Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1942-12-05
Unscrupulous American Fur Co. Trader
Gave John Smith q Terrific Fleeing

4 rev pages OF Montana history nave
been devoted to the exploits OF one
John Smith, erstwhile tailor's APP
/ prentice Of st. Louis who forsook his
goose and needles IN 1888 to Join the
hardy ranks Of the American Fun
Co. hrigades.
The tracks that John Smith left IN
the fur country Of the Rockies were
like those Of most Of his compatriots
few and hard to find. He stayed IN
Montana only one season, and he left
the territory with little to show for
his time here; with only, It appears. q
borrowed" Indian pony, and the
nickname Of ''Blackfoot" in token OF
the tribe with which the broomtail
originated.
| In John Smiths departure from
Montana, however, and in the events
that Immediately preceded it, is one OF
the best Of the many picturesque tales
for which the buckskin -clad tndiv-
idualists Of the Rocky Mountain Fur
Co. were responsible It's so good that
1t reads more like fiction than fact
possibly because Solomon Silver was
never one to let good story lose
color in the telling
Solomon Silver, one Of the last Of
the free trappers and traders to sur
vive civilization, had the yarn directly
from Blackfoot John, with whom he
spent many years in the southwest.
Before his death he fortunately re-
lated it to Stanley Vestal, competent
western historian who has recorded
it in Mountain Men" published by
the Houghton Mifflin Co.
To1-.. cs...fkA - xTosA,1 kar1. 49,, cfr,rv
was a born calculator. Soon after his
arrival on the fur grounds, and after
his first experience at his company's
annual rendezvous, he discovered that
his new mode of life was extremely
precarious from both physical and
economic viewpoints. He didn't mind
the danger, but he did disapprove Of
the system which left the trapper, who
took the risks, always poor and in
debt.
Big Profit In Whisky
He learned that a gill Of whisky at
rendezvous cost as much as a gallon
did in st. Louis, and that other
necessities of life were sold by the
''booshways" at equal profit. He de-
termined to set up as a trader him
self, and set about acquiring a stake.
When spring closed his first trap
ping season on the upper Missouri he
cached the most Of his furs, and took
only enough to the 1884 rendezvous
to pay his debt.
After the meeting he returned TO
his cache, with the Intention Of build
ing a bulIboat and floating downriver
to the Missouri metropolis alone,
rather than selling his catch at q
tenth its value.
He built his boat, Of buffalo hides
and willows, loaded his beaver and
started his journey. Misfortune struck
during his first night on the river.
The buIlboat hit snag, overturned,
and t1ropped him into the water. he
lost nothing from the boat. but he
was chilled, and wet, and afraid 70
build a fire Before morning ne
had a raging toothache; the whole
side of his face was racked with
neuralgia
.SThe nearest doctor was some $500 |
miles away"
PainIriller was the only immediate
solution to his difficulty-and smith
had no painkiller. Glumly, after Day
light, he pushed his boat into the
water again and wondered how lar
he was from trading post.
Reached Fort Mckenzie
He found out-much sooner than ne
anticipated. The current swung nun
around a group Of brush-grown is
lands. Just below he spied cluster OF
log buildings on the prairie. He had
reached Fort Mckenzie, new post OF
the American Fur Co.
That his own Rocky Mountain Fur
Co. and the owners Of Fort Mckenzie
were bitter rivals John Smith was I'M
aware. He was soon to learn
inst how that rivalry could affect a
Door trapper with a swollen jaw.
There was no one about the post
zo early in the day. Smith padded TO
shore. pulled a few beaver from one
Of his packs. went up to the lori any
ratified the gate. A yawnlng clerk a.
last appeared, took a look al SiIilIn
and his jaw, and grinned RAINIER
wickedly. as he realized the Stranger
was no employee Of his company.
Smith demanded painkAler, anu
The clerk made no move 10
open the gate. He demanded Inc
trapper's name, and he grtmaced nus
belief at the John Smith" he got TOT
an answer. He began to trade.
picker was Painful
THE details Of the decker, as re-
ated BY smith to Silver and by SUI
Ter to vestal, we're exceedingly pain
Tul. The clerk refused to part WIN
he gill of laudanum Smith desreoi
Ii demanded that Smith purchase Tine
sntire quart. And he refused 70 SCI
he quart. at any price, unless Smith
raded away all his hard-earned pelts.
THE trapper perceived he was over
ha~reI and that there was little ne
.olld do about it. He traded-for new
Markets tobacco, powder, a gallon o.
irewater. He obtained about a seventh
# the value of his beaver-the beaver
,e intended to sell for their fun worm
n st. Louis.
Tired and angry. he received his new
through the wicket-an
.xcert the laudanun. Again ne us
handed his medicine. The CLERK
1,v-rYurCad