The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1936-10-01
Bits of Early-Day
Libby History
Continued from Page II

the mines established then are still OPP
Grating profitably.
The tales of the early mining days
in this last outpost of the frontier are
full of interest. The region was long
the hunting ground of the Kootenai
and Blackfeet Indians and the two
tribes often waged bloody battles in its
narrow valleys When the miners be-
gan to arrive in search of yellow treas
ure the Indians quit fighting each other
and devoted their time to making life
miserable for the newcomers. In 1886
three prospectors were camped on the
Kootenai river opposite the mouth OF
Libby creek. They intended starting
placer mine on the creek and had
brought load of provisions from Bon
ner's Ferry. Opposite the white mans
camp was a camp of five kootenai
Indians and their families. The miners
bargained with the Indians to have their
provisions transported across the river
in canoes. The Indians carried out their
agreement, but when the Indian women
saw the fine stock of provisions they
urged their men to steal them That
evening the Kootenals approached the
white mems camp as If in great fear
and warned the prospectors of the pres
ence of hostile Blackfeet in the vicinity.
The Indians expected the miners to flee
the country Immediately at the word of
terrible Blackfeet,' and leave their
stock of goods The white men saw
through the ruse and remained. The
Kootenais surprised their camp at
dawn and in the skirmish which fol-
lowed two prospectors were killed and
one wounded, the wounded man hid in
the brush for time and then, though
weak from loss of blood, started over
land for help. His journey lasted Il
days and he travelled without food gun
or compass across 200 miles of wilder
ness to the mining camps Of the Wild
Horse country, British Columbia He
raised posse and returned to Bonner's
Ferry
The Kootenai chief, Abraham, was
found when the posse arrived, and was
informed that unless the murderers
were delivered the entire Kootenai
tribe would be wiped out The chief
delivered the five Indians. They were
returned to the scene of the murder
and executed.
Libby Awaited Uprising
A more recent tale deals with an in
cident in 1896, which caused citizens of
Libby to barricade their houses and
make ready for a battle. In 1887 three
prospectors had been murdered by
Flathead Indians, at Little Prairie, on
Wolf creek, south of Libby In 1890 one
Of the Flatheads confessed to part IN
the crime and involved two other In
dams. The three were arraigned for
murder at Missoula, then county seat oi
all northwestern Montana The tria'
resulted in conviction and speedy ex-
ecution of the three Although the In
dams had been Flatheads. the cast
aroused the ire Of the Kootenais, ane
severay days before the execution the,
came in large numbers and camped OF
the outskirts Of Libby. Decked out il
war paint and feathers, they danced
their war dances about great fires, ant
their war whoops could be heard il
town. A relay Of runners on the $50
mile-trai between Libby and Missoul
kept the Indians informed Of the trial
Residents of Libby made ready for al
attack when the execution took place
but the attack never came for by tn
time Of the execution the Indians ha
exhausted themselves, quietly brok
camp, and moved down the river Will