Glacier County chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1931-1940, 1939-07-07
BY AL H. WILKINS


the same as myself. The old his
toric adobe government fort at
Fort Benton was built in a hollow
square with two-story port house
at each corner of the stockade.
These buildings bristled with port
holes from top to bottom. The post
contained several companies of soldiers
and I believe Major ElguS was in COM
mand at that time; The old major was
and soldiers from the surrounding
country.
From the fort, strung out for a half
mile up the Big Muddy was row of
log cabins which housed the popula-
ton of the place. There were three
The first one belonged to T. c. Power
and his brother, John. The second one
belonged to I. G.. Baker & Co. The
third to Wetzel g. Weatherwax.
The following named men were en-
ployed in the different stores: In the
Power store, Ed Dunn was head clerk.
He was a fine, all around man. Tom
O'Hanlon was second clerk. He sold
me a musket once and every time I
shot that gun for years afterwards !!
remembered O'Hanlon by the jar. A
little fellow they called Roachie was
Tile llllIu CleIh nc was d llllC SASA n,
always at his post of duty.
In the l. G. Baker store, Charley
Conrad was head sclerk. Bob Colbert
son was second clerk and later on Bill
and Ashby Conrad also clerked in the
Baker store. In fact, in very few
years the Conrads practically owned
the Baker store
The Wetzel g. Weatherwax store was
owned and managed, by the above
named men assisted by Norris Gray:
1t was a pleasure to meet any one OF
these men.
Fort Benton at that early date sup
ported one feed stable, which was
and Thomas Hardrick. Their barn con-
sisted OF one long adobe building with
a corral attached to take care OF
freighters' and hunters horses. These
men had quite record. Ihey were
2 of IA men who were set afoot by
Cree Indians IN the spring &c! Of , ISa4
while returning from winters hunt;
The war party even stole their herd
horse that was picketed in front OF
The next morning the IA hunters
took the trail afoot and followed II
about 100 miles to the north fork OF
Milk river where the fight ensued. One
hundred and twenty-five Crees were
killed. The loss of the hunters was one
man killed The men recovered their
horses and returned. This victory IS
hardly believable, but 1t can be found
in the Canadian records.
Other frontiersmen ! remeM per are
Van Hale, Vogle, Bell, Hughes and
Lew Ell.
Five Saloons in Benton
If remember rightly there were
five saloons in Fort Benton. One was
operated by Buresaw g. Dechamp, VINO
dispensed whisky and cards TO-, the
French. of which there was quite
population at that time. ANOTHER was
Dutchmail. but sold whisky to all class
es of people alike. He sold an Indian
whisky once and after the brave got
his spirits up he came back and urea
to take the contents OF the Saloon py
storm. but only succeeded IN losing ms
scalp, SolomonS medicine was tne
strongest with an army needle gun IN
his hands. But this was not all OF
Moses troubles A few days later ne
sold too much booze TO an lrlSnmaii
and relieved him OF some money az
poker. The effects of the whisky OF. on
the freshman were the same as on the
indian, l believe the fellows name was
Tom Mikel Tom left the saloon with
the remark II will be back and get
Won" True to his word in a lew MN,
utes he returned with SIX gun anu
fired one shot at Nose. the shot wen en-
old needle gun, we had dead man
to carry out. Solomon was arrested ana
had a Jury trial. After a deliberation
of about Is minutes ana sEors u
bourbon the jury told the deiehaans
to get the h out OF theTe anu
tend to his business. A.. .+ro.. u,os
The next saloon on the streee was
that of John Evans and jeff Devroe.
They we're both Americans and by the
1-av thew were among the IA men VINO
traiied and fought the Cree Indians:
They were pioneers with nerves u
steel and men VINO never ~ ~e candyctN
on a friend. Their saloon was cotiauco-
ed in an orderly manner: Ihere never
Was man rolled in the Evans q De-
vroe saloon. o,oo,, will,
Iohn Lilly behind the bar. John was
very stragh tr59r He l ma sold out
IN George Croft and the place was
converted into a hurdy-gurdy oahce
it'1 The upper saloon was run by BIZ
Presten, who enjoyed a good patrehn a;,e
from n;orast 'h to it the old campground, each
morning it was a familiar sight 10 see
~ haif dozen or more decks OF useo
cards swept out of each saloon. OIe
could nearly walk on playing Cdius
from one end of the street to t days o't anG
Money came easy IN tnose oays o1io
went the same way.
Sky Was the Limit
The payroll each month from a,,, tne
+roons at the fort was great drawing
o ctUC for those that liked to gamble "A
man could get gs astfGn and am the SKY was
the limit on a card game. ,.,.,,.,,
''' The town contained one blac sasparf
shop. This was run by three Tb brothers WeTe
tsTee fm Winters tiers to learn the trade.
They we're busy winter Int m aaa su Tepa4
Ing freight aga wagSRns aq rom n0t sar
e getting ready for the next spr aa
as factory-made nails were not always
on Ghe early day freighters Furnished Cd
freight transportation to ali P SanS,n %
the west from the steamboat iano on1