Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1931-12-10

That year was marked by the final
flash of Indian warfare in Montana.
In 1877 it had been the Nez Perces. In
1878 it was the Bannacks. 1t was not
an actual war, insofar as there were no
pitched battles, but the Indians from
across the continental divide made life
miserable for southwestern Montana
settlers with the horse stealing raids
and occasional murders.
The Bannacks, however, had moth
ing to do with this chronicle, except
that their murderous sorties encouraged
a band of impetuous young Crow braves
to venture far afield, into the Madison
country,o on a thieving raid Of their own,
without the consent or knowledge of
the leaders of their tribe.
The maurauders had a definite OBJ
jective-the black horse band" of
Thorpe, probably the finest bunch Of
horses in the territory, nearly all Of
them sired by a magnificent black stall
lion the Englishman had imported from
Canada. Their fame had spread far
and wide. even penetrating the coun-
try of the Crows, there creating covet-
lOuS AIIlDltlUllS al tlC llCd10 IA uiC
aforementioned bucks.
Dashing up through the Madison
mountains, the intrepid young raiders
slipped down the Indian creek trail and
stole into the range bordering the Ruby
valley. Though Thorps usually kept a
watchful eye on the valuable horses,
this day was an unfortunate exception,
and it was not until the following af-
ternoon that he discovered the animals
we're missing. Aware that the stallion
and the colts seldom wandered far from
their home range, the Engllshman
guessed at once that they had been
stolen.
He summoned his friend, Jim Ptomey
Together they made a rapid search OF
the surrounding country, riding hard
through every daylight hour. Five days
of this passed without result-not q
trace of a horse trail could be found.
Thorpe bethought himself Of his friend,
Madison John.
1t was a lucky bunch. The old man
squinted his eyes IS they told OF their
fruitless quest, then suggested calmly
that they had overlooked the Indian
creek trail. They shook their heads
a band of strange Indians would not
be aware of that narrow passage, they
reminded John. He persisted and a few
hours later English George and Ptomey
stood at the entrance Of the canyon
looking down with startled eyes at the
unmistakable trail of a large band OF
horses.
Nearly a week later, the two white
men and John began their pursuit. They
derived some slight hope from the Tact
that the Crows camping places were
comparatively close together, indicating
that the young braves were in nc
hurry. The trail led into the Yellow
stone park and down the Yellowstone
river. The few settlers along the route
told them with dubious shakes OF the
head that the Indians they were trail
ing were bold and threatening war
riors. None of the white men had at
tempted to modest them.
Near the present site of Livingston
the trio was hailed by a trapper who
had gone into hiding after a brief, bu'
not serious skirmish with the Crows
who, he declared, were becoming mos'
war-like. Evidently the young bucks
were flushed with the success OF theil
expedition. Pointing out that the mer
from the Madison were far out-num-
bered, the trapper urged them tt
abandon the pursuit. Thorpe and his
companions persisted, however, ane
finally the trapper resignedly declared
he would accompany them, though hi
maintained in the same breath that his
decision made four fools instead o.
three"
For the next three days, the aug
mented white force rode slowly ano
cautiously, Madison John acting as
scout. 1t was near the mouth OF Priol
creek, on the evening of the third day