I was not afraid of the squaws with their papooses strapped to boards
on their backs, but when the "bucks," as they were called, pressed
their flat noses against the window-panes asking for muck-a-muck
(food), they frightened me so that I could not get over it for hours.
No one else seemed to have any fear of them, even though harrowing
stories were everywhere being told about their treachery and cruelty.
I made my home with Aunt Eliza, my mother's sister, who had married
Dillon B. Mason, a pioneer of Montana, about ten years before. It was
she who had engaged the public school for me and had insisted on my
coming to Montana, from Kentucky, to teach at Bannack.
When the Indians on their foraging expeditions came around to the
back door and windows of the kitchen, it seemed to be my lot to see
them first. When they saw how I was disturbed at their presence, they
would throw their heads back and laugh, and say, "White squaw, heaply
big fool." My uncle and aunt were always on friendly terms with them,
calling them John, Jim, and other familiar names. This pleased them
very much, especially when food was given them; and I knew they would
be around again in a few days, much to my annoyance.
[Illustration: No 61 A GROUP OF BANNOCK WAR CHIEFS POCATELLO IDAHO]
Patrick Bray of Bannack, whose name is mentioned in the St. Paul
expedition, was one of the old pioneers who could tell more "blood and
thunder" stories than anyone else in the community.
[Illustration: No 58 BANNOCK PAPOOSE POCATELLO IDAHO]
In 1870, a party composed of some of the most prominent citizens of
Montana, under the leadership of General Washburn, then the
Surveyor-General of the Territory, went on an exploring expedition to
the Yellowstone regions. The names of some of the members of this
party were household words in the early days of Montana, and familiar
to the writer. Among them were Cornelius Hedges, Nathaniel P.
Langford, the first superintendent of the Park, T. C. Everts, S. T.
Hauser, and Lieut. G. C. Doane. The reader will note the fact that N.
P. Langford was a member of the St. Paul party under the leadership of
Captain Fisk, that landed on Grasshopper Creek, Montana, in the fall
of 1862; and much of the success of the expedition was due to his
heroism. Also much credit is due him for his unabating devotion to the
cause of the republic, and the service he rendered in having the
region set apart as a National Park, March 1st, 1872. Until this time,
there were no restrictions on hunting, trapping, gathering of
specimens, etc., or to fencing in the geysers by private individuals.
THE ACT OF THE DEDICATION OF YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, approved March
1st, 1872, was as follows:
"BE IT ENACTED BY THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN CONGRESS
ASSEMBLED:
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