Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-12-07

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It was the pathfinders who
fought their way across the con-
tinent in the early years Of last
century who helped TO save Ore
gOn for the youthful republic. All
that portion OF Montana which
lies west of the Rocky mountains
was then included in what was
called Oregon, so, but for the pto-
neers who braved the rig0rs of a
transcontinental Journey under
hardships equal to those endured
by Lewis and Clark, western Nom
tana might now be part of fair
British province.
One of these trailblazers was Capt.
Nathaniel J. Wyeth of Massachusetts,
who toured the northwest in the early
thirties. The record of his journey,
which was published shortly after mis-
return, and which had a bearing on
the international decision as to the
Oregon boundary, is in the archives
of the Historical. Society Of Massa-
chuSetts.
Wyeth left independence, Mo, in
May, 1882, and on his trip west
passed through what are now the
states Of Kansas Nebraska, wyoming,
Idaho, washington and oregon, ar
Ilfulk hk GOAL NdACOuFC4g eAAN "a 49,
cipal post Of the Hudson'S Bay Co. on
the coast, in October Of the same year.
He left Vancouver on his return jour
ney on Feb. /, 1888, arriving at st.
Louis a few months later,
While his observations, in his jour-
nal. on eastern Montana are vague,
the story of his trip through that
part of the state which was then IN
cluded in oregon territory is told in
more detail.
Very few white men were in west
ern Montana in 1882, and Wyeth Is
perhaps the only one who has written
a description of the country and It's
inhabitants at that time. His route
on his return trip to the settled parts
of the states led from Vancouver, on
the Columbia river to Spokane; thence
he struck out for Clark's Fork river,
called always by him, the Flathead,
and camped on "Flathead or Ponde-
ray" lake. The lake he refers to as
Flathead Is not the Flathead OF the
present day of which he makes no
mention, but Lake Lend oRetlle, which
ne spells as it is pronounced.
Followed Northern Pacific Route
His route followed, in general way,
the one afterward taken by the North
ern Pacific railroad. He was at the
lake AUIu J. d1ilg d1BCA HOAiE bAAAO06AA
a difficult country in which he made
slow progress, on April z arrived at
the FIlathead post kept by Mr.. Rivi
and one man. He remained at or near
this post, which If not within the
present boundaries Of Montana, must
have been very close to the Montana
Idaho line, until April 20; on April
81 he was in camp two miles, up the
river and writes in strain to make
one long for a summer outing In
place so attractive.
'aThis valley" he records in his
Journal els the most romantic place
imaginable; level plain OF two miles
long by one wide; on the north
range of rocky and snow-clad noun
tains: on the south the Flathead river
"a rapid current and plenty OF good
fishing at the immediate
base Of another lofty, snowy and rocky
range of mountains. Above and below
the valley, the mountains OF each
range close upon the river so as APP
parently to afford no outlet either
way About 20 horses are feeding on
the green plain and perhaps Is Indian
lodges (can be SEEM and numerous
barking dogs, with now and then q
half-breed on horseback galloping
gracefully with plenty of jingling bells
attached to all parts OF himself and
horse. 1t really is a scene for a poet"
Indian Backgrounds
From this idyllic spot the party
moved up the river and passed a very
bad rock called lie Roche Mauvais.
Only once had the Blackfeet, constant
foes of the Flatheads, who inhabited
the country, passed the bad rock and
then "got such a beating as keeps
them In better order" On April %
he was on Horse plain, and not far
distant was mountain, where ZOO
Flatheads, Conterays and Ponderays
and other Indians had been killed in
a battle with the Blackfeet Indians. f"
From Indians arriving from the main
F1athead camp at Porte-d'enfer-Heh-
gate-he learns that the Blackfeet had
stolen many horses.
The route continued up the Flat
head and many streams, which he
does not designate by names, were
passed. At one place he saw plum
trees; the fruit was said to be good,
to ripen in September and to be found
nowhere but at this place. He failed
to procure any seeds of the plum for
planting elsewhere. The journey con-
tinued until the vicinity of MisSoula
was reached. Here was found camp
of 120 lodges of Flathead Indians, who