Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1942-05-15

Capt. James l. Fisk was detailed
to escort company Of emigrants
from Fort Abercrombie TO the up
per Missouri country. This was
following the Sioux massacre In
Minnesota when Il would have
been extremely dangerous for any
train 70 pass through the Sioux
hunting grounds without military
escort.
Captain Fisk chose st. Cloud as the
place of rendezvous, and set the date
Of leaving there at June Is.
At Fort Ripley three gentlemen,
Messrs. Major, Hesse and Hannay, who
expected to join an expedition for the
survey of part of the Oregon boundary
line, arrived with the request from
the secretary of war. that Captain
Fisk would take them under his pro-
lection.
On the way to Fort Abercrombie, and
shortly before reaching there. the party
saw further results of the Sioux massa-
ere The place was deserted, and had
been burned. The scene was most
melancholy. A dismantled mill, broken
wagons, farm implements and scat
tered ashes, were all that remained
of the once thriving settlement. This
was not a promising outlook for the
company before their journey was fair
ly begun, that would lead them
through the midst of the Sioux country.
At Fort Abercrombie, Captain Fisk
issued orders for the march. The wag-
ons were to travel close together dur
ing the day and be corraled at night,
with the cattle in the corral at night,
tents outside. While on the march,
flankers we're sent out for two or three
miles on either side, and scouts rode
is miles ahead; all this to prevent
being surprised by the Indians. Fires
had to be out at TAPS" and pass
word permitted one to leave camp,
as orders were given to fire at anyone
who did not use 1t in answer to the
sentry's challenge. The horses-for the
escort was cavalry company-were
hitched near the tents.
The first wild animals that caused
them annoyance were the wolves that
kept them awake by bowling. For the
first month of the journey. nothing
remarkable occurred, but near Lakes
Lydia and Jessie, red arrow was
found lying on a rock, and pointing
south. The Sioux interpreter, Antoine
Premiere, explained this was a votive
offering to the God of the Rock. A
few Sioux were seen, who beat rapid
retreat at the sight of the train.
Not far from Mouse river the scouts
came upon a camp of Red river hunt
erS, with their rude carts forming a
circular enclosure, within which the
tepees were pitched. The exterior deco
ration of the camp was furnished by
stakes, on which straps of buffalo
meat were drying. These erections,' u
writes Captain Fisk, looked in the
distance like a red wall around the
camp"
Most of these Red river hunters were
half-breeds from Pembina. Captain
Fisk found them neat and well be-
haved. They reported that band of
1000 Sioux were south of them at
that time, which was alarming intelli-
gence for the Fisk party. 1t was more
alarming as they were entering the
buffalo range. and had already killed
several Where buffalo were, there
might be Indians One of the Red river
hunters acted as a mail carrier for
the captain, who gives this graphic
description of his dress, which was
typical of the Canadian voyaguers.
Crimson Sash About Waist
He wore a felt hat, with a gay
wreath; dark blue coat with hood
drab leggings fringed with scarlet and
black cloth, with beadwork and gilt
buttons on the outside, and moccasins
embroidered with stained porcupine
quilts. To this add crimson sash about
his waist, cross belts (for his shot
pouch and powder horn covered with
beautiful work in colored beads, a
knife sheath and shot pouch similarly
ornamented, powder horn with bright
colored tassels and brass nails, and a
hunting knife and rifle. He rode a
well-trained hunting Rob Roy pony
and had buckskin saddle or pad,
with elegant designs in colored beads,
also a blue broadcloth' saddle cover.
with red fringes and decorated in the
same way as the saddle" This profuse
ornamentation of one mans attire and
belongings must have made the cap
tain's uniform seem tawdry in COM
parison.
Before reaching Mouse river, one
of the scouts discovered what he took
to be a new variety of ScarecroW. This
is as Captain Fisk described it: 1T
consisted of large stake, about seven
feet high, planted in the ground, hav-
ing another stake across it like arms.
The whole was covered with wolf skins,
and the head of the wolf was on the
top. On the VOLTS head was scarlet
cloth cap, worked with beads and above
this a wooden cap with metal chin
strap. On the arms of the figure hung
small arrows, tobacco, etc. Antoine
Premiere states that this is war
sacrifice of the Sioux"
The next incident of the trip was
meeting Broken Arms band of ASSN
niboines. Broken Arm called on the
captain, and after the usual prelim-
mary ceremonies, made a long speech,
telling of the friendship of the ASSN
niboines for the whites, and asking
that the Great Father be informed of
the fact, and gently urged to abide
by the treaties made between them.
It goes without saying that the cap
tain assured his chiefship that the
Great Father already knew how
friendly the Assinniboines were, and if
they continued to be so, then peace
and prosperity would be theirs. Neither
one was telling the truth, the whole
truth and nothing but the truth, and