Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-05-18

had befriended, but the man pretended
not to recognize him. Dawson saluted
them all in 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 lam
guage. On finding that he intended to
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
began preparations to rescue him.
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 a warrior too
brave to die or be tortured. Had he
attempted to run, or shown any fear
at all, they would have killed him.
Charles Chouquette ST., became ac-
quainted with Dawson in 1854 and for
a time there was bad blood between
them. It began IN a peculiar way
Mending his traps one Sunday at home
-Chouquette was a free trader
Harvey, Dawson's chief clerk, appeared
and said: Dawson wants to see you.
He says for you to come up and play
the violin so they can have a dance
IL 80 F4s.4e
trap before he replied, then said: I'm
a poor player and 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 "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 q duel. /
Chouquette returned. Il am free man
and can do as please and am not
bound to come and go at anyone's
beck and nod"
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
him to enter. Chouquette ignored the 1
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
10 receive an invitation into the fort.
Foes Become Friends
There they drank and concluded
that there was really nothing to the
affair. Dawson blamed his quick tenn
per and the fact that Harvey had not
his messages correctly. The
affair ended by Dawson offering Chou
luette good employment which tha
other accepted. Chouquette said that
rom that day he was always glad to
10 anything for Dawson. He became ,
me of DawSonS most trusted men. !
Dawson had soft heart and many
n distress were helped by hin1-such !
Is Father Imoda, whose party was set :
lpon and all of their stock taken by :
he Indians. When gold excitement I
Dawson grubStaked not few !
Who dreamed of quick riches. He was :
he instance Of fake priest who rep ?
eSented he had mission and knew
4 vast gold discovery in the north. 7
FOR the sake Of the ''black gown" Daw- !
on outfitted him to the extent of q
500 worth Of provisions, for which 2
he fake priest promised to send gold +
4 few days.
The days went by and an Indian S
anne from the north with a note from o
be priest and large roll Of cloth
hitch the Indian said contained gold. 6
'ather DeSmet, in the fort at the 4
me, had warned Dawson against the O
AXE priest, and now Dawson called r
ather DeSmet In to prove the father
as wrong In his Judgment. e
After unwinding and untying the C
1lls of cloth to the last stick, Dawson n
as appalled-and Father DeSmet o
find an English half soy =
reign, about $3.50.
Dawson was a friend to Pierre Gar q
Eau, the noted scout; also James Kipp, \
red Gerard and many others. He h
larried one of Pierre Garreau's n
aughters, Josette. Il
During the winter Of 1858, one of o
he severest ever known in what is il
ow Montana, Dawson met with an s.
ccident from which he never recov- r
red. He had trap door over cellar Il
/ which he kept all important docu- S