The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1936-11-13
How Montana Rivers, Clutches, Buttes,
Canyons and Mountains Were Named

Bitter Root Valley and River-The
Flathead word for the district was
Spetlemen, meaning place of the bit
ter root"
Blackfoot-This river leads through
grounds once used by the Blackfeet.
The Shoshones called. it "Coclalhiskit,'
or "the river road to the buffalo"
Bloody Dick creek-This Beaverhead
county creek takes its name from the
nickname of an EngliShman who lived
there in the early sixties.
Carriers F00t-A peak in Cascade
county named for Merrill Carter, who
in 1878 was famed for his big feet.
The peak is foot-shaped.
Chimney butte-A twenty-foot square
chimney-shaped butte in Musselshell
county on top of which a horses head
has been carved by Indians.
Cinnebar mOuntain-In Park county.
The Devils Slide, a bright red streak
extending down the mountainside like
a tobbogan slide, was mistaken by early
settlers for cinnabar, the red oxide Of
mercury.
Crazy mountain, Meagher county
A mentally unbalanced woman was
found on the mountain.
Dead Horse canyon, Yellowstone
county-In 1919, 1000 head of horses
were accidentally corraled here and
could not escape because of deep snow.
All died of starvation.
Dead Mans basin, Golden Valley and
Wheatland commissioners are two
stories as to how this basin, which is
now. being converted into a large rec
lamation project, got its name. First,
that two Indians were found dead on
opposite sides of the basin; second,
that Deputy Sheriff RAIDER was killed
l.>-1 Ill S,,~o,sN- I~~~& lISoy,or
Dead Mans creek-Yellowstone coun-
ty. Sheepmen were killed here in a
gun fight vel a water hole and were
Dead Mans creek-Lewis and Clark
county. A hunter who left his tent
at night was mistaken for a bear by
his partner, who awakened suddenly
and shot into the dark with deadly aim.
Dead Mans butte-Fallon county. A
stage driver was killed by Indians here
in 1880.
Dead Mans gulch-Sweetgrass coun-
ty. John Brady, a g~un-fighting saloon
keeper, was killed here.
Dearborn river-Lewis and Clark
county. Named for Henry Dearborn,
secretary of war. under President JET
ferson, by Lewis and Clark.
Devils NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. county. A
2,000-acre basin which was used as a
base of operations for cattle rustlers
and b~ootleggers to. the Indians.
Elephant r0ck-Yellowstone county.
A landmark % miles north of Pom
pegs Pillar upon which there is an
image of an elephant, caused by ero-
sion.
Gold creek-The first gold discovered
in Montana was found here by Gran
vile Stuart and party.
Hellgate canyon-Missoula county.
Named by French traders, porte de
l'enfer" meaning gate of hell, because
it was through this canyon that the
ferocious Blackfeet reached the home
of the Flatheads.
Hide creek-Cowboys skinned and
hung up the hides Of thousands of
Texas cattle that persisted near this
Wheatland and Fergus county creek
in 1888.
Kabieshe's river-Named by Lewis
and Clark for a member of their ex-
petition. Lewis and Clark misspelled
the mans name which properly is
Labiche.
Little Belt mountains-A broad belt
of limestone extends along the side of
these mountains.
Lump gulch-J Jefferson county.
Named by miners in 1864 for the single
lump of gold found in the stream bed.
Marias river-Captain Meriwether
Lewis named it for his cousin. Maria
Medicine REGISTRATION and Carter
fcounties: The Indians used these rocks
for a shrine and made medicine"
here.
Milk river-Lewis and Clark thought
the waters looked like tea with milk
in 1t.
Missouri river-The name was taken
from the Missouria Indians. The orig
tnal meaning wa Living on the
Mouth Of the Waters" The name
"Pekitanoui" was used by Marquette
to designate the Missouri and it also
appears on early French maps as the
.Rtviere des Osages" and as the
"EmessouritS.n
Oreamus-This Fathead county peak