Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1942-05-16
RAYNOLDS DIDN'T
REGARD INDIANS
IN HIGH ESTEEM

Laramie road About 40 miles Irol
Fort Pierre. they saw their first bul
falo. Shortly after this as they neare
the Crow country their Indian gilio
who had been of great assistance, dis
appeared. taking with him the mul
and saddle he rode. This irked tn
general. who. while acknowledge
that the service rendered by the de
serter more than covered the valu
that he took. still objected to "thi
method of collecting his pay" feelin
It was hardly to be justified by civi
lied law or the code OF natura
honesty"
While near some tributary Of tn
Little Missouri. three buffalo bull
charged upon the company when, re-
cords the general. one of the escor
becoming greatly alarmed, dropped
his gun and raised his hands, eXclalm'
ing in all the accents of mortal terror
Elephants Elephants My God!
didn't know there we're elephants IN
this country" Again, when some bull
falo were passing. zone of the teams
started in full pursuit and was with
greatest difficulty checked. 1t was
probably the first buffalo chase on
record with a six-mule team"
one night the party saw great
bright light in the north, that Bridger
said was a signal fire of the Indians
who we're constantly watching them
At another time a number OF men
were sent to interview a couple OF
Indians, supposedly Crows, stationed
on a neighboring hill, only to find
couple of rocks that had been mis-
taken for men.
Reached Rosebud In August
The objective point for the company
being Fort Sarpy they reached the
Rosebud in August. The stream was
then dry except for occasional pools
By the middle of the next month the
party first saw the valley Of the yell
lowstone. where for over so miles
square, said the general, ut was liter
ally black with buffalo, grazing IN an
enormous herd whose numbers defy
computation, but must be numbered
by hundreds of thousands"
Later the expedition camp was Wis
tied by about three dozen Crows under
a chief who introduced himself by
touching his face, and holding up two
fingers to indicate, that his name was
Two Face, which. considering their
reputation for truth and veracity, was
a singularly appropriate cognomen for
the Crows. Two Face at once made
himself at home by taking possession
Of the largest tent he saw, under the
impression that it belonged to the gen.
eral. When he realized his mistake, he
at once removed his belongings to the
tent Of General Reynolds, much to the 4
disgust Of the latter.
At first, as was generally the case,
the Indians excited great deal OF /
curiosity among the whites, but they
soon became a nuisance, on account Of
their being inveterate beggars; their
uncleanliness, and their thievery. When
in full dress, however, the warriors
were decidedly picturesque, with their !
richly embroidered garments, trimmed
with ermine. One chief, Two Bears, J
wore ''moccasins consisting Of paws OF
a grizzly bear, with the claws and the {
horny portions Of the feet preserved.
An amusing incident Is given of
young Indian couple who camped ?
across the river. The man was slight
Of build, and the squaw was large, F
strong and unusually good looking. r
Every day the squaw forded the river, y
carrying her spouse on her shoulders. P
It was regarded as a remarkable evil o
lence of wifely devotion. :
While at this place on the river, they F
net Robert Meldrum, an agent of the :
American Fur Co, who told them he
lad been in the northwest country for Sc
20 years, visiting ST Louis during that al
1eriod but once, and then only for 10 r.
lays. He thoroughly understood the =
Crow language, claiming that he was 20
more familiar with it than with his
native tongue This was fortunate for an az
General Reynolds, as Meldrum made Ca
he best of interpreters when the coun- =
IL Of Crows was held. 10
When they left Fort Pierre, neither ba
he general nor Bridger knew the exact 2s'
ocation Of Fort Sarpy, and they had m
ONE difficulty in finding 1t until Mel
lrum, who was familiar with that re- Sc
don, directed them They found the 30
ort situated on what would be an m
Sland in high water, but then there
Vas dry channel between it and the sci
liver bank. lol
At Fort Sarpy Reynolds called a 20
ouncil of the Crows, and informed g
hem that he had been sent by the go
resident of the United States to re- =
ort their condition to him. He said TO
Re was neither trader nor agent, that q
e did not intend to harm the Crows No M,
4 any way, and he promised to kill no =
1ore buffalo than were needed for ST
is company. He concluded by congrat- Nv
lating the Indians land himself) that ~
hey. had been so honest. He also I'M
allied upon the chiefs for remarks. h
Red Bear replied, and his words were ooe
iven by MeldrIm in good plain Eng 30
sh. He said, in effect, that the expe- g
ition might pass through their coun- pra
y unmolested, but Should you, how s1s
yer, wish to stop in the country and Z
uild houses, we should object to your E.
DING so. We want to be left alone, and azo
e want our Great Father to protect F
g." Fra
General Reynolds was impressed by =
le dignified bearing of Red Bear, and w
lat that this chief and Frog, Of the FoI
rule Sioux, were the only two In v
ans who in any degree came I'D to any
he imaginary standard of Indian char MOI
ter we are ant tn get froy,, ,eo 5i,,c, -