Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1942-11-21
employees GAVE
TO BIG FUR co.
THEIR LOYALTY

Continued from Feature Page)
ing into his tepee, came running out
with a new rabbit skin robe which he
threw on my sleigh, then standing up
on the load he called out with a loud
voice, Look at this mamie saved
my life. Now my new robe win keep
him warm in the snow"
A Welcome Gift
The robe must have been needed,
as the white men camped in the snow
with neither tents nor stove to make
them comfortable Beatty journeyed
five hundred miles in this fashion,
the trip taking him 80 days.
Having become convinced that 1t
was no longer safe for himself and
his family to remain on his homestead,
Beatty decided to go to the home Of
George Goodfellow. who had been
Hudson's Bay Co. clerk. and who lived
about six miles south of Fort La
Corne They took with them the furs
they had secured either by trading or
trapping. and goods for trading, leav-
ing most of their furniture in the
house.
On reaching -Goodfenow's they re-
ceived a hearty welcome, and learned
that in case they were attacked, boat
GOodfellow had hidden, would insure
their escape down the river. Here
Beatty was told that the postmaster
at La Corne, had abandoned the COM
panys post and fled down the Saskat-
chewan river, taking the winter col
lection of furs, but leaving all goods
and ammunition behind"
Although no longer an employee of
the company, Goodfellow was deter
mined. If possible, to save the goods,
and he found an able second in Beatty.
They went to La Corne, where they
made 1t their first business to order
across the river the Indians who were
gathered there. Then they disposed
Of the ammunition, by hiding it in
dry well, having taken every precau-
ton to keep it dry, and covering the
well in such manner that it was safe
from detection even by an Indian
Their next care was for the goods,
which they placed in the store and
securely locked the door.
Several days were spent in taking
an inventory On the last day the
door suddenly opened to admit four
French half-breeds. 81 thought we
we're in for trouble" Beatty, land
backed up against the shelves where
by revolver was lying loaded, then
looked at Goodfellow Not a word was
spoken. could note his beard curling
and finally he said in sharp tones,
What do you want?" It was then
learned that the half breeds were sent
by the company's chief factor at Prince
Albert to take an inventory of the
goods and ship them to Cumberland
House. Beatty continues: Tension
relaxed. I asked George afterwards
what he would have done if they had
proved hostile. Called to them to put
up their hands," was his instant
reply. Il was over 40 years in the
company's service, and never lost any
goods yet; also I noted you had your
big pistol handy"
Didn't End There
But the matter did not end here.
"At the close of the rebellion Good
fellow and myself sent in our accounts
to the Hudson's Bay Co. for time
served in their interest at Fort La
Corne; so many days at 81 a day each.
Several of our friends remarked of
our folly, saying we might have made
pile, and the government would
have compensated the company Just
the same. But that was not the way
business was done in the old Hudson's
Bay days. The company paid our ac-
count, taking the action as a matter
of course.
Such were Hudson's Bay men. The
goods they had saved amounted to
thousands Of dollars, yet these en-
ployees Of the company felt amply re-
warded on being paid two dollars
day for their invaluable services, this,
and their sense Of duty faithfully dis
charged, was their sole recompense.
Where is there another company that
can command equal loyaltyl