Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1939-10-28

StFNsAm was ~ Ola HuNtttys the
head Of navigation. Old Huntiey
was across the river from the pres
ent town Of Huntley and was close
TO the place where Mai. Eugene
Baker was surprised by Indians in
1872 while acting as escort for a
survey party. The locality was
known as Bakers battlefield.
The place was q favorite rendezvous
for wolfers and trappers. many OF
whom wintered there. Omar Hoskins
and Thomas McGirl, who were looking
for a place to establish a stage station
for the Salisbury line just being estab-
lished along the Yellowstone, hit upon
Huntley as the most likely place for
their enterprise.
About 1880, they sold their interests
in the store and ferry to Hagy g.
Smith. merchants along similar lines
at Fort Custer. E. w. Dunno. later Of
Billings, conducted the store for both
firms and bought out Hagy & Smith in
business until the growing Importance
of Billings, IA miles west. with the
coming of the railroad dwarfed Hunt
ley. Mr.. Dunno then entered the rail-
way mail service.
Mr. Dunno and Henry A. Firth had
taken up homesteads about a quarter
of mile north In the Bakers battle
field bottom on being discharged from
the army in 1878. In the division Of
labor, Mr.. Dunno took on the duties
of cook but one Of the neighbors mar
ried a woman whose cooking was SO
much superior TO the bachelor variety
that they made arrangements to board
with the couple. With winter putting
an end to their activities, Mr.. Dunno,
who had been in the quartermaster
department at Fort Custer found Job
looking after HoSkins e. McGirI's store
while his partner held down the home
Steads.
The place which was selected for the
ferry was one of the best along the
whole river. There was an eddy on each
side OF the river and a good boatman
could manipulate his boat to take adj
vantage Of both in crossing. In high
water, however, the crossing was dan
gerous, and after several accidents and
narrow escapes. a heavy cable was
stretched across the river to insure a
safe passage.
McGirl was the ferryman and he was
kept busy the whole day long taking
over passengers, vehicles, livestock and
baggage. Collecting the fares and
charges. McGirl placed the money in q
sock which was tossed into the brush.
At the end of the day when the sock
was emptied out for the daily reckon
ing, the pile to be counted almost al
ways covered the table.
Starting Point for Interior
Nearly everyone going up or down
the river crossed at Huntley. In addi-
ton it was the starting point for men
and outfits going to the Fort Maginnis
and Barker mining districts to the
north. It was also on the line of COM
munication between Fort Custer on the
Big Horn and the military posts to the
west and south.
In a country where accommodations
for travellers were VIGOROUSLY bad, the
comfortable hotel, the ample supplies
of good food and good liquor, and more
than all the fame Of Mrs. Hoskins as
a cook were heralded far and wide and
travellers on long trips often stopped for
several days 70 rest and enjoy the
bountiful repasts provided.
There was always someone employed
by the firm as q hunter Of all varieties
of game from buffalo and elk to prai-
RE chickens and ducks. The first of
these was Muddy Wilson, famous
buffalo hunter Of partly Indian ex-
traction, whose first name was said TO
have been ''Mud-eater."
An extensive trade in furs and hides
was carried on with hunters and trad
ers and with the Indians themselves
Bands Of Indians came in TO trade,
usually accompanied by a white or
breed interpreter. This trading at times
was so brisk that the purchased hides
we're thrown by the buyer on the floor
and kicked out Of q side door in bunch
es into yard. Later they were picked
up and stored away.
The company had two large ware
houses where the f1rs were stored and
these by the time that the steamboats,
came up in the spring were filled to
capacity. At one time, no less than
seven steamboats, were at HHntley tax
ing on loads OF furs and hides after
leaving their consignments Of supplies
for distribution over q wide area be-
yond HIIntley.
Game Was Plentiful
Game Of all kinds was plentiful and
a hunter always found q ready market
for hides and furs at Huntley. If q man
had no money, he would be QUILTED
with wagons, teams, ammunition and
guns with only an agreement that the
firm should have the first option on
the furs when he returned. The hunter
might be gone for weeks but Mr..
Dunno says that he never knew one to |
fail to come In and meet his obligation. |
AS the company always paid the highest
price going, they seldom failed to get
the furs. AS the hunters usually hung
about for some time after q successful |
trip, not a little Of the money came
back through the hotel, store and bar,
so that money was made on the fUrs