Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-07-26
FRIENDLY INDIAN
SLAIN BY TROOPS;
OFFICER DRUNK
SLAUGHTER BLOT ON RECORD OF
WHITE TREATMENT OF
RED BROTHERS


with the death Of young Herbert
Gillian Of Browning from lockjaw in
1928, a bit of early history Of the
Marias river section was recalled. Mrs.
Jack Miller, grandmother Of the boy,
was one Of the few Indian survivors
Of the Baker massacre In the winter
Of 1869-187O
There were two outstanding events
that led up to the Baker massacre.
One Of these happened at Fort Benton,
where the citizens were stirred up by
a series Of attacks on whites by Black
feet. In the summer of 1869 four or
five wagons we're attacked by Indians,
who were afterward discovered to be
Crows. Several white men were killed
This took place about Is miles from
Fort Benton, and the populace of the
town was up In arms At this critical
time Blackfeet youth of IA years, a
brother Of Mountain Chief, head chief
Of the powerful Blackfeet confederacy,
rode into Fort Benton carrying dis
patches from Major Culbertson. This
boy and two or three companions were
shot to death in the streets Of the
town. Mountain Chief swore that he
would have revenge and declared war
on the whites.
Killed Malcolm Clarke
This incident was followed by the
murder by Blackfeet in the Prickly
Pear valley of the noted pioneer, Nal
COIN Clarke. The government demand
ed of the Blackfeet the surrender Of
Clarke's murderers, and this was re-
fused. A desultory guerilla warfare fol-
lowed and the war department, In
January, 1870, ordered out troops from
Fort Ellis, near Bozeman, and Fort
Shaw, on Sun river, to punish the
Blackfeet.
The difficulties Of a campaign a.
that time Of the year were enormous.
as the weather was bitterly cold and
there was much snow that obscured
trails and made travel very hard. On
Jan. Is, 1870, column composed Of
troops F, G, II and L Of the Second
cavalry and detachment of mounted
infantry, under command of Major
Baker, left Fort Shaw to attack Noun
tain Chiefs camp Of 1900 men, women
and children on the Marias river, in
what today Is Teton county.
Major Baker impressed into service
the noted Indian trader, Joe Kipp,
and some other halfbreeds, as scouts,
and there were also with the COM
mand some volunteer civilians, tnclud-
ing Horace and Nathan Clarke, sons
Of the murdered Malcolm Clarke.
Major Baker and his company Of
soldiers headed for the Marias, pass
eyr4
on hearing that an Indian band was
camped near what Is now known as
The Chester crossing Of the Marias.
After a hard march OF four days
the scouts reported that they had
found Mountain Chiefs camp on the
darias Joe Kipp, who was friendly |
With the Blackfeet and knew them |
veil, protested that the trail they were |
,aking would not take them to Noun
ain Chiefs camp, but to the smallpox
amp Of Heavy Runner, whose band |
we're all sick and dying from the dis
.ase and had been quarantined at q
Soint on the Marias. Baker, who is
aid TO have been drunk most Of the
ime after leaving Fort Shaw, evidently
hought that Kipp was deceiving him,
iii 4tI NAeACC4 q oS4s4AC4 O1l CAt1ACA sue
# Kipp with orders to shoot the
after If he tried to turn back or re-
used to lead the column to the camp
hat had been located.
The troops came upon the camp In
he darkness Of the winter morning Of
IAN. "a. The bowling Of their dogs
weakened the Indians and their aged
.hief, Heavy Runner, came out, holding
Ibove his head his credentials attesting
lis loyalty to the government, which
lad been given because he had been
friendly to the whites and
lad not permitted any Of his band
o commit any murders or depredations
.gainst settlers. Heavy Runner was un-
Irmed. BIS camp was filled with sick
women and children, all Of his able
'odied men being out hunting to sup
Sort the camp.
A private raised his rifle and fired.