Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1939-03-25


bound, pIOwed mp the Missouri
/ river one summer day In 1870 and
pulled to the wharf at Musselsheu
City to give its passengers and
crew q weird scene Of wilderness
shOwcraft.
A row Of stakes along the waterfront
each bore an Indian skull, bare ano
grinning like veritable deaths heads
occupying the place Of footlights upon
primitive stage. The crude buildings
of the settlement were the back props
with the sagebruSh and timber enclos-
ing the rear.
Star Of the scene was Liver Eatin'
Johnson, clad only in a bright red
undershirt that reached barely below
his hips, with his bare shanks cleaning
in the sun that Wed with the crisp
atmosphere for control Of the season.
Liver Eatin' was leaning upon a pair
of homemade crutches, all unconscious
of the unusual appearance he offered
his astonished audience. He was recov-
ering from some injury to a foot, and
was now able to get around with the
aid Of clutches and, hearing the steam
boat come round the bend, and giving
no more thought to his dress than
would any wilderness creature, he
rushed out to get look at the new
Corners.
But the story of the skulls is the
story Of an Indian battle only short
time before.
About May 1, 1870, some so men,
mostly wolfers, trappers and wood
choppers, had gathered at Musselshell
City to await the arrival of the first
boat. Two squaws lived in a building
attached to one Of the stores of the
settlement. Early one morning they
went out toward the Musselsheu river
to gather wood They were attacked by
a band of Sioux, who were haunting
the region of the settlement hunting
scalps. One of the squaws was wound
ed. but both managed to gain the
safety of the post
When they sounded the alarm every
man turned out with his rifle. Shots
were exchanged with the war party,
but because of the distance no one was
hurt. Many times such situations had
occurred-the Indians hanging about
the protective cottonwood grove near
the Musselshell and the whites hug
ging the shelter of their buildings. But
this affair was destined for different
ending.
Never before had the Sioux seen so
many white men gathered at Mussel-
shell City. Here they saw an oppor-
tunity for many scalpS; and, the white
men, feeling the strength Of security
Of numbers, decided it was q chance
to even the score for previous attacks
by the Sioux.
The white men enmasse approached |
the Indians, who dropped back toward |
the Musselshell where the cut banks,
10 to 20 feet high, were crumbly and |
hard to negotiate. But lateral ravines |
cut back from the river to higher
ground.
AS the white men approached one of /
The ravines fully 100 Sioux rose sud-
1enly IN their front. Jake Leader was |
killed. A man named Greenwood was
wounded. The whites scattered to the |
safety Of nearby trees.
The Indians in the ravine held an
position. They could hold !
It until dark and then slip away I'M
detected. But they could not fire at
the whites without exposing them
selves. SO far, however, the whites had
The worst Of the battle.
Up the river some distance was the
est of the Sioux band singing and yell
ng in the woods to lend courage to
heir embattled warriors.
A storm OF the ravine might have
'outed the red warriors, but some white
ives we're sure to be lost.
1t was decided that If few men
,ould cross the Musselshen and creep |
lp the opposite bank, protected by the
timber, they might enfilade the ravine ,
md force the Indians out to an open
light.
Frank Smith, Jim Wells, Henry Nc
Donald and Joe Bushaway succeeded /
n crossing the river from a point |
Downstream. They carefully crept up
opposite the mouth of the ravine. They
we're armed with Henry rifles, and the
ntrenched Sioux were now at their
mercy.
When the first bullet from across the
liver struck, the Sioux saw their game
vas up. They faced a perilous disad-
-antage in leaving the ravine for high
r ground, with the whites on all sides;
hey could not face the rain Of bullets
rom across the river
They sought the shelter Of pockets IN
he banks of the ravine and lighted
nd passed their pipes. They sang their
leath songs Then some Of them leaped
ut and tried to get away by various
outes, some OF them trying to sneak
ut to the river and plunge into the
tream. The white men finally got into
ach others croSSfire and had TO call
halt. A few Indians got away. Nearly
o corpses were found In the ravine.
Survivors Of the party, returning TO
'ort Peck, reported 33 had been killed.