Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-07-06

Seventy-five years In Montana
/ and 81 years in Butte, VIII Orion,
past president Of the Society of
! Montana Pioneers, was the chief
speaker at the neon luncheon Of
I the Butte Exchange club at the
New FInfen hotel recently. Ort0n,
who accompanied his father and
mother to Virginia City in 1854
frem Salt Lake, told Of his ex-
periences In the west and sketched
briefly the character and achieve
ments Of many prominent men Of
Montana.
He told Of Professor Tom DimSdale,
the first superintendent OF public In
StructiOn In what Is now the state;
Bill Fairweather. who led the crowd
that found gold In Alder gulch; w. A.
Clark, Marcus DAILY. F.. A. Heinze. Van
Zandt of the Blue Bird, Judge Andrew
j. Davis, Tom Cruise, Tom Couch Of
the Butte and Boston, John D. Ryan,
G. r. Kelley and others who have
helped to develop the mining camps Of
the state.
He also touched on the early day
IndfanS-Chief Joseph, Looking Glass,
Tendoy. and then, the Indian, he said,
Is loyal friend who never fOrgets. He
was instrumental IN restoring the sun
dance TO the Indians Of Tendoys tribe,
the BennOckS, because of the 1atter's
remembrance Of their acquaintance
ship. although nearly 40 years had
elapsed since their last meeting. The
Indian department had forbidden the
sun dance.
Plea by Tendoy
MY heart Is heavy as my eyes grow
dim" Tendoy wrote. I'VE have been
stripped of our hunting grounds, OF our
homes, Of our customs and now our
religion Is attacked. The sun dance
has place In our faith. vet we are
forbidden to practice it"
orion Immediately took UP the mat
ter with the federal government at
Washington and for a wonder got i'm
mediate action. Ten years later he re-
ceived q letter from two Of Tendoys
sons: Our father pledged his oath that
he would never take up arms against
the white man." the letter said, land
pledged lbs also not to do so. And
now we are being pressed to break our
fathers word and our own. What shall
we dor"
To this letter he responded that
such action would be not only breach
of the pledge they had made their
father but that 1t would result In grave
harm TO the Indian people and prob
ably death TO those who fomented the
trouble Some weeks later he received
word that the Indians had decided to
abandon the attempt at an uprising.
Tells of Fairweather
Bill Fairweather. Orton said, waseone
Of the most fearless men that ever
lived. He would pick up q rattleSnake |
and wrap 1t around his arm without |
hesitation and the snake never showed |
resentment. He told of Fairweather's |
party being captured by the Indians, |
Of the old proSpector picking up two |
and wrapping one around |
each arm, of his entry into the tepee |
where the chiefs we're holding q coun- |
Ell as to what to do with the group /
Of prospectOrs, of his picking up the |
bush and smashing the /
medicine man with it, Of the liberation |
IF the proSpectorS because of Fair
weather's daring and his handling OF
he snakes. Fairweather, he said,
.hought nothing of tossing nuggets
about the streets Of Virginia City, for
he children to scramble for. Money
meant nothing to him." the speaker
aid. HE died In poverty"
Among the athletes Of the early days
we're Con Orem and Hugh Nell, he
aid. They fought the longest prize
light on record-179 rounds. Governor
Granville Stuart and other well-mown
igsres Ia early day history came IN 4
or review including the speakers
ather. musician who. he said. @fid-
led bis way. into Montana When
IA party reached toll gate Orton Sr
cached for his violin. A dance was
Immediately arranged for and MS
exxns were asked. Els 'arsweT was tnaS