The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1935-03-15
By ARTHUR ]. JORDAN

From Rocky Point to the mouth
of He'll creek there are a number of
places of historic interest, but when
the Fort Peck dam is completed, the
impOunded waters will cover the
bottomlands along the rivers course
and hide from view the sites where
traders, trappers, and freighters, tried
to gain a foothold in which was at
that time, q hostile Indian country.
At points along this stretch Of river
land the vigilantes (Stranglers) operat-
ed against the outlaws that infested the
country during the early eighties. It
Is a country replete in tragic history.
Rocky Point CWilder) and the Jul
try adjacent was the scene of conflicts
between the Indians and the white
men, but Rocky Point is noted more
as the meeting place of the vigilantes
in their activities against the unde-
sirables. Not far from Rocky Point, is
the site where two men were conduct
ing a woodward as a blind for their
horse stealing proclivities. The vigi-
1anteS arrived at their cabin one night
and hanged the two men from the
ridgepole inside the cabin. Their names
were Sam LaFevor and Charley Gibbs.
The next day the vigilantes, on their
way down the river, met Frank Bel
waux, who was On his way to Rocky
Point, Frank did not reach his destina-
ton. He paid the penalty for his crimes.
Frank Belwaux was a notorious char
acter-the kind that delights in boast
ing of dishonest deeds. This part Of the
river is also noted for some of the mad
escapades of pike" Landusky.
It was during the summer of 1868,
a handful of hardy adventures erected
a number of log cabins on a small
sagebrush flat at the mouth of the
Musselshell river. They named their
little settlement, Kerchivial City, after
a steamboat captain. The town existed
less than a year; it was abandoned be-
cause of the %unceasing hostility of the
Santee Sioux Indians, who contested
the white mans right to build in the
domain which the Sioux claimed by
treaty rights. Two years later, the
Northwest Hide and Fur company
erected a trading post on the site where
Kerchivial City had stood. They were
followed by Colonel G%lendinnin who
was associated with G. T. Power of
Fort Benton. They also erected a trad
ing post to trade with the friendly
Crows, eros Ventres and Assinniboines.
The little town grew; it became the
hangout for trappers during the sum-
mer months; it loon boosted some 40
log cabins and two trading establish
ments. They called their little town,
Musselshen City.
Two years of continual fighting with
the hostile Sioux and many acts of
treachery by the friendly tribes,
brought about the abandonment Of the
city. Only Col. Glendinnin with a few
helpers remained to carry on the work
Of trading merchandise for hides and
furs. He strongly fortified his build
ings and prepared to stay on Indefinite
ly. Glendinnin was a likeable mar
He understood the Indian character
better than most men, which enabled
him to make friends of the Sioux. The
hostiles then turned their attention
to the friendly tribes. The Sioux war
fare was SO destructive that the friend
ly Indian visits became fewer as the
months passed, until the trade at the
post became next to nothing. During
the spring of 1874, Glendinnin dis
mantled the buildings and moved up
river to a new location. Only the
woodlands at the woodyards remain
ed, for the steamboats, must have fuel.
Much documentary evidence records
the events that occurred during the
two years while MuSselshell existed.
Part of the time a newspaper cores
pondent was stationed there. He WV
idly recounted Indian conflicts, the
cruel treachery of the so-called friendly
Indians in killing and mutilating
woodhawks when they could catch their
victims unawares, the details of which
would fill volumes.
After Col. Glendinnin moved his
trading establishment up the river,
peace nee more reigned on the river
bottomlands, except for an occasional
raid on the woodyards by the ever
hostile Santees. Then, during the
summer of 1880, a few herds of cattle
were trailing into the country from ov-