Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-10-25

noise produced by their wheels as
sured us that with such an accompa-
niment no need existed for any musi-
cal instrument or players. for these
discoursed most sweetly."
This description, thought important
enough to be incorporated in an Of
fetal report. indicates that Governor
Stevens was not devoid Of a sense
Of humor
Another experience he relates con-
firms this impression. It occurred in
the early stage Of their journey. Lieu
tenant Lander, seeing a suspicious OBJ
ject moving in the grass at some dis
lance, took it to be an Indian. and
ordered his men to charge. They did
so, firing as they ran. Nearing the
fallen enemy. it was found to be a
skunk they had riddled with bullets.
Without meeting with any serious
mischance the party reached Milk
river Aug. 81, little over three months /
from leaving st. Paul, the detachment /
sent by water to Fort Union having
arrived ahead of them. Fort Benton
was made the eastern base of opera
tons. This fur trading post was built
Of adobe, and had a wooden front.
1t accommodated about a dozen fam
lilies. Fort Campbell was situated a
half mile above Fort Benton.
Monkey Brought Trade
An amusing story told by Horace
Clarke Of the rivalry between the two
posts which is worth repeating, al
though irrelevant. The upper post
once owned a monkey, which so i'm
pressed the Indians, who had never
seen one before, that they carried all
their furs to that port In desperation
those in charge Of Fort Benton saw
they were losing trade, and sought
remedy. At length they hit upon
plan. They purchased a parrot and
.aught it few words of the Black
eet language. The next season, when
he Indians arrived, and were on their
way to the upper fort, they were
tartled by hearing bird speaking to Z
hem. Thinking it was an evil spirit,
hey threw down their furs and fled
rom the spot, not waiting for their !
,ay.
From Fort Benton, Governor Stew
MS sent companies in different direc-
ions to examine the surrounding
ountry while he set out for st. Mary's,
he Flathead village on the Bitter &
loot river, where Stevensville is now s
ituated. Fort Owens is on the oppo-
lite side of the river and lower down
A Blood Indian, White Crane, fur
ished Governor Stevens with an
.merary of a wagon road from Fort
'enton to st. Mary's that would re-
uire 10 days slow travel, but the
'latheads, at the rate of so or go
liles daily, passed over it in four
avs. These were the directions the
indian gave: Go to Sun river in three
avs, keeping at the head of coulees
aiding into the Missouri. First night
a spring. Second at lake-water
wood. Third night on Sun
yer. One day up Sun river strike
wards mountains. -Four days to
dge, where it is difficult-plenty of
God, water and grass Ninth day hard
imb, descent easy. Camp on a trib-
airy of the Missouri west of noun
ins. Tenth, pass over level prairie,
mp on another tributary of Missouri, L
lied Red Shell river. Eleventh, go
'er the Prickly Pear prairie and
ach the foot of the next divide. Go
-er divide and reach creek flowing
to the Columbia. Thirteenth, follow
eek down, camp a little this side
its entrance into large river. Four
enth, follow creek to Big river, then
low Big river, seven days slow
arch to st. Mary's."
CplOres Missouri River
Governor Stevens made his camp 4
ar ST. Mary's another base for ex-
bring parties Lieutenant Grover,
Mt out from Fort Benton, went with
g sledges over the mountains in
nuary in order to learn the snow
II at that season. His route lay
rough Cadotte pass. He was not him
red by snow, but by the lack of it,
he had to wait for a snowstorm
at he might travel. If there was little
ow, cold weather held sway in the
ley of the Big Blackfoot, where the
registered SO degrees be-
v zero Lieutenant Grover also ex-
bred the Missouri from the Black
gle falls to Fort Benton, going down
E river in a flat boat from the
eat falls to Fort Benton
Lieutenant Doty followed up the
ssouri to Sun river, up that river
miles from it's mouth to Crown -
tie and Big Knees which were I'll