Glacier County chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1931-1940, 1939-04-14
MALCOLM CLARK
KILLED M'KENZIE
AFFAIR TOOK PLACE ON AN AMER
ICAN FUR co. BOAT NEAR THE
MOUTH OF MILK RIVER
Two Men Had Some Standing Cause
for Dispute Between Them, and Clark
Shot His Opponent While He Was in
a State Of Intoxication.

Shot His Opponent While He Was in
State Of Intoxication.
by the Late MRS. M. E, PLASSMAN,
In the work entitled "Steamboaf
Navigation on the Missouri" which
purports to be mainly a narrative
OF the experiences of Capt. Joseph
Labarge, there is a note appended
TO page 233, which reads as follows:
IN 1884, Malcolm Clark shot and in
Stan.iy kliied owen Mckenzie, son Of
place on the Nellie Rogers, American
Fur Co. boat near the mouth of Mill
river; Mckenzie and Clark had some
Standing cause of dispute between
mem, and Clark shot his Opponent
WINE tne latter was in state of in
toXlcation: The family of Clark have
cla t that the deed was done in
where considered at the time a cold
FLOODED murder"
I heard the story of this traoedv
from an eyewitness, who represents
1t differently than the note records II
Ihere Will doubtless always be a diff
ference OF opinion regarding this af-
Ialr' put certainly, if what / was told
regarding 1t be true, there was some-
thing 10 be said In Clark's defense.
n
formant, that there was bitter feeling
on the part of many of the company's
employees against Harvey Major Gill
person was afraid of him. He knew
Clark was not. and for that reason he
Kept Clark in the northern country.
Harvey: as is now well understood.
was not only desperado-he was one
Ul Inc worst A man who was absolutely
Wlthout a trace of humanity in his
makeup, and who delighted in tortur.
ing his victims. Like most Of his kind
ne had strong adherents and numerous
enemies. Among the latter were some
OF the most loyal employees of the
American Fur Co. No ones life was
SAFE who opposed Harvey, nor, after
could he or his followers hope to he
unmolested by those who constitutes
the opposition party.
Those were not days when pacifist
methods were popular. Everyone wore
revolvers and used them, too. Owen
mckenzie was one of Haryey's men
and like his leader, had let it be gen
orally understood that he would XIII
Clark at the first opportunity. Clark
knew OF this, and when the boat
stopped at the mouth of Milk river
and the plank was put out to the bank,
ne saw. with natural apprehension,
owen Mckenzie about to come on
board. Clark called to him to 20 back:
out MCKENZIE paid no attention to the
command. Again Clark warned him
mat II he continued to advance, he,
Clark' would shoot. Mckenzie kept
rlght on. Clark shot and killed him.
Clark then purposed going to st.
the authorities, but those on the boat
who had witnessed the shooting thought
thls 10 be unnecessary. They had seen
the whole transaction, and were we'll
quallfled to testify A meeting was held
and after the subject had been thor
oughly discussed, 1t was decided that
their testimony should be sent to st.
LOUIS. This was done and the con-
Clark was fully justified in his act,
II the company failed to view it in the
same manner. no action was taken
against Clark to prove it,"
Under the circumstances 1t is not
strange that Clark's family tried to
eXonerate him from the charge of
murder: Had he not shot Mckenzie.
quite likely he, himself, would have
been Killed. The fact that Mckenzie
was drunk, rendered him none the less
dangerous. Clark, in the language of
the day, was not taking any chances.
There are plenty of instances recorded
in the history of the young west. of
feuds like that between Harvey and
Clark and their friends, when it was
the question of who should shoot first
and straightest. There was one similar
IN Bannack (when Crawford disabled
Plummer's right arm, so that he was
compelled to train his left in marks
mIanship. Crawford left the country,
knowing he stood no chance against
the strong organization of the road
agents.. Clark did not attempt to flee.
and no one ever attributed his willing
ness to go to st. Louis after Mckenzie
was slain to any such cause He stayed.
It was Harvey who left the country.
He had become too notorious. and the
mere fact that he acted as a represent
tative of the American Fur Co.. in
lured his trade. The Indians hated
him, taking the first opportunity to
express their feelings when they left
Fort Mckenzie naught but a pile of
ashes, where nothing can be found
today but few mounds of earth over
grown with vegetation. and perhaps
some beads. TO indicate the site of
what was once thriving trading post
at the head of navigation on the
Missouri.
Traders and trappers who cut them
selves off from civilization and their
own womankind cannot be Judged by
ordinary standards. They not only
ueaC WIN lndlanS-they lived with
them, and generally adopted their Gus
TOMS as more suited to the manner of
life at an isolated trading post, or in
the wilderness. Civilization exiled them
through its demand for one item of
luxury-beaver fur. 1t was the excep-
tional man, like David Thompson, who
was able to live above his surroundings.
Most Of the white men, who were the
earliest pioneers of the mountain Sec
q Tod
not be said to have furnished a bright
and shining example for their red
brothers. There were those of our race
here then who had all of the vices and
few of the virtues of the Indians.
This we did not like to acknowledge
at first; but now that there Is no longer
any great danger to be apprehended