Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-12-27
Pike Landuslky's Battle With Indians on Flat Willow
One of Most Blood CurdIing Events of Pioneer Days

| after whom the old mining camp In
/ the Little Rockies was named, was
killed by one of the Curry boys, an
effort was made to connect him with
that gang of desperadoes. merely be-
cause they made their headquarters
in the town named after him.
II was quite intimate with Pike and
any effort to make him out a bad
man is misleading in many respects"
wrote j. II. Boucher in an article pre-
pared nearly 20 years ago.
Powell Landusky came to Last
Chance gulch in 1858, during the best
gold days there He was then about
Is years OF age, long, lank, green
country boy. In fact, he was so green
looking that he was the butt for the
miners jokes and thereby gained his
name. One particular miner had been
very prominent in teasing the kid
This man was a bully and did not
know when to stop. One day, In the
course Of his nagging, he asked Lam
dushy:
"Whar are We from, enyhow. kid?"
This aroused the patriotic pride of
the boy and with a blow he knocked
the bully down, answering, as he did
SO. From Pike county, Missouri by
p
That settled it; he was Pike to the
day Of his death.
The story Of Landusky's departure
from Helena when he drifted into the
employ of the Diamond r outfit and
later into trading for himself, as told
years ago by J. H Boucher, follows:
pixies worst fault was his uncon-
temper. He was honest beyond
question and during his life his credit
was always of the best. Had it not
been for his temper he would have
had a quiet and prosperous life, but
his temper led him into many diff
culties and when aroused he seemed
to lose all judgment; and it was dur
ing a passion of this sort, on Dec. 8,
1880, that he was crippled and almost
lost his life At that time he was in
partnership with Joe Hamilton, who
vas the only man l knew who could
10 anything with Pike when he was :
IN a heat Of passion Joe was man
If iron nerve, but withal jovial and
lind In his head flashed a pair Of :
lark Steel-gray eyes, which seemed
20 look clear through you; and at
1nce commanded unqualified respect.
lie was a natural born leader, having
command over white and Indian wher- 9
yer he happened to be. Joe was mar
led to an Indian woman known as :
and that added to his
tanding among the reds. .
IN Flat Willow Creek Il
"At the time Of my story we were
n Flat Willow creek, at the old Lucky z
Fort trading post. There were four :
White men there and hunting party y
If about $50 Piegan bucks and 20 :
,quaws, with whom we were driving )
1 good trade. On the morning In
question was the cook-we took :
week about at that-and had just =
inished getting breakfast ready. Pike +
nd Bob Heart had been up all night =
Iealing with the Indians, and we were !,
o eat breakfast and then go and re- /,
Ieve them. Joe and I were eating our n
realxfast when Bob stuck his head n
a at the door and said, Joe, come T
yer to the store right away ii
Joe Immediately started and G
lanced out of the window to see what h
7as up. In a few minutes I heard "
)ud voices proceeding from the store,
nd the loudest I recognized among I
lem as Pixies. Shortly the store door q
pened and out came Joe. Bob and h
bout half a dozen Indians, two Of b
HON, White Calf and Running Rab- v,
it, were bleeding from cuts in the u
cad. AS soon as they were out Joe "
losed the door, and heard him
ny to Pike on the inside: Now keep s.
nat door locked, your mouth shut, y
nd this thing will blow over in a "
tile while Il
7hen Pike Began to Shoot q
Bob came over to the kitchen and o.
oe went to use his diplomatic powers o.
pom the Indians. He was apparently 50
very well when White Calf 4,
ppeared upon the scene and an u
ounced his intention of going into te
lie store. Joe protested, but evidently . .
ithout avail, as soon saw a num- u
sr of the Indians pick him up and ~
lrry him to a wagon that was be- u
yeen the house and the creek. There IN
ley laid him down and started to
IN for the store. Joe got up and u
jarted for the house, calling on me =