Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-08-23
Early Montana Tourists Took Buckskin
Clothes Back East AS Souvenirs of West


ated by q merchant tailor. Swarthy
frontiersmen, armed to the teeth and
with ears ever alert, guarded the tailor
shop with its one lone tailor and his
squaw assistants from possible raids
by Indians
The establishment Of the tailoring
shop was one Of the unusual incidents
that marked a hunting expedition into
the Pryor mountains in the winter Of
1848-49, when Uncle Billy Hamilton,
the pioneer scout who, in 1858, estab-
lished a trading post at Adissoula, and
party Of "A other free trappers and
two adventures from New York hunt
ed and trapped there from October
until March.
There were no patterns from which
to select a style for the clothing and
every man furnished his own cloth.
which was the skins Of mountain sheep,
but the fit of each garment would
have done credit to the finest tailor
on Broadway. Ned Williams was the
cutter, designer and boss tailor, and
he had as his assistants four sauaws.
who were married to trappers.
Wanted Buckskin Suits
The men from New York expressed
a desire to have buckskin suits such
as the trappers wore and declared a
willingness to pay well for them. After
talking the matter over, Williams. who
had served his apprenticeship as
tailor and had worked at the trade,
said he would make the suits and also
make suits for some of the trappers.
providing he had the assistance of the
squawS and the men would construct
rough work table.
Uncle Billy Hamilton and Jack Per-
kins built the work table and then
preparations were made to secure the
material for making suits. It was de-
cided to use the skins of mountain
sheep, from which the best buckskin
suits we're made by the frontiersmen.
There were plenty of sheep in the
Pryor mountains, not three miles from
camp and so a hunt was planned. Six
of the trappers and two New Workers
Saddled their Indian ponies and start
ed off in search of material for their
clothes. With them they took two dogs
that were well trained to hunt for
sheep.
Hunted In Snow
The party had a very hard time
reaching the mountains, the snow was
so deep, but about Q o'clock In the
morning, after ascending one OF the
loftiest buttes, tracks of game we're
found, but Uncle Billy was unable to
tell whether they were the tracks Of
sheep or deer. The party was divided,
each starting up a side Of another
hill The dogs raised two bands Of
sheep and the animals started for the
top Of the butte, where the dogs held
them until Uncle Billy and his party
reached shooting distance.
After chasing the animals back and
forth over the hill the hunters, killing
at each turn, secured a total of IL
fine does, 2 rams and 2 yearlings. The
animals we're skinned and the pelts, |
with the brains, tongues, sinews and
about 200 pounds Of the choicest meat, |
we're taken back to the camp. The |
sinew served as a substitute for bread |
and the brains were used by the |
;quaws to dress the hides.
Arriving at camp, Uncle Billy and |
his partners dressed the skins by re- |
moving all Of the hair and surplus |
Ilesh and then turned them over to
he squaws to oil, dress and thorough
y smoke, after which they were ready
'or the tailor.
Fit Like Glove
When the skins were ready to be
tut, williams took the measurement /
If the two New Workers with as much |
ARE as II he had been working IN /
| fashionable tailorshop In their home |
own. He told them, according to
Uncle Billy, that he was going TO show
hem just what kind Of clothes a real
western tailor could make.
There was no thread or trimmings
md the needles used were handmade.
The leather was sewed with long
strands Of the same material, much
u the work being done by the squaws
lnder the direction Of williams. When
he clothes were finished the fits were
exceedingly good and as a result the
rappers all wanted suits. williams
made several more so that he and
he squaws had plenty TO do until
pringtime came and the party de-
,arted for Fort Bridger, where they
disposed Of the pelts secured during
he winters trapping.
,caIps for Souvenirs
Southern Montana In the vicinity Of
'Tyor mountains was the finest hunt
ng ground In America in those days,
according to Uncle Billy, who until his
Ieath at Billings in 1903, spent the
leclining years OF his life hunting and
rapptng in the country south Of Co
umbus. He made several trips there
turing his early years ON the plains.
'ut the most enjoyable one he ever
made was on the occasion ON which
Williams conducted his tailor shop.
Hunting that winter was unusually
God and the party secured great
Quantities OF beaver, deer, elk, sheep,
ear and other wild animals, the pelts
rom which were valuable. They start
d for Fort Bridger FEB. Is, trapping
nd hunting ON the way, and reached
hat place March IS. The New Workers.
sft for the east with two fine elk
eads, four bear hides, four beaver
ides, two otter hides and the scalps
Il