Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1942-05-08

deficiencies. At the village of chief
OF this tribe, or near it, the party
cached their canoes and left them in
charge of the Indians From this point.
on Lewis river. having purchased so
horses of the Nez Perces. they set out
for the Spokane country, as it was
called, where they expected to trade
with the Flatheads.
Cox found them clean Indians and
because of the cordial reception they
accorded him he determined to winter
there, and at once began to put up
log house. 1t was quite time that
some kind of shelter should be pro-
vided for the men, as it was Oct IT
when they arrived, and cold weather
might be looked for any time.
Cox and Farnham, who was with
him, were quite successful in their
trading venture. and soon accumulated
large stock Of beaver skins. so many
in fact that Cox gave up his plan Of
wintering at his trading post. Having
had cedar canoe built, and leaving
Farnham, he started with six men on
his return trip down the river.
Witness Indian Torture
While with the Flatheads, whom he
greatly admired. Cox witnessed them
torture a Blackfeet prisoner, and lee
| tured them on the subject with such
effect that some Blackfeet women
prisoners were sent back to their tribe
to spread this new gospel Of tolerance.
that was certainly not acceptable to
the Blackfeet.
Cox had good reason to think we'll
Of the F1atheads. as 1t was one OF
their medicine men who cured him OF
| o. In, 70 70
over the river, and Cox received
daily immersion in the water, after
which the medicine man gave him a
thorough rubbing. Twenty-Five days OF
this heroic treatment wrought a COM
plete cure. Whether the rubbing was
done to the usual chanted accompa-
niment, we are not informed.
Two other instances of cures effected
by these Indians is narrated by Cox
in his book bearing the lengthy title,
THE Columbia River. or Scenes and
Adventures During Residence Of Six
Years on the Western Side Of the
Rocky Mountains Among the Various
Tribes of Indians Hitherto Unknown,
Together With a Journey Across the
American Continent
One was of woman supposed to
have tuberculosis. A dog was killed,
the woman's foot and leg thrust within
the warm carcass, and allowed to re-
main there until the carcass became
cold. This was followed by bandaging
the legs and feet in heated flannel,
and having her drink daily a little
port wine to which some kind Of bark
had been added. BY the next year she
was pronounced entirely well.
The second was of a white man who,
failing rapidly, was several times
placed in the body of freshly killed
horse. After a couple of treatments he
began to gain. and ultimately recovered
by adhering to simple and careful
/ living"
Wolves Attack wild Horses
During his stay at Spokane, Cox and
some others went out to watch an
attack of wolves ON a band of wild
horses OF which there were many in
that part of the country. The men, who
were armed, concealed themselves, and
awaited the onset Of the wolves that
were attempting to surround the
horses. He writes:
THE allies at length entered the
field in semi-circular form, with their
flanks extended for the evident pur-
pose of surrounding their prey. They
were between 200 and 300 strong. The
horses on observing their movement,
knew from experience its object, and
dreading to encounter SO numerous a
/ force, instantly turned around and
galloped in a contrary direction. Their
flight was the signal for the wolves to
advance; and Immediately uttering 4
simultaneous yell they charged after
the fugitives, still preserving their cres-
cent form. Two or three of the horses,
which were not in the best condition,
were quickly overtaken by the advance
guard of the enemy The former. find
ing themselves unable to keep up with
the band, commenced kicking at their
pursuers, several of which received
some severe blows; but these being re-
inforced by others, they would have
shortly dispatched the horses, had we
not Just in time emerged from our
place of concealment and discharged
a volley at the enemy,s center, by which
few we're brought down." and the rest
dispersed.
| When Cox. with his party of 100 men
left the mouth of the Columbia In
1912 for his trading journey to the
northwest. he reached the Walla Walla
river without any serious mishap. Near
| the Columbia, on tne LEWIS river Vic
party cached their canoes. and bought
horses for the inland trip. Twenty OF
the men, under Robert Campbell, left
the others at this point to go to St
Louis.
1t was the 18th of August-over a
month from the time they left Astoria
that Cox's party, on the way to the
Spokane country, stopped at noon to
lunch, and permit their horses to feed
Cox, being weary, sought comfortable
spot far enough away from his COM
panions not to be disturbed by their
talk and laughter, and went to sleep
When he awakened, the sun was going
down, and a strange silence prevailed
No horses neighed, and there were none
of the noises attendant upon the camp
of a large number of men. His party
had left and he was alone.
What should he do? 1t was too late
for him to attempt to find the trail
of the others, and his was sad pre-
dicament. The day having been warm
he had on a shirt and a pair Of thin
trousers and moccasins. comfortable
enough when the sun was high, but