A Strange Occurrence--Arrival of Friends--Carson Joins a Large
Company--Trapping on the Yellowstone--The Blackfeet--A Dreadful
Scourge--In Winter Quarters--The Friendly Crow Indians--Loss of Two
Trappers--On the Head Waters of the Missouri.
A singular occurrence took place a few nights after the return of Carson
and his friends from an extended bison hunt. Their horses and mules were
corralled near the post and a sentinel was on duty at all hours of the
night to prevent the animals being stolen by the Indians who were always
prowling through the neighborhood.
In the dim uncertain light, just beyond midnight, the sentinel saw two
men walk forward from the darkness, and without any appearance of haste,
let down the bars and drive out the stock. Very naturally he concluded
they were his friends who intended to take out the animals to graze. As
there was nothing more for him to do, he sought his quarters, lay down
and went to sleep.
In the morning not a horse or a mule was to be found. The two
individuals who had let down the bars and driven them out, were
Blackfeet Indians, whose complete success was due to their amazing
audacity. Had they shown any hesitation or haste, the suspicions of the
sentinel would have been aroused, but when the truth became known, he
was the most astonished man at the fort.
The hunters were in a most sorry plight, for the Blackfeet having made
a clean sweep, they were without the means of pursuing and recovering
their property. The parties who belonged at the fort had suffered a
somewhat similar trick a short time before from the same tribe, so that
only a few rickety horses remained in their possession.
Under the circumstances, the trappers were compelled to accept their
misfortune with grim philosophy, and await the arrival of the rest
of the party, who had promised to rejoin them after completing their
business at Fort Walla Walla.
Sure enough, a few weeks later, their friends appeared and
providentially indeed they brought with them an extra supply of
excellent horses. The trappers were in overflowing spirits once more and
soon started for the general rendezvous on Green River.
Other trappers continued to arrive for a number of days, until about all
that were expected had come in. Trade and barter then began and lasted
some three weeks. The scene was picturesque and stirring and there was
much hand shaking and pleasant wishes when the time came to separate.
Kit Carson left the employ of the Hudson Bay Company trader and attached
himself to a party numbering fully a hundred who had determined to
trap along the Yellowstone. It will be recalled that Carson once quit a
company of trappers because it was too large, and it may be wondered why
he should join one that was still more numerous. The reason he did
so was because they were going into the very heart of the Blackfoot
country. They had suffered so much from these daring marauders that
they knew there would be no safety unless they went in strong force.
Furthermore, the whites had so many old scores to settle with those
redskins that they meant to invite attack from them. If the Blackfeet
would only offer the opportunity for battle, the trappers meant to give
them their fill.
The formidable company arranged matters according to a system. Dividing
into two equal parties, the duty of one was made to trap beaver, while
the other furnished food and guarded the property. By this means,
they would always be in shape to meet their sworn foes, while the real
business which brought them into the country would not be neglected.
The hunters were confident they would not be left alone very long. The
Blackfeet would resent the invasion of their hunting grounds, and to say
the least, would take measures to prevent the time hanging heavily on
the hands of the pale faces.
But, to the astonishment of the trappers, the days passed without
bringing a glimpse of the savages. No hostile shot awoke the impressive
stillness of the wilderness. Could it be the Blackfeet were seeking to
throw the whites off their guard? Did they expect to induce a degree of
carelessness that would enable the Blackfeet to gather their warriors
and overwhelm them before they could reply?
It was not reasonable to suppose that the sagacious tribe held any such
belief, for they could not have failed to know that any such hope was
idle.
But the explanation came one day by a party of friendly Crow Indians,
who stated that the small pox was raging with such awful virulence among
the Blackfeet that they were dying by hundreds and thousands. Indeed,
the havoc was so dreadful that there was reason to believe the whole
tribe would be swept away.
It would not be the first time that such an annihilation has taken place
among the American Indians. The treatment required by that frightful
disease is precisely the opposite of that which the red man in his
ignorance pursues. When small pox breaks out among them, therefore, the
mortality becomes appalling.
The Crow Indians affiliated with the trappers and guided them to a
secluded valley, where they established themselves for the winter. The
lodges were made strong and substantial, and it was fortunate that such
precautions were taken, for the winter proved one of the severest known
for many years. With their abundance of fuel, they kept enormous fires
going and passed the days and nights in comparative comfort.
But it was far different with their stock. During the severe weather,
the only food that could be obtained was the bark of the cottonwood.
The inner lining of this is quite palatable to animals and in cases of
extremity it affords temporary sustenance to men. With its help actual
starvation was kept away, though it came very close.
Unusual weather always brings unusual experience, and the intense cold
developed an annoyance to the trappers upon which they had not counted.
The difficulty of finding food was felt by the wild animals as well
as domestic, and the bisons became desperate. When they saw the horses
eating their fodder, they rushed forward and with lowered heads drove
them away. If a horse or mule refused, he was likely to be gored to
death.
The beasts finally became so numerous and fierce they would have killed
all the stock of our friends if they had not kindled large fires and
mounted constant guard. When the weather moderated those annoyances
ended.
Had any explorer of the west found his way to the secluded valley
where the trappers were in winter quarters, he would have looked upon
a striking scene. The Crow Indians and white men engaged in numerous
athletic sports in friendly rivalry. They maintained the best of terms,
and when the bisons departed, the strange community enjoyed themselves
far better than would be supposed. In truth where they were favored with
such rugged health and where they had plenty of food and comfortable
quarters, it would have been remarkable had they not been comparatively
happy. They were not disturbed by political discussions or diversity of
views on any public questions and were satisfied that the glorious Union
was safe without any worriment on their part.
When spring came, two of their party were sent to Fort Laramie to
procure needed supplies. They went off well mounted and armed and
were never heard of again. Somewhere in the recesses of the forest or
mountain, the Blackfeet had probably killed them as they had done with
many a brave man before, and as they have done with multitudes since.
When it became certain the messengers had been slain, the company
began the spring hunt without them. After trapping a brief while on the
Yellowstone, they worked their way to the head waters of the Missouri.
They met with fair success and while engaged in that section, learned
that the reports of the ravages of the small pox among the Blackfeet had
been greatly exaggerated. Instead of being decimated, the tribe had
not suffered to any serious extent and were as strong and aggressive as
ever.
The trappers were not displeased to learn that such was the case,
for they desired a settlement of accounts with them. Under such
circumstances it was impossible that hostilities should be long delayed.