 Chapter 30 The Life and Adventures of James P. Beckworth Mountaineer, Scout and Pioneer, and Chief of the Crow Nation of Indians Written from his own dictation by T. D. Bonner This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. I stayed but five days in St. Louis, which time I devoted to a hasty visit among my friends. I entered into service with Mr. Sublet and Vasquez to return to the mountains and trade with any tribes I might find on the headwaters of the Platte and Arkansas rivers. This country embraces the hunting grounds of the Cheyennes, the Arapahos, the Sioux, and the Eotons. All preliminaries being arranged, which are of no interest to the reader. I bade my friends once more adieu. And stepping on board a steamboat bound up the Missouri, we were soon breasting its broad and turbid current. We spent the fourth on board, amid much noise, revelry, and drunken patriotism. We were landed in safety at Independence, where we received our wagons, cattle, etc., with which to convey the immense stock of goods I had brought through the Indian country. We were very successful in escaping accident in our progress over the plains, until we reached the ridge which passes between the Arkansas and Platte rivers. While ascending this ridge, accompanied with Mr. Vasquez, I was sun-struck. We were at that time 20 miles from water. I was burning with thirst. The heat was intolerable, and hostile Indians were before us. After incredible suffering, we reached the riverbank and crossed the stream to an island where I lay me down to die. All our medicines were in the wagons and two days' journey in our rear. My fatigue and suffering had thrown me into a fever. I became delirious and grew rapidly worse. I requested my companion to return to the wagons and procure me some medicine. But he refused to leave me, lest I might die in his absence. I said to him, If you stay by me, I shall certainly die, for you cannot relieve me. But if you go, and nature holds out till you return, there is some chance of my gaining relief. Go, I added, and hasten your return. He left me at my entreaties, but filled all our vessels with water before he started. I speedily fell asleep, and I know not how long I remained unconscious. When I at length awoke, I drank an inordinate quantity which caused me to perspire copiously. This relieved me, and my recovery commenced from that moment. Although I still suffered from a severe headache. The third day of my friend's absence, I could walk about a little, and on the fourth day at noon, I kept a good look out in the direction I expected succor. Suddenly, I saw a head up here, and another, and then another, until four showed themselves. They are Indians, I said to myself. But if there are only four, I stand a passable chance with them. So let them come on. I saw they had discovered me, so I arose and showed myself. With joyous shouts they flew toward me. It was my companion with three others who had come either to bury me or to assist me to the wagons. Their joy on beholding me so miraculously restored was unbounded, while my delight at seeing them was almost as great. We remained on the island that night, and the following morning started for the wagons, which we found in two days. And going for assistance, my friend had a narrow escape. He came suddenly upon a party upon ease, and one made a rush for his horse. He discharged his rifle hastily and missed his mark. He then had to trust to his horse's heels, but as he was jaded, he did not make very good speed. The Indians were on foot and gave close chase, but when they saw his rifle reloaded, they fell back to a wider distance and plied him with arrows until he was out of reach. I was placed in a wagon and attended on as far as our circumstances would admit, until I recovered my accustomed health. We stayed one night at Burt's Fort on the Arkansas, and then moved on to our destination on the south fork of the Platte. Here, we erected suitable buildings within the fort for our proposed training, and among others, a barn, which we proceeded to fill with hay for the coming winter. While staying at the fort, a man inquired of Sublet his reason for bringing up such a rascally fellow as I to prompt the Indians into rising and massacring all the whites. I said, Murray, said Sublet, for that was the man's name. It is unsafe for you to express such sentiments in relation to Beckworth. Should they reach his ears, he would surely make you rue it. I have heard these foul aspirations upon his character before, and I am in a position to know that they are all unfounded. Had I the least suspicion of his integrity, I should be the last man to take him in my employ. This conversation was reported to me at some distance from the fort, where Murray was perfectly safe. But these foul reports annoyed me exceedingly. They were like stabs in the dark, for no one ever accused me to my face of such misdeeds. After having placed things to rights, we were dining together within the fort when Mr. Sublet rose and said, Traders and clerks, you have come here to the mountains to work for me, and I expect every man to do his best. If I am prospered, I will do well by all of you. I desire a regular system established in my business out here that my interests may be placed upon a secure footing. I am now going to deliver the key of my entire stock of goods to one man among you, in whom I have implicit confidence and whose long experience and intimate acquaintance with the Indian character preeminently entitle him to the trust. This man will have full command of the fort and full charge of its affairs. I wish you to receive him as a representative of myself, and whatever orders you receive from him, obey them cheerfully and to the very letter, all present, promised ready acquiescence to the wishes of our chief. He then delivered the key to me saying, Beckworth, I place this trust in your keeping, believing you to be as morally worthy of the confidence I repose in you, as you are practically qualified to advance my interests. I abandon my affairs to your keeping, do your best, and I shall be satisfied. I was so entirely unprepared for this distinguished mark of confidence that for a moment I was unable to reply. After a momentary irresolution I said, Mr. Sublett, you have other men present who are better able to discharge this trust. I thank you for the flattering preference, but I beg to be excused from assuming the responsibility. I engaged you, he answered, to serve me in this capacity, and I wish you to accept the charge. In that case I said, I will do my best to promote your interest. Shortly after, he called me apart and said, Beckworth, I am deeply in debt. I have been losing for a long time. If you can replace me in one year, you shall be substantially rewarded, and I shall feel sincerely grateful for your service. How much do you owe, I inquired. Over seventeen thousand dollars. Well said I, if the men cooperate with me and carry out my instructions, I feel confident of working you straight. I forthwith said about establishing sub-posts in various places with the Sioux, Arapaho, Iatons, and Cheyennes, and selected the best men at hand to attend them. I placed one at the mouth of Crow Creek, which I called my post, but left a man in charge of it as I was at present fully occupied in traveling from one post to another. We had not, as yet, found any customers. But as we were in the Cheyenne country, I knew some of the nation could not be very far off. I sent three different messengers in search of them to invite them to trade, but they all returned without having discovered the whereabouts of the Indians. Tired of these failures, I took a man with me and started in the direction of the Laramie Mountain. While ascending the mount, I cast my eyes in the directions of a valley and discovered Buffalo running in small groups, which was sufficient evidence that they had been chased recently by Indians. We went no farther, but encamped there and at nightfall we saw fires. The next morning a dense smoke hung like a cloud over the village of the Cheyennes. We ate a hasty meal and started to pay them a visit. As we approached the village, we saw William Bent, an interpreter, entering before us. He visited the chief's lodge. We followed him in and seated ourselves near him. He looked aghast and addressed me. My God! Beckworth! How dare you come among the Cheyennes! Don't you know that they will kill you if they discover you? I replied that I thought not. He had come on the same errand as ourselves, namely to induce a portion of the village to remove to the plat as Buffalo were abundant in that region. After a conversation was held between Bent and a chief, the latter inquired of Bent who we were. He informed him that we were left-hands, sublet's men. What do they want here? he asked. They come for the same purpose that I have, Bent answered, to have you move on to the plat. Bent then inquired of me what account I wished to give of myself, as he would interpret for me. But, preferring to interpret for myself, I asked if there was a crow among them that I could speak to. At the word crow, they all started and every eye was riveted upon me. One stepped forward and said, I am a crow. You a crow? Yes. How long have you been away from them? Twenty winters. Bent was in the greatest perplexity. You are not surely going to tell them who you are, Jim. If you do, you'll cost your friends nothing for your funeral. This apprehension on the part of Bent proved to me that, although he had lived long among the Indians, he had still much to learn of their real character. I therefore requested him to quiet his fears and bide the result. Turning to the crow, I then said, tell the Cheyennes that I have fought them many winters. That I have killed so many of their people that I am buried with their scalps. I have taken a host of their women and children prisoners. I have ridden their horses until their backs were sore. I have eaten their fat buffalo until I was full. I have eaten their cherries and the other fruits of their land until I can eat no more. I have killed a great crow chief and am obliged to run away or be killed by them. I have come to the Cheyennes who are the bravest people in the mountains, as I do not wish to be killed by any of the inferior tribes. I have come here to be killed by the Cheyennes, cut up and thrown out for their dogs to eat, so that they may say that they have killed a great crow chief. He interpreted this unreserved declaration faithfully to the chief, and I observed Bent ready to fall from his seat at what he deemed my full hearty audacity. You are certainly bereft of your senses, he remarked. The Indians will make sausage meat of you. Old Bark, the patriarch of the Cheyennes, rose and said, Warrior, we have seen you before. We know you. We knew you when you came in. Now we know you well. We know you are a great brave. You say you have killed many of our warriors. We know you do not lie. We like a great brave, and we will not kill you. You shall live. I answered, if you will not kill me, I will live with you. If you become poor, like some of the other tribes, and you need warriors to help you against your enemies, my arm is strong and perhaps I will assist you to overcome them. But I will not at this time give you my word that I will do so. If you do not kill me, I am going to trade with you for many moons. I will trade with you fairly. I will not cheat you, as some of the traders have cheated you. I have a great many goods over on the plat, such as you want, more than would fill many of your lodges. They are new and look well. But mind you, you must trade fairly with me. I have heard that you sometimes treat your traders badly, that you take away their goods and whip them, and make them run out of your country to save their lives. Your people must never serve me in that manner. They must pay me for all they get. And if anyone strikes me, I shall kill him, and thereby show you that I am brave. If anyone should strike me, and I should not kill him, you would call me a woman and say I was no brave. They then asked me, through the crow interpreter, if I was in such and such a battle between their nation and the crows, all of which questions I answered truthfully. Do you remember that in such a battle we lost such a brave, describing him? Yes. Who killed him? I did, or if I did not kill him, I would tell them the name of the crow who did. Did he fight well? Yes, he fought well. He died like a brave man then, they would ejaculate. Were you in such a battle? Asked another. Yes. Did you see such a warrior fall? Yes. Did he fight strong, like a brave? No, he did not fight well. Ah! He was no brave. He deserved to be killed. In battle, every warrior has his personal device painted on his shield, chosen according to his fancy. My armorial bearing was a crescent with a green bird between the horns, and a star on each side of the field. I described my novel device, and there was a great movement among them, for most of them distinctly recollected that shield, and I saw myself rising in their estimation. Their brave hearts rejoiced to have a true warrior before them, for they esteemed me as brave as themselves. One of their great chiefs named the Bobtail Horse arose, and asked me if I remembered the battle on Pole Creek. I replied that I did. You killed me there, he said, but I did not die. And he pointed out two scars upon his chest, just below the lower rib, where the balls from my gun entered, and which must have killed anybody but an Indian. Where did I hit you? he asked. Ah-ha, said I, you missed me. Old Bark then said, warrior, you killed me once too. Look here. And he withdrew the hair from his right temple, and I saw that his cheek had been badly torn, and his ear was entirely missing. But, he added, I did not die. You fought bravely that day. Had I gone among the Pawnees, the Sioux, or many other tribes, and held this talk, I should have been hewn to pieces in a moment. But the Cheyennes were great braves themselves, and admired the quality in others, the Crows being their only equals. While I sat talking thus, one of my men entered the village bearing two ten-gallon kegs of whiskey. He requested me to take one and sell it out while he went to the other end of the village where the Sioux were in camp to sell the other. I had hitherto always opposed the sell of liquor to the Indians, and during my chieftainship of the Crows, not one drop had ever been brought into the village. But now I was restrained by no such moral obligation. I was a mere trader, hazarding my life among the savages to make money for my employers. The sale of liquor is one of the most profitable branches of a trader's business, and since the appetite for the vile potion had already been created, my personal influence in the matter was very slight. I was no law-giver. I was no longer in a position to prohibit the introduction of the white man's firewater. If I had refused to sell it to the Indians, plenty more traders would have furnished it to them, and my conscientious scruples would benefit the Indians none and would deprive my embarrassed employer of a very considerable source of profit. Running these things hurriedly over in my own mind, I took the proffered keg and dealt it all out within two hours. Certainly the rate of profit was high enough. If a man wants a good price for the sale of his soul to his satanic majesty, let him engage in the liquor business among the nations of the Rocky Mountains. Our liquor was a choice article. One pint of alcohol costing, I suppose, six cents was manufactured into five times the quantity of whiskey, and this was retailed to our insatiate customers at the rate of one pint for each buffalo robe. If the robe was an extra fine one, I might possibly open my heart and give two pints. But I felt no particular inducement to liberality in my dealings, for I thought the greatest kindness I could show my customers was to withhold the commodity entirely. Before I had got through with my keg, I had a row with an Indian, which cost him his life on the spot. While I was busy in attending the tap, a tall Sioux warrior came into my establishment, already the worst for liquor, which he had obtained elsewhere. He made some formidable strides round and near me and then inquired for the crow. I was pointed out to him, and in pot-valiant he swaggered up to me. You are a crow, he exclaimed. Yes. You are a great crow brave. Yes. You have killed a host of Siouxs. No, I have killed a host of Cheyennes, but I have only killed 14 Siouxs with my own hand. Look at me, said he, with drunken gas canade. My arm is strong. I am the greatest brave in the Sioux nation. Now come out and I will kill you. No, I said. I did not come here to be killed or to kill. I came here to trade. I could kill you as easily as I could kill a squaw, but you know that you have a host of warriors here while I am alone. They would kill me after I had killed you, but if I should come inside of your village with 20 of my crow warriors, you would all run and leave your lodges, women and children. Go away, I want nothing to do with you. Your tongue is strong, but you are no brave. I had told the Cheyennes, but a few moments previously that I had been among all the nations in the country, and that it had ever been my invariable rule when struck by a red man to kill him. I was determined to prove the truth of my declaration in this instance. I had my battle axe hanging from my wrist, and I was ready at a moment's warning. The Sioux continued his abuse of me in his own tongue, which I paid no attention to, for I suppose that, like his white brethren, he might utter a great deal of provocation in his cups and straight away repentant when he became sober. Finally, he became so importunate that I saw it was time to take an active part. I said, you want to kill me, eh? I would fight with you, only I know I should be killed by the Sioux afterwards, and I should have you for my waiter in the spirit land. I would rather kill a good brave if I kill any. This was a very appropriate speech, for it is their faith that when an Indian is slain, who has previously slain a foe, the first killed warrior becomes waiter in the spirit land to the one who had laid him low. Indeed, it was more than he could endure. He jerked off the cloth that was fastened around his hips and struck me in the face with it. I grasped my battle axe, but the blow I aimed was arrested by a lodge pole, which impeded over his head and saved him from immediate death. The lodge pole was nearly severed with the blow. I raised my arm again, but it was restrained by the Cheyennes, who had been sitting around with their heads declined during the Sioux's previous abuse. The Sioux chief, Bullbear, was standing near and was acquainted with the whole particulars of the difficulty. He advanced and chopped his warrior down and hacked him to pieces after he fell. Ah, grunted he, as cruelly as possible. You ought to have been killed long ago, you bad Indian. This demonstration on my part had a good effect. The Indians examined the cut inflicted by the edge of my axe on the lodge pole and declared mine a strong arm. They saw I was an earnest and would do what I had threatened and except in one single instance I had no farther trouble. Influenced by my persuasions, 200 lodges of the Cheyennes started from the plat, bent in myself accompanying them. On our way to there, we met one of my wagons, loaded with goods, on its way to the north fork of the plat. There was a 40 gallon cask of whiskey among its contents and as the Indians insisted on having it opened, I brought it out of the wagon and broached it. Bent begged me not to touch it, but to wait till we reached the fort. I was there for the purpose of making money and when a chance offered, it was my duty to make the most of it. On that he left me and went to the fort. I commenced dealing it out and before it was half gone I had realized 16 horses in over 200 robes. While I was busy in my traffic, the Indians brought in four trappers whom they had chance to pick up. The poor fellows appeared half frightened to death, not knowing what their fate would be. I addressed them in English. How are you boys? Where are you bound? These Indians must decide that, they replied. Are they good Indians? Yes, I replied. They will not harm you. They informed me that they were returning from the mountains with 12 packs of beaver and while encamped one night the crows had stolen their horses. They had cashed their peltry and now wanted to buy more horses to carry it to some fort. I made a bargain with them for their beaver and taking some horses went with them myself to their laid encampment for I could not trust them alone for fear that they would take their skins to some other post. We disinterred the peltry and with it reached the fort without accident. The trappers stayed with us two or three weeks and then purchasing their outfit and horses they again started for the mountains. We had a prosperous fall and winter trade and accumulated more peltry than our wagons can transport and we had to build boats to convey it to St. Louis. At the settlement of accounts it was found that we had cleared sufficient to pay Mr. Sublett's debts and enough over to buy a handsome stock of goods for the next season's trade. I spent the summer at the fort while Sublett and Fitzpatrick went on with the peltry to St. Louis. I had but little to do as the Indians had removed to their summer retreats and I spent my time very agreeably with the few men remaining behind and hunting buffalo for our own use. About the last of August our goods arrived and we set ourselves to work again at business. I put up at the north fork of the plat and had a busy fall and winter trade making many very profitable bargains for the company. The Cheyennes thought me the best trader that ever visited them and would not allow any other company to traffic with their villages. This sorely vexed my rival traders and once or twice I had my life attempted in consequence. When others came to ask permission to open a trading post the Cheyennes would say No, we do all our trading with the crow. He will not cheat us. His whiskey is strong. When I found I had obtained the confidence of the nation I told the Cheyennes that if they allowed other traders to come in I should leave them and they would be cheated by those who sold poor whiskey that would not make them marry half so soon as mine. This may be considered selfish but I knew that our company was keenly competed with by three or four rival companies and that the same representations that I used to keep the trade in my hands were freely urged by others to attract it from me. There was also a farther inducement for the Cheyennes to do their business with me which was founded upon their respect for me as a great brave who had killed a number of their countrymen. Whether there was diplomatic finesse enough in their minds to reflect that while I was harmlessly engaged with them I could not be fighting in the bands of their enemies and adding to my present number of scalps I could not pretend to say. End of Chapter 30 Chapter 31 The Life and Adventures of James P. Beckworth Mountaineer, Scout and Pioneer and Chief of the Crow Nation of Indians Written from his own dictation by T. D. Bonner This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org While in the midst of my occupations a messenger was dispatched to me by the Chief of a Cheyenne village at that time encamped about 20 miles distant with an invitation to visit them and trade there. This village was composed of outlaws from all the surrounding tribes who were expelled from their various communities for sundry infractions of their rude criminal code. They had acquired a hard name for their cruelties and excesses and many white traders were known to have been killed among them. The Chief's name was Mohit Nishto, the elk that calls and he was a terror to all white people in that region. The village numbered 300 lodges and could bring from 12 to 1500 warriors into the field the best fighters of the nation. We called it the City of Refuge. The messenger arrived at my post and inquired for the Crow. I am the Crow I answered. The Great Chief Mohit Nishto wants the Crow to come to his lodge. What does he want with me? He wants to trade much. What does he want to trade? He wants much whiskey, much beads, much scarlet, much chettles and he enumerated a list of articles. Have your people any robes by them? They have so much robes that they cannot move with them. Any horses? Great many, good Crow horses. Well said I, I will go straight away and you must show me the way. Who will go to the village of the elk that calls? I asked. I want two men. Peterson and another volunteer to accompany me. But by this time the matter in hand had reached sublet's ears and he came forward and said, You are not going to the village of the outlaws, Beckworth? Yes, I replied, I am. Don't you know that they kill whites there? Yes, I know that they have killed them. Well, I object to your going. Captain Sublet, I said. I have promised the Indian that I will go and go I must. There has been no trader there for a long time and they are a rich prize. He saw that I was resolved and having given me the control of affairs he withdrew his objection and said no more. I accordingly prepared for the journey. Ordering the horses, I packed up my goods together with twenty gallons of whiskey and issued forth on the way to uncertain destruction and bearing with me the means of destruction certain. The Indian conducted me to the chief's lodge. I dismounted my two men following my example. The chief came to us and passed the usual compliments. He desired me to take off my packs at which request I immediately remounted my horse. What is the matter? inquired the chief. When I sent for my friends to come and see me, I said, I never asked them to unpack their horses or to guard them, but I have done it for them. You are right, my friend, said he. It shall be done. Get off your horse and come into my lodge. I dismounted again and was about to follow him. My men, who did not understand our conversation, arrested my path to inquire what was in the wind. I bade them keep quiet, as all was amicable, and then entered the lodge. We held a long conversation together, during which the chief made many inquiries of a similar nature to those addressed me at the first village. In recounting our achievements, I found that I had stolen his horses and that he had made reprisals upon the crows so that we were about even in the horse trade. At length he wished me to broach the whiskey. No, said I, my friend, I will not open the whiskey until you send for your women to come with their robes, and they have bought what goods they want first. They work hard and dress all your robes. They deserve to trade first. They wish to buy many fine things to wear so that your warriors may love them. When they have traded all they wish, then I will open my whiskey and the men can get drunk. But if the men get drunk first, your women will be afraid of them, and they will take all the robes and the women will get nothing. Your words are true, my friend, said the chief. Our women shall trade before the men get drunk. They dress all our robes. Your words shall be according to your words. Accordingly he sent for all the women who had robes and wished to sell to come and trade with the crow. They were not long in obeying the summons. Forward they came, some with one robe and some with two. Two was the most that any of them had as the men had reserved the most to purchase whiskey. The trading was expeditiously affected. We did not have to take down and open all our goods and then sell a skein of thread and be informed by our customer that she would look elsewhere first and perhaps call again. Which is the practice of many young ladies, especially where there is an attractive shopman. We could hardly hand out things fast enough. We served all the women to their entire satisfaction and closed out our stock of dry goods. We then proceeded to the whiskey. Before opening the kegs I laid down my rules to the chief. I told him that his people might spree as long as they chose but that they must not obstruct my business or interfere with me. As the liquor was served out to them they must carry it out of the lodge and not stay to be in my way and give me trouble. This was readily assented to and the sales began. Whiskey will have the same effect everywhere and if a man will traffic in the cursed stuff he must submit to his share of the mischief he creates. My understanding with the chief was productive of no effect. I went into the lodge saying, I have killed an Indian. I looked and saw that his battle axe was dripping with blood. Yells and tumult increased outside. The chief was again making his way toward the lodge protected by a host of friends while behind him and striving to get at him was an infuriated throng. Fighting and yelling like devils. My store in an instant was filled to overflowing with opposing parties composed of outlaws from a dozen tribes. I sprang to secure my gun and my companions mistaking my movement supposed I had started to run and they broke out of the back of the lodge and did not stop until they reached our post on the plat. Battle axes and knives fairly rung through the lodge during the continuance of the fight. But it was over in a few minutes and they withdrew to the place outside and renewed it to greater advantage. At the restoration of peace some ghastly wounds were shown to me but singular to say none of the belligerents were killed. Mohi nesto after a short interval returned without having received a single scratch and said all was quiet again and they wanted more whiskey. The women wished to get some also he informed me. I knew that if the women were going to join in I must have another supply and I told the chief I had not enough left to get the women drunk. Send for more then said he. Our women are buried up and smothered with robes and will buy very much. I soon found a volunteer to run to the post to carry in order to sublet to send me twenty gallons more of whiskey. My assistants after making their hasty exit from the back of the chief's lodge reported at the post the state of affairs at the village of the outlaws at the time they left. Guns were being fired they said and beyond all doubt Beckworth was killed. No one dared to go and ascertain the result. Sublet was in great trouble. I did my utmost to prevent his going he consoled himself by saying but he went in opposition to all orders and advice. So if he is killed the responsibility does not rest upon me. Buy and buy my messenger arrived with the order for more whiskey. Sublet took the letter and read it. Oh said he Jim is not dead yet. He assent for more firewater. Who will take it to him? Four men volunteered for the errand and arrived with it next day. The Indians took their horses away from them and they became alarmed. But when they shortly after saw me up to my neck in buffalo robes their fear subsided. These two kegs went off as actively as the proceeding and the robes fairly poured in. The whole village moved on toward the post singing dancing and drinking and when I had approached within five miles I had to send for two kegs more. In short the 60 gallons of firewater realized to the company over 1100 robes and 18 horses worth in St. Louis $6000. This trading whiskey for Indian property is one of the most infernal practices ever entered into by man. Let the reader sit down and figure up the profits on a 40 gallon cask of alcohol and he will be thunderstruck or rather whiskey struck. When disposed of four gallons of water are added to each gallon of alcohol in 200 gallons there are 1600 pints for each one of which the trader gets a buffalo robe worth $5. The Indian women toil many long weeks to dress these 1600 robes. The white trader gets them all for worse than nothing for the poor Indian mother hides herself and her children in the forest until the effect of the poison passes away from the husbands, fathers and brothers who love them when they have no whiskey and abuse and kill them when they have $6000 for 60 gallons of alcohol. Is it a wonder that with such profits and prospect men get rich who are engaged in the fur trade or is it a miracle that the poor buffalo are becoming gradually exterminated being killed with so little remorse that their very hides among the Indians themselves are known by the appellation of a pint of whiskey. The chief made me a gratuity of 40 robes. On two subsequent visits I paid him on his invitation he made me further presence until he had presented me with 185 robes without receiving any equivalent. The extent of his royal munificence seriously alarmed sublet. It was just the same profuse spirit he said that had bred disputes with other traders often resulting in their losing their lives. It is as well a savage custom as civilized to expect a commensurate return for any favors bestowed and an Indian is so punctilious with the observance of this etiquette that he will part with his last horse and his last blanket rather than receive a favor without requital. Mohi and Nesto without intending it was rather troublesome on this point. When he became sober after these drunken carousels he would begin to reflect seriously on these things. He would find his robes all gone his women's labor for it would take months of toil in dressing and ornamenting these robes thrown unprofitably away. His people had nothing to show for their late pile of wealth and their wants would remain unsupplied. They would have no guns or ammunition to fight the crows who were always well supplied and their whole year's earnings were squandered. These reflections would naturally make him discontented and irritable and he would be take himself to the post for reparation. White man, he would say I have given you my robes which my warriors have spent months in hunting and which my women have slaved a whole year in dressing and what do you give me in return? I have nothing. You give me fire water which makes me and my people mad and it is gone and we have nothing to hunt more buffalo with and to fight our enemies. The generality of traders will endeavor to make it apparent to him that there was a fair exchange of commodities affected and that he had the worth of his wares and they can do no more for him. This angered him and in his disappointment and vexation he would rise the war hoop. His warriors would rust to him. He would harangue them for a moment and assault would be made upon the trading post. The goods would be seized and in many instances the trader would be massacred and scalped. I saw the necessary relation between all these events and knew that simple justice in exchanges would avoid all such catastrophes. I therefore told Sublet to feel no uneasiness as I could arrange matters so as to afford general satisfaction. Well said he, go your own way to destruction. A day or two after this Sublet came to inform me that Mohi Nesto was on his way to the fort. I looked out and saw the chief and his wife both approaching on horseback. As he entered I received him with great ceremony taking him by the hand and bidding him welcome to the fort. I had his horses well attended to a sumptuous supper for himself and wife served up and while the meal was preparing entertain him with liquors fit to make any topper's mouth water. After supper he got gloriously fuddled and went to bed ignorant of what was passing in the world around him. In the morning I inquired of him how he felt uhhhh much bad head ache strong. I then gave him another whiskey punch well flavored with spices. He and his lady drank deeply and then partook of a hearty breakfast. He then felt well again. I next led him into the store where he had a large assortment of every Indian novelty. I knew he had children as well as how many. So I selected a five striped Hudson's Bay blanket for himself another for his wife and one for each of his children. Besides an extra scarlet blanket for his eldest son a young warrior. To his wife I also gave a two gallon brass kettle and beads enough to last her for a year or two. In fact I selected more or less of every description of article that I thought would be useful to them or that I thought an Indian eye could covet. These presents I ceremoniously laid upon the counter until I had two or three large piles of quite attractive looking goods. The chief and his wife had watched me laying all these goods before them. They then asked them if they saw anything more anywhere in the store that they thought they would like. Mohi Nashto opened his eyes wide with surprise. What he exclaimed are all those things for us? Yes I said they are for you, your wife and your children. Something for you all. When I have a friend I like to be liberal in my gifts to him. I never rob the red men. I never take all their robes and give them nothing but whiskey. I give them something good for themselves, their wives and their children. My heart is big. I know what the red men want and what their families want. My friend, your heart is too big. You give me much more than I ever had before. You will be very poor. No I said I have many things here, all mine. I am rich and when I find a good friend I make him rich like me. I then made him look the store carefully through to see if there was anything more that he would like. He looked but saw nothing more that he needed. I then made the same request of his wife whose satisfaction beamed all over her face but she too was fully supplied. I then stepped into another room and returned with a fine new gun with a hundred rounds of ammunition and a new, highly fenced, silver mounted battle axe. This was the Comble de Benefe. I thought he would not recover from the shock. He took the battle axe in his hand and examined it minutely, his face distorted with a broad grin all the while. You said he, you give me too much. I gave you no robes but you have proved that you are my friend. When they were ready to start there was an extra horse for him and a fine mare for his wife ready waiting at the door. There my friend said I, is a good horse for you. He is swift to run the buffalo. Here is a fine mare for you I said to his wife. Indian women love to raise handsome colts. I give her to you and you must not let the crow steal her from you. She displayed every tooth in her head in token of her satisfaction and she mounted to return home. The chief said as he left I am going on a war party and then to kill buffalo. I will come back again in a few moons. I will then come and see you and I will kill you. I will crush you to death with robes. In a way they went, never better satisfied in their lives. Now, is it to be supposed that the company lost anything by this liberality? That chief whose hands were stained with the blood of so many traders would have defended my life till the last gasp. While I was in his country no other trader could have bartered a plug of tobacco with him or his people. The company still derived great profits from his trade. Besides the immense returns derived from my transactions with the village I cleared over $500 from my exchanges with the chief alone after the full value of my munificent presence had been deducted. One day the Cheyenne dog soldiers were to have a dance and count their coups. I called all the crows who were in the band and asked them if the regulations would admit of my joining in the dance. Certainly said they nothing will please them more. They will then believe that you have joined them. Accordingly I painted myself and put on a uniform including a chief's coat new from the shelves and painted my white leggings with stripes denoting a great number of coups. When ready I walked toward them as great a man as any. On seeing me approach there was a general inquiry Who is that? Where did he come from? When the ceremonies commenced I joined in and danced as hard as any of them. The drum at length sounded to announce the time to begin to count. I stepped forward first and began Cheyenne's Do you remember that you had a warrior killed at such a place wearing such and such marks of distinction? Yes We know it. I killed him. He was a great brave. There was a tap on the drum and one coup was counted. I proceeded until I had counted my five coups which is the limited number between the dances. Next in turn the bob-tailed horse counted his five on the crows and to his various illusions I assented with a customary I remember. This betrayed who I was and they were delighted to see one of the dog soldiers of the crows join their band. The bob-tailed horse made me a valuable present and I returned to the fort with six splendid war horses and thirty fine robes presented to me at that dance as my initiation gifts or bounty money for their army. I was then a dog soldier in the picked troop of the Cheyennes compelled to defend the village against every enemy until I died like Macbeth with harness on my back. The crows had been informed by sundry persons in the employ of the American fur company that I had joined their inveterate enemies. They were satisfied by proceeding. The medicine calf is a cunning chief they said. He best knows how to act. He has joined the Cheyennes to learn all about their numbers the routes of their villages and so forth. When he has learned all that he wants he will return to us and then we can fight the Cheyennes to greater advantage. I was now in my second winter with a sublet in the Cheyennes and Sioux country. He had succeeded far beyond his expectation and he still continued to make money by thousands. We had curtailed the number of sub posts and thereby materially reduced his expenses. Indeed they were now less than half what they were the preceding winter leaving sublets. I went down to the south plat 150 miles and indulged in a short rest until I heard that the Cheyennes of the Arkansas those that I first visited were about to make their spring trade and I went over to meet them and bring them to our fort. I found them all appear to be glad to see me and they returned with me and crossing the divide or ridge between the two rivers in advance discovered a party upon ease and a charge was immediately made upon them. We only killed three of the enemy. I counted a coup by capturing a rifle. The victim who abandoned it had been already killed. While we engaged the enemy the village went into camp and I proposed to my fellow warriors to return to the village after the manner of the crows there were several in the party so we could easily raise a good crow song and the Cheyenne warriors could join in. We struck up merrily and advanced toward the village. As soon as the women heard our voices they ran out to see who were coming. There were several captive crows among the Cheyennes who I supposed had lived among them ever since I had been sold to the whites. These recognized our stave and exclaimed those are crows coming we know their song this brought out the whole village who stood waiting our arrival and surprise and wonderment as we drew near however they distinguished me in the party and the mystery was solved. The crow is with the Cheyennes we performed all kinds of antics made a circuit round the village going through evolutions and performances which the Cheyennes had never before seen but with which they were so highly pleased that they adopted the dance into the celebrations of their nation. That night the scalp dance was performed which I took part in as great a man as any. I sung the crow song to the special admiration of the fair sex. The next morning we resumed the journey to the fort which we reached after three days' travel. The village had brought a great number of robes together with some beaver and a great trade was opened with them. At this time I had a difficulty with a Cheyenne the only one I ever had with any of the tribe. I was eating dinner one day when a great brave came in and demanded whiskey. I repaired to the store with him to supply his want when I found he had no robe to pay for it and was besides intoxicated. I refused to give him the whiskey telling him he must first go and bring a robe. This probably aggravated him and he made a sudden cut at me with his sword which I very fortunately dodged and before he could raise his weapon again I had him between my feet on the ground. I had left my battle axe on my seat at the table and I called out for someone to bring it to me but no one came with it. I at length released him and he went hooping away to obtain his gun to shoot the crow. I seized my own and waited for him at the door while all the inmates of the fort begged of me not to shoot him. After some little delay he appeared gun in hand but three Cheyenne warriors interfered to stop him and he returned into his lodge. The day following he sent for Sublet and myself to go and dine with him and we went accordingly. Sublet was apprehensive of mischief for my visit and endeavored to dissuade me from going but I foresaw no danger and knew farther that it would be a cause of offense to the Indian to neglect his invitation when we entered his lodge he was glad to see us and bade me be seated on a pile of robes. I sat down as desired and our host, after holding a short conversation with Sublet turned to me and spoke as follows Oh Tony Crow I was a fool yesterday you spared my life I do not want you to be angry with me because I am not angry with you I was drunk I had drunk too much of your whiskey and it made my heart black I did not know what I was doing very well said I I am not angry with you when you attempted to kill me I was angry and if my battle axe had been in my hand I should have killed you you are alive and I am glad of it take those robes he rejoined and hereafter you shall be my brother and I will be your brother those robes will make your heart right and we will quarrel no more I took the robes with me 10 in number and found my heart perfectly mollified Mr. Sublet in Vasquez had realized immense profits during their three years of partnership disposed of all their interest and efforts in the Rocky Mountain Fur business and returned to St. Louis this threw me entirely out of business when Mr. Bent and Savarene wished to engage me in their employee after some little negotiation with them I concluded a bargain and entered into their service in the latter part of the summer we immediately proceeded to establish subposts in various directions and I repaired to Laramie Fork as soon as it was known among the Indians that the Crow was trading at Bent's post they came flocking in with their robes Old Smoke the head chief of another band of outlaws known as Smokes Band but claimed by no particular nation or tribe visited me with his village and commenced a great spree I gave them a grand entertainment which seemed to tickle their taste highly they kept up their carousel until they had parted with 2,000 robes and had no more remaining they then demanded whiskey and I refused it no trust the motto we see inscribed on every low drinking saloon in St. Louis is equally our system in dealing with the Indians they became infuriated at my refusal and clamored and threatened if I persisted I knew it was no use to give away so I adhered to my resolution there upon they commenced firing upon the store and showered the bullets through every assailable point the windows were shot entirely out and the assailants swore vengeance against the Crow according to their talk I had my choice either to die or give them whiskey to drink I had but one man with me in the store there had been several Canadians in the fort but on the first alarm they ran to their houses which were built around the fort within the pickets to obtain their guns but on the Indians informing them that they would not hurt them that it was only the Crow that they were after the Canadians stayed within doors and abandoned me to my fate I and my companion sat with our rifles ready cocked well prepared to defend the entrance to the fort we had plenty of guns at hand ready loaded and there must a few have fallen before they pass the gate at dusk I closed the door but we lay upon our arms all night the Indians kept up quick tumult and father but attempted nothing Mr. Bent and Savarene arrived in the morning and wanted to be informed of the cause of the disturbance I acquainted them and they approved my conduct they were astonished at my immense pile of robes and applauded my fortitude when the outlaws became sobered they expressed contrition for what they had done and charged their excesses upon John Barley Corn which plea I admitted at the same time it appeared quite inconsistent that I, who was that celebrated gentleman's high priest should be set upon and almost murdered by his devotees nothing noteworthy occurred until the following January when the Indians being again on the spree once more attempted my life I fled to a post in the Arapaho country in charge of Mr. Alex Warfield now a colonel in the army he resigned the post to me and took my place at Bent's post I had but little trouble with the Indians here cut nose and old brave who it seems had been in the habit of obtaining his drams of Warfield Gretis expected to be supplied by me on the same terms I resisted this invasion and seriously ruffled the feathers of the old chief thereby he left at my refusal and did not return again that day during the ensuing night the Pawnees came and stole both his horses and mine the old man raised a party went in pursuit recaptured all the horses took two scalps and returned in high spirits he visited the store and informed me what he had done well said I that is because I gave you no whiskey yesterday if I had given you whiskey you would have drunk too much and been sick this morning in consequence then you would not have been able to pursue the Pawnees and you would have lost your horses however I gave him some whiskey then in honor of his achievement this as I had expected pleased the old fellow and he restored me my horses and charged me nothing for their recapture as soon as the spring trade was over I abandoned that post and returned to the Arkansas Savarene desired me to go and see if I could open a trade with a village of Arapahos which he had heard was encamped at 40 miles distance I accordingly started in their direction by two men we journeyed on until we had arrived within a short distance of the village when we discovered on our road a band of three or four hundred traveling Indians I saw they were Comanches and I bade the two men to run for their lives as I knew the Comanches would kill them I directed them to the Arapaho village and bade them shout their loudest when they came inside of it they left me and ascended a slight eminence a little distance in advance and then shouting to the extent of their lungs they put their horses down at the best speed I rode up after them and telegraphed with my blanket to the village to have them come quickly they obeyed my motions and fell in with the Comanches on their way to me the two tribes proved to be friends and my companions were safe on arriving at the village I found abundance of robes and opened a very successful trade with the people this finished I returned to the fort and assisted the other employees in loading the wagons for their trip to St. Louis End of Chapter 31 Chapter 32 The Life and Adventures of James P. Beckworth Mountaineer, Scout Pioneer and Chief of the Crow Nation of Indians Written from his own dictation by T. D. Bonner This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org I had now accumulated a considerable sum of money and thought I might as well put it to some use for my own profit as risk my life in the service of others while they derived the lion's share from my industry It was now about three years since I had left St. Louis on my present excursion and I began to weary of the monotony of my life I was within five days journey of New Mexico and I determined upon going to take a look at the northern portion of this unbounded territory I had but one man with me named Charles Town when I started upon my new exploration On our road tither we passed near to a Utah village and two or three of their warriors presented themselves before us to hold a parlay while the chief sat down on a log close by they said as we reigned in our horses for a moment you make our paths bad by coming into our country you will go back and tell the Cheyennes and Arapahos where we are they will then come and kill us and steal our horses come here our chief wants to see you this was spoken intolerably good Spanish come on said I addressing my companion let us not be annoyed by these trifling Indians and I urged my horse against the Indian spokesman knocking him into the dirt he arose exclaiming Shawnee we then rode on without further molestation they evidently mistaking me for a Shawnee they had robbed several white men and after beating them savagely had liberated them I had no manner of fear of them for I knew them to be great cowards with any good crow warriors I would have chased a thousand of them we passed on into St. Fernandez and found quite a number of American traders there established in business and supplying both mountaineers and Indians with goods here I encountered an old acquaintance named Lee with whom I entered into partnership we purchased 100 gallons of alcohol and a stock of fancy articles to return to the Indian country and trade for robes and other peltry we visited the Cheyennes on the south fork of the plat we passed Bentz Fort on our way tither he hailed us and inquired where we were going I informed him that we were on our way to the Cheyenne village he begged me not to go as I valued my safety it was only the day previous he said that he had traded with them and bought 18 horses from their village they came the next morning and took them forcibly back and threatened him with their guns if he said a word against their proceedings I replied to him that I anticipated no danger and left him to pass on to their village the Indians were delighted at my arrival I had heard that the hooping off was very prevalent among the children and as we happened to have several bushels of corn and beans and a large quantity of dried pumpkins we could not have come at a more opportune moment I told the Indians an answer to their welcome that I had come back to see them because I had heard their children were all sick I called attention to my stock of vegetable escalants as being best adapted for food for their children and the best calculated to restore them to health besides I added I have brought a little whiskey along to put good life into your hearts they were then in their sobered feelings which will return to them after their carousels and which present so dangerous a time to the trader their horses were all away the robes were gone and they had nothing to show in return for them their children were sick and dying their wives mourning and half distracted and they could obtain nothing at the fort to alleviate their sufferings I could understand the whole cholerae of incidents like their intemperate white brethren who will occasionally review matters after a prolonged spree and who will see the effects of their dissipation in their desolate homes their heart broken wives and their ragged and starving children what are their feelings at such a contemplation unquestionably hostility against the cause of this destitution whether they recognize it in themselves the willing instruments or the liquor that infatuated them or the dealer that supplied it to them the Indians seemed to have one circle of reasoning and invariably vent their spleen upon the trader it was this reactionary feeling that had led the Indians to recover by force of arms the horses they had parted with previously I knew better how to manage them I deposited my goods at old bark's lodge who felt highly honored with the trust the villagers collected round and a dispute arose among them whether the whiskey should be broached or not porcupine bear objected and bob-tailed horse, his brother-in-law strongly advocated by opening the kegs this led to a warm altercation between the two warriors until the disputed question was to be decided by the arbitrament of battle they both left the lodge to prepare for the combat and returned in a few minutes fully armed and equipped porcupine bear argued his cause in the following strain Shiaz, look at me and listen well to my words I am now about to fight my brother I shall fight him and shall kill him if I can in doing this I do not fight my brother but I fight the greatest enemy of my people once we were a great and powerful nation our hearts were proud and our arms were strong but a few winters ago all other tribes feared us now the ponies dare to cross our hunting grounds and kill our buffalo once we could beat the crows and unaided destroyed their village now we call other villages to our assistance and we cannot defend ourselves from the assaults of the enemy how is this Shiaz the crows drink no whiskey the earnings of their hunters and coils of their women are bartered to the white man for weapons and ammunition this keeps them powerful and dreaded by their enemies we kill buffalo by the thousands our women's hands are sore with dressing the robes and what do we part with them to the white trader for we pay them for the white man's firewater which turns our brains upside down which makes our hearts black and renders our arms weak it takes away our warrior skill and makes them shoot wrong in battle our enemies who drink no whiskey when they shoot always kill their foe we have no ammunition to encounter our foes and we have become us dogs which have nothing but their teeth our prairies were once covered with horses as the trees are covered with leaves where are they now ask the crows who drink no whiskey when we are all drunk they come and take them before our eyes our legs are helpless and we cannot follow them we are only fearful to our women who take up their children and conceal themselves among the rocks in the forest for we are wolves in our lodges we growl at them like bears when they are famishing our children are now sick and our women are weak with watching let us not scare them away from our lodges with their sick children in their arms the great spirit will be offended at it I had rather go to the great and happy hunting ground now than live and see the downfall of my nation our fires begin to burn dim and will soon go out entirely my people are becoming like the ponies they buy the whiskey of the trader and because he is weak and not able to fight them they go and steal from his lodge I say, let us buy of the crow what is useful and good but his whiskey we will not touch let him take that away with him I have spoken all I have to say and if my brother wishes to kill me for it I am ready to die I will go and sit with my fathers in the spirit land where I shall soon point down to the last expiring fire of the Cheyenne and when they inquire the cause of this decline of their people I will tell them with a straight tongue that it was the fire water of the trader that put it out old bark then advanced between the two belligerents and thus spoke Cheyenne's I am your great chief you know me my word this day shall be obeyed the crow has come among us again and has brought us good things that we need he has also brought us a little whiskey he is poor while we are yet strong and we will buy all he has brought with him this day we will drink it will make us marry and feel good to one another we will all drink this once but we will not act like fools we will not quarrel and fight and frighten our women and children now warriors give me your weapons this fiat admitted no appeal it was law and gospel to his people disobedience to his command subjected the offender to immediate death at the hands of the dog soldiers the warriors delivered up their battle axes and the old chief handed them to me crow said he take these weapons that I have taken from my two children keep them until we have drunk up your whiskey and let no one have them till I bid you now crow we are ready slim face and grey head two dog soldiers then harangued the village and desired all who wished to trade to come and bring their robes and horses to old Bart's lodge and to remember that they were trading with the honest crow the white men and that what they paid him was his they answered the summons and flocks the women first according to my established rule my corn beans and pumpkins exhaled like the dew and I received and exchanged their beautiful fancy robes the women served the men next came in for whiskey I sold on credit to some when one wanted thus to deal he would tell me what kind of horse or mule he had I would appeal to old Bart for confirmation of the statement if he verified it I served the liquor they all got drunk porcupine bear the temperance orator with the rest but there was not a single fight all passed off harmoniously I received over 400 splendid robes besides moccasins and fancy articles when I was ready to leave 38 horses and mules a number corresponding to what I had marked were brought forward I packed up my peltry and sent my partner on in advance with everything except the horse I rode telling him I would overtake him shortly I had reserved a 5 gallon keg of whiskey unknown to all and when about to start I produced it and presented it to the crowd they were charmed and insisted on making me a return they brought me over 40 of their finest robes such as the young squaws finish with immense labor to present to their lovers old bark gave me a good mule to pack them and another chief gave me a second I then took my leave promising to return by leaf fall when I passed bent at his post he was perfectly confounded he had seen one train pass belonging to me and now I was conducting another when at the same time he had supposed that there was not a robe in the village Beckworth said he how you manage Indians as you do beats my understanding I told him that it was easily accounted for that the Indians knew that the whites cheated them and knew that they could believe what I said besides that they naturally felt superior confidence in me on account of my supposed affinity of race I had lived so much among them that I could enter into their feelings and be in every respect one of themselves this was an inducement which no acknowledged white trader could ever hope to hold out I rode on and overtook my partner in advance he had had an adventure a party of Cheyennes led by a chief named three crows had met him and rifled him of a three gallon keg of whiskey which we had reserved for our own use on our way to saint Fernandez the chief stopped him and said I smell whiskey and we must have some my partner told him that he had none ah my nose don't lie but your tongue does I smell it strong and if you do not hand it out we shall unpack all your horses and find it well said the man I have a little but it belongs to the crow and he wants it himself give it me said the chief and tell him that three crows took it there was no alternative and he gave him the keg they carried it along until they came to a creek where they sat down and had a jollification I passed them while they were in the midst of it but did not see them when I met the chief sometime subsequently and charged him with a larceny he gave me ten robes and a good horse to compound the felony we shot several buffalo on our way enough to load all our horses with meat and tallow we exchanged our effects in Santa Fe for goods and carried them to saint Fernandez a distance of 60 miles here we established a store headquarters for the Indian trade where I resided sometime living very fast and happily according to the manner of the inhabitants among other doings I got married to senior Rita Luiz Sandoval in the fall I returned to the Indian country taking my wife with me we reached the Arkansas about the 1st of October 1842 I erected a trading post and opened a successful business in a very short time I was joined by from 15 to 20 free trappers with their families we all united our labors and constructed an adobe fort 60 yard square by the following spring we had grown into quite a little settlement and we gave it the name of Pueblo many of the company devoted themselves to agriculture and raised very good crops the first season such as wheat, corn, oats, potatoes and an abundance of almost all kinds of vegetables when the spring trade was over I sent all my peltry to independence and bought with the proceeds $3,000 worth of articles suitable for the trade in New Mexico but on the arrival of the goods the whole country was an affirmate on account of Colonel Cook's expedition from Texas which resulted so disastrously for the party's concerned this affected the minds of the New Mexicans unfavorably for my interest in as much as their former preference for United States novelties was now turned into a strong repugnance for everything American I therefore could obtain no sale for my goods and determined to return to my Indian friends I bought a load of whiskey to trade for horses to pack my goods to California where I intended removing I succeeded in my adventure and obtained 40 horses and mules upon which I packed my merchandise and quickly found myself on the way to the Golden State I started with 15 men three of whom were Mexicans when I reached the Utah country I found that the Indians were waging exterminating war upon the Mexicans but I did not learn it in time to save the lives of my three unhappy followers who lagging too far in the rear were set upon by the Indians and slain and passing through their country I did considerable trading exchanging my merchandise for elk, deer and antelope skins very beautifully dressed I arrived in Pueblo D'Angeles, California in January 1844 there I indulged my new passion for trade and did a very profitable business for several months at the breaking out of the revolution in 1845 I took an active part against the mother country of which I will furnish some details in my next chapter End of chapter 32