Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1935-05-25

'Iniun whisky" by reason Of its poor
| quality, over the Well-knoWn freight
road from Fort Benton to RoebeaE
where 1t would be stored in strongly
built log cabins, with heavy, barred
doors. Part Of this whisky was used
to trade TO the Indians that would
come for miles to trade and celebrate
at Roebear, and the rest would be
smuggled over the whisky trail 10 Can
ada.
There would come into this town Of
Roebear, 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
man who he was or where he was GO
ing. Their horses would be the strong
est and fastest stock to be found on the
built light, would be of the mountain
type, strong to carry heavy loads over
rough mountain roads.
They would join the other westerners
at the stud poker games, stand at the
home made bars and drink whisky by
the hour that was served at the regular
price Of rs cents a drink, and then
Saunter down to the Indian tepees to
join In the deep rhythm OF the tom
toms.
After several days Of celebrating in
town and their horses having had a
good rest, these whisky runners would
select dark night to back their wagons
to the store rooms 90 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
rlrs
hills, down into and up out of the can
yons Of Birch, Badger. Cut Bank, Milk
river, and st. Adary's creeks, following
the main range Of the Rockies for more
than 100 miles.
All Of the travelling had 10 be done
at night to keep from sight of the |
mounted Blackfeet Indian police and |
the relocated Northwest Mounted Po- |
lice, who were always riding the out |
of-way places In search OF sn1ugglers.
When day would break the whisky 1
runners would come to halt and pull I
their outfits under the cover Of the /
green limbs Of q spruce or pine grove |
to rest after art-breaking night Of /
travel, after covering only 10 or IL I
miles In the darkness
The men would build a fire q mile i
or more away from where their horses Il
and wagons were hidden with as little
smoke as possible to cook their food
and from there carry their beds to the 4
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 L
an eye on all riders and to where they
were travelling. BY doing this watch /
ing In daytime, they we're less likely l
to fan into q police trap while travel \
ing the coming night.
After an hour OF feaSting my eyes
on this new country and seeing in myl
men with their long wagon trains, NOV
ing through bands Of hostile Indians
to blaze a trail into my woods and L
mountains, ate my lunch while "Old /
Timber Line grazed close by With nv
lunch eaten realized that the after !,
noon was sliding away and 1t was time L
for me 20 start down the whisky trail |.
for my new home as there was stiIl |,
20 miles left to cover.
The next morning met the general
manager OF the tent camps and was
shown my outfit which consisted Of
four horses and a spring wagon.
I made two trips with two of the Il
horses hauling the spring wagon while /;
the other two were tied TO the back OF i
the wagon. would Leave A6idvale a
day or two ahead OF q party that was
aD0ut TO leave Tor the Trad through III
the park and stop at Two Medicine, Cut
Bank and the Narr0ws camps TO tell
the managers OF the coming party
and how many TO he ready to lodge
and feed at the narrows would put
pack saddles on three hnwges and myl
riding saddle on the fourth and load
Whist supplies had left ct this point
and 60 over the trail 10 the Gunsiqht
camp at the foot Of Gunsight lake.
The Important part OF my Job, as I see
II now, was to set as telephone which
had not been ox1e of the modern i'm
provemenEa Ia use at that time H
It was about tgae middle Of 5eptem-
her that / got orders TO go 10 the Mar
rows camp and tear is down and store
lile canvas BONUSES Ia ono Of the build
lngs at slie odd town o. st. Akavy's ard !
haul the food and bedding into Mid
Falc
Wnr tgals trap. I used f0ur-hovxa !
freight wagon, hired fFom Thomas
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