Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1939-04-29

DR.. Allen was not at that time dem
tiSt, but young gunsmith and black
smith on his way from Ohio TO make a
home for himself and his family in the
west. He was an expert marksman and
hunter and his bravery and daring in
several clashes with Indians in the
Blacks Hills region had won the ad-
miration and respect Of his companions
in the engagements, 20 or more OF
whom were members of the wagon
train. Most of them had been prospect
ing and mining in the Black Hills re-
gion, but being comparatively late ar
rivals there, had missed the rich
diggingS. The wagon train had been
organized to go into the Wind river, or
Big Horn country of southern Montana,
where new gold discoveries had been
reported, and to which man named
Lyons, protesting to be familiar With
the country, agreed to guide them
They discovered later that he knew no
more about the country than they did.
In fact, when within three days travel
Of where he told them the new gold
territory would be found, he deserted
the train and was seen no more by any
of its members.
DR.. Allen was not the captain Of the
wagon train when the start was made
from Spearfish, but was merely MEM
Der of it. It was commanded at that
time by Colonel Beard of Nebraska. At
the crossing of the Red Water river,
the train was attacked by Sioux In
dams and five white men were killed.
News of other battles with, and Of
massacreS by the Indians were reaching
the train daily at that time. Following
their own engagement and the loss OF
five men, conference was held TO dis
cuSS the best way Of guarding against
Indian attacks. During the council
heated dispute arose and Colonel
Beard resigned command. Numerous
other men were nominated for the post,
but each of them refused to assume the
responsibility. Finally Allen was nom
mated and elected, despite his modest
protests that there we're experienced
plainsmen among the group who could
better discharge the duties OF the po-
sition than he.
The men in the party who had been
with him in Indian engagements In the
Black Hills regions and who had wit
messed his qualities of leadership, In
sisted that he take command. One Of
the things they had recalled was that
they had seen him flush covey of
grouse and kill two Of the birds on the
wing with rifle shots before they got out
of range Workmanship such as that
was unusual even In those days when
the rifle was a part Of every mans
equipment IN the west, and was a
quality which carried more weight than
any amount of oral ability.
DR.. Aliens first move was to reor-
ganize the train into four divisions,
each of them under a commander re-
sponsible to him. There were $50 per-
sons in the party, among them num-
Der of women and children. There
we're men Of almost every. profession
and trade, lawyers, dentists, doctors,
carpenters, blacksmiths, shoemakers,
and mechanics. The train was also well
equipped, having even two wagons fixed
up as travelling saloons. At Belle
Fourche heights some of the men who
complained that the train was travel
ing too slow, threatened to leave it and
go ahead in a separate party. The
wagon train had been making from 20
to Is miles a day, which, Captain Allen
held, was as fast as the milk cows