Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-02-03

DhAAAV ADabucS An 4bAeu OF NJFAtA-
tude for Firemans Hat, and He Kept
His Word.
The Nez Perez Indians, who win
go down I'm history as the tribe
that gave the United States SAGA
iawea and Chief Joseph, were de-
scribed by Lewis and Clark as red
men whose word could be relied
upon. This Judgment Of the tribe
was confirmed, time and time
again, in the years between the
Lewis and Clark expedition and
the surrender Of Chief Joseph in
northern Montana late I'm 1877.
An incident which proved Chief
Joseph was a man of his word was
given to the chief of the fire depart
ment at Deer Lodge in 1874 three
years before the flight of Chief Joseph
from United States troops across Mon
tana.
1t was a custom for these Indians
every fall to make hunting trip to
what was then the Sioux country IN
eastern Montana, to lay in q supply
Of buffalo meat They followed the
trail made by Lewis and Clark to the
headwaters of the Bitter Root river,
down the Bitter Root to MiSSoula,
thence up the Blackfoot river, thence
Madison river and the home Of the
buffalo.
1t was in the month of June, 1874,
when looking north from the town Of
Deer Lodge, one could see Indians ap-
preaching in squads of Is or more,
riding fine looking horses.
At about 10 o'clock a. m, there had
assembled 800 Nee Perces in Deer
Lodge. One could notice large, dis
tinguished but hatless Indian riding an
AlapooSe stallion at the head of the
procession. The first house the Indians
approached was the station for the
fire department; the chief of this de-
partment, an old Indian trader, was
in charge. He could speak Chinook.
He saluted the rider and called him
Chief Joseph.
Chief Joseph talked with the chief
of the fire department, who took no
tice Joseph was hatleSs, and who gave
him one of the waterproof hats worn
by the captain Of this department..
Chief Joseph told the captain he would
bring him buffalo tongues when he
returned in the fall, and this he did
not forget to do.
These Indians held a war dance on
the outskirts of this village, and invited
all the people to come and view it.
Practically all Of the wonderland
there were very few at that date in
the village-were invited.
Women Beat Hasty Retreat
The drums sounded and the war
dance was on. The ladies enmasse were
in attendance, and after awhile when
the excitement was at its height, a
warrior who had been sitting with his
robe around him, jumped up, threw
off his robe and commenced to dance
around the ring-clad in nothing but
sunshine There was a sudden exit of
all the women folks.
The following day the entire tribe
mounted and rode toward the buffalo
country, and did not make their re-
appearance IN this village until late
in November
falo meat and some Of this meat had
been put into the paunch Of killed
buffalo, sewed with thongs, spiced with
camas and wild berries. 1t was con-
sidered delicacy, although an occa-
Sional hair could be found.
Chief Joseph gave to the captain OF
the fire department several packages
of the delectable buffalo meat and
his friends afterward joined him in
dejeuner la fourchette.
Three years afterward the captain Of
the fire department and all available
men were up in arms to oppose the
invasion of Chief Joseph through this
territory. However, Joseph did not en-
ter this valley, but through the Bitter
Root valley he and his warriors tray
eled.
Joseph told the settlers there that
he did not want to harm a single one.
He had told his men not to steal, nor
murderx-that he wished to go through
the country without shedding blood, for
the people of the territory had always
been his friends.
Intercepted by Gibbons
General Gibbons intercepted him in
the Big Hole, and Joseph, although
surprised, escaped with his Squaws and
their children and many of his men.
He was not captured until he reached
the border of Canada.
Soon after the departure of the NeZ
PerceS party consisting OF about Is
persons Of the town made arrange
mentS to make trip to the Yellow
stone park
It was necessary at that date to make
the visit on horseback-with a pack
horse to carry what bedding one need
ed, and sufficient provisions as used
in camping out. The route travelled
was down the Boulder river TO where
1t emptied into the Madison river,
thence up the Madison until the park
could be entered.
The trip commenced the first OF
august anu ~ usually VOOh AZ 4SeoJ Ou
days to make it, camping out at night,
cooking ones grub, and killing suffi-
cient game enroute TO supply the needs
of all. Mountain grouse were plentiful
and 1t was an easy thing to kill a
deer or antelope. At that time, no
roads led to the park, and the whole
country was uninhabited
The Yellowstone park was IN a state
Of nature Just as 1t has been for ages
past. Its wonders had become known
place for Johnny, as they were both
rzaYrnarns When he slammed inside the