The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1937-12-31

A scOurge Of smallpox dec1-
mated the Indian tribes Of the re-
gion now encompassed by northern
Montana, the Canadian area Just
north of the Montana border, and
North Dakota, during the summer
of 1887, The death toll from the
epidemic probably reached a total
Of 10000. In the Piegan, Blood and
Blackfeet tribes alone, there were
fully 5000 deaths from the disease,
according to figures computed by
he Indian traders who were IA
miliar with the territory at h a
time. One village Of Assinniboines
was reduced from 1,2OO to 10 per-
sons. The Mandan tribe In Dakota
was practically wiped U At the
the disease had run its course there
were only 30 left. The Minnetarees
of the Dakota region lost 700 out
of 1000 warriors.
The Indian traders in the AFFECTED
territory feared that the trade for that
year had been ruined by the 1nroads
Of the disease among n tribes. Io
their establishment the trade increased
substantially, however. over that OF the
previous year. Because there were
fewer Indians, the villages had les need
for buffalo robes, the principal item OF
trade at that time, and hence they
were available for trade. Fully 10000
robes were accumulated in that one
season at Fort Mckenzie on the Marias
river, where Maj. Alexander Culbert.
son was in charge, and the center OF
the Indian trading area where the
deaths from the smallpox were the
greatest.
Another result unexpected by the
traders was also noted. With so many
more robes to trade, the Indians were
enabled to obtain many things that
were to them luxuries and which they
had never had before, so were stimu-
lated in the years that followed to
greater efforts in order that they might
supplied with the white mans goods to
their hearts content. The yearly har-
vest of robes at Fort Mckenzie fire.
uuently reached 10000 or more after
that despite the fact that there were
fewer Indian hunters roaming the
plains.
The smallpox was brought into the
Indian country in the summer OF 1887
by one of the American Fur company's
river boats, which brought a cargo from
st. Louis to Fort Union at the mouth
Of the Yellowstone.
While the boat was at the wharf in
OC. LOUIS, lIS CdpGdl1l, od1 AAooo.
refused to grant the request of an ole
trapper named Bill May. for free pas
sage up the Missouri river. He was
known as an evilly disposed individual
and by way Of getting e for Captain
Pratt's rebuff, he deposited some In.
fected clothing on the boat unnoticed
by the crew.
The vessel proceeded upon its voyage
ignorant Of the deadly seeds that had
been planted in its cargo. Within a
few days after leaving st. Louis small
pox broke out among several members
Of the crew and passengers. and some
of them died. The boat continued on up
the river to Fort Union, the captain
and the crew taking all possible pre-
cautions to prevent the spread OF the
epidemic among the Indians through
whose countries they were passing
It was afterwards claimed that the
disease would have been confined to
the boat. the name Of which was "The
Trapper." had not an Indian at Fort
Union stolen an infected blanket from
It, and from which his tribe became
speedily infected. The disease spread
with fearfully rapidity among the In
dian. villages in the surrounding
THAT year Major Culbertson had sent
one Of his men, named Harvey, from
Fort Mckenzie to Fort Onion, north
west headquarters Of the American Ftl
company, to turn In the years return