Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1942-06-13

It up and find a good camping place
for the night. On the left bank, a
short distance ahead Of them was a
heavy growth Of timber, near where
they determined to camp. The two
mountain men rode into the glade. and
jumping from their horses they were
about to remove the saddles when a
shrill neigh came from the thicket
close by. A rustling IN the bushes fol-
/ lowed and presently a man dressed IN
buckskin and rifle In hand burst osIt
/ OF the tangled brush, exclaiming an
| grily: DO ZEE hear new? was niRh
upon shootin' some Of eel was now:
/ thought ZEE was damned Arapahoes I
/ did. and cached right off"
Then, recognizing the two trapperg.
he exclaimed. Damn It now. II hvar
amt them boys as was rubbed out nv
the Blacdeet on LOdgepole creek a
time ago" and he proceeded 70 greet
them with hearty handshakeS.
Old Bill told La Bonte and Kilibuck
how he had escaped the Blackfeet on
that occasion, losing his two pack
horses and all his beaver pelts. but
managing TO get away with his grix-
zled Nee Perez steed. He followed the
Blackfeet and stole two horses. which
he used for packing, and ever since
he had been trapping in all parts Of
the mountains. Twice he had visited
traders rendezvous with fun packs Of
beaver. Now he was on his way 10
Bent's fort TO dispose Of his skins ana
enjoy one more good carouse on Taos
whisky, and then to return TO some
hole or corner Of the mountains To
trap again
Death Of Bill Williams
1t was early in the winter OF is47
that a party OF trappers, fleeing nom
an overpowering number of Sioux.
found themselves. one stormy evening
in wild and dismal canyon near the
New Park Of the Rockies. What was
their establishment. on breaking
through a cedar-coyered entrance 70 a
small glade to perceive a solitary horse.
standing motionless In the center
Drawing near, they found It to be An
old grizzled mustang, with cropped
ears and ragged tail, standing doubled
up with cold. and at almost the last
gasp from extreme old age and weak
ness. Its bones were nearly through
the stiffened skin; the legs OF the
animal were gathered under it, willis
us forlorn looking head and stretched
out neck hung listlessly down, almost
over-balancing its tottering body.
One OF this band Of trappers was
who had been with old BIN
Williams on the Yellowstone years be-
Tore. and single look from him was
sufficient TO recognize the miserahle
animal as the once renowned steed Of
Did Bill. That the owner was not far
distant, he felt certain, and searching
around. the men came up0n
IN old camp. Before the blackened ln~m
where the campfire had been. and
leaning with his back against a nine
trunk, reclined the figure OF the old
nountaineer. His legs we're crossed
lnder him and his snow-capped head
vent over his breast His hunting coat
If fringed elk skin hung stiff and
yeather-stained about him, and him
ifle, packs and traps were strewn
bout. A jagged rent In the skin coat
md dark stains about It showed that
he had received wound before his
eath. The Indians at last had got old
Bill williams.
The trappers buried him as well IS
hey were able. and q merciful bullet
ut short the few remaining hours Of
he trappers faithful steed.