Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-07-05

every precaution was taken to guard
against a surprise attack.
ScaIps First Foe
Nighttime, usually In the early
morning hours, was the favorite period
for an attack by the Indians. They
wanted to fight in the dark as much
as possible, being able to hide them
selves by lying down. AS a result In
the daytime they usually took to the
timber when an engagement was in
sight. These traits were shown In the
fight which took place, the following
morning, in which Uncle Billy" land
ed his first Indian scalp.
The party was awakened about 4
a. m. by two shots, followed by a series
of wild Indian yells that were fierce
enough to send terror into the hearts
of any but the bravest frontiersmen.
Then the redmen commenced to fire
into the camp, using their Hudson's
Bay flintlocks and bows and arrows
The trappers used the flash Of the old
time guns used by the redmen to show
them where to fire. Two Indians were
killed in the first fusilade and when
later in the morning an effort was
made by their companions to recover
the bodies another was sent to the
happy hunting grounds.
When daylight came the Indians, |
who were OF. the Blackfeet tribe, had |
disappeared, leaving the three dead |
bodies These we're scalped and the |
party set out in pursuit Of the others.
A trail of blood, showing that some
of the Indians had been wounded, gave
the pursuers a lead and they came
upon the Indians about five miles
away near a spring. The trappers d.
vided forces, three men staying behind
the Indians on the brow of q hill,
with boulder breastworks for protec-
ton, and the others circling them
and getting into a grove IN their path
way. There were ii Indians, 2 wound
ed, and they were thus caught in a
trap. All of them were killed. In their
plumber were found rifles, ammuni-
ton and trinkets belonging to a party
Of trappers they had surprised
An Opportunity
On their way back to camp they
came upon the body Of a dead Indian.
boy, this is your first opportunity.
Lift the scalp from that buck. 1t be-
ongs to you" Williams said to Ham
lton.
"Of course I knew how to scalp,
having watched the trappers lift the
1air from the three dead Indians"
said "Uncle Billy" in recounting the
story Of his first fight, "and I soon
lad the feat accomplished. Scalping
vas easy. The method was to run the
Znife around the head under the hair,
:utting through to the skull bone,
hen taking hold Of the scalplock and
diving it q quick jerk. The scalp would
'ome off and you could dry 1t after
Yards on hoop"
The party then moved northward
,assing the famous Thermopolis Hot
springs and camped several miles
lorthward IN the valley Of the Big
Torn. -Four days later they encoun-
cred scouts Of the Shoshones, who,
nder Chief Washable, were returning
rom a hunting trip to Elk Water,
1hich was the name given by them
0 the Yellowstone river.
Tin the morning the village arrived,
'hief Washable coming first with
odyguard Of 20 men," said Uncle
lilly, in telling about the trip. I'VE
BON had feast prepared and smoke.
cad Blackfeet was spread out and a
vely trade sprung up, particularly
18th the squaws. They would give q
air Of fancy moccasins for almost
nything that belonged to the Black
'et. The chiefs son brought q good
Prise and gave It to me. A present from
4 Indian means that he wants some
ling you possess. soon found out
was one Of my scalps, and I gave
to him. He was a noble youth with
le characteristics Of his father and
It'll were extremely friendly to the
nites.
dept In Sign Talk
II had learned the sign language
rapidly that now I was able to
TX to them on almost any subject
y proficiency proved g marvel TO
1ief Washakie and he would not be-
we that I had not been raised by