Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1939-10-21
By AL H. WILKINS

1t is my intention IN this sketch
to describe to the best of my abil-
ity the ways and pursuits of hv-
ing, and the resources of the west
ern tribes of Indians. / have made
mention in other paragraphs of
my experiences while crossing the
plains 65 years ago, but l have
never given the public detailed
account of my experiences on that
memorable trip.
About 1872 my two sisters were mar
ried This broke up our home. Father
had been running a ferry boat at
Crookston, MINI, and after the wagon
bridge was built across the Redlake
river at that point father used the
ferry boat for transport. Loading on
the boat our scanty belongings and
large team of mules and wagon, we
started on our water voyage for old
Fort Garry, now being the up-to-date
city of Winnipeg. We arrived at our
destination without accident. Here we
salvaged our boat and sold the lumber
at an advanced price. While at Fort
Garry, we learned of the vast oppor-
tunities in the fur trade with the
northern Indians and decided to eS-
tablish trading post on the Ridertng
mountain, lao miles west of Fort
Garry. QUILTED with Indian goods at
the Hudson's Bay store at the fort, we
shifted our luggage onto wheels with
the big mules for motor power and
started on our new adventure.
We had met q half-breed fretghter
who was running eight Red river carts
into the interior with supplies for the
different trading posts. This man
proved to be a fine fellow. He said he
lived on the Ridering mountain and
had two cabins and offered us one of
his cabins to start our store In. We
accepted his offer and spent two years
at his camp. His name was Jim Clark.
He hauled our supplies from time to
time from the Hudson's Bay store at
Game Was Plentiful
While we were at the Clark camp
we were in striking distance Of the
vast herds of buffalo then roaming
through northwestern Canada. AL
though game was plentiful here, the
Indians were very poor. They existed
mainly on fresh meat. The Sontee
Sioux were driven into this region
after the Sioux outbreak In 1852. These
Indians lost nearly all their horses in
their last fight with United States
troops while crossing the Missouri
we came in contact with was the
northern Crees. They were poor tribe
also. These two tribes did most of their
moving with their large wolf dogs.
BY placing a light travels on the
logs back and placing their effects
N the travels, the dogs dragged their
BURDENS from one camp to another.
The dogs and SQuaws were really the
)eastS of burden in these tribes. The
male part Of the tribes considered 1t
. disgrace to work. The squaws did
u the tanning of fIrS and robes and !,
)acked them to market, while their !
worthy bucks walked leisurely along
o sell the flrs.
These Indians homes consisted of
odges made of tanned hides. Most Of |
hem were of buffalo skins. They used (
bout II small poles nearly IL feet 1
ong tied together at the top and s
lie in a circle. This constituted the =
framework of the Indian home. They
we'd In the timbered regions in win {
er and on the open plains IN the O
lmmer. These tribes were good hunt &
rs and trapperS. We had q good fur c
rade while we were at this notable v
amp. v
Our principal stock Of goods con- e
sted Of the following articles: To-
acco, powder, shot and bullets, guns 4
nd caps, ready-made fltntS for the q
ID flintlock guns, beads, dry paints, a
ashy red-striped blankets and large q
owered calico. These tribes used a q
United amount of salt. They were p
reat on brass rings and emblemS. u
hey liked sugar but seldom traded I
n sugar or syrup. liz
The spring Of 1874, we got word b
lat a large detachment of Canadian q
fr ~
mt out into the wild territories bor- a
ring on the Montana Line. This was r
II opportunity to Join them and have q
on our way to Montana, our
)ecttve destination. Long before the "
rival Of the police force, we had q
lcked the remnants of our goods and q
sre ready 20 Join them. After some ]
spense, the troopers finally arrived q
I'd dropped anchor at our camp for I
ander, Major Walsh. and asked per- *
ission 70 goin his expedition. The %
aJor said, ~Corae along. we may
ed you before we get through" The CO
aior looked at me and remarked O1
,ou are pwetty email STRIPPING to IA
into q wild country" 2!
The next morning was busy one "a
ting ready e Leave !. our g . oan tradsng =
"a like breaking home ties again ca
he CLARK family consisted Of him
z, his good wife and t80 little girls. IA
Off WakM aAae R@a&@s F@Eee q
On this memorable morning we be- fx'
me part OF the expedition headed 1x'
st, and dropped in at kkze rear end Ra
the poaies transportation teams. fa
khsr had told kn@ commander that TO
had q load Of Indian goods which zxS
wanted 30 trade ~ kaas Srf@ndly Ia ~
us 4ssp fsewa fsgs FRA eFmw ana xvnfgtT M
70 out from time 70 time 70 txade Gu