Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1938-04-16
W. A. Allen Billings Resident Was Fearless Indian Fighter


tered this state by way Of the
Black hills Of Dakota In the late
seventies followed the most haZ-
ardOus route of any early settlers
who came into this territory from the
time of the first fur traders. They were
beset by hostile Sioux Indians almost
every step of the way, Indians still re-
ioicing over their victory at the battle
Of the Little Big Horn when Custer
and his command were massacred and
still possessed of the vain hope that
they might eventually drive the white
man from their country. The Indians
had the advantage Of being right I'M
their own country, also, where it was
easy for them TO strike and get away.
Once out of sight or their trail lost,
a was almost impossible 10 pin par
ticuIar depreciation on a particular
Darty, because of the multiplicity OF
Indian bands roaming over the country.
On many Of the other trails by which
the pioneers came to Montana, the In
dams encountered were small and scat
tered war parties far from their own
range. To boot, the whites Travelled in
such large bodies that they were safe
from Indian attack. The average In
dian war party couldn't hope to de-
feat in battle the members of the huge
wagon trains that crossed the plains
in the days following the discovery OF
gold. either in California or in Mon
tana or on the Oregon trail.
Many Whites Killed
True, many whites were killed on all
of those routes but they were for the
most part in small groups and come
upon by Indian war parties much larg-
er than they were. But travellers into
the Black hills region were IN smaller
parties and scores of them we're slain
bv the Indians in the year or Two
preceding and following the Custer
massacre.
one of the most thrilling descriptions
of travel through that region at that
time, is that given by DR.. w. A. Allen
of Billings, who entered the Black hills
in 1877 and came on to Montana later
that same year. From Sidney, Neb., /
from where DR.. Allen and several COM
panions started for the Black hills, /
then in the throes OF gold discovery
stampede, they spent large part OF
their time either standing off Indians
on their own account or pursuing
marauding bands to avenge the deaths /
of members of parties other than their
They were compelled to fight their
way over almost every inch of the trail.
In his book, Twenty Years in the
Rockies" DR.. Allen retells the adVen-
tIlres of the journey. DR.. Allen, who
in his later years was one of southern
Montanas most widely known dentists,
was not a dentist when he came west.
He was a gunSmith and blacksmith, a
crack rifle shot and had enjoyed from
his early boyhood in Ohio and Iowa
the reputation of being an unusually
skillful hunter. During his first lew
wears in Montana he added greatly. TO
That reputation, making his living
mostly BY the rifle. He was known
throIphoilt southern and eastern Mon
tana as a fearless and daring hunter,
and a resourceful scout and indian
fighter.
a new home IN the west y, Ior m nus r, WE
and two sons, his destination the Black
hills. With two other Ohioans he went
to Sidney, Neb. The day they arrived
there the Black hills stage came in with
q dead driver in the boot Of the We
hicle. killed by the Indians.
The three Ohio men made deal Win
three freighters who were Just startlng
80 passengers. They had expected to
ride. but when 10 miles on the journey
thev were informed that the overloaded
horses would never be able to make the
trim with the extra weight, and they
were requested to walk. They thus pc
came foot passengers, and walked every
step Of the. way to Their desti slaiassa
wagons. The trail was muddy and 1t
rained and showed all of the trip.
THEY slept in wet blankets at night
shivering with cold.
Along the trail they were following |
we're frequently found the remnants
of wagons, which had been burned by 1
the Indians after the occupants OF 1
them had been slain. The trail was :
strewn with pack saddles, camp kettles ]
and endless other articles, the presence
of which indicated the misfortunes /
which had overtaken travellers. FIRE. |
uuently they saw the bodies OF men ]
whom the Indians had killed along the {
trail and which no one had taken the ]
trouble to bury. They reached Dead
wood, however, without being attacked ;
themselves.
After a few days at Deadwood, Allen
and his companions went to a nearby
p1llch called False Bottom to engage
in prospecting. Quitting for their ]
operations they paid dollar pound
for sugar, evaporated potatoes, bacon
and flour Their prospecting efforts {
were not successful. They found fine
gold dust, but not enough Of it to pay
for the work Their money was all {