Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1942-10-31

reading "ef writ down in q book" and
be far more truthful
At one period OF the winter a band
Of renegade Piegans swooped down
upon their stock and got away with q
Of the horses Of the party This was
q bit Of boldneSs which the noun
taineers resented, and II was deter
mined to take the trail of the marau-
der and regain the stolen horses and
punish the thieves. For 60 miles the
trail was followed. and then a heavy
snowstorm developing, the trail be-
came obhterated. and the exasperated
men we're obliged to return without
recovering a single animal
Aside from this incident none Of
Sir Georges party had any trouble
with hostile Indians, so far as bring
ing on an engagement with them was
concerned.
The following spring Sir George pre-
pared for yet further exploration OF
the country. He entered the Rosebud
region, where his party met large
band Of Grow Indians. who treated
them in a friendly manner, and from
whom they bought several horses to
take the places of those stolen by the
Piegans. BY circuitous route, and
travelling by slow stages, the Gore
party finally drifted back to their old
post at the mouth Of the Tongue.
At this point Sir George concluded
it was about time he was thinking Of
getting back to civilization. According
" he had some Of his men build a
couple of Nat boats, in which some Of
the party descended the Yellowstone
to Fort Union. Sir George, however,
concluded to make the trip overland
and hunt as he went. Many Of his
men at this point were discharged,
their term of service having expired.
Among these we're Bridger and Henry
Bostwick, a celebrated hunter, who
turned back into the wilderness while
Sir George continued on with the
balance Of his party.
That Sir George had the welfare OF
every member of his party at heart
is well illustrated from his kindness
to them on various occasions. While
camped at the mouth OF the Tongue,
one of his men, known as "Uno,
died. Having no lumber from which to
construct a coffin, his companions
were on the point Of putting him
underground in the clothing he had
on. Sir George, however. would not
listen to such a barbarous burial, and
ordered the bed Of one Of his best
wagons knocked to pieces and coffin
built of the material, which he lined
with some of the best cloth from his
own stores.
On another occasion he bought
horse from one Of his men, Joe Mer-
rivale. later a well known interpreter
and scout He paid Merrtvale the price
asked, $3.50. After trying out the ami
NAL. Sir George went to Merrival and
declared that the horse was worth
more money to him, and pressed an
other 500 upon the astonished man.
Again, in parting with one OF his
men at Fort Union, the latter desired
to buy a cart, harness and a few other
necessary supplies. Sir George told
the man he would sell him the articles
at actual cost. He then began to lay
out various things. until the man
entered a vigorous protest, stating that
he would not be able to pay for so
many goods. Sir George merely re-
piled. give me S12 and we viii call |
It square" He had given the man
goods TO the value Of several hundred |
dollars
When the Gore party reached Fort /
Union. Sir George determined to have
a couple of flatboats built and des-
cend to Fort Berthold In this manner.
Major Culbertson, the officer IN
charge of Fort Union, which was then /
a trading post Of the American Fur
Co. agreed to build him the boats and |
take in exchange such Of Sir Georges |
wagons and other paraphernalia at a |
price which had been agreed upon be-
fore the boats we're built. However,
when the craft were ready, Culbert- /
son, realizing that he practically had
the Irish nobleman at his mercy, re-
sorted to chicanery and bulldozing-
and woe be unto the man upon whom
the American Fur Co. fastened its
fangs in those daysl-and sought TO
take undue advantage Of Sir Georges
necessity. When the latter realized
the duplicity which was about TO be
practiced upon him, his wrath knew
40 bounds and he declared that
neither Culbertson nor the American
Fur Co. should realize one penny at
bis expense. He first distributed
reat many valuable articles TO vaga-
3ond hangers-on at the fort. and then,
bling the remainder-save such as he
desired to take with him-on the
wagons in front Of Culbertson's quar-
,ers, he applied the torch to them.
Then, waiting until the fires had
cooled. Sir George raked the ashes
or the iron-work to the wagons, such
IS tires, bolts, stays, etc, and flung
hem all into the river rather than
nave single article fall into the
hands Of the unscrupulous Culbert-
ION.
He then set his men at work to build
'latboats for the party. Culbertson's
.hagrin at being thus outwitted must
rave been very great. Those who we're
% descend the river in the boats then
.ook their departure, the balance OF
he party making the trip by land.
e had been advertised ahead that a