Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1935-02-16

drop them into a ragged canvas bag
slung from his shoulders. I then dis
covered that he was using q plain hook
supporting q bit OF red cloth as bait.
Very thoughtfully I returned TO the
pond, cut q nice smooth willow, at
tached my line and hook, baited with
hoppers caught the day before, and
soon had six or eight big trout dangling
from a foried willow. Proudly then I
returned to camp to explain to the
fancy fishermen how best to catdh
/ trout But didn't explain The grass
about our improvised camp was literal
/ ~ streWn with big cleaning trout.
without having gone beyond two OF
! three rifles near the mouth Of the
creek, Mr. Satley and hts friend had
several times filled their baskets. It
was a glorious victory for the fly cast
ers, but very Sorrowful Fourth for the
/ poor trout.
Instead Of trying to instruct those
two fancy fishermen In the art of trout
fishing, told them Of the old buck In
dian and his amazingly simple method.
But, wisely believe, said nothing
about my encounter with the unfortun-
ate young squaw.
According to Bulletin GIL, United
States Geological survey, which I as
sumo may be quoted, find the fol-
lowing statements:
Hell Gate canyon is one of the great
natural thoroughfares of the contin-
ent Through this canyon the Flat
heads and other tribes Of the West
journeyed to the plains annually to
hunt the buffalo, and through its
winding trails crept the stealthy Black
feet on their numerous forays against
their more peaceful neighbors on the
west
Tn March, 1859, Congress APP
propriated 100000 for the construction
of the road and work was begun by
Mullan at Walla Walla on June % Of
the same year
''The next spring Mullan began work
where it was stopped the previous aut-
unn and pushed construction up
Clark's Fork to Missoula and then up
Hell Gate canyon as far as Garrison"
Thus we are informed Just how and
when the first road suited to wheeled
vehicles was constructed through Hell
Gate; a road, traces of which may still
be seen, that has known comedy, trag-
edy, profits and losses doubts, fears,
wildly romantic road through an al
Turing wilderness equally wild and ro-
mantle. A road which persisted, in
part at least, until within the past few
years when our meteoric mechanical
devices necessitated the far better road
on which, while speeding at so or more
miles per hour, ioyously we break our
pocketbooks II not our necks
And now, during my childish old age,
whenever motor through Hell Gate
or speed through It on a palatial train,
always / strain my dimn1ing eyes for
lesser landmarks (mostly obliterateO
remindful Of my prideful boyish strug-
giles In little ways to help build the
Northern Pacific railway Thus when
ever such opportunity comes, always my
retrospective ego is buoyantly flooded
with thousand misty memories.
Hell Gate canyon is one Of Montana's
many regions Of delightful mountain
scenery. Especially when viewed with
understanding of the history OF our
treasure land, is this canyon well worth
any travellers 1eisurely and particular
consideration. The massive tumbled
mountains through which this great
rift was formed some millions Of years
ago have as yet been little explored.
They are believed to contain vast po-
tential mineral wealth in addition to
that already taken from them.
At Gold Greek, near the eastern end
Of Hell Gate canyon, the first few
flakes of gold known to have been
found In our state were washed from
the sands OF that little stream during
the summer Of 1852 by a half-breed
named Francois, better known as Benz
etsee. Opposite Bcarmouth a deep
cash through the northern rampant Of
Hell Gate is known as Bear gl1lch.
From both placer and quartz this gulch
has given up gold of great wealth. The
gravels contiguous to Gold creek at
Pioneer, New Chicago and other neigh
boring bars have likewise produced fab
ulous fortunes IN gold. Flint creek and
It's enclosing mountains have supplied
vast treasures IN both gold and silver
from quartz In place as well as from
the gravel beds Of the stream and its
tributaries
The localities just mentioned are only
minor part Of the easily accessible
mineralized regions lying within or
contiguous 20 Hell Gate canyon, Mon
tana. AT the abrupt lower end OF this
imposing gap in the Rockies. easily Wis
ibie from AEissoula, may be seen in
disputable evidence Of q large prehis-
toric intermontane glacial lake which
once covered deeply vast area includ-
ing, no doubt, much Of Hell Gate.
Truly, this canyon and surroundings
are well worthy Of serious consideration
by the scientist, the philosopher, the
historian, the student In general, the
poet, and the dreamer.