Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1942-02-07

When the American fur companies
undertook 70 trade with the Indians
Of the Rocky mountains, their success
was dependent, Ia no small degree, on
the help they received from inter
prefers. In some instances these were
white men, who had formerly been
employees Of the British fur companies
which first controlled this lucrative
field, and dispatched their -trappers
far and wide over It. Either from be-
ing brought into contact with the In
dams during their wanderings, or
while living for brief periods at the
company posts, these men learned the
Language of one or more tribes, as we
may designate the squaws they bought,
or otherwise acquired
Right here it should be explained
that according to Indian customs and
ideas of morality, these squaws we're
legally married and their children
could not justly be considered iilegih-
mate.
Among the white interpreters, one
of the most noted is Berger, through
whose tactful negotiations trade was
opened with the Blackfeet. He is fire.
auently mentioned in the records OF
early days of the upper Missouri
country.
Other interpreters were mixed bloods,
or whites who had, generally for the
best of reasons, forsworn civilized life,
and become members of Indian tribes.
The subject of this sketch. Edward
Rose, belonged to this latter class, and
his life-what is known of its but
another proof that a change of en-
vironment often works a radical
change in character.
Had Blood of Three Races
His birthplace is not given, but it
was probably in the lower Mississippi
region. as he was the son of white
father. and a mother who was half
negro and half Cherokee. With the
blood of three races in his veins, and
reared in a slave section, it is not
strange that he became an outlaw. IL
is said that he belonged to one OF
the gangs OF bandits who infested the
islands of the Mississippi, and lived
ON the loot they secured from passing
boats or travellers on shore. Perhaps
it was at this period Of his career that
his nose was slashed, which gave him
the nickname OF Nez Coupe Rose. From
Irving's description of him, his APP
pearance must have been forbidding
He says he was "a logged, sullen, silent
fellow" and looked more like savage
than a civilized man, but Irving did
not like him.
Joshua Pitcher, in 1928, calls him
a NOTED outlaw who left this country
in chains 10 years ago" If this is
true, Rose managed to free himself OF
the chains when he fled to the Crow
country. where he identified himself
with the tribe, took to wife a Crow
woman. and was made chief. He
first acted as interpreter for Wilson
P. Hunt in his journey through the
Crow domain. For some unexplained
reason Hunt was afraid Of him and
did not employ him after leaving the
Crows.
We next hear Of Rose as an employee
of the Missouri Fur Co. In 1920, or
about that time, he left the Grows and
went to live with the Aricaras. Here
he acted as interpreter for Ashley,
whom he served faithfully. Had Ash
ley needed the advice of Rose, he
would not have been defeated by the
Aricaras nor lost to them his large
stock of furs. Rose told him he could
not trust the Indians; that they were
deceitful, and processing friendship
for him that was not genuine. Ashley