Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1942-09-11
PREVENT FOREST fires!

west and headed for the Mandan
country to learn the source of the
story which had been brought back
by their father. They reached their
destination and were Hospitality re-
ceived.
They arrived at time when the
Mandans were expecting a visit from
what the La Verendryes said were the
Horse" Indians. These, the Mandans
stated were nomadic race Who they
believed, could guide the explorers to
the salt water. After waiting for a
month, the La Verendryes started out
with Mandan guides in search of these
nomads. Instead of finding them, they
encountered the Crows, who could do
nothing other than repeat the story
that the Mandans had told. They were
sent farther west with Grow guides
to what were called the Bow" In
dians, one of the Sioux tribes.
Upon arrival at the Bow camp, it
was learned that the Bows were pre-
pairing to go to war with the Snake
tribe. They claimed to know nothing
of the western sea, but suggested that
the Frenchmen accompany them on
their punitive expedition, where from
Snake prisoners or other western tribes
they might learn something of the
much sought for passage.
The route thus followed by the La
Verendryes led them, possibly, due
west from the Mandan villages which
are known to have been located on
the Missouri river just north Of the
present location of the North and
South Dakota state line, crossing the
Little Missouri at a point not far
from the site of Marmath, N. D.,
through the bad lands of F'allon and
Carter counties, Montana, to the
Powder river country. They proceeded
up this stream to its source in the
foothills of the Big Horn mountains
in Wyoming.
The "Shining Mountains"
Here it was, on Jan. l, 1743, that
a snow-capped mountain range doomed
up before them, the peaks in the far
distance scintillating before them in
the bright sunshine, like so many
diamonds Thus they were named by
these Frenchmen, THE Shining
Mountains" as they have been known
to poets and in Indian legends to
this day. For the first time, the white
race, through the eyes of the La Yer
eIlul yes, WdS lOOhulS upull VIC SlSal
range of the Rocky mountains. There
has been much discussion as to what
particular section of the Rockies these
La Verendryes discovered, but his
torians now apparently are agreed
that the mountains which met the
vision of these Frenchmen constituted
the Big Horn range, about 100 miles
east of Yellowstone national park. At
hot Two t,nir
red guides must have been near the
northeastern boundary of Wyoming.
In passing, it might be stated that
there was no battle at this time be-
tween the Bows and the Snakes, the
latter having heard through their
scouts of the host that was at their
heels, sought safety in flight. The
Bows had left their women and chill
dren in a camp further east from
where they had expected to fight. A
rumor came to the Bow camp that the
Snakes had attacked this camp, and
the Bows in a riot rushed pell nell
back to find that their people had not
been molested.
Buried Leaden Plate
The La Verendryes then left their
hosts without having secured their
desired information concerning the
pass to the sea. 1t is stated that they
journeyed south and then east into
what is now South Dakota. Here they
found the camp of the Choke Cherry
Indians, a tribe of the Sioux or Da-
kota family. The explorers were then
not far from the site of the present
city of Pierre. They had succeeded
in carrying the tricolor of France far
ther west than it had ever before
flown. With a vague idea of the i'm
portance of their achievement, and
upon little rise, they proceeded to
commemorate their discovery. They
buried leaden plate engraved with
the arms of their king, and erected
over it cairn of stones. Early in the
spring of 1744 the La Verendryes
started on their homeward journey,
returning to Montreal after trip
which consumed several months.
In honor of their achievements, the