The river press. [volume], October 27, 1886, Image 1

About The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current

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THE IVER PRESS.
Vol. VII. Fort Benton, Montana, Wednesday, October 27, 1886. No. 1.
AN ADDRESS
To the Vote~ of Choteau County%,
We are >a the eve of a decisive
political brtle-upon the issue of 'hiqb
importa i results hinge,- and :as in ac
tuar w:~fare the commanders of con
tending forces sometimes appeW1 to their
1fol11orý, reciting the justic. of their
causs and urging valoros'.deeds, so we
.areprompted to address a'few words to
yri, setting forth the 'merits of our
,cause, and the nee. of ;stive, earnest
'forts in behalf of the men and prin
*!ples for whom. &'nd Wýttch we contend.:
DOMIN3YT 1tTMOCRACY.
After displscemcrit from power for a
period covering a'qtiarter of a century,
the democra)tic ;palty is again in controdl
in the national ,c- ital, and more tfirat
a year and a hdalfof the new adminis
tration has 'gone into history. Derrr
crats may 'trulLy point with pride 'to
President 'Cleveland's administrat1tir;
we can ssfely p.1t it on a broader basis
and say dtit all American citizens rmy
well do the same. It is an admi:ntitra
tion sharily .' aracterized by honesty
of purpose; 'tt is pure, clean, consitent,
able. 'The history of our countryyioes
not show :a ' more commendable, 'eon
servative 'aadministration. In~tea of
the dire .re.ults~ that were to follow the
advent.,df'the democracy to power-as
pictured :by the republican press and
campaigt, vrators,-we find theconmIntry
recovering' firom the prostratin t mfcom
me.i.dl'reverses, the tide of prTorprity
rapidly °'vancing, and the people
happy -aiid contented. We efii the
faith 'andt.onfidence in the go.ve~enment
as strong.es ever, its finanoes mmnaged
in a masterly manner, its ,credit un
bounded.
The president nas ie~t me pleges to
the pe~ijp. inviolate. The changes in
of.oee'iic:dent to a change of adminis
tra t;ion*rnve been, and are b6ing,imade
g,:aduaLiy, without the least ifriet~on or
disturbiace of the vast and ,compi cated
mecha4hsrn of the govwernment. The
executive is giving the country-e taste
of vihal it has never enjoyed before
genmuiu ciyil service reform. lie is
enforcing the law on this e.bject with
the ame calm deliberatie and honesty
of pii.c'e that characteerize :all hisacts.
The pro rise of the pla.tf.rn, thatriome
rule ~should be conceded to 'the 4erri
tories, :has not been forgotten.as we
can ri oaily see by eaaling i the rail of
federctifficials in Montana.: 'The eign
of tre carpet-bagger in M·a~tanalisevver,
for V'hieh thanks are dbue to Pvresident
ClevelakS and the demriiaeraticadnit.nis
trablon.
OUR DUTL
Ai Qof .tis should be a Ima-er ofp~ide
and graitGcation to denmroee~. iFt-shoild
W ed them~ more closely to the party,
strengther their love for tt, aýad proi~pt
thee..: tot.iatiring efforts t .akintaindts
priiaeipIes;and bear " full hnigh advanc
ed" its g.loious ensign.
B_.O.YUIse, perchance, we are residenta
of a t erritoey, and are denied the glori
ous p~iVi;lege of taking part i. the selec_
tioin 1 thoediief magistrate, is €no :eason
why v.e shLoald lose sight of lOtities, or I
forget thed~.ty we owe our party. The.
day is .aear at hand when a " brigiht,.
ipartic:ular stir "- Montana,- wilil be
added to trhee.onstellation of states, aind
the ileciion 'af the ballots on the 2d
prox.will det ,nine whether this happy
-venlt is tooocr3 soon or be indeiriitely
Postpoued ;iT: this matter we are nma
ters of 'our vw.:{lestiny and arbitersof
,ur owr fate. ilf Montana shows a safe
and reliable dea.cratic majority at this
election her
A)MI)SSrl;O,:O THE UNION.
in connection w.it. Dakota-a political
'olpromise-- will follow during the
niext session of coress as surely as day
follows night. Dktkcta clamors loudly
for statehood and ts ttily entitled to it.
That territory, or ar-y .division of it, is
overwelmingly reppbikcan, and does
any one suppose for-a ,moment that the
democrats of the hou-se ae so blind to
party welfare as to v ote the opposition
:'WO additional U. S. senatq a and three
cOtes in the electoral .college without
'Oe recompennl se or offset.? 'They lost
tý krJ.esidency in 1876 by suoh :a trick +
-ht:lhiuniission of Colorado) .and are not
kelg to repeat it. But the democrats
'ould bOe glad to admit Dakota ifat the 1
iaLu tLle a reliably democratic texrmo- i
rY Witk entitling wealth and popl~i- '
tio, cold be brought in. Montana is i
that terrtory and this is our opportin-- 4
ty. Give JGoeph K. Toole that majori- )
ty his raerits, faithful service and popu- I
Iartt deserve and return a democratic
legislature-,and the State of Montana,
Will be a realization within a year; re
Verse the result hqd we will continue in I
Serritorial vassalage ror there is no tlli 1
. Pg°9 ' 0 very vot r who desires a
the speedy admission of Montana into
the Union, with all the blessings and
benefits to follow, should give this mat
ter serious consideration before making
his choice at the polls.
THE CANDIDATES.
JOSEPH K. TOOLE
The dimocrats have for their ¢iandi
date for congress the Hon. Joseph K.
Ioole who proved his worth during the
late session of congress and fully estab
lished his claim to the continued con
fidence of the citizens of the territory.
You:ware familliar with his record, w'hich
speaks loudly for itself. No other ter
rit.ry had a more faithful and Vigiglant
representative at the national capital.
`Whenever the interests of Montana or
the west were assailed, no matter from
'what quarter, Mr. Toole was he~itd from
promptly and effectively.
His speech on the silver question-in
I'which this territory is so vitlily inter
iested-was one of the most able and
logical on that prr'li:fic subject heard in
the house during the session.
When the interior department sought
to regulate the c.atting of timber on the
public domain so as to arrest the whole
sale depredations going on:and in so do
ing, in trying to reach theigenuine tim
'ber thieves, rnmde it inconvenient and
hurtful to some ofthe great industries of
Montana-Mr. Toole was' heard from to
some effect. Ie arguetd the matter with
Secretary Lanamr anid *Commissioner
Sparks and by his 4i tki'ence secured
P such a modil, ation of the new rules as
gives every t..mber right and privilege
needed.
He had the moral courage to antago
nize the Northern 'Pacific railroad com
pany by securing the -enactment of a
law making the landsef that company
in the teritieries; (thy shave about 20,
000,000 acres in Montana) subject to tax
ation as fast as they .become suryeyed.
Heretofore while the company have en
joyed the benefits ofor territorial laws
and instititions they have contributed
nothliig m, r:n1e way'rV i.-venuc arlIslng
from this n a.gnificent land grant, sur
veyed or .n-sur.veyed The effect of this
law is to add-at once .-i,000,000 acres of
land, or about:$10,000;00C to the taxable
wealth of Montana,ewhile the remain
ing 15,004Q00 acresi,.as fast as it becomes
surveyed, smustpay its just portion efs
taxation. If he had aot done one soli
tary thingelse during the first sessionm
of his first iterm this-~ingle accomplish-'
ment shodv-d insure.the return to eon
gress of Dlegate Toole. To still further
add to the cwealth of-Uthe territory it is
necessary ýosecure' from congress appre
priations far addition.al surveys of this
land grant. thus .mahing it subject to
taxation--buit surelyrthe representative
of the Nornhern iPaclfkc is not the man
to trust witi tbis mission.
He has relieved t..burdened judicia
ry of the terfitory bycsecuring the pas
sage of a bi yivingi ~ ntana an addi
tional distn~et and ljrige, the latter,
Montanian, too.
He secure., with the.aid of prominent
Montanians, .the ap.pintment of the
Indian comniission ·w.iich is soon to
visit northern MontaIgi and which is
meeting with eush .marked success in
settling the ledian ,problem of the
northwest. Wiith the:atd of these same
gentlemen he iol~oghtahout the passage
of the bill granting right. of way to rail
roads through the rreses.ations of north
ern Montana, which unfe:tunately was
:.vetoed by the presi4ent, :i2pon misrep
[resentation and a misconception of the
uf ola n~ion
This is some of the ggosqwork accom
;pished by Delegate Toole, without
,lEntioning many othrkmeasures intro
d:e ed by him and wh:ih (have made
:mire or less progress in the tedious
cojqrse of legislation, and iacw await his
further efforts the coming rassion. In
all the minor matters requia!isg the at
tenti n of our delegate he wasgttentive,
neti.e.and vigilant, rendering faithful
servi~ , to his constituents.
Thereeord of Delegate Toolk;e. one to
which all citizens of Ifontana ea. point
with pii de. There is not a bloto.it and
in kono.'ing himn with a re-eleet.4g we
honor ourse.ves and the territory.
WirI;BUR F. SANDERS.
But whatt f his competitor? A ee
trast in this case would not shed parthi
ular glory upon the latter. We know
Col. Sanders puhclyy as a frequent can
didate for coug:ress, a member of the leg
islature and the attorney of the North
ern Pacific Railroad ,company. Ie is
also the "war horse" ao the republican
party of Montana, who ~ias uttered bit
terer and viler things covcerning dem
ocrats than any other mna ni the north
west. At the present time e is pranc
ing up and down the las railing
against the president and "''tha man
iparks" for offenses they never commit
ted, and in sheer lack of legitimatelo
eat isshfs upon which to make th~e ca
vss, This is, too, a ruse to hibeld the
RECORD OF THE CANDIDATE,
but entirely too gauzy, as the de ocerat
e pFess and.orators have laid it bare In
all its jhi$4o g, We first fnd Sand
ers running for congress in 1S64 against 1
Sam M'Lean when a vile and outrage- t
ous attempt was made to count him in t
by t¶he aid of fraudutlent votes from 1
Fort Union. But it was not successful i
and although he has twice since tried
to get into congress the people of Mon
tana have always demurred and will i
again in stentorian tones on the 2nd of
iNovember. We hear of him again as
using his influence with partisan friends 1
at Washington to have annulled the I
acts of two sessionis of our legislature,
which has been alluded to as "the most i
oppressive act ever perpetrated by con- I
gress; the greatest insult ever offered to
the helpless people of a territory." We
find him advocating and working for
every scheme ever proposed to sub- I
sidize railroads or any thing else, re
gardless of the weight of taxation it
would impose on the territory, or ruin
and bankruptcy that would surely have
followed. He was the prime mover and
supporter of the scheme to bankrupt the
territory by giving $3,000,000 to the
Northern Pacific at a time when the as
sessed valuation of Montana did not
reach $10,000,00, son after receiying
his reward in the appointment as attor
ney for the Norttlhera Pacific, a position
he continues to hoel wh.ile asking your
votes for delegate' to congress. Coming
down to a latter .period and reverting to
a subject that vitally affects the interests
of Choteau coati"ty, 'that reaches
OUR VEWr 1EARTH S')NES,
we find Col. Sanders an active mover
and promoter of the antagonism that
sought to shit out other .ailroads from
Montana an-'d'id ,delay fora year if not
more the cemtpletion within our borders
of the greia Manitoba mrailroad upon
which we depend for hke speedy de
velopment';f our resources and for re
newed acftivity and ;prosperity. It is
known alm- charged, anu not denied,
that CoL Wanders hbetened to New
York to satrt the opposition to the Man
itoba advtance and at .once therefore it
was her.t.dedover the Keountrv_ that tht
N. . 1ha.ltaken measttres to occupy the
grou.ndi.themnselyes, to revent any in
vasion ef "'their 'territory" by other
railroade. 1I.n reference to this matter
Major Meginnis, Whose connection with
the great .railroad enterprise of Mr. Hill
is verTy ,d'l.se, stated ia his speech at
Helena that Mr. -Sanders was proud to
clai.m theat it was his hand in Helena
that.pressed.the electric button which
st. rtec hiteantagonism' to new projects
the machinery of his .c-empany in New
York!! las:any bodykLEard a denial of
this:? Considering Eanr:ders' years of
service'for.he Northern Pacific is not
such:a course what might be expected
and if ele ed to, congress would not his
symapathies be with the Northern Pa
iEic and against the people wherever
.elah an issue was invol.ved ?
i 'Thissr~srmaal;portiornof the record of
.W. F. Salders, tthe fouwf-h time nominee
of the ~ejqpstliean pacty. Is it not such
a r~eeerd as' houl~d promt every elector
a Ci tehoanilounnyto VehC against him .?
'a .E GREALUI&SUE.
The gr~eat issue with the citizens of
Choteau 'oounty in this contest is self
intere.t, and the effort on the part of the
republican press and orators to attract
the attenti n of the voters to national
matters, rather than locil and territori
al, will not &ave the intended result.
We are mene .nterested in knowing
what effect ~te l1ectien ef delegate to
congress wilt av.e ,on the s;elfare of our
town or seetica than in the unmerited
abuse the republieans are heaping upon
President Cleveland and Commissioner
Sparks. The eeunltryseems to be pret
ty well satisfied with these gentlemen
and with the demoeratit administration
in general. But the question that
comes nearer home, that affects our
welfare, that endangers our prosperity
-is, shall we assist in the election to
congress of a repiresentative .of the
Northern Pacific railroad eonspny-a
stockholder and director in soameof its
Mdntana branches-when it is known
that that corporation is deadly hostile
to the Manitoba and is doing and will
do all in its power to prevent the ad
vance of this great enterprise into nortr
ern Montana? The Manitoba is aot
asking for land grants or subsidies, bt;
the delegate in congress might by his
friendship greatly aid or by his enmity.
retard the progress of the road, as ques-,
stions involving the opening of reserva
,rons or the securing of right of way
nu.st of necessity come up for consider
atiqu. Of Delegate Toole's hearty sup- c
portin this matter we are certain; of i
San·trs we are in doubt, in serious
doubt 4, view of his Northern Pacific
relationa and interests. Can there be
any queason, then, as to
Wit-I.H SI.~WLD RECEIVE OUR SUPPORT?
If we want the vast but inviting area 1
betwee a Fort Buford and Helena
spanue4 by the iton rail-right through
tie he:r o' rthern Montana--giving !
uai:all needed faelitles for transportation n
and britgggewla iew f and courage and a
activity to thi isection, we should not
baesital~ g gUa g about giving ourq
vote and influence to Joseph K. Toole,
the people's candidate. This is the vi
tal question and it comes home to the
i people of Choteau county with peculiar
I force. -
DE IOCRATIC RULE.
From the beginning of her grand ca
I reer Montana has been under democrat
f icrule. With the exception of one term
she has been constantly and ably rep
I resented in congress by democrats; her
legislatures have been democratic, sav
ing and excepting the last and memor
t able one, which was republican in the
- lower branch; the several political di
> visions of the territory have in the
a main been controlled by democrats.
r And what is the result? What other
territory can boast of such wise and i
- beneficial rule? Montana has no debt,
no legacies of misrule; its fame has gone
abroad as the most prosperous of the
territories, the best government and the
most inviting western field for invest
Sment. These are the achievements of
continued democratic supremacy and
tlre-experiment of a change would not
B be a safe one. Two years ago the legis
lature happened to be republican in one
t branch, and you are familiar with the
work of that body. It certainly was not
such as to encourage the voters to place
confidence in republican law makers
i again. Almost every obnoxious and
r sumptuary law that could be thought of
was brought up for consideration and
passed, but the democratic council hap
v pily put a quietus on many of them.
s That small sample of republican rule
should be sufficient to satisfy the people
of Montana for many years to come.
LOCAL AFFAIRS%
Choteau has been the banner demo
' cratic county of the territory, and
t and should more than maintain her
s position as such in this contest-a con
test involving something higher than
politics; the material prosperity of the
county. Although on the frontier,
where it has been necessary to keep in
s restraint the hostile and predatory In
dians, as well as other classes of law
breakers, the affairs of Choteau county
V have been well and economically man
aged. Our taxes are lighter than those
t of any other counrty in the territory,
with one or two - -;* .o.. or . u
IaciVUr.Shi, w hich is bonded at a low
e rate of i ;rest, is ;but a mere bagatelle
for a coudty as wealthy as this and need
r not be peid until the wealth and popu
lation have increased ten fold. Deduct
r ing the value of our excellent public
h buildings the net indebtedness is but a
Ll few thousand dol;lars which a small tax
,t would pay in two or three years. But
the wise policy is to maintain an eco
nomical gove(rmnent at the lowest pos
1 sible rate-of taxation. The increase in
2 population and lwealth, which will be
s marvelous with the advent of railroads,
will soon wipe out the county debt.
' The democratca party and its
luC Un ueJCxLit; party auU iuS
CANDIDATES
for the public offices can well be en
trusted with this work and the general
administration of county affairs. Rep
resentative men have been placed on
the ticket throughout and we believe it
will be generally admitted that the
ticket as &" whole is one of the best ever
presented: to :.he electors of Choteau
county for their suffrages. It should
command the hearty and united sup
port of all democrats, and as well of
such republicans as deem the welfare of
the county of greater moment than
party ach `vement. We do not care to
make con rats but simply ask the voter
to review he democratic local ticket
and pass j dgment for himself.
L -JISLATIVE.
It is of ,the :utmost importance that
the legislature of Montana should be
democratic. This is true both with re
gard to its beari.ng upon the prospective
admission of the territory into the Un
ion and it the interest of wise and
wholesom legislation. The democratic
candidatesifor the legislature are gen
tleman who are well known to almost
every voter in the county; they4 have
large interests at take and can safely
be entrusted with :Choteau county's in
terests at the territorial capital. Mr.
Jesse F. Taylor, candidate for repre
sentative, is a prominent stockman and
besides looking after the interests of
this great industry he has the fairness
and broad minded liberality to do equal
and exact justice to all. He was a
member of the last legislature when he
gained experience that will be a service
to him, and to his great credit it can be
said he voted every time against the ob
noxious sumptuary measures brought
forward by, the republican majority.
Mr. Taylor ought to be returned to the
house by aiioverwhel ming majority.
JOHN HARRIS FOR SHERIFF.
In this county the sheriff's office
ranks at the head of the list in impor
tance, and the electors cannot be too
careful in making a choice. For this
position we want a cool-headed, practi
cal, prudent man of affairs-and where
could these requirements be more close
ly met than in the person of Mr. John
Harris? He has the good judgment
aeeded to avoid false steps and blunders,
and the unflinching courage to do his
duty under any circumstances, though
danger lurked in every step of his path
way. Mr. Harris has been eminently
successful in. the management of his
own aiairs ri he is a man of the highest
honer and integrity; he is the solid,
clear-headed citizen we want for sheriff,
and his part should stand by him to a
man.
SJOHN G. )ACLAY, FOR TREASURER.
For the responsible offiee of treasurer
we have nominated Mr. John G. Mac
lay, one of the most competent men in
the territory for the position. Mr. Mac
lay is an expert accountant and book
keeper, and a gentleman of the highest
peF onal honor and integrity. His busi
ness methodi are accurate and system
atic, and his varied knowledge of coun- 1
ty< affairs eminently fit him for the
positionP In ~.ldition to these prime
9uatI fjeatiocn Mr Maclay is a gepiat ý '
pleasant gentleman and would be one
of the most courteous and accommodat
ing officers Choteau county has ever g
had. He is entitled on the score of
merit as well as party consideration to
every democratic vote and should have
them.
JNO. W. TATTAN FOR PROBATE JUDGE. h
No than in Montana is more conver
sant with county matters than Jno. W.
Tattan. He has served this county I
well and faithfully and that he has eye- s
ry qualification to fit him for the office ,
of probate judge is well known to the
people of Choteau county. His record
speaks for him. In his election the I
people are assured an honest, upright I
judge, one who will do his duty with- a
out fear or favor under all circumstan
ces. The general democratic victory on
the 2nd prox. should include a big ma- i
jority for Judge Tattan. a
1 A.E.ROGERS FOR CLERK AND RECORDER.
It is on everybody's lips that Al. C
Rogers has made an able, courteous, I
obliging officer and is fully entitled to a 1
re-election. He possesses in an eminent
degree the qualifications that fit him t
for this office-which has closer rela- i
tions with the people than any other
as shown by his faithful and popular ,
services the past two years;.. Mr. Rog
ers has earned and is fully entitled to a
re-election at the hands of the people of t
Choteau county, t
A. B. HAMILTON FOR ASSESSOR.
Not the least important of the county
offices is that of assessor. Unless a full
and equitable assessment is made taxa
tion is not equal, and this is the great
end to be sought. Mr. Hamilton, the
democratic candidate, is an old time t
citizen of the county who has a wide
acquaintance and is familiar with the 1
value of property of all kinds. He is
just the man for assessor and ought to
be elected by a sweeping majority.
COMMISSIONERS.
After all, the success of county admin
istration depends in a large measure on
the board of county commissioners and
it is of the highest importance that it
should be composed of members of good
business qualifications and who have
the interest of the county at heart.
Such in a decided degree are the demo
cratic candidates, Wm. G. Conrad and
Chas. Wegner. With Mr. Conrad on
the board thu- .'ad ur i-tle ounty
wuUld be administered: in a business
like way and Mr. Wegner, as the rep
resentative of Great Falls and that sec
tion, would prove a valuable assistant.
It is to the interest of all to see to it that
these gentlemen are elected.
S. IH. MCINTIRE FOR COUNTY ATTORNEY.
As the adviser of the board of com
missioners and other officers the county
attorneyship is of considerable impor
tance. Mr. McIntire is an able and
bright young lawyer and will meet the
requirements in an acceptable manner.
OTHER OFFICES.
The nominees for the remaining posi
tions on the ticket-Miss M. E. Fin
negan, for superintenalent of schools;
Thos. F. Healy, for public administra
1 tor; Michael Lynch, for coroner; and
- Chas. McIntire, for surveyor-are all
I worthy and deserving, and will go in
t with the democratic "clean sweep " on
e the 2d of November.
In conclusion, we would urge the
party to earnest and united effort to
win this political battle. We have a
f good ticket, from Delegate to Cor
oner, and we should work to elect every
1 man on it.
T. E. COLLINS,
Chairman Democratic Central Com.
Fort Benton, Oct. 1Sth, 1886.
The Raiding Indians.
Mr. G. E. Ingersoll returned from the
Judith country Wednesday. He informed
our reporter that on the night of the 9th
inst., the Indians killed two cows belong
ing to Mr. Redding, near Frank Bain's
ranch on Lone Tree creek. They packed
off all the meat and broke up the bones,
using enough of the hides to pack it. It
is supposed they went behind Wolf Butte
to dry the meat. On Saturday night they
swpoped down on F. C. Poole's pasture
and attempted to rope a young horse, but
as the animal had never been broken they
failed in the attempt. The horse was
found the next morning with a rope about
his neck. There were signs of Indians all
over the field. The Indians are supposed
to be the ones who made the clean up of
horses near Utica.
Mr. John J. Davis gives us the follow
ing information of the stealing of horses
by Indians at Utica on the night of the
12th inst. After the raid the Indians went
apparently in the direction of the High- 1
wood mountains. Mr. Hobbs, who was
interviewed by Mr, Davis, said they
passed between his place and the base of
the mountains ant from the trail they left
in the snow he judged there were more I
than forty head of mules and horses; many E
of the latter were shod. The impression ,
is that they came over the mountains and
passed over the Shonkin range, and struck 1
the river at some point below Benton, and I
are probably now beyond danger. A few
tdays previous while in the vicinity of the t
Snowy mlountaiins tde Indians came across
a cavalry scouting party who were in I
camp, and stole four head of Uncle Sam's i
cavalry horses, and they are probably with P
the balance of the stolen animals.
A Greenback Nomination.
Special to the River Press.
NEWARK, N. J., October 23.--Thagreen
backers of this state met in this city to-day
and nominated Erastus Potter, a school.
4faster) of Lort Qrme, for governor.
INDIAN DEVILTRY.
Exploits of the Raiding Reds in the Bear's
Paw Country with Some General Reflect-'
ions on the Subject.
The same Indians who have made such
havoc in the Judith have disturbed the
freighters at work between Broad water's
Landing and Assinaboine. Press Lewis
says that on the morning of the 16th, they
stole eight head of horses, one from Ben.
Swigart, two belonging to T. C. Power &
Bro., one from Richie, eight mules above
Broadwater's Landing, three from Lewis
and one government horse. The troops
are out all over the country and are work
ing diligently. There are detatchments
at the Sandy, Coal Banks, Box Elder, on
Milk river beyond Assinaboine, two
companies at Belknap and one company
below Belknap. The road is lined with
Indian freighters, hauling their supplies
to the agency. By some means the raid
ing partyi did not discover them.
There is"no foolishness in regard to the
action of the troops; no one could ask
them to do more than they are doing, and
the RIVER PRiiss is pleased to give them
the mead of praise. There is great diffi
culty in rounding up the Indians as the
ground in that country is badly broken
and the redskins can conceal themselves
notwithstanding the vigilance of the
troops. The only way they could be cap
tured in any numbers is to surround the
Bear's Paw and Little Rocky mountains,
but with the available force this would be
impossible.
The Indian question as far as North-
ern Montana is concerned has al
ways been a vexatious one. Before the
advent of the Mounted Police in the North
west Territories, Indians were doing just
as they are doing now, only then to gain
their object, they held human life very
cheap; but in most instances they went
across the line and escaped. The Cypress
rinug aff.ar grew out of stealing horses by
Indians. In this case, however, they
were followed by a body of resolute men.
who wreaked summary vengeance upon
them, scarcely one of the raiding party
being left alive. These Indians were
Assinaboines belonging this side of the
line. In those days it was not safe to leave
Fort Benton unarmed. The lower courn
try was infested with Sioux, and from the
base of the Rocky Mountains to the Bear's
Paw the murdering Blackfeet roamed,
while a remnant of the Gros Ventres and
Assinaboines roamed on Milk riyer north
of the Bear's Paw. Freight trains frond
Fort Peck were always guarded and in
many instances a small howitzer was car
ried; but this did not prevent frequent at
tacks by Indians. When the Carrol route
to Helena was established nearly all trains
were under military escort. Hunters and
trappers must have led a charmed life to
have escaped, and even they were oftimes
killed. The murder of Joe. Wey, on the
Marias; the killing of Buckshot and Polite
at Rocky Springs by that murdering
wretch, Little Mountain; the murder of
Jack Gorman and Frank Keezel at the
Sandy hay field by the same excellent
Indian, is remembered by many people liv
ing here now. After the establishment of
the post of Fort Assinaboine, and the
coming of the Mounted Police to the
Northwest, killing was not indulged in to
such an extent, but the propensity of the
Indian to appropriate horses cannot be
checked short of removal or extermina
tion. The former would perhaps be the
most humane method of disposing of them.
Until the reservation is opened and the
Indians removed to some other locality,
the annual raids will continue. Montana
furnishes an asylum for Indian criminals
from the Northwest, and those from this
side of the line find a safe refuge under
the Union Jack.
ARMY NOTES.
The newly appointed Brigadier General,
f Orlando B. Willcox, will be retired for age
on the 15th of April, 1887.
Lieut. George S. Young, 7th Infantry,
was married on the 6th inst., to Miss Edith
Field, a society belle of Detroit. Lieut.
t Yong was formerly stationed in Mon
tana and was one of the most popular
officers of the 7th Infantry. His company
is now stationed at Fort McKinney,
Wyoming.
Lieut. George Goode, 1st Cavalry, has
been granted a four month's leave of ab
sence. Lieut. Goode is now in the field
after raiding Blood Indians.
Companies C and K, of the 7th Infantry,
have been ordered from Fort Laramie to
Fort McKinney.
General Ruger and staff will take up
their quarters at St. Paul on Nov. 1st.
Col. Joseph N. G. Whistler, of the 15th
Infantry, was retired for age on the 19th
inst. :His retirement will result in the
promotion of Lieut. Col. R. E. A. Crofton,
of the Thirteenth, to be colonel of the
Fifteenth; Major John C. Bates, of the
Twentieth Infantry, will become lieuten
ant colonel of the Thirteenth ; Capt. D. D.
Van Valzah, of the Twenty-fifth, will be i
major of the Twentieth. This , will place
Col. )(oale, of A company, ýId Infantryv
the third on the list of captains in th.
army.