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

- in which q brass band saved the
~ members of an emigrant wagon
train from attack by Indians and
probably averted q massacre. 1t oc-
CURED in northern Montana in the
summer Of 1867 and one Of the members
of the emigrant group was the late
David Hilger, then q boy Of nine years,
who with his father, Nicholas Hilger
and other members of the family, was
coming from Minnesota to settle In the
Treasure state.
There were few emigrant trains that
talent and instruments enough to form
a band, but this one, an immense cav
alcade of 300 slow-moving wagons
drawn by oxen, could and did; Many
nights in the prairie camps during p
three months trip it rendered concerts
for the members OF n tram or pays
music for them to dance on n
prairie grass by the light Of their camp
But the emigrants really learned the
value Of what they had in that nus
ical aggregation, when, IN p MIX
Fly EdSer sn gal seS 1n s9GaGsha Whom ny they had
Zen warned were hostile, those bands
men. with fear in their hearts; with
hlanched and ~prayerful lips, footed
their horns and beat their drums Tor
their own lives and the lives OF tner
fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters
friends and neighbors. And they Won n
death breech clouted and in war paint,
never before having heard or seen
ANYTHING Of the kind, forgot what tney
had come for, accepted presents,
hands. smoked and departed IN peace.
People Ready for Emigration
David Hilger wrote an account 81 n
incident and Of the trip. from MIME.
q with the wagon train lor q
Montana Historical society many ,9 yeaaS
sfSck Born in Minnesota in 1858, IN
ISS2 at the age of four years, he was
one Of thousands Of children, who, Wltn
the women Of that section, were taken
int ST. Paul for safety when me no.
tile Sioux Indians were Siaylng tIis
settlers and burning farm home es,, aao
vas v one Of the volunteers who went
to the aid Of the town Of New Uim,
Which was sacked by the Indians ano
where hundreds were maSSacred IN one
nf the worst Indian orgies OF muraer
and fire that the history OF the unGr
records. In addition to in S7, ! Sspf For
dations, Minnesota nae se ana Severe
winters. Minnesota regiments had been
Gecimated in battles Of the CIV Wal
The discouraged people were IN yusS
the proper mood to yield TO q spun
~ emigration when stories OF the Motis
tana gold fields came suSn's o'e' ''o
paan0 sO0-Wagon Train
Tho Hilpers were one of "a families
that pathered in the early summef OF
IaS7 at a point 80 miles northeast OF
Fort Wadsworth, NJ, D., to 1qrm ~, d
wagon train for the trip west; In Stie
81 Families there were 80 or Az cnAo-
rem. In addition there were lou III
married men in the group. Wnen S,.e
train started 1 for Helene IN III ' Srswn NIB by
oxen It was joined by two s
Of United States army inianSty o- WIZ ~
were driving 300 head Of beef steers 70
Eort Ruford on the Missouri m norEtl-
western Dakota, thus assuring LIZ LIZ
emigrants a reasonably SAFE LIP ,,aea"
far at least. At an Grganlza WaS elected
cantain. an advisory board chosen and
= code of laws adopted to regulate an
matters pertaining to the train man
asement and the safety Of the people.
Enlistment was established 1or III
fractions Of the criminal code: ,,a
The route, distance o. H. trh hsnds Of
the captain and his advisory r
With nower to maintain strict mliltary
Giscipline. Night camps were always
usde with a view to protection IRON
indian attack. The wagons were puiieu
into a circle, with the tongues poln n,ars
inward and the work caSC nleo Was Was
coralled there at nign1;t he ea main ar
ticle Of diet, buffalo, antelope deer
aio eN Hired Three Guides
The train had hired as guides Two
half breeds and one full blooded IN