Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-04-26


the Crow camp, and soon was amazed
to see, dangling from the neck Of q
Grow brave, the sun glass Of the Strong
Man. which the latter had secured
some time before from Hudson's Bay
trapper and used for lighting his pipe.
The chief knew the glass and was
certain that it belonged to the Strong
Man, for whom he had been waiting
so anxiously. He felt sure, too, that the
Strong Man would never give his con-
sent to treaty of peace with the
Crows.
Going back to the council lodge,
therefore. ne told the Crows that 1t
would be impossible for him or his
people to sign the treaty Of peace until
the Strong Man had given his consent,
and further, until such consent was
given. they would be considered enc
mics Having thus delivered himself,
he walked out, followed by several OF
the leading men Of both tribes, who
inquired the reason for thus breaking
up the council. His only answer was
to the Crows, whom he told to go to
their camp and prepare for war
Crows Move Camp
Later he called a council Of Black
feet chiefs, informing them OF the
murder of their medicine man and OF
the turn affairs had taken, and plans
for action against the Grows were
made.
''The council having been ended SO
suddenly, the Crows felt that 1t would
be good policy to place as great a
distance between the two camps as
possible. They therefore hastily moved
their camp down to what used to be
known as the breaks of Sun river, some
IS miles above where the village OF
Sun River now stands. Here they threw
up Notifications somewhat after the
manner of white soldiers and prepared
to stand off the Blackfeet If pursued.
'aThe Blackfeet, on the other hand,
sent runners to the different camps.
When night came the host Of Black
feet warriors already assembled was
increased by another 1000, and all
night could be heard the constant hoof
beats of war horses galloping to the
council camp. The particulars Of the
murder of the Strong Man had been
learned by several Of the outside camps
about the time the chief had discovered
it. It seemed that the Strong Man had
received the summons when 1t first
went out and had Immediately set
forth accompanied by his assistant.
When they were few miles from the
council camp they were set upon as
they were lighting their pipes, by
party of Crows. The Strong Man re-
ceived his death wound from the first
blow, but his companion was only
stunned, and he recovered In time TO
see the murderous Crows making off
with his scalp and that Of the Strong
Man. Knowing that to stir OF to show
any sign of life would be TO bring
sudden death, he lay quiet for long
time, not even daring to raise his
hand to his aching head, from which
his scalp had been torn. After lying
thus for some time, he gathered
strength to rise and stagger off to a
Blackfeet camp.
Fight Bloody Battle
THE next morning the Blackfeet
war chief decided to pursue and attack
the Crows, scouts having learned Of
their whereabouts and of their prep
arations for battle. Five thousand
Blaclfeet started down the valley and
suddenly fell on the Crows, driving
heir outposts back into the trenches
Then commenced one of the bloodiest
battles ever fought between two In
iian tribes.
THE Piegans, after fighting all that
lay and night, succeeded in dislodgtng
.he enemy, which had about equal
strength, and the Crows began to move
off down the valley. Collecting their
-orces, and not stopping TO bury their
lead, the Blackfeet followed hot on
heir trail. This time the Crows made
/ stand on the river bank two miles
below where the town Of Sun River
stands today. Here a high point OF
bluffs iutS In close to the river, max
ng a somewhat narrow pass TO defend
md affording great defensive advan-
ages, which the Crows were not slow
o avail themselves Of. Early on the
morning Of the third day the Black |
eet rallied their entire strength and |
made a desperate assault, and against |
he most fearful odds, succeeded, Just |
Is night came on, in driving the
crows out Of their entertainments |
However, their gain was not great, as
he ground further on offered almost
quail advantages for stubborn resist
ance. Five hundred Blackfeet dead |
marked the spot where this battle was
ought.
'"The BIackfeet, however, were con-
family being reinforced by small par
les Of warriors who arrived from dis
ant points, and while they were out |
numbered by the Crows In the begin
ing, their strength was almost main
aimed IN spite Of their heavy Losses.
Srows' Last Stand
"For two days the fight continued.
he Crows giving ground all the time
lowly. Twelve miles west of the pres
ut city of Great Falls they made their
asst stand, and here was the scene Of
be hardest fighting. When the last
harge Of the Blackfeet had been made
he ground was heaped up with the
lied and wounded Of both tribes.
Vhexa the Crows finally broke from
heir cover the Blackfeet were too
ably crippled to follow them.
~Tk took the Blackfeet nation 20
ears 10 recover from that battle, for
1auy Of their greatest warriors had
cen killed Had not the Crows been
u1aliy weakened we would have been
Tiped out by them IN the next few
ears. We never felt that the murder
{ the Strong Man had been fully
venged, and our old warriors used TO