Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1931-11-12
: The Story of SANDY" McLauren Who Married a Piegan
: Princess; Her Untimely Death Caused Him to Live the
: Life of a Hermit at Foot of Mount Powell for Years
(By CHARLES III. WILLIAMS)
Former Senator of Powell County

FORMER senator OF County
nRIOR TO 1857, that part of the
great Northwest now known as
Montana and northern Idaho was
practically unknown save for the re-
port OF the Lewis and Clark expedition
which was meager as it covers only
that part along the Yellowstone and
Columbia rivers.
It was known that the Missouri river
and the Columbia each found their
source in the high mountains lying be-
tween the Pacific slope and the Mis-
sissippi valley.
The federal government had estab-
lished military posts in the Puget
Sound country for the protection of
the settlers in Oregon and Washing
ton. The only way of supplying these
posts was shipment by water around
the horn" and up the Pacific coast.
This was expensive and the time en-
ployed in making the voyage made it
impractical in times Of emergency.
1t was evident that if a wagon road
could be constructed connecting the
head Of navigation Of the Missouri and
Columbia rivers, the military posts
could be supplied to better advantage.
In the summer Of 1857, Captain
Stephens was sent out to reconnoiter
and take cognizance of the contemplat-
ed route. He reported the plan feasible
and In the spring of 1859, Captain John
Mullan with one hundred men and
equipment was sent out to construct a
wagon road from the head of naviga-
ton on the Missouri river-now called
Fort Benton-to a point on the Column
bia river, now called Walla Walla.
The building of this road was an ell
ormous task with the tools then m
ployed, which consisted principally Of
axes, saws, picks and shovels. Three
years was required to complete the
work. The route led from Fort Benton
over the rolling prairies of northern
Montana passing the great falls If the
Missouri through the rocky gorges of
the main range of the Rocky
mountains at a point where the
Northern Pacific railroad crosses by
a tunnel 3,700 feet in length, with an
altitude of 5000 feet, thence striking
the Little Blackfoot river, of the
tributaries OF the Columbia, continu-
ing down the He'll Gate canyon to
where the city of Missoula now stands.
Just outside Of the city Of Wallace,
Idaho, stands an enormous pine tree
reaching up some 200 feet high. On
the side of this tree the bark was re-
moved for a small space on which is
inscribed by carved letters, the name
Of John Mullan, July 4, 1854" OF such
Importance was this road to the early
development OF Montana that life-size
statues in marble have been placed at
intervals along the way by a wealthy
lady. born in Montana.
There were no white men inhabiting
this part of the western country. It
was a most beautiful land, with lofty
mountains covered with a thick growth
of evergreen trees. Sparkling streams
dashed down rocky defiles with o
and then a beautiful lake in which
Speckled trout leaped from its glossy
surface.
Deer, elk, moose, bear and mountain
lions were seen in abundance. Noun
tain sheep and snow-white goats look
ed down from the highest mountain
peaks. Numerous bands Of Indians
wandered back and forth in search of
game for food. Indians, unlike the
white man, never slaughtered game for
sport. They only killed for food. This
accounts for the abundance of game
animals at that time.
The newness of the country and the
spirit of adventure induced many
young men to join the Mullan party,
n pt,v1rr nc cnox,fc cx,fInr I,fnv~ nfr
Among these was a young Scotchman,
named McLauren. His long red hair
which hung in clusters upon his
shoulders and a luxuriant beard of the
same hue suggested for him the sobri-