Glacier County chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1931-1940, 1940-05-17

week observance at Montana state
college.
sleep. it was not until dawn that he
awakened. He found himself surround
ed by Is Indians.
Puts Up Brave Front
Among them was one whom Dawson
had befriended, but the man pretended
not to recognize him. Dawson saluted
them all in a happy careless Indian
fashion. making up his mind that a
brave front was his only show for
life. He expected to be tomahawked or
shot full Of arrows, and was agreeably
surprised when the Indians returned
his overtures of friendship.
Dawson invited them to his morning
meal and talked to them by sign Ian
go to the fort, they indicated that
they were going that way also.
AS they approached the fort the men
there noticed the lone white man
among the Indians and. fearing the
redskins were up to some devilment,
Dawson forestalled any hostilities, and
explained his situation to the men in
the fort The Indians told. through an
Interpreter, how they had seen Daw-
son coming the night before: had hid
den themselves in abmush in the dense
willows They had watched all his
movements, planning to surround him
and take him by surprise at daybreak
and see what he would do. When he
had shown such a fearless front they
concluded that here was warrior too
brave to die or be tortured. Had he
attempted to run. or shown any fear
at all they would have killed him.
quainted with Dawson in 1854 and for
a time there was bad blood between
them. 1t began in a peculiar way.
Mending his traps one Sunday at home
-Chouquette was free trader
Harvey, Dawson's chief clerk. appeared
He says for you to come up and play
the violin so they can have dance
in the post" Chouquette finished a
trap before he replied, then said: I'm
a poor player and I won't come. But
you're welcome to use my fiddle If you
want It,"
Next day Harvey reappeared with a
message from Dawson to the effect
that Dawson wished to meet Chou
quette halfway from the fort. Dawson
would give Chouquette 1.-The butt of
the gun with the barrel towards Daw-
son." Apparently, Dawson was angered
by the others refusal to play at the
dance, and wanted to fight duel.
Chouquette returned; Il am free man
bound to come and go at anyone's
beck and nod"
But he feared Dawson and deter
mined to stay out Of his reach. A few
days later he had to pass the fort: he
saw Dawson come out and signal to
signs. In the evening he again passed
and saw Dawson waiting for him. Daw-
son came forward. Chouquette did not
know whether to run or fight. but see
ing that Dawson was unarmed, he met
him face to face-and was surprised
to receive an invitation into the fort.
Foes Become Friends
There they drank and concluded
that there was really nothing to the
per and the fact that Harvey had not
delivered his messages correctly. The
affair ended by Dawson offering Chou
quette good employment which the
other accepted. Chouquette said that
from that day he was always glad to
do anything for Dawson. He became
one of Dawson's most trusted men.
Dawson had a soft heart and many
in distress were helped by him-such
as Father Imoda, whose party was set
upon and all Of their stock taken by
the Indians. When a gold excitement
occurred, Dawson grubstaked not few
who dreamed OF quick riches. He was
sometimes taken advantage Of, as in
the instance of fake priest who rep
resented he had mission and knew
Of vast gold discovery in the north.
For the sake Of the black gown" Daw-
son outfitted him to the extent of
$500 worth of provisions, for which
the fake priest promised to send gold
In few days.
The days went by and an Indian
came from the north with note from
the priest and a large roll Of cloth
which the Indian said contained gold
Father DeSmet, in the fort at the
time, had warned Dawson against the
fake priest, and now Dawson called
Father DeSmet In to prove the father
was wrong In his judgment.
After unwtnding and untying the
rolls Of cloth to the last stick, Dawson
was appalled-and Father DeSmet
amused-to find an English half SOW
ereign, about $3.50.
Dawson was q friend to Pierre Gar
reau, the noted scout; also James Kipp,
Fred Gerard and many others. He
married one Of Pierre 0arreau's
During the winter Of 1858. one Of