Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1942-09-18
HOWELL HARRIS
STORY RELATED
BY CATTLEMAN

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BY CATTLEMAN
PICTURESQUE SENATOR DAN RI
LEY HARKS BACK TO EARLY
DAYS OF WEST
Senator Dan Riley, pioneer cattle
man Of southern Alberta, was remin-
tscing recently and told the story of
Howell Harris, early trader into this
region from Montana, and other from
tier personalities.
Said the picturesque senator, who
sun lives on ranch on the Highwood
river where numbers of notables in
GLIDING the duke OF Windsor have
ranches:
The first large herd of cattle came
into this region in 1882. However
around 1876 Lafayette French and O.
H. Smith had already established
themselves west of what is now High
River on the old Fort Benton Edmon-
ton trail. Besides keeping an inn they
ran small herds of cattle and horses,
They also broke up and cultivated 40
acres Of land and raised fine crops.
Later they started ranch on the
Highwood which was sold to Ings
brothers.
Man such men chose the foothills
to settle after their business as In
dian traders had been interfered with
by Indian treaties. For instance, Buck
Smith located a small herd of cattle
west of French and used a brand
known as the 'Rian HOTTER Buck was
called the best shot west of the Mis-
souri,
Mentions John Quirk
Another early cattleman was John
Quirk who had made a strike in the
placer gulches in Montana. He and
his vie, charming woman, settled
on the present site of High River but
shortly after moved to Sheep Creek
and ranched.'
Turning to the colorful Howell Har-
ris, the senator recalls that the first
building on the Highwood was erected
between 1860 and 1865. 1t was known
as Fort Spitzee and was built by the
Harris who later became manager of
q great cattle outfit-the Circle. In
1882, Senator Riley homesteaded the
piece of land on which the early day
post was situated. The remains of the
log structure were still visible.
Continuing, the senator said wood,
water, grass and shelter combined to
make this spot a favorite camping
ground of the Indians on their travels
from the Blackfeet reserve to the
south.
when only II years Of age Howell
Harris came to the northwest terri
fntinc IN, p1,a nf Two n,
He had three bull teams. They were
constantly on guard against hostile
Indians This was not the first trip
Harris had made into this region but
it was the first time he had been in
charge of an outfit. The outfit be-
longed to the Conrad brothers of
Montana, pioneer traders and cattle
men. In their precautions against the
Indians they were guided largely by
the activities of the buf ialo with
which the country teemed at that
time. If the buffalo were quiet there
were no Indians in the country, if they
were restless it was a sign to look
out for redskins.
Shortly after crossing the line be-
tween Canada and the United States,
the party saw several hundred Indians
galloping toward them. The wagons
were at once corraled and the cattle
driven inside When about 200 yards
from the Harris party the Indians, in
full war paint, halted and the chief
rode up to them. In the sign language
he intimated he wished to talk. Young
Harris asked the chief what he want
ed and the chief in reply enumerated
so many sacks of flour, sugar, ETC., SO
many boxes of tea and other nIerchan-
disc. In fact, he wanted practically
everything in the outfit.
Chief Spits in His Face
Harris pluckily told him he could
have nothing The chief spit in his
face. Harris hit him and the young
chief fell to the ground. A wild whoop
at once went up from the Indians.
Harris said he thought his time had
come-2OO Indians against white
men. Just then he noticed the Indians
stopped their warlike demonstration.
Over the hill came man riding a
large black horse, in full gallop.
when the stranger reached the
circle of Indians he asked Harris the
cause of the trouble. Harris told him.
Then the stranger addressed the In
dams: Leave this man alone. If you
modest him again 1 have 400 breeds
camped on the river and I will clean
you out"
The rider was Gabriel Dumont,
leader of the Crees in their buffalo
hunts and their wars against the
Blackfeet, and later Louis Riers first
lieutenant in the northwest rebellion.
Howell Harris, after many years
north of the border, returned to Mon
tana where he took up residence. But
his name is inscribed in the annals
of pioneer days in this region.