Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-02-10

UlEltIAE0 tAAC AOl5AA AA4N VI NAA~ 49,
places on the frontier, but when oc-
casion demanded he could go 10 Mont
real and mingle with the noble lords
who ran the HudsOns Bay Co; and
he made those gentlemen feel It a
great privilege to enjoy his company
He gave the impression. and probably
felt himself, that he was one OF ma
lures noblemen, a man far above these
company officials who spent their vain
little lives fiddling with figures IN
stuffy offices. Finan could have done
that but he preferred the free life
Years later he became a member Of
the provincial parliament in Ontario
and his co-workers OF that body were
of the opinion that his was TEN
permanent more suited to the trading
post than to the halls OF legislation.
Finan couldn't stand red tape. and
legislators loved red tape as dearly IN
1910 as they do in 1910
Ross Cox Described Him
Ross Cox has described Finans APP
pearance. He says. Mcdonald was
most extraordinary and original char
acter To the gentleneSs of lamb he
united the courage of a lion. He was
particularly affectionate to men OF
small size. whether equals or interiors.
and he would stand their gatherings
with the utmost good humor. but II
any man approaching his own altitude
presumed to encroach too far upon his
good nature a lowering look and dis
tended noStrils warned the intruder
of an approaching eruption. His
appearance was striking: in height, he
was feet inches, with broad Shout
ders, large bushy whiskers and red
hair which for some years had MOI
felt the scissors and which sometimes
falling over his face and shoulders,
gave wild and uncouth appearance.
Finan Mcdonald took for a wife
Spokane Indian woman and ne was
on good terms with most Indians OF
the northwest. The Indians adored
him for his wonderful feats of daring
and bravery; he could Guido most OF
the Indians at their own games and
with the bow and arrow. But F1nan's
Indian enemies feared Red Hair" as
much as his Indian friends adored
him. and they had good reason TO.
Finan dearly loved good fight with
Indians when there were no white men
to fight with.
Of the mighty Finans participation
in Indian wars. Cox says:
Mcdonald frequently. for the mere
love of fighting, accompanied the FIAT
heads in their war excursions against
the Blackfeet. His eminent bravery en-
deared him to the whole tribe, and IN
all matters relating to warfare MS
word was law. The following anecdote,
which was related TO me by SeVerai
Indians, will at once show his steady
courage and recklessneSs in danger. In
the summer of 1872, at the buffalo
plains they fell in with strong party
of BIacHdeet. and a severe contest en-
sued. Mcdonald was to be seen in the
hottest of the fire, cheering and ami
mating his friends; and they at length
succeeded in driving the Blackteet to
take shelter In a thick cluster OF trees,
from whence they kept up a constant
and calling fire on the Flatheads, by
which a few were killed, and several
wounded. In vain he exerted all ms
influence to induce his friends 10
storm the trees and drive the enemy
sNfcDonald. vexed at this puerile |
method of fighting, offered to take
Inc lead himself to dislodge the enemy; |
but. with the exception OF the war
chief they all refused to join him. He |
therefore resolved to try the effect OF /
example, and putting his horse INTO a
smart trot. rode opposite TO the place |
from whence the chief fire OF tne |
Blachfeet proceeded; he then dis |
mounted took deliberate aim at the |
mead of fellow which had just popped |
from behind a tree, and let fly. The /
nn1Iet, entered the Blackfeet's mouth /
md he fell. A shower of balls instantly
whizzed about Mcdonald and his horse.
out he. undismayed, reloaded, while
lis friends cried out and besought him
q retire He covered another IN the
same manner, and galloped TO nus
party uninjured. War was his glory
md piping peace his aversion"
Prowess Became Legendary
Fsrrf1ffr1oF Legend
.nong Indian tribes and about trading
)oSt fireplaces as well. His very APP
,earance awed enemies. On one occa-
ion he was travelling up the Columbia
liver with a party Of white men when
group of Indians padded their
.anoes in among the boats. Several
indians padded their craft alongside
dcDonalds and while one held the
Wo boats together, the other pro-
eeded to lift a huge bale Of tobacco
nut of McDonald's boat. Finan stood
10 to stop him and the two men stood
acing each other The Indian was
all and athletic and equal to Nc
Donald in size. He dropped the bale OF
obacco, raised his bow and aimed at
rinan's heart. This did not phase the
Scotchman. for he reached
orth a brawny arm, snatched the ar
oW from the bow, broke 1t in two and
brew the pieces into the Indians face.
The startled braves sat down In their
anoe and padded away.
Being outnumbered IN battle only
erved to make fight more interest
ng to Finan Mcdonald. On one occa-
ion he led small group Of white men
nto close fight with IS Indians. Out ,
f the IS Indians, Mcdonald and his
nen killed So, with but little loss on
heir own side.
Mcdonald seemed to have a charmed .
fe IN battle, but ON one occasion his
calp almost became a decoration for
he belt OF the Blackfeet brave. He
ad encountered q band Of Blacheet ,
nd had proceeded to battle them
He was hopelessly out
numbered and a ball from an Indian
un brought him down. A half dozen
indians closed in and began hacking
is head with their tOmahawis, while
mother unsheathed his scalptng knife
nd was actually carrying out the OPP
ration of removing Finan's btlshy red
afr when a group OF Flatheads came !
} the rescue. Three Of the Blackfeet i
ere killed and F1nan was rescued
he beating Ffnan had taken would !
ave killed an ordinary man, but he :
.w--4~x~.,1 a. he's k,u<rv1