The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1935-05-31

"Injun whisky" by reason of its poor
quality, over the well-known freight
road from Fort Benton to Roebear,
where it would be stored in strongly
built log cabins, with heavy, barred
doors. Fart of this whisky was used
to trade to the Indians that would
come for miles to trade and celebrate
struggled over the whisky trail to Can
ada.
There would come into this town of
Roebear, a silent band of men, driving
four and six horse teams hitched to
freight wagons. There was no need
for these men to tell from where they
came or to where they we're going for
the western code was to never ask a
man who he was or where he was 60
ing Their horses would be the strong
est and fastest stock to be found on the
plains country and their wagons, while
built light, would be OF the mountain
type, strong to carry heavy loads over
rough mountain roads.
They would join the other we%sterners
at the stud poker games, stand at the
homemade bars and drink whisky by
the hour that was served at the regular
price OF Is cents a drink, n then
saunter down to the Indian tepees to
Join in the deep rhythm OF the ON
toms.
After several days of celebrating in
town and their horses having had a
good rest, these whisky unners would
select a dark night to back their wagons
to the store rooms to load up and dis
appear into the darkness of The whisky
trail. The whisky runners would travel
with two or three wagon outfits to-
gether.
The whisky trail would lead them
along the tree and brush covered foot
hills, down into and up out of the can
yonS of Birch, Badger, Cut Bank, Milk
river, and St. Mary's creeks, following
the main range OF the Rockies for more
than 100 miles.
All of the travelling had to be done
at night to keep from sight OF the
mounted Blackteet Indian police and
the relocated Northwest Mounted Po-
lice, who were always riding the out
cf-Way places in search OF SmugglerS.
When day would break the whisky
runners would come to a halt and pull
their outfits under the cover OF the
green limbs of a spruce or pine grove
to rest after a Misunderstanding night Of
travel, after covering only 10 or II
miles in the darkness.
The men would build a fire a mile
or more away from where their horses
and wagons were hidden with as little
smoke as possible to cook their food
and from there carry their beds to the
top OF a high ridge, to take turns at
sleeping with one always scanning the
country to the north, east and west,
through powerful field glasses TO Keep
an eye on all riders and to where they
we're travelling. BY doing this watch
ing in daytime, they were less likely
to fall into a police trap while travel
ing the coming night.
After an hour OF teaSting my eyes
on this new country and seeing IN my
Gay dreams the pioneer men and Wo-
men with their long wagon trains, NOV
ing through banoS OF hostile Indians
to blaze a trail into my woods II
mountains, I ate my lunch while old
TIMBER Line" grazeu close by. With my
lunch eaten I realized that h alter
noon was Sliding away II it was time
tor me to start down the whisky Trail
tor my new home as there was still
20 miles left to cover.
The next morning I met the general
manager OF h tent camps and was
shown my outfit which consisted OF
four horses and a spring wagon.
I made two trips with two OF the
horses hauling the spring wagon While
the other Two were tied TO the back OF
the wagon. I would leave Midvale a
day or w ahead OF a party that was
about to leave for the trip through
the park ana stop at Two Medicine, Cut
Bank and the Narrows camps to tell
the managers OF the coming party
and how many to be ready to lodge
and feed. At the narrows l would put
pack saddles on three horses and my
riding saddle on the fourth and load
what supplies I had left at this point
and 60 over the trail to the Gunslght
camp at the foot Of Gunsight lake.
The important part Of my job, as l see
IL now, was to act as q telephone which
had not been one Of the modern i'm
provements IN use at that time.
It was about the middle OF Septem-
Der that I got orders to go to the Mar
rows camp and tear it down and store
the canvas houses in one of the build
tngs at the old town of st. Mary's and
haul the food and bedding into Mid
vale.
For this trip, I used a four-horse
freight wagon, hired from Thomas