Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-07-06
Given Stood Stoicay Waiting Be Shown he
Nv C. NJ GUTHRIE

This Is a story about a mule and
n r,,ouutafn hOWitzer and the men
al havoc this combination wrought
an a Rrouu Of white men in the
days Of Fort Benton's glory as
fur trade and navigation center.
The male, true 70 its kAna, uAo sne
unexuecsed thing, and as con-
SEQUENCE strong men of the from
fieT bianched and were panic
ss~ietreu and Indian fighters be-
came as rabbits before the hounds.
brave men these-men Of iron.
Courage they had, In plenty. framing
Indians and bad white men ana en-
DURING cruel privations in food and
sloaItaY was all In the days work They
met. these tasks and hardShlpS I'M
fTinchinQlv. But they also had a modl-
s4Irn .,f common sense and when Mr..
SS1,Ie began his antics with the cannon
tnev did the only wise thing. Ihey got
away from there 1910.
Robert Vaughn describes the lncloens
TJovv and to strike upon more hu-
rnorous bit of Montana history one
uNolpId have to delve deeply and WIN
utmost industry. -, g.,
companies were in Fort Benton at tne
time. on their annual Visit from tne
eocf To INSPECT the business OF their
S,ac1acfive companies There were also
Indian commissioners who had been
nent nv the government TO close some
deal with the Indians. :, -. vs,.,
chiefs of the area and many lesser
sTibesmen as well as bunwhackers ana
steamboat hands -,
arrived from one of the trading poSts
and IN the back of one OF the mules
~war q small brass cannon, known as
a mountain howttzer. IL was iaSIleu
ia place with the muzzle pointed over
the animals stern.
Chance for Strategy
Here. thought the government rep-
resentatives present, was opportunity
opportunity to impress tne rso nleh
With the white mans proves In war
fare THE Blacldeet Indians Dnere-
eSSo,,ts were none too friendly. Their
hocfiIitv dated back to the Lewis ano
clark expedition, when two Bacneeb
were killed in a brush with Captain
Lewis men on the Marias
@When you know the BlacIeeC -
well as do" Kennetn Mc I4' & UT ,,ot
said avou viii know that tney 90 Ilos
need any inducements 10 coiiiiiii' uep
IT IF Was thus deemed a shrewd bit OF
.+,-ateov To fire the cannon across the
ESissoiITi river into the opposite pans
to convince the Indians that II Woulo
be wiser to play ball unaer One p ysrnaVs
N the Great White Father at wash
S,,syt ION fl1an to oppose his forces IN
combat pitting their meager aInaInene
eSainst the blftzluieg the hoWlCzer EN-
T4ne animal. with his burden, was
Led IN front street and crowd OF ~
tn 30O followed, half OF Wnicn We
Indians. Tt was decloeo 70 ,.,a LIZ ac Sss
ts,e river A certain spot was shown 70
~ Indians where the shot was sup
s.sSa5 ~ l1it. and, to strike the oeSig-
ppofed target on the clay bank an exLra
..l1erca az powder was put nDo Tue
weapon. - NTH the mule
,,osy1fad in the right direction ana ONT
nan p holding his head. Another pook
,aatnl1 from his vest pocket and 1gfllVeo
S'i T, di,To and whites stood by, the for
-. trina sSivelv. the latter expecIanCly.
Ps1t the whites held their grouno AOr
art an instant. -. t..,~,,v,y
ace yva .s NOT to the mules liking, he
5sy 1,scE his ears and put 9 hump II
~ ,1srlv Next he began whirltng aoouI,
IKE a Fourth of July pinWneel, oSSpsye
III EFFORTS C,f the man at the Drldle
70 0ef him back TO his intended po-
eition. 49,,
pondemonium broke loose then.
There was a perfect stampede OF WIZ ~,
n1en Faster and faster revoIveo 1a sS
mule. with the gun liable to go OH
at any moment. self-preseTvatslso ION. WAS was
shown conyincingly 10 be the 1lrst law
az natsrre Spectators scattered. like
chaff Ia the Wind. Many flung them
selves over the bank into the , river.
Others crawled on hands and knees,
,-s,jIa MANY Law flat on the ground,
broadcioth and buckslzin alike
Indians Are Unconcerned
Among those to seek sanctuary IN
the river was j. J. Healy, who later
Secane manager Of the North Amer1- |
- REORGANIZATION 81 Trading Co.
T Healv Vaughn's book relates. was
fearless Indian fighter and assisted IN
arresting some Of the worst - oespete era
rorizinq the country about that time.