Glacier County chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1931-1940, 1940-02-02
When "Yelloustone'' KELLY
Hunted in Judith Basin

war parties pass very close to this
stay herep"
Kelly answered that they were hunt
ers, that they carried medicine for
wolves and in their guns they carried
medicine for war parties, If the war
parties interfered with them. The
Crows nodded. This was talk they
thoroughly understood.
In the camp of the Crows, the men
said. there had been much wailing
among the women all summer, over
the loss of twenty-five warriors lost in
battle with the Sioux. In the previous
autumn twenty-three crows had
started on a horSe-stealing raid against
the Sioux on the Yellowstone. They
discovered two large camps of the
enemy in the bad lands before reach
ing the Yellowstone, and succeeded in
rounding up and driving off, unper-
ceived. a number of horses. They trav-
eled along until dark. then camped to
rest for the night. One Of the party,
however, refused to STOP and taking
his share of horses kept on his way. He
did not propose to take chances SO near
the enemy. He was the only one who
came out alive.
! The Sioux discovered their presence
and pursued them. They came in sight
VI lie STOWS az daylight. beulS Sur
! rounded and outnumbered ten to one,
they managed to gain the crest of a
hill, where they constructed a rude
breaStwork of rocks and defended
themselves with the bravery of despair
as long as their ammunition lasted
The Sioux haraSsed them with fire
from every rock, bush and hollow in
the vicinity and when the Crows were
reduced to five or six in number a
charge was made by the young and
unframed warriors of the camp, to
whom was presented a grand oppor-
tunity Of winning their spurs and
counting a first coup under the eyes
and encouragement of their own peo-
pie.
Several Sioux "Bit the Dust"
Several Of the Sioux bit the dust in
this encounter before the Crows were
exterminated. One Of the Crows who
feigned death turned on his side and
sent an arrow halfway through a
young brave who was riding full tilt
over him. Not satisfied with this he
ssprang up and pulled the Indian off
his horse, and had actually mounted
the animal before he was shot down.
The Crows at home, meanwhile, in the
Crow camps near the upper Missouri
river knew nothing Of this great dis
aster and for days after the return of
the one man a lookout was kept for
the rest of the party. Finally, their fate
was learned in roundabout way from
the whites, who received the news BY
mail from one of the agencies for the
Sioux on the lower river.
In November Kelly and his party left
Cone Butte pass and headed southeast
toward the MuSselshell, which was I'M
known territory to the white men.
Kelly was one of the first persons to
map this region. He and his party fl
1y- 70 hi ru.
Willow creek.
Wolves again were the main game
The buffalo wolves north of the Mis-
souri, were coarse haired compared with
the gray wolves poisoned near Flat
Willow creek: some were pure white,
others different shades of cream. The
party spent some time on Flat Willow
creek, then headed for the MusseishelI,
where they established camp in an old
indian war house. They took great care
10 avoid Sioux war parties, however.
A collision with them might have
spelled disaster, or interfered seriously
with the enterprise of gathering furs
and skins: Yellowstone Yelly, reporting
on the expedition, says: For that rea-
son we used our skill and knowledge
70 keep out of their way, though we
often suffered discomfort in doing it."
In the winter they broke camp again
and returned north, spending out the
cold weather into 1876 at their original
Cone Butte pass camp. They left this
nights and went to Reeds place in the
Judith basin. Before reaching there,
they camped at a spring near a run
ming stream, notable because on the
exact spot stands the Lewistown of
today.
War Parties Were Active
war parties were very active the
the mountains the Kelly party crossed
fresh horse trails at right angles to
their course, made by a party of a
hundred or more. They heard from
this war party a couple of days later
From Reeds cabin the prairie
stretched clear for mile to some ris-
the Settlement Of Carroll, Where KEW "
intended to go, had its way. Some
friendly Indians had encamped near
the trade store and let their bands
OF horses stray near these foothills
nearly a mile away. when suddenly
s saeue "as a cry; The The Sioux! The
out and saw cavalcade of Indians,
80 Or more. sweeping along the edge
OF the prairie at an easy gallop with
the evident intention Of cutting out
the pony herd. The white mems horses
were safe in the opposite direction and
while kelly's companions fastened to
secure them. he raced towards the pony
herd. which seemed to be without a
guard. He was presently Joined by a
young Indian from the encampment
Of the friendly Indians
Kelly's intentions were to come as
near the pony herd as possible and
get in few long distance shots at
the Indians before they reached it. The
war party, however, paid no attention
to Kelly and the Indian, nor did they
quicken their pace. For all their In
difference, Kelly sensed a keen calcu-
lation as of experts in the business of
stealing horses. When they started to
round up the stock and turn the anil
mails toward the foothills. he sat down
and pumped away at them as they
came into line or punched.
Bullets were apparently wasted, how
ever, except for scattering when
three Of the Sioux happened to be
together at one time. The young In
dian with Kelly never stopped. and
when the thieves disappeared over the