Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1935-10-26

less. Ted exclaimed. ~What shall we
dot" Warren answered, @Ciye It "a
him, Ted" The youth took the long
range shot, creasing the Indian across
the stomach. The redskin sprung from
his horse, shooting back. The shot
missed and Ted fired again, fatally
wounding the indian. He gave q war
cry and fell dead as he tried TO mount
his horse to get away.
The two men Immediately rounded
up the band Of horses and selecting
two good ponies from the bunch for
their saddle horses. were soon on their
way home. When they reached the
West Gallatin river, they swan the
horses across and within a few hours
were on their own land.
AS soon as the horses were cared for,
Ted lost no time IN going to the house
TO tell his father that he had shot and
killed an Indian. The old man was
reading the paper; he didn't answer,
but calmly continued to read. Ted knew
instantly that his father would not
condemn him for the act.
News OF Ted's deed spread like fire
among the merchants and other cit
liens Of Bozeman. Some Of the local
merchants had been doing trade bust
ness with the Indians and did not want
the warriors TO turn against them, fear
Ing IL they did that many dollars in
trade would be lost. They Immediately
started action to have the boy arrested
so that the Indians would feel that
their brothers death had been avenged
and would continue their trade rela-
tionship.
Various citizens Of the town started
a protest against such action. One old
pioneer took it upon himself to make
q public protest lie stood upon bar
rel IN the middle Of gathering Of peo-
pie and cried that If young Hamilton
was arrested, he would organize q group
Of citizens and tear the jail down. An
other middle-aged man, hearing his
words, took up the protest, stating that
the boy had done only what he was
justified in doing and would have been
perfectly right In doing the same thing
TO white man caught stealing horses.
Colonel Pierce, lawyer from the
SOUTH who was in partnership with the |
attorney hired to prosecute the case
against Hamilton, told his partner that /
he would sever his business relations |
with him If he made out papers for the
boys arrest.
Ted Hamilton, knowing that general
public sentiment was In his favor. told i
bis father that he was going away for
q few weeks With couple OF cowboys,
whom he knew well, he quietly left /
own and went to q cabin where an old Il
man lived by himself.
Upon arriving at the cabin he irnne-
1iately sent word to the sheriff, telling
him where he could find him and that
I he wanted him to bring his deputies
md come after him. The young man
'tood watch with his rifle, prepared TO
iefend himself against anyone who
approached with intentions Of taking
Inn.
After three days and nights Of
vigilance, a rider came 10 the cabin
With message from the sheriff that
he youth would not be prosecuted.
Ted returned TO Bozeman to find
lublic sentiment had not changed and
hat he Stiu maintained q favorable
equation among the majority Of theI
itizens. Soon after his return, he was
emit out to Sixteen Mile creek to con-
truct a number Of COW corrals It was
n this trip that Ted's faithful horse,
1hich would determine the presence OF
n Indian by scent and warn his mas
er, gained the undying gratitude Of
is master.
One afternoon, after young Hamilton
'aS well started ON ms JcD, ne was
utting timber near the building site
nd was entirely unaware Of the pres
nee Of anyone until his horse began
} paw the earth and show nervousness
irasping his rifle the youth ran a few
DDS below where the horse was tied
nd was suddenly abruptly confronted
? redskin: his gun poised TO take
he life OF the young cowboy Ted
nocked the gun from his hands befOFel
e could shoot and sent the Indian on
b way.
The building was temporarily discon~
nued as the possibilities OF the IN
Ian, whose pride had been injured,
fnging his tribe to cause Ted trouble.
ERE great. However, later, accompanied
another man, Ted returned TO his
ork and Ia q short time had the cor
lis finished without further disturb
nee from the redskins.
The following spring the government
)ught large herd OF beef for the In
ans and detailed Ted Hamilton to-
sliver the cattle to the agency at
ishen, located about IL miles from
here Livingston now stands