,
they explained to me that the Indi-
ans were on the warpath and that
under no circumstances must l per-
NIT an Indian to approach within
range; 1 must be on the alert for
them. Bright and early next day !
shouldered my pack and resumed my
journey.
Just above Highwood I saw a horse
over and tried to make sure whether
he was Indian or white man. Filled
with terror, 1 was sure he was an In
dian. He kept coming nearer. l mo-
toned him back frantically but he
kept riding toward me. / lifted my
rifle and fired but missed and he still
rode toward me. I hastily sought the
shelter of a tree, then rested my
weapon on a branch and took care
full aim. This time the bullet barely
missed it's mark and the horseman
put spurs to his mount and sped away.
Returning to camp, I reported the
encounter with considerable agitation,
only to discover that the supposed In
dian was my near neighbOr and good
friend, Matt Price. He joined in the
laughter and ridicule and l was much
crestfallen. He is alive and hearty
today at Warm Springs, and is close
to 100 years old, thanks to my trem-
bling hands"
Mr.. Campbell was born in Fremont
county, Iowa, Oct. II, 1854, the son OF
a physician. His early childhood was
spent at Nebraska City, across the
Missouri river, during which time his
father was in the midst of border
troubles during the Jayhawker regime.
Seven miles up the river, at Wyoming,
Neb., was the QUILTING headquarters
for Mormon colonists, conducted by
Russell, Majors e. Waffle.
Almost every day he saw emigrant
trains depart for the wild west" and
he longed to join them. About that
time he witnessed the first effort at
motorized or powerized transportation,
represented by a steam engine or
wagon somewhat like a tractor, that
was purchased for use on the j.. Ster-
ling Morton ranch near Wyoming. Mr..
Morton later became secretary of agrl-
culture in President Cleveland's cabl-
net. The steam machine was also ex-
pected to haul wagon trains across the
plains. But 1t never worked and was
soon discarded.
Drove Mule Team
1t was 1875 when MI. Campbell came
west, stopping first at Corrine, Utah,
where he found employment driving
a mule team to Helena. He arrived
there a few months after the famous
Vigilantes had performed their last
semi-of1cial hanging.
Mac Compton and a pal were caught
after holding up a settler. They we're
hanged to a pine tree in Dry gulch,
just above the site now occupied by
the state capitol. The tree was on
property owned by a preacher, who
felt disgraced by the lawless execution,
So ne cut 1t down when he found 1t
wa being pointed out to new arrivals
as one OF Helena'S points of interest. v
Mr.. Campbell was employed in Hills
drug store in Helena for three years
and then he came to the Highwoods
M bought a band Of sheep. He grazed
them on Cora creek. Finding the snow
too deep Tor grazing one season, he
moved the animals In midwinter across
the mountains to Arrow creek, which
was pare OF snow and provided abun-
dant feed.
1t required 10 days to cover Ia miles.
To break trail through the snow, they
dragged i've sheep and the band would
follow. His third winter In the High
woods was featured by extreme SHOWS,
which covered the ground from October