Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-09-07

fort. were erected the blockhoslses
They We're u feet square and 20 feet
nigh. Through small peepholes and
openings, reached from platforms In
size, the marksmen could command
every approach to the fort and repel
any attack.
The trading post Of Sublette and
Campbell was In operation in 1888 when
Macmillan, prince Of Weld. visited
Fort Union In 1888.
The autumn Of 1888 was dry and
long and open. Buffalo did not come
down as early as usual and trading
/ was dull. AS a result the three posts
/ established by Sublette and Campbell
! did not enjoy the business that had
been expected and Mckenzie, at Fort
Union, had reason to suspect they
were near the rocks.
Sublette went east and Campbell
made proposition to sell to Mckenzie
but was turned down. Writing to one
OF his associates, Mckenzie said his
employees thought they could put Fort
William out OF business.
American Fur Buys Competition
Sublette had better luck. In New
York the management of the American
Fur Co. was not so well acquainted
with conditions IN the great northwest |
and in addition knew the influence |
OF General Ashley in congress- He was /
deemed far wiser to buy out competi-
ton and keep its friendship than to
continue fight to the finish. So in
1884 Fort William and the other two
forts were sold to the American Fur
Co, and Fort William passed cut of
the picture, Mckenzie moving the ma
terial to Fort Union.
For q few years undiSputed MASTER
ship Of the territory was enioyed by
although free traders built
an old adobe fort on the site of Fort
William, which Is mentioned infre-
quently in writings of that day. Sub
lette and Campbell returned to st.
Louis and dropped out Of the fur trad
ing picture.
Romance of SubIette
There Is romantic story about the
return OF Sublette and his marriage.
A beautiful, dashing and attractive
southern belle was said to be in love
With a younger brother, Solomon P.
and 1t Is thought they were Z
engaged. Loves young dream was pro !
'eeding undiSturbed until out of the !
vest came the tall, foot 2, handsome !
ur trader and business man wealthy :
IS went riches In those days, from the
'ood deal he had made with the Ameri- p
an Fur Co. At once he was attracted .
y the loneliness of the girl and with n
II the fervor Of his dominating char .
cter he wooed and won her. his vast :
Tealth proving most fascinating pic
ure to the girl. After the death of 6,
iublette his widow returned to her
lrSt love and married his younger II
rother. They lived happily ever after. 81
Fort William next came into the pic II
IRE IN 1843 when it was rebuilt and Y
AIMED Fort Mortimer and for a short n
me again 1t was a real competing X
actor against the American Fur Co. "
Fort Union for the northwestern 81
'ade. In the sixties the fur company IA
I'D out and by 1868 there was nothing Ia
1t at Fort William but an old CHM Ia
ey. Fort Buford was built in 1856 -
leven months later it was burned by IT
lie Indians. In 1868 it was rebuilt by
le government as an army post. a
rye part of the material being OBJ
lined from tearing down Fort Union.
was maintained as an army post
T many years. In 1870 the Buford
ilitary reserve was enlarged to in
Ilde the former site of Fort Union.
In 1889 when the Great Northern
tlroad came to Montana. stations
ere established at both Fort Buford
I'd old Fort Union, the latter being
lied Mondak because 1t was at the
Dakota line. When
ohibition hit North Dakota 1t sent
UGH business into Mondak, on the
side, and Fort Buford began
wane.
Mondak became a furnishing village
q when Roosevelt county was Gre