Glacier County chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1931-1940, 1940-11-29

appellation. owing to his many pc
cularities, is believed by his neighbors
to be of his own christening, as he
is entirely averse to giving any infor-
nation of his life previous to his ap-
pearing on the Yellowstone.
In dress, looks and general out
line he is the typical character of the
early hunter and trapper and glories
in the fact that the onward march
of civilization has failed to MAKE any
impression on his frontier modes and
habits of life His hair and beard are
still long and shaggy and for wearing
apparel he still clings with the great
est tenacity to the skins Of wild beasts,
like the most untutored savage.
Didn't Like Papers
Some of the adventures and hair
breadth escapes of this strange indi-
vidual are, without doubt. among the
most wonderful that have ever oc-
cured in the west. and vet. singular
to note. they have never yet appeared
in print. chiefly, perhaps, for the rea-
son that johnson. though he cannot
read has a superstition that if his
name were to appear in the news
papers it might, perchance: bring him
into disrepute among his old &C
quaintances.
THE old-timers have a peculiar
reverence for johnson. and whenever
his name is mentioned they shrug
their shoulders and give up that his
record of perilouS deeds and thrilling
encounters excel those OF any other
settler in the upper Missouri region.
johnson was one of the very few
ton of hunting and trapping from
away back in the sixties, and right in
the midst of the Sioux reservation
grounds and while they were the most
deadly enemies of his race, but he
always managed to elude their most
crafty efforts at capture. In his fights
with the redskins he always came OH
victorious. and one or more OF the
copper-colored race was sure to bite
the dust through the unerring aim OF
his rifle. OF course, he was eagerly
sought after by the Sioux, and every
hour of his existence in those Gays
his life was in jeopardy because OF
their determined hostility
But like the famed Hannibal, he
had the Simon-pure grit. and mace
an oath to be the mortal enemy OF
the tribe, an oath which he inVarlaoiY
kept, nor did he ever lay down his
arms and smoke the pipe of peace
until the last Sioux was driven beyond
the hunting grounds of that vicinity.
The chief cause OF his indignation
toward that tribe was because the
warriors of Sitting Bull and otner
chiefs molested his beaver traps steal
ing his beaver and interfering with
his chances of securing pelts and other
trophies of a hunters prosperity.
Slept With Eyes Open
IN those days, to use JohnsoH'S
expression, he Slept with both eyes
to meet any emergency that might
arise. Brush and sWamps we're MS
principal places OF COncealment. and
the highest hilltopS he used Tor points
OF observation. Raw meat, or meat
straight was his principal food, and
, when he was tempted TO build a IRE
it was done with the greatest caution.
dian that he killed, but the number
grew so large that his acquaintance,
who. though they did not doubt his
claims, vet laughed so heartily at the
idea of one man Slaughterlng so many
Indians of one tribe, that he never
forgave many of them for their APP,
parent unbelief of his statements and
now he invariably avoids gong INTO
numerical details, but is fond OF re-
lating stories of how he played many
tricks on the crafty savage. =,
AT one time he occupied small
log hut, or blockhouse, full OF port
holes, and in commanding position,
from whence he kept numerous war
parties at bay, Staying SO many OF
them that the balance were quite will
ing to leave him alone and decamp
without his scalp.
Once, however, they surrounded
this little fortress of Johnson's IN
such overwhelming numbers and sent
such showers of lead and arrows that
defense was useless, hot arrows set
ting fire to his blockhouse in many
places. The red devils. on obserV!ng
the progress of the flames, hoWied
with the most keen and ileno ITdf oeI
light. supposing that their paIefaced
enemy would now perish sure.
But johnson was prepared for Just
such an emergency He had secretly
constructed an underground passage,
way. and into this he crawled and
remained until darkness came on
when he escaped unframed. The IN
dams never forgave Johnson for this
trick, but called him the Fire Devil
and a great many ponies and numer-
Gus wives were offered by the chief
TO the warrior who would slay him
Another trick which he played on
them they did not soon forget. One
day he constructed a good-Sized tepee,
and after arranging things as if he
had made a hasty departure. left some
poisoned pieces Of meat inside of the
leIlt, WIllCIl sOIilS VI Wig lIIOIS4LS Nt'
covered and ate. and in consequence
died Immediately. They were some OF
the bravest warriors of the Sioux, and
the tribe went into mourning.
Secret Tunnels Helped
For months johnson was practical
ly besieged, and the only way in which
he could obtain food in his little fort
ress was by slipping out at night. and
If he failed to kill any game. gather
quantity of berries and herbs. On
returning from one of these excur
sions late at night, he was greatly
surprised to discover signs which in
dictated that his home was occupied
by the enemy. How many of the m
dams were inside he could not as
certain, but he determined to investi-
gate
las usual he provided a secret pas
sageWaY to his abode Of which nc