Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1938-01-01

season at Fort Mckenzie on the Mariac
river. where Mai. 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
have sufficient robes to keep themselves
supplied with the white mans goods to
their hearts content. The yearly har-
vest Of robes at Fort Mckenzie fire.
ouently 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
bv one Of the American Fur company's
river boats, which brought cargo from
st. Louis to Fort Union at the mouth
of the Yellowstone.
While the boat was at the wharf in
st. Louis, its captain, Barnard Pratt,
refused to grant the request Of an old
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 even for Captain
Pratt'S rebuff, he deposited some in
fected clothing on the boat unnotlced
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
country.
one Of his men, named Harvey, from
Fort Mckenzie to Fort Union, north
west headquarters g. the American Fur
company. - Al eA4S GS*~ . wye A.
ia trade and to await there for the
steamer and bring back with him q
supply Of trade goods for the next
wear. When the boat arrived bringing
news Of the smallpox epidemic with
which It had been afflicted during the
voyage, Harvey made haste to get his
goods and leave for the upper river
country in the hope Of escaping the
ravages Of the disease among his own
keelboat crew. Before he reached his
destination, however, three persons on
the boat were taken down with the
disease. q half breed, a Blood Indian
and white man named LaDouck.
Harvey halted his voyage. He tied
up his boat at the mouth Of the Judith
river and sent word regarding the sit
uation and of his own predicament,
to Major Culbertson at Fort Nc
Kenzie. CulbertSon sent him orders to
remain where he was until cold weather
set in and the disease had abated.
There were at the time hundreds OF
Indians camped in the vicinity OF the