Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-12-28
Montana Owes Much to
George Catlin's Paintings

some years ne developed an ambition
TO form a comprehensive museum and
art collection, showing the Indians Of
North America in their natural state,
before contaminated by the vices Of
civilization and robbed Of their nat
ural picturesqueneSS.
Catlin was about feet inches IN
height thin in figure, a long face.
dark complexion, with blue eyes and
black hair. He wore no beard. Capt
Mayne Reid, the noted writer, SAID
Catlin was one OF the most graceful
men he had ever seen
Always Poor
Catlin knew nothing OF making
money and was always poor. he was
frequently In Chicago from 1899 70
1886. at a time when investment Of
would have made him wealthy He
did not invest. however. but was In
search OF Indian subjects for sketch
ing. He Sketched and re-sketched
Chicago and was in daily association
with men who were there for invest
ment and who eventually became enor-
mouSly rich from land purchases made
at the time.
Catlin was a dead shot with a rifle
and seemed born to the saddle. He
was most entertaining story teller
and a most likable man Among his
close personal friends we're Henry
Clay, Daniel Webster William H. Sew
ard and other eminent men. Among
his fast friends in the west was James
Kipp, father Of Joseph Kipp, and the
greater part OF whose life was spent
with the Blackfeet Indians James
K1pp was headman for the American
Fur Co In the thirties.
At Fort Union
In 1882 Catlin was a passenger on
the steamer Yellowstone from st.
Louis to Fort Union. at the mouth OF
the Yellowstone river. The Yellow
stone was the first steamboat 10 as
cend the Missouri The life at this
outpost OF civilization fascinated him,
and after his arrival at Fort Union he
sent back to a friend a description Of
the fort and the work he was doing
as follows
Il am seated on the cool breech Of
12-pound cannon with my easel be-
fore me. Gathered around are Grows,
Blackfeet and Assinniboines, whom l
am reproducing on canvas.
My painting room has become so
great lounge, and I so great a medi-
cine man that all other amusements
are left. The chiefs have had to place
guards at my door with lances In
hand to protect me from the throng,
and none but the worthless are al
ACWNa " N1AAAI AAAbO AAAJ AAAIA4IAlAE ADhAh~
ments None are allowed to be painted
by me except as are decided by the
chiefs TO be worthy Of so high an
honor.
''Encamped about the fort are
host Of wild, incongruous savages--
chiefs and medicine men, warriors,
young braves and women and chill
clude Crows and Blackfeet. Otibbe-
ways and Assinniboines and Crees.
and in the midst of them
am l. with my paintpots and canvas,
Snugly enscOnced in one of the bas-
lions Of the fort which I occupy as
, painting room. My easel stands be-
Tore me and the breech of q H.
lie. Of the gun pointing out Of a port
hole. The operation Of my brush is
mystery Of the highest order to these
ed sons Of the prairie.
These savages OF various tribes
meet together here to be amused and
o pay me honor, but gaze upon each
'ther with looks Of deep-roOted hatred
md revenge. However, while in the
ort their weapons are all placed in
he arsenal, so that naught but looks
an be exchanged here but death and
rim destruction will visit back those
ooks upon each other when these
Wild spirits again are loose and free
DEeaLue ana act upon the plains.
Catlin left a detailed story of the
ed man and his ways that gives in
ormation concerning the old west
hat could not be secured now from
ny other source. His original draw
ngs and paintings are In the Smith
oman institute at Washington. but
hese have been published in book
orm and are available for those who
re interested. although somewhat ex-
enSive to purchase now