Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-03-23
drew in a southerly direction towards

drew in southerly direction towards
7 heard of the battle and decided
to go to Bannack, riding into that
place about noon Sunday. The town
was In commotion. The Indians were
known to be approaching and prep
arationS were made TO defend the
town. That night with armed pickets
around the courthouse, I preached to
a large congregation.
at noon the next day a young man
rode into the camp He had ridden
from Horse prairie and had been shot
through the arm by the Indians. He
reported the Indians In close proximity
to Bannack. This was confirmed by
another arrival, a Mr. Hamilton of
Horse prairie, who had had a brush
with the Indians and barely escaped
with his life. He reported that a num-
Der of settlers had been killed on
Horse prairie.
Settlers in Danger
There were a number of settlers
in exposed places on the prairie. These
men were In imminent danger Of their
lives. We held q meeting and decided
that we must send as many as we
could spare to their relief Fifteen
men volunteered to 60 and decided
to go with them.
I'VE elected Melvin Trask captain Of
the little expedition and left Bannack
at daybreak. A Mrs. Winters, whose
husband was ON the prairie, wanted to
go with US. A guard was put over her
to keep her IN town and in safety, but
we had ridden out only II miles when
she dashed up to us. She was mounted
ON a beautiful horse and with her
long black hair flowing in the wind,
she made most spectacular appear
ance. She had revolver strapped to
her waist and she declared that no
power could keep her from looking for
her husband.
When we arrived at the Winters
ranch we found man lying in front
OF the door with four bullet wounds
m his head In the front room we
found the body Of Montague, Winters
partner Near the house we found the
body of a man named Smith, while
Farnsworth, one of Winters employees,
was dying of his wounds Just as we
reached him. The Indians had done
their work thoroughly. Two scouts
were sent out to try to find Winters.
About this time q number Of the
Nez Perez warriors appeared just
across the creek. They were in force
and our little expedition was COM
PEELED to retreat. We went in the di-
rection of Bannack, leaving the two
scouts to their fate. However, they
kept under cover and In the brush and
joined us a little later. When In the
direction of Bannack we met Winters
whom we thought dead. Words cannot
express the delight Of the wife when
she learned that her husband was
alive
I'VE had brought the bodies Of the
four murdered men to Bannack, and
tho Frrr, tai,
Quoting was interrupted by scouts who
advised us that the Indians were ap-
preaching Bannack. We made hasty
preparations to defend ourselves and
then came the welcome news that
Howard and his army were within IL
miles of Bannack.
I'VE were afraid he would not know
Of our predicament and it was de-
cided to call for volunteers to ride
through the Indians to Howard to ask
for help. John Poindexter volunteered
and decided to go with him. Howard
sent company OF cavalry TO the relief
of Bannack
Army In Hard Straits
Towards little army was in hard
straits. The cavalry was practically
worn out from the long march from
Idaho. His infantry was without shoes.
He had been cut off from his COM
municationS for long time and had
to live ON country In which there
was little to forage.
Howard wanted couriers to take inn
portant messages for Washington east
to intercept the Corinne mail coach.
He asked Poindexter and me to under
take the journey and we agreed to
make the ride. We made our start at
IL O'Clock at night. AS we got away
from Towards camp we could hear
the boot of the owl and the plaintive
yelp of the coyote. They are lonesome
sounds at the dead Of night under
any circumstances, but when you know
they are the signals of Indian scouts, |
they are simply hair-raiSing. We made |
It a point to ride away from the di- |
rection from which these signals came |
We rode south to escape these In /
dian scouts. About / O'Clock in the |
the rays from the stars dis |
closed Just ahead of us 70 warriors. |
They would not fire ON us because |
they did not want the sound OF firing |
10 reach Towards camp. We turned |
north and as they did not follow us,
We escaped by riding around them, and |
Kept riding until we came to the stage |
road. We waited for the overland stage, /
delivered our papers, and then went |
pack to Bannack.
I'VE found Captain Ball of the reg
liars with a company of cavalry /
guarding Bannack With him was w.
A. Clark in command Of two COM
oanies of Butte volunteers. This Major