Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1930-07-31

burgh or Philadelphia. Inspired by
the love of adventure and a desire to
see the west, they began their journey
via the Ohio river. Arriving at st.
Louis they managed TO secur passage
on a steamboat about TO go up the
Missouri. 1t is doubtful whether they
paid their passage, except by prom
ising to stop of along the way and
chop wood for the boat that brought
them there. This is thought to have
been the Peninah, as it was the cap
tain Of the boat who told their story
to Pilot Atkins. 1t is possible the
Peninah carried them from the Ohio.
The seven were not afraid TO work,
and the idea of a wood yard on the
river bank out in the wilderness, where
they could hunt and fish, and lead the
free life they craved appealed to them.
Not far from the mouth OF the Mus
selshell they located, bidding goodbye
to the boats captain and their fellow
passengers, and with light hearts pre-
pared for their work.
They were undoubtedly well stocked
with provisions and had also foresight
to provide themselves with Henry rifles
and plenty of ammunition. After
leaving the seven, the captain of the
Peninah met Pilot Atkins, who, in the
interchange Of news, heard of the wood
choppers and where their camp lay.
Atkins vas or the lookout for them
on his next trip up the river. He saw
them, but what he also noticed did not
impress him favorably. He remarked
to his companion, Sims, Those fellows
won't last long. When we passed their
yard they were sitting on a log, I'M
armed, and at some distance from the
cabin that held their guns and am
munition."
In Blackfeet Country
The wood yard Of the seven wa in
Blackfeet cOuntry-a tribe not on too
friendly terms with the whites at that
time, 1868, or for several years later.
Pilgrims as they were, the seven
knew nothing of Indian warfare, nor
did they appreciate the danger which
surrounded them.
On the next trip up the river, At
kins looked to see any indications of
life at the wood yard. There were
none. He thought it we'll to investi-
gate. Either the boat stopped for the
purpose or tied up for the night at
this spot. A party Of the men left the
boat and went to the cabin, where
no detective was needed to learn what
had happened. All were dead. -Four
lay in the doorway, and three in the
hunks. Evidently, they had been the
victims of a morning attack by Indi-
ans, either Blackfeet or Sioux, and
met their tragic fate, four while trying
to escape and the others before they
cot,Jd Ioov,o fhoir h,,rLc r. Sr Ytf1o
wonder that wood choppers were hard
to get. who would remain in the iso-
lated wood yards along the upper Mis-
souri,.
Had the rel men been on their
guard against the attack, they could
have put to fight several times their
own number. Their repeating rifles
gave them a great advantage, as the
Indians stood in wholesome fear of
them.
Here is the brief reference to the
tragedy from the Bertha's log book:
"Wednesday, Aug. 5, 1868.-Departed
4 a. m. Weather cool. Had a little
rain last night. River falling. Passed
Round Butte 5 a. m. While trying to
land last night at a right hand point,
we heard animals SnOrting and took
them to be horses; it was dark and we
could not see, but thought it was not
a safe place, so we came on down the
river for two miles and laid up OPP
poSite side. Came over all of the bad
river all right, got aground getting in
to first left bluff. Passed the point
where those seven wood choppers were
killed, white dog on opposite shore"
Encounter War Party
This was the only account of what