Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1931-11-05

upon the Indians and the government
had agreed to have Stevens recon-
mendations carried out to the letter.
But Cumming was of the pompous, Of
ficial type, and did things his own way.
He was so late getting up the river
that his steamer could not get farther
than old Fort Union; here the supplies
were unloaded and were being toWed up
the stream by a force of men walking
along the bank. All this Stevens learn
ed when he had journeyed down the
Missouri to meet his tardy associate.
1t a a p%erplexing situation. Stew
ems party was without food, having
brought only enough rations for the
trip, expecting to find Cummings sup
ply at Benton; the post traders had no
stock OF provisions, as their shipments
had been delayed by Cummings dila-
tory tactics; there were 1000 western
Indians in the Missouri valley, as dele
gates to the great council and the
problem Of keeping them out Of trouble
was grave; the Crows innumerable
vexing conditions, and Cumming, OPP
posed to the pacific policy of handling
the Indians, despising the country,
which he declared was not worth treat
ing for, assuming the entire authority
of the commission until Stevens show
ed him his place-he was the most diff
ficult problem of all.
Governor Stevens impressed the men
upon whom he could depend and or
ganized q fleet messenger service which
kept him in touch with the tribes. The
Indians were assigned to camping
grounds, as far south as the Mussel-
shelf river, where the western tribes
had their main village. BY constant
communication, Stevens kept the In
dams all in line. Hunting parties pro-
vided an abundance of meat and,
though there was no flour, coffee or
tea, the companions of the governor
were loyal and sympathetic. 1t was a
hard problem to w all this ground
by express messenger service; the men
must be dependable as well as physical
ly able; the governors ~13-year-old son
was impressed into this service, so try
ing did the situation become at times.
The youngster made some remarkable
rides.
So passed July and then August.
Still the boats which should have come
with Cumming did not appear. The
range was becoming poor, the hunting
was not good. 1t became necessary for
the Nez Perces to drift south to the
Yellowstone. The Flatheads sent word
that, If the council was not held in
fourteen days, they also must go TO
new grounds.
But there was no strife amongst the
Indians; they observed strictly their
agreement with Stevens and these
longtime foes visited and hunted to-
gether.
Only onc was there any threat Of
trouble. Four Pen d'Oreilles had come
to Benton to see the governor. He told
them to turn their horses out with his.
When they sought their steeds, the an
finals were gone-stolen by Blackfeet.
None of the Stevens horses had been
taken. The governor Immediately dis
patched Little Dog, a Blood chief, to
find the trail of the thieves, and sent
his secretary, Doty, to the northern
Blackfeet camps. Little Dog rode near
ly 200 miles and did not find the trail.
Doty rode 230 miles north into British
territory, making better than so miles
a day. On Bow river he struck a camp
only two hours later than the arrival
of the thieves. He called together the
chiefs, and demanded the stolen horses.
Lame Bull, the head chief, returned
three OF the animals, but said that the
thieves had escaped with the other. He
offered two OF his own horses in place
of the one not recovered and expressed
great regret at the incident. BY this
time Little Dog had overtaken Doty
and to him the surrendered horses were