Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1936-03-14

dams was well known 90 Ghe Garner
resident Of Madison and Bseayerhead
county. Many men TN Montana were
attached 60 this Odd chleftaan, the last
notable figure Of the Bammack In
dams. He had beRriended Enany and
was always ready TO brave combat
with Indians Of other tribes I'm be-
half Of his white friemds.
Amos Williams who. as Q boy, was
lost from the train in which his par
ents we're travelling to Virginia City,
found by TendOy and restored to his
people, once told the following story
Of the incident.
1T was in the early SOS when there
was not white man In the Yellow
stone valley and the marauding Chey-
ennes. Crows and Sioux held the val
ley as their hunting grounds and fought
many bloody fight as to who should
have possession Of the immense bands
Of buffalo.
Upon one of their buffalo hunts,
Chief Tendoy reached a point not far
from the present site OF Big Timber.
The place at that time had no name.
Our party, not knowing the character Of
TendOy's people, saw Indian signs
when they camped on the Boulder, as
the creek Is called. And that night we
drew our wagons into a corral and the
men slept upon their arms. dreading
an attack and praying that the Indians
would prove friendly. There was en-
air Of suppressed excitement about the
camp and few slept. While the older
people we're making preparations 10
move camp next morning. cuddled upl
against a big boulder and was soon
asleep.
I'm the confusion of moving camp I
was not missed, and 1t was many hours
before my absence was discovered and
8 frantic effort made to find me. In
the meantime I slept comfortably for
few hours and then awoke TO the
realization that was all alone on the
boundless prairie. remember that
hit the trail in the direction thought
the wagons had gone.
Later in the day as I became tired
curled up under a tree beside a little |
creek and went to sleep again. When I |
awoke It was dark and was all alone. |
Somebody had told me the proper |
way TO travel In the morning In order |
to reach the gold mines of the new
country was to keep the sun behind me, |
and at sunrise I started out. walking /
with my shadow lodging along Just |
ahead of me. forgot about the sun be- /
ing in different position In the after
noon, and when night came was /
again on the same little creek had left |
that morning, tired out hungry and I
discouraged.
I'm the meantime things were hap
pening at the train. was not missed
until noon. Some Of the men remained
with the wagons while others, heavily
armed, rode back on the trail confident
that they would pick me up at the old
camp and soon have me with my
mother again.
"They easily took up my trail from
the old camp to the gravel bed and
there they lost it and although they
hunted all day long. they could not
find me and returned to camp that
night.
Against the protests of the women
IN the train, it was decided to abandon
the hunt for me. on the following
morning, and continue the trip to the
gold fields. While the horses were be-
ing hitched up for the start, half a
dozen Indians, headed by a young buck,
then IN the dress Of sub-chief, rode
up on the little eminence a few hun
dred yards fro mthe camp and stood
looking down upon the immigrants, the
women making frenzied efforts to get
into shelter, while the men were
scrambling for their arms.
"The captain of the train, as soon as
semblance of order was restored, ;
stepped forward out of the circle of
the corral and gave the sign Of peace 1
IL was promptly answered by the In :
dian in the lead who slipped from his
horse and walked toward the camp
leaving the rest OF his party on the
hilltop. The captain Of our train also ,
dropped his rifle and stepped forward ,
TO meet the advancing Indian. The In !
dian extended his hand for a hand i
shake.
(which way. white manP' came the !
query in good English.
To Alder, to dig gold was the re-
"'You will find many white men 7
there was the answer of the chief. +
What is your name?
Smith, replied the captain. Who !
AT am Tendoy Of the Bannacks. I
My father is head man of the tribe !
and my home Is In the valleys in which :
the white men are flocking. Who do !
you Gomez Are not the valley out Of =
which the sun rises fertile enough for
you to till2' -
'aThe white man could not answer. =
'aThen the mother Of the boy who =
was lost came forward and asked Ten =
doy IL he has seen boy wandering on :
the priries. The Indian replied IN the :
az am a friend Of the white man, II
said the young Indian, and IL your boy III
e alive / will bring him to you. Have
0ne of your men come with me ana III
show me where your boy was last seen
md If the wolves have not gotten him,
viii find him. There are no Indians
near save those of my tribe and they
III