Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1938-03-12

By ELMO
That three white men, with
limited protection, could stand off
an estimated 800 or more wag-
crazy Sioux Indians not only
borders on the fantastic dreams az
a perverted fictiOnist, but it Is ina
possible In the greatest stretch Of
Wild imaginatiOn-except that it
happened
TazeweI Woody, a pioneer Of the
Montana wilderness far In advance of
the cattle herds along the Yellowstone
and in eastern Montana, during the
nineties began to think of slowing up
! in his old age. He bought q farm In
/ Missouri to while away his aging
| winters, and returned to Montana In
1895 to look after mining claims at
Cooke. On this trip he told the story
and at that time there was corrob-
Grafton from the lips of Crow Indians
who visited the scene.
Pioneer Trappers
In 1875 Woody, with Charlie Cooke
and a man named Hubbel Cor Hubble)
went to Beauvais creek in the Big
Horn mountains to trap, and ran into
the most remarkable Indian battle IN
the annals of Montana's wilderness
history.
Looking for good beaver ground, the
men followed the creek, and at sharp
bend under high bluffs they found
standing lodge poles and the remains
of a camp-tin dishes, pieces of cloth
ing, etc. They also found human bones.
A close examination of the lodge
poles showed they had been splintered
by bullets fired from the. cliffs above.
The men concluded 1t had been a
winter camp for hunters and that they
had been surprised by Indians and had
been easily killed from above. The
find put Woody and his companions
on their guard, but did not stop their
hunt for good trapping ground, which
they found short distance away. Luck
played into their hands in the choice 1
Of a campsite.
Finding beaver sign, the men select
ed a small open space near the creek
for their camp. Dense brush walled
either side of the opening. Near the
center were some large trees under
which camp was made. The eight
horses were unpacked and the men
prepared their trapline during the
. 20 W 800 to 3 Battle
Next morning the traps were worked.
Cooke, taking a beaver from q Trap,
looked I'D to see band of Sioux, some
300 In number, approaching him. At
the same instant the Indians saw him
and fired. Some 800 yards separated
Cooke from the band.
Cooke fired and killed a horse, then
ran for the brush to work slowly back
10 camp. He was closely crowded by
The Indians. He succeeded in getting
INTO camp without mishap, and found
Woody there. The two made deter
mined stand for their lives.
Meantime, heavy firing I'D the creek
indicated that Hubbel was having aia
tough time Of 1t. The rapid approach
If gunfire to the camp indicated, how
ever, that Hubbel was taking care Of
himself, and was coming In.
When Hubbel rushed In he said he
mad heard Cookies gun and knew it
meant Indians, and he started to Join
MS partners. At an opening In the
rush he saw the Indian band-his
made a cautious detour and came to
he other side Of the opening with the
indians to the rear as he ran toward
amp. The Indians spotted him and
ired, but failed to hit him. They got
o close Hubbel knelt and fired, killing S
! horse and breaking an Indians arm.
This show Of good craftsmanship
made the Indians keep their distance
While he ran again. When the Indians
gain opened fire, Hubbel knelt and
ired again, scattering his enemies. He
,elieved he was out of ammunition and
anne closer. Then he killed one IN
ian and fatally wounded another just
efore reaching camp.
When Woody, working nearest the
amp, had heard Cookies first shot he
ushed to camp to drive in the horses.
he Indians had closed in, however,
nd ran off five of the animals, the