Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1939-02-04


pointed agent of the Flatheads, to fill
the unexpired term Of Maj. Charles S.
Medary who had been suspended and
ordered to return to Washington, D. G.
For the next 10 years Roman served
his government good and well, and it
is significant that through republican
and democratic administration alike,
he retained his commission.
The F1athead reservation of western
Montana, then known as the Jocko
reservation with headquarters In the
Jocko valley, had been set aside for
the confederated tribes of the Flat
head-the Selfish, Pend O'Reilles and
Kootenais. There was also scattering
of Nez Perces: indeed, Arlee. most in
fluential chief among the tribes, was
born Of a Nez Perez mother In the
Nez Perces, Roman found his first prob
lem, for at this time the great Chief
Joseph and his nontreaty Nez Perces
/ had broken away from their home in
| the Wallowa and begun their famous
/ retreat towards Canada.
Among the Indians, Chief Joseph
was known as Misunderstanding
! Overtime Mountain" Rumors that he
was headed for Canada over the Koot-
enai trail. through the reservation.
kept the Indians in ferment. Only
/ Romans masterful handling Of the sit
uation prevented an outbreak among
/ the more hot-headed younger men OF
! the confederated tribes. The Nez PerceS
on the reservation were nervous, SYM
/ pathetic towards their brethren, but
j Roman managed to hold them in check.
/ Joseph veered eastward, over the
mountains to the prairieS east Of the
! continental divide, and made a desper-
/ ate dash for the safety Of Canada,
which he never reached. He was de-
| feated by General Miles on Oct. 8.
! 1877 in the Bears Paw mountains, and
all his tribe, with the exception of
! subchief, White Bird, who, with a few
followers escaped to Canada, was taken
! into custody. There followed a period
that reflects no credit upon the adj
! ministration Of Indian affairs. Joseph
: and his followers were shunted from
prison to prison. Peter Roman, now
| Mai Peter Roman, used all his in
fuence in an attempt to get them
settled on the Flathead reserve, but
was unsuccessful. However, his inter-
cession was rewarded with a certain
measure of ulfillment-Joseph and his
tribesmen were sent to the Colville
reservation in northern Washington.
where the great, old chief whose mill
tary genius and personal integrity are
Of acknowledged superiority, spent his
! last days.
EOpulace IN Terror
In July, 1878, White Bird and his
followers attempted to return to their
| former hunting grounds In the Wallowa
valley-the valley Of Winding Waters"
they loved. The episode had elements
of comedy, though 1t was deepest trag-
edy. Three states, Washington, Idaho
and Montana, were thrown into utmost
terror by the rumors Of murder and
destruction. Reports indicated that the
renegades were headed across the Flat
head, where they hoped to secure aid
from the treaty Nee Perces, At once,
Major Roman called a conference Of
the tribes, presented the situation to
them, and warned of serious conSe-
quences should there be an uprising.
Michele, influential chief of the Pend
OReilles, realized the wisdom Of the
majors words and promised that there
would be peace on the reservation.
With terror mounting all through
the northwest, 1t was presently dis
covered that White Birds formidable
and blood-thirsty band consisted OF 10
persons, 2 Of them woman. 1t was q
pitiful remnant Of a once powerful
tribe-homesick men and women in
tent upon reaching the valley they
loved and willing to fight their way
back to that valley. Perhaps they
wanted to die there. But die they did
before they reached ton the 25th
Of July Of 1878 they were halted on the
North Fork Of the Clearwater where
six were killed and three wounded. !
According to the official report OF the |
affair, the rest were hunted to death"
The Northern Pacific had been ne
gotiating with the F1atheads for q
right Of way for the railroad Steel |
rails were thrusting through the will /
derneSs Civilizati ton was at hand. With |
negotiations not quite completed, the |
railroad reached the natural formation |
known as Bad Rock, on the Pend !
OReille river, and here paused at the /
upthrust over which the red man had |
toiled for centuries.
One old, astute tribe6man hoped that |
the right Of way deal would be closed |
before any attempt was made TO cross
Bad Rock.
Nothing ON this earth, under this
sky, can put the steel rails of the white |
mans medicine wagon across that |
rockl" he said. ''Tt is well that we have |
payment, for at Bad Rock the white
man must admit he is defeated and
can put his steel rails no further"
The old man iourneyed TO the place
to watch the white mans defeat. He
saw the white man put great quantities
Of explosive under the rock; the roar
deafened him, and he shook in amaze
ment at the way the rock erupted and
split to make passage for the rails.
Averts Indian War
II have seen a miracle" he said. |
turning away. "The white man can
move mountains. The white man can
do anything. I know now that never
can the white man be stopped"
In 1885 Major Romans tact and
quick wittedneSs saved a situation
that might easily have reused into an
Indian war. Two drunken Indians made
trouble at the trading store which was
run IN connection with the Arlee rail-
way station. v. B. Coombs and the
postmaster, Bader, were compelled TO
shoot. One Indian was killed and the
other wounded. The wounded Indian
made for the lodges Of his friends,
who declared that the white mans