davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1934-09-15

Major Culbertson decided in 1894
after Fort McKenzie had been destroy
ed by the Indians, 60 build post for
the Blackfeet trade further up the riv-
err, and he selected Is = site q point
five miles above where the present town
of Fort Benton stands today, but on
the opposite side OF the Missouri.
A few years experience at Fort Lewis
proved the undesETabllity ct its loca-
ton. It had been built ca the east side
Of the river as a protective measure
against Blacklist attacks. but when the
Blackfeet became more friendly, the
river proved an obstacle 20 trading, as
at times Of the year they found u ina-
possible TO ford with their pelts for
trading. In 1896. therefore. Culbertson,
chose the site Of Fort Benton for new
post and the first fort was completed
that year.
Fort Benton, whose r1ins seih are
in fragmentmry form oy the
people of the town which took its name
was located on the west side Of eiae
river, S,575 miles above ikB mouth. Ire
wan was 260 fest square. The
material used for tHsas wall and the
building within as well, was adoages
or sun-dried brick. 11e blocks o. adone
we're 4xsx16 inches, tfle outer wall con-
sistinR OF two BLOCKS eEa1 ~ end, Thus
giving q wall "a inEass kiaick. AT dAm~
gonal corners were twn nasacaas- Tnere
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1934-09-15
STATE SONG CONTEST

The State universities and colleges
have finished judging the state song
contest. There was such G great dif-
ference Of opinion that the copies that
were mentioned for first and second
place viii be sent east to a competent
critic to decide the contest The music
win be sent back to the composers first
70 let them make any improvements or
changes they wish. It must be back ia
the hands Of the chairman, Mrs o. F.
Wadsworth, i04 Third Avenue North,
Great Falls, Mont, by the 18th Of Oc-
tober. Those who came first and sec
ond were MRS. Edith Hatch jameson,
Anaconda: Mr.. Arthur MerTick, Great
Falls; Mary Anderson Strum, Knowl-
ton; Mr. Iven IOrenzen, Sidney; Mr. B.
z. Markhens Wolf Point; Mr.. Robert
Stevens, Great Falls
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1934-09-15

black clouds and lighted now and theI
by the flashing Of the lightning Whill
the believing thunder was sent down
to us in the sunlight. It Is a grand anC
beautiful sight; I have never seen It,
equal"
It was ''nost amazing" to Mr.. Wiley
that Sunday resembles the rest Of the
week here" with the stores open and
building going on TO some extent. He
found the ride from Livingston to Boze-
man simply stupendous. An immense
profusion Of flowers Of all colors car
pet the ground. all new to me except
the larkspur, one just like cyclamen,
one deep purple, and q star hly-yel-
low, ETC."
Arriving in Bozeman on June IL, Mr..
Wiley went on to Helena, reaching the
capital on the 14th. During the course
Of the trip, he went through an Inn
mensely interesting and beautiful coun-
try TO Townsend which is on the Mis-
souri, river"
He also found that the scenery diff
fers along the Northern Pacific railway
line from the y. P. and Central P. line
IN this way; instead Of traversing long,
desolate tracts OF country day after
day, where nothing but sagebrush and
crossword grow and where the plains
are whitened with aIkan deposits, these
hills and plains are carpeted with beau
tiful verdure, sprinkled with the most
exquisite wild flowers have ever seen
while numberless herds Of cattle and
horses are feeding on the nutritious
buffalo grass. A party who followed us
reports coming very near drove Of 9
buffalo, four Of which we're shot while
in plain sight by the ranchmen."
Reaching the Missouri river it was
found that the bridge was reported m-
safe for the locomotive "as the piles
were being undermined by the swollen |
river We were told to walk across on
the ties. It was not too dark to see,
but as we walked out on the bridge the
current was fearful. Having walked /
so feet, we took q train standing In the
middle Of the river on part of the
bridge which they said was safe. Here
we waited until a flatcar containing our
trunks, could be pushed over the dam
gerous spot and thus connect our train
This occupied perhaps 20 minutes. dur
ing which time our car, which had no
locomotive, shook, swayed and waver-
ed as the furious current Of the river
slashed against the bridge. was never
30 much disturbed by anything that
ever threatened In the whole course Of
my travelling.
II would have walked across to the
opposite shore, but just at the end Of
the bridge glared the headlight OF the,
engine which was to pull us over, and
might have been caught by 1t with no
room to turn aside This was out Of
he question and there was nothing to
10 but to wait until the slow motions
# the train should get us across. Mean |
While the swaying went on without
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1934-09-15

was no stockade at this fort, as there
had been around earlier posts on the
river. All the buildings faced toward
the center Of the enclosure, the outeE
wall forming their rear walls. On the
side toward the river was the entrance
consisting of a large wooden gate, IN
which was a smaller gate, or postern
for use when it was not necessary 10
use the large one.
On Christmas night Of the year 1850
dance was given at the fort IN honor
Of the completion Of the house BY Maj
or Cuibertson All the employees Of the
fort were there, and many Indian wom-
en- who had been taken as wives by
the white men In the midst OF the
gayety, Major Culbertson who was en-
joying the hilarfty as much as any one.
proposed that the fort, which up to that
time had retained the name Of the
earliest post up the river-Lewis
should be renamed IN honor Of Senator
Thomas Benton Of Missouri, who had
saved the company from extinction
some years before when 1t was con-
fr0nted with charge Of violating the
law prohibiting the sale OF whisky 70
the Indians. The proposal met with
approval, and It was In this way that
the post received the name by which
Il in dear TO the heart Of every Montan~
Ma
IL 1855 Major Andrew Dawson was
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1934-09-15

diminution, added to which, 1t was Do,
vious, that once In the boiling, slarRinl
current, death was inevitable. It was {
trying time, and the feeling Of RELIEF
and thankfulness which followed on
arrival on the opposite bank may b.
imagined"
Announcement was made that the
train would proceed at once to Helena
But Mr.. Wiley writes that he thac
enough for that night, and ct Bedford
he took a wagon to the Bedford house
It was then II O'Clock. The train. how
ever, went on through and arrived In
Helena at $50 o'clock on the following
morning e mile and a half from town
in the rain and darkness, and above
ali, IN the mud"
Arriving in Helena at 4:S0 O'Clock
that afternoon In baggage car, which
was bad enough" but glad that he
waited, he reached the "Cosmopo
good satisfactory house Letters
which had arrived in advance he found
had been delivered to his son, al B.
Wiley, who was at Sullivan and Nc
Cures, some IA to 10 miles farther
west. Informed that there was let
ter for him at the international hotel,
he went over and found 1t was written
from "Greenhorn Gulch," dated June
IS, and asking him TO come out. It was
from his son.
A few days later Mr.. Wiley drove out
TO Greenhorn Gulch to find his son.
The ride was beautiful, flowers in great
profusion and Of great beauty. Saw so
TO 100 prairie dogs In one field Saw a
wildcat crawling up a rock about 40 to
50 feet off"
He found his son at the company
store looking as natural as possible. ?
After eating dinner and looking around
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1934-09-15

they drove across to the Mullen tunnel
"a mile cut through the granite noun
tains, about 1000 feet finished"
Sunday. June "A, found Mr.. Wiley
still in Helena He interested himself In
looking at real estate-IOts" In the
meantime he had driven out 10 Green
horn GuIch again TO visit with his son,
who returned to Helena with him. To-
gether with Mr.. Canon they went out
to "Canon's addition" and made him
an offer Of $1,000 for about 12a acres,
plated 8. z. from passenger depot ad-
Joining the ". P. land: he would not
sell; I may close with him yet with a
little modifying OF the offer-shows
some bottom to real estate here. any
how. He (Canon) is the largest holder
Of land here. If the town grows it must
be IN that direction. The railroad paid
more than double that price for the
adjoining land
Being an exceptionally close observer,
Mr.. Wiley at this point In his diary.
writes that zone day last week, Wednes-
day, believe, the train from the east
did not arrive at evening as usual on
account of the going out Of the West
Gallatin bridge, caused by high water;
one days travel omitted. On the same
day the stage from Butte was held up
and the passenger invited to step out
and show their pockets. Robbers only
got $25-the rest was secreted This
does to often happen lately. On our
ride from Greenhorn we had cotton
Iail rabbit just beside us; magpies very
thick
Having conferred with his son about
making a trip to the Yellowstone ma
.ional park, Mr.. Wiley writes that
Howard is to leave Sullivan and Nc
Cures at once, probably Tuesday, and
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1934-09-15

With the story of historic Fort Ben
ton, which for many years Was the
most important point between st. Louis
and the Pacific coast, there are two
names that are interviewer. They are
Major Alexander Culbertson and Major
Andrew Dawson. Between the years
1846, when the American Fur COM
pany built the fort, and 1864. when
1t was sold by the company to private
traders, the destinies of the old post
were in the hands of these two men.
After the latter date, Fort Benton's old
glory as the center Of the northwest
fur trade departed, but the town which
was built beside the fort entered into
an era Of even greater historical great
ness as the head Of navigation for the
immense traffic between the east and
the gold country that began to send
its stream Of golden wealth to the ma
ton, which was sore stricken and weak
ened by the war Of the rebellion.
But about the earlier period OF the
old fort there remains a halo Of his
tOric interest that possesses q most
fascinating interest, created, possibly,
because this lone outpost Of civilization
IA the vast wilderness Of the west form
ed the center Of a little world o. It's
own. Il made and exacted obedience
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1934-09-15
Monthly Paroles for
State Prison Named

The state pardon board recently ap-
proved eight discharges and IS paroles
from the state prison at Deer Lodge for
the month Of September, according 20
announcement at the capital few
days ago.
The population Of the prison on
Sept. was 655 IS compared 10 56z on
Aug. /. During the month Of August
40 new prisoners were taken 90 the
prison.
OF the $50 prisoners ct Deer Lodge
at the present time 516 are male
whites, seven white women, IS colcred
males, one colored woman and six
Chinese.
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1934-09-15

his pocket A couple Of years later he
started up the Missouri and entered
the service Of the American Fur com
pany. It was at Fort Union where
Dawson and CuIberts0n met and in
1854 Dawson succeeded CuIberkSon IN
charge Of Fort Benton and was entrrlst-
ed with the task Of enlarging and COM
plotting the fort.
Dawson had a great sense Of hun1or
and generally saw the amusing side OF
life. lie was, too. a genial host and
entertained many famous men from
Europe who visited the west. One Of
these was certain Count Eoskiosko,
grandson of Count KoSsuth, the famous
Polish patriot. K0sldoslE0 was q most
congenial soul and loved whisky q
little too much. On account Of drinking
proclivitieS, Dawson nicknanned him
Count Cask of whisky by which title
he was known UP and down the river.
Dawson was greatly respected by the
Indians and somewhat feared. as the
cures for their sicknesses which he ef-
fected with medicine made them sti-
spect him Of having supernatural pow
ers He had many remarkable exper-
fences and some narrow escapes from
NNrA@AA az bAAC Atk14AAt6 Ia All1t4AC Eflktfth.
but he was absolutely fearless and ex-
tremely resourcefui. He was a success
ful trader and made the operations az
the fort very profitable.
1t was during the winter of 1853.
which was considered the severest ever
known IN Montana-the true intensity
OF the cold could never be estimated
as the mercury in all Thermometers
was frozen-that Dawson met with an
accident from which he never COM
pletely recovered. He had a trap door
over cellar in which he kept all his
important documents Having neglect
ed 10 close this door, and going 10 the
place In the dark, he fell down the cell
lar and was stunned by the fan, lying
there all night. When he was discov-
cred in the morning. he was so weak
and paralyzed that they had consider
able difficulty IN getting him out of the
cellar alive. Becoming weaker ply
sically every year, and having almost
completely lost the use Of his legs from
The hips downward. he decided to retire
from business. SO In the summer Of 1864
he sailed from New York for his child
hood home at Dalkeith, Scotland. Soon
after the company disposed of its in
Eerests to Hubbell, Hawley q Smith,
who operated under the name OF the
Northwest Fur Co. The same year,
1854, Matthew Carroll, who died In
Helena on February 3, 1909, and George
Steele erected store building OUTSIDE
1f the fort. Other buildings followed.
and IN 1855, townsite was laid out by
Colonel w. W. DeIacy. In 1877 the
Northwest Fur company closed its bus
ness and leased the fort to the govern
nent. The fort Was occupied for miIi-
airy purposes for only q short time,
however, and the historic old post soon
began to fall into decay.
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1934-09-15

placed by Major CuIbertson in charge
Of the fort, Major Culbertson becoming
| general agent OF the American Fur
company and making frequent trips
between st. Louis and Fort Benton.
He retained his connection with the
company until 1861, when he retired
and took up his residence at Peoria,
III. He had accumulated q fortune of
100000 In the fur trade, which repre-
scented much greater individual wealth
in that time than it would today Major
Culbertson died August 81, 1873 The
town OF Culbertson, IN Valley county,
was named after him.
1t is certain no white man had a
more thorough and comprehensive
knowledge Of the early history OF what
Is today Montana than Major Culbert-
son, and the nation suffered a great
loss as q result Of his failure
TO write q detailed history of that per-
iod Of the fur trade in which he was q
striking figure. Many fragments OF
historical facts were told by him To-
Ldet. Bradley, who set them forth ia his
manuscripts while he was stationed at
Fort Benton IN the early 70's The
death Of Lieut.. Bradley at the Battle Of
the Big Hole deprived Montana OF a.
valuable and assiduots historian. Had
he lived to complete his work. there
is little doubt that much OF the most
interesting historical data that has now
been lost would have been preserved.
When Major Culbertson came among
the Blackfeet In 1883, he found that
they stiu had a tradition Of the killing
Of member Of their tribe In 1905 by
Captain Lewis on the Marias, the IN
cident being described In the Lewis and
Clark journals The name of the
Blackfeet warrior was O-nie-strucis-
luny He-that- loolxs-at -tke-caif). Ac-
cording to the Indian account, Captain
Lewis had gene into camp on the Ma
rias. unfurling his flag, according tol
custom. In the evening a number Of
Blackfeet came into camp and we're
kindly received, but during the night
some OF the Indians ran off with some
OF Captain Lewis horses, when the rest
OF the Blackfeet were detained by him
as hostages. The next morning, one |
Of the hostages, watching his 0pportun- |
ity, seized a horse, mounted him and
dashed away when he was fired upon
by one OF Lewis men and killed.
The 10 years in which Major Dawson
was IN charge Of Fort Benton saw the
beginning of the end Of the fur trade /
as it was known IN earlier years at the
fort Much OF the ceremony that had
been observed In trading with the In
dams was dispensed with. When, In
1864. the first trading store was huilt
outside the fort By Carroll a. Steele, the
old timers began to lament that civil
1eaflf,rs was annrnanlaspaQ and that \
things were getting too civilized.
Major Andrew Dawson was born
April as, 1917, at Dalkeitn. Scotland
He came 10 America and to 81. Louis
Ia 1S43. landing there with 7S cents In
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1934-09-15

he Is to meet me here and we propose
to go 70 Bozeman and Fit out Tor the
park and go Ia from there together FOR
two weeks" He was anxious 10 see moro
L Of his son 1T would be very unsatis-
/ factory il 60 back, seeing him only
'as already have.
Letters arrived from his home folk.
Eight days were required 10 receive q
letter from New York. he observed.
Over two weeks to write and get re-
ply" He complained OF an attack Of H.
ness. Il could scarcely hold up my
head. A dose OF Squibhs It has en-
abled me to overcome Il entirely"
Feeling better and in condition TO
travel, the journey toward the park
begins A6r. Wiley, however. makes an
other observation.
Just as we arrived az Greenhorn,
the man who Is siuice mining there
took out q nugget Of virgin gold about
the size and shape given below cine
drawing is 8 rough-edged oval shaped
figure inside Of which Is written: esti-
mate $500 It had washed along Ia
the sluice with rocks, dirt, etc, and
stopped on account Of its weight"
"Bozeman We arrived here yester-
day from Helena at 1880 q. m" writes
Mr.. Wiley on June %. 1888. Howard
came down from Greenhorn GuIch on
Tuesday, having left Sullivan and Nc
Cures camp We spent Tuesday aft
ernoon looking about at ponies, buck
boards. etc. In the evening &C o'clock |
we went to Colonel Sanders, w. F., on
Ewing street 10 dinner. Mrs. Sanders is |
3 very agreeable lady. Rev. VIM. B. /
Reed was also there, who, with J. w.
Sanders. the son, completed the table
After supper we walked around and
bid people goodbye, getting to bed at
1890 O'Clock. We got up at $3.50 O'Clock
and left on the train at 5. Got break
fast at Townsend and dinner here
(Bozeman) at the NJ p hotel"
At this point Mr.. Wiley departs from
his account Of the preparations TO rec
ord another stage holdup. Tuesday
night the stage from Deer Lodge was
suddenly confronted by two men, each
masked and having a pistol in each
hand. who called upon the driver to
halt. An outside passenger, an old
resident named John Mccormack, in
stantly drew his pistol and fired two
shots at one Of the road agents, one
shot taking effect In the mans body
and dropping him. Mccormack fired
at the other man. but missed him. In
The meantime the stage was rafting
along, the horses excited by the firing,
but the other road agent fired repeat
sdly, one shot grazing the drivers cheek
while another struck one Of the wheel
horses in the head from the effect OF
which he died after going half mile.
Parties went in pursuit from French !
Woman's creek
After writing paragraph describing 7
he initial preparations made for the /
bark trip, Mr. Wiley says, II forgot to I
MENTION that during the last evening Z
We were in Helena, we were introduced I
o Major Blaine, J. G. BIS brother
CTo Be Continued ]
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1934-09-15

The passing Of zoe CuIbertson,
famous Indian scout, at Wolf
Point q few years ago, recalls the
career Of his distinguished father,
Major Alexander CulbertsOll, one
Of Montana's first captains Of in
dustry. He engaged In the fur
trade In the Upper Missouri river
country, 80 years ago, as the
trading head Of the American Fur
company, then the great rival
Of the Hudson's Bay company. lie
was at the zenith of his power
IS years before there was any
sembIance Of law and order in
what is now Montana, the only
man In authority In these parts,
and his word was law. As the
head of a rich and powerful cor
pOratiOn, he was overload Of the
American northwest, east Of the
Rocky mountains, and lived and
ruled like a king. The principal
monument to his memory Is the
town Of Fort Benton, which he
founded as a trading post in 1886,
and his interesting history is
closely interviewer with that Of
Major Andrew Dawson, whom he
placed in charge Of the fur COM
pany's business at Fort Benton.
The town of CulbertsOn was
named for the great fur trader.
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1934-09-15
CulbertsO11 and DalOsOn Were TlOo Men
Who Founded and Developed Fort Benton

to its own laws, and it was only for a
short season each year that it had even
disconnected communication by slow
river boats.
It was as a result Of this condition
that the factor Of one Of the old Mis-
souri, river trading forts was almost a
king in his own domain. Many Of
them, like Kenneth Mckenzie, lived
more nka kings than citizens Of re-
public, maintaining sort OF feudal
system that could have hardly been
surpassed by the smaller princes Of
Europe in its absolutism.
Fort Benton, coming in the latter
period of the fur trade, was not ruled
in the same despotic manner as Fort
Union in the earlier days, but never
theless, the man in charge was possess
ed Of practically absolute authority and
carried great responsibility on his
shoulders.
Alexander CuIbertson succeeded
Kenneth Mckenzie as the principal
figure In the Upper Missouri river af-
fairs in the year 1892, having entered
the service of the American Fur COM
pany in 1929. His first important ap-
poantment was as commander of Fort
Mckenzie, which was built in 1882 on
the Missouri river some five miles above
the mouth Of the Marias. He was a
native Of Chambersburg, Pa, Of Scotch
Irish parentage, six feet tall and Of
fine presence, having q keen eye and a
frank and open countenance. He was
possessed of a great executive ability
and showed wonderful tact and skill
in dealing with the Indians. he sue
ceeded in winning completely the con-
fidence Of the savage Blackfeet.
Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1934-09-15

north and south, two miles north, five
miles south, plateau between, IS miles
beautiful"
Shortly after O'Clock on the morn
ing Of June 10, Mr.. Wiley was follow
ing up the YeIlOwstone-very rapid
we are now at Saltwater. The snow
covered mountains have been in sight
all day and we are approaching them
through lots Of prairie dogs and goph-
ers."
Stops for business purposes were
made at Livingston and Bozeman.
went to the Sheridan house kept by
one Carson, editor OF Livingston Tri-
bune. Carson was away. MRS. Carson
kept the house in his absence-S2 per
day. Log cabin, two stories, had good
bed and decent room; fair meals. Sub
scribed for the Livingston Tribune for
a year-map Of Montana thrown in for
$3.50"
Describing the town further, Mr..
Wiley wrote that it els only three or
four months old practically, some 1000
inhabitants. It is on a plateau sur
rounded by mountains; on three sides
are visible the snow-covered peaks, the
Crazy mountains and Emigrant range.
Here issues the Yellowstone from the
national park through the canyon just
at the back Of the town; through the
gap IN the hills are seen the white
peaks of the high mountains, dazzling
white when the sun strikes them.
'The weather was cool and delightful,
bright sun and gentle breeze, but a.
storm was rushing along the range. The
mountain peaks we're hidden by the