* * * bank was turned into a liquid mass of mud by the water streaming from their sides as they scrambled out, and thundered away across the prairie. Several hours elapsed before the 'Stockdale' was able to break through the migrating herds, and resume her journey, and they were still crossing, when at last they passed beyond view." THE LAST GREAT HUNT In his book entitled "My Friend, the Indian," Maj. James McLaughlin, gives an account of what was the last buffalo hunt in North Dakota, resulting in killing 5,000 of the noble beasts, now reduced to a few small herds preserved in parks by the Government or individuals. Major McLaughlin was then Indian Agent at Standing Rock. The buffalo had been located 100 miles west, on the head waters of the Cannonball River. It was in June, when the buffalo was at his best. The camp was made according to tribal customs, and all of the honors were accorded the traditional beliefs. Two thousand Indians were seated on the prairie, with due regard to rank, forming a crescent-shaped body, the horns of the crescent opening to the west. Running Antelope, the leader of the hunt, was seated in the rear of a painted stone, made to represent an altar. Eight young men had been selected to go ahead and spy out the buffalo. The chief addressed them relative to the importance of their mission, and the necessity of caution, and closed by administering to each a solemn oath, during which the men in the semi-circle put away their pipes. Running Antelope filled the sacred pipe, which was lighted with much ceremony, and offered to the earth in front of him to propitiate the spirits which make the ground plentiful, and then to the sky, invoking the blessing of the Great Spirit. He took a puff, and passed it to the chief of the scouts; the latter placed his hand holding the bowl of the. pipe on the altar, and then took a puff, each following his example. When the ceremony was over every man owning a horse was on his feet, gesticulating and congratulating the scouts on their good fortune. Three bushes were set in the ground, and if in riding anyone succeeded in knocking down all three of the bushes, a great amount of game would be killed. Major McLaughlin led the race, and it was his good fortune to knock down all three. The Indians were happy. All seemed well. When happy the Indian is exuberant in his joy, and his cup of happiness that day promised to be filled to the very brim. Gall, Crow King, Rain-in-the-Face, John Grass, Spotted Horn Bull and other noted men were there. The march lasted four days. There were about six hundred mounted hunters in the party, and many thousand buffalo were quietly grazing on the slopes of a hundred elevations as they advanced upon the herd. Some of the hunters were armed with bow and arrows, but most of them with repeating rifles, and in a few moments the hunt became a slaughter. The Indians killed buffalo until they were exhausted, and when the day's work was done over two thousand animals had been slain. Several of the Indians were hurt, one dying of heart disease during the excitement of the slaughter. The attack was renewed on the herd the next day with even greater success, and when it was concluded over five thousand had been slain, and the meat preserved for the winter's food supply. Frank Gates and Henry Agard each killed twenty-five buffalo, and many others had made enviable records. It was contemporaneous with these results that William E. Curtis, the noted traveler, accompanied by the author of these pages, visited the Yellowstone River. They were entertained at Glendive by Capt. James M. Bell of the Seventh U. S. Cavalry, who organized a buffalo hunt for their entertainment. They reached the grounds, twenty miles down the river, from Glendive, about noon, and encountered a herd of about four thousand, but being there to see and not to be a part of the performance, Curtis and Lounsberry were not mounted. However, they were allowed to creep up the cut bank of a stream to within easy range, when they fired and the stampede commenced. The soldiers then rushed in among the herd shooting as they rode alongside of the running animals. Seven were killed, that being all that was needed for a camp supply of meat. The great herds of buffalo and of the cattle and horses which succeeded them have passed and are gone, so far as free range is concerned, and the open country which once knew them shall know them no more. CHAPTER IV FOUNDING OF PEMBINA THE POST NAMED-ORIGIN OF THE NAME THE FIRST FARMING-POULTRY RAISING AND MANUFACTURES-THE FIRST CHILD-PIERRE BONGA-THE FIRST WHITE CHILD MANAGERS, EMPLOYEES AND TRADING STATISTICS-BUFFALO, THE HUNTER-EFFECTS OF THE LIQUOR TRADE AT PEMBINA THE STAIN ON THE RECORD-NORTH-WEST AND X. Y. CONSOLIDATION-FIRST FAMILY NAMESHENRY SUFFERS FROM THE SIOUX--TRIAL OF THE NEW POLICY-CHANGE IN MANAGERS OUTLYING POSTS WITHDRAWN-ANARCHY AND HOSTILITY—A NIGHT ATTACK-POSTS ON THE RED RIVER-EARLY TRAFFIC ON THE RED RIVER. "And he gave it for his opinion, that whoever could make two ears of corn, or two blades of grass to grow upon a spot of ground where only one grew before, would deserve better of mankind, and do more essential service to his country, than the whole race of politicians put together."-Jonathan Swift. THE POST NAMED May 17, 1801, Alexander Henry selected the spot for building a fort at Pembina. The post was completed October 1, 1801, and thereafter Henry's scattered forces made their headquarters at Pembina. The post was named "Fort Panbian," and was later called the "Pembina House." It was built on the north side of the Panbian River-afterward changed to Pembina-between that and the Red River, 100 paces from each, on land afterwards entered by Joseph Rolette, and in 1870, James J. Hill, subsequently president of the Great Northern Railroad, purchased of Mr. Rolette the identical ground on which the establishment stood, embracing five acres, where he built a bonded warehouse for trade with the Indians and settlements in Manitoba. Norman W. Kittson, a later trader at Pembina, and identified with transportation and other interests of the Red River country and of Minnesota, was a relative of Alexander Henry. Henry's post consisted of a storehouse, 100x20 feet, built of logs. Later a stockade and other buildings, including store rooms, shops, warehouses and a stable for fifty horses, were added. The Hudson's Bay Company built, the fall of 1801, a post on the east side of the Red River, near Peter Grant's old post, and the X. Y. Company built just below Henry on the Pembina River. The Hudson's Bay Company built a post, also, on the Pembina River at the Grand Passage, which was destroyed by fire April 1, 1803. |