Year: 1862

Gus Winter engaged IN hunting ana trap
ping on the upper Missouri and yellow
Stone rivers and their branches, with what
success will be seen by perusal Of the fol
lowing narrative:


One of their number, a man of educa>
ton and talent, whose friends Of high
standing in society vouched for the entire
truth of what he stated which was also
confirmed by his companions. lie stated
that his company, six in number, was en-
camped on the Yellow Stone river and
hunting parties of the Black Feet Indians
had at different times come across some of
the whites and tried to drive them out OF
the country, on account of their proximity
to the rich winter hunting grounds, and
they repeatedly threatened to kill them if
they did not leave, but game was abundant
and prospect of obtaining fur was most
bountifully tempting; SO this little band
still persisted in staying and rsked the
murderous designs Of those cruel and bar
barous Indians, but on the morning of the
10th day of October, band ot fifty Indi-
ans surprised them in their tent about an
hour before day. The savage war whoop
sounded like their death kneI, and before
they had time to secure their arms. the In
dlans rushed III and took them prisoners,
and took all their furs, provisions, guns,
traps, blankets and clothing and distribu-
.ed them amongst themselves.


After having bound the hands of the
prisoners, they made them walk barefoot
and nearly naked to their camp, then about
twenty miles distant, at which place thev
arrived about noon, when all The members
of the tribe were summoned to be on hand
for feast, and a general thanksgiving to
the Great Spirit who had thus placed their
enemies (the prisoGers) in their power
They cooked the provisions of the white
men, who were still bound aud guarded
little after dark the feast was ready and
they all, except the guard, IN hilarious rev
elry began to partake. The prisoners
were very hungry, and one Of their mum
Der, being a most excellent and powerful
ventriloquist told his companions that he
would see what effect his powers would
have upon their savage natures; so ac-
cordingly he began to throw his voice in
different directions, but generally 50 as to
make it sound in the air overhead The
Indians soon stopped their noise and con
fusion and listened attentiveIy; soon they
were struck with awe. then succeeded the
greatest fear and horror. The ventrilo-
quist we'll understood their language and
could speak and throw his voice in that
language as well as his own.


The language spoken in the air was such
as that Of the Great Spirit threatening
thom with the diresC evils. should they per
sst in keeping their white brothers prison
ers, and for taking their property; but
that they should feed their white brothers
and treat them as superior beings to them
selves, that they should allow them to
travel anywhere through the forests of
these unpeo oled wiIds with the greatest
freedom and immunity from harm.


The Indians 10 the greatest fear search
ed within and thout and around all their
tents, and climbed the trees, to convince
themselves that there was no trick or delu-
sion of any kind; but they could discover
nothing from which human voice could
emanate. All was terror and consterna-





supposed they had offended the Great Spir-
1t IN thus taking their white bi others pris-
| oners and robbing them of their property


The ventriIoquist still kept throwing his
voice first IN one place, then in another,
and the unseen Spirit in the air talked to
| the Indians In their own language audiblv,
so that all could hear and know that there
W ,l III
unbind their white brothers, give them
good food to eat. good warm beds in which
to sleep, and to guard their lives as thew
would their own. One OF the braves coun-
seiIed immediate destruction of the six
white men an6 some Of the Others adopt
ing bis ideas, rushed forward to carry his
designs into execution; but the Great Spir
1t called aloud on all good Indians to stay
the avengers folly, under penalty of total
annihiation of their whole tribe and those
Indians who would have sacrificed the lives
of the white men were Immediately seized
and hurled away.


The white men seemed in no fear, and
in good humor, which the more confound
ed the savages and they imputed it to their
religion and christianity which supported
them in this their trying hour of peril
They were unbound and allowed the free
dom Of the camp, and the Indians anI
their squaws were expecting annihiIalion
every moment, and never to be permitted
to hunt in the eIysian fields Of paradise.
on account Of their wickedness.


The best there was in the camp was giv
en- them to eat, and the cliief and leaders
caused the best of beds to be made of buf
faIo and bear skins in their best tents for
them to sleep upon, and to appease the
lowering and inn ending wrath of the
Great Spirit, the most lovely daughters Of
tribe. their squaws and wives were freely
offered and pressed upon them to do them
the honors of the night, whilst The doors
OF their tents was guarded with argus and
unsleppne eyes to see that none dared to
modest or make afraid their white brother
this seemed to allay the wrath of;he Great
Spiri: and they now called their white
brother uaetis lin their language signifying
triend) which is the same as an affirmation
thai they will ever be true.


In the morning the bes, hat could be
procured was served up f- them to ea.,
when they were allowed the freedom Of