CHAPTER VII.

FATHER F. J. DE SMET RETURNS TOT HE MOUNTAINS
ACCOMPANIED BY OTHER MISSIONARIES.

The safe return of Father De Smet to St. Louis caused great rejoicing among his brethren, and on hearing from him of the good disposition of the Flat Heads and of the field waiting ripe for laborers, several were desirous to help him gather in the harvest of souls.

Full of enthusiasm over the results of his journey, he was, doubtless, eager to commence active preparations for his return to the Rocky Mountains. But having laid the whole subject before his superiors, his ardor was chilled and his heart sank within him, when told that the funds at their disposal for missionary purposes were not half enough to outfit him for a new expedition. "the though that the undertaking would have to be given up; that I should not be able to redeem my promise to the poor Indians, pierced my very heart and filled me with the deepest sorrow." Wrote Father De Smet under date of May 1, 1841.

Though much disappointed, his confidence in God did not abate. The mater of funds being left practically in his own hands by the Superiors, on the suggestion of one of his friends he made an appeal to some of the clergy and to others kindly disposed toward the Indians. He visited New Orleans, Philadelphia, and other places for that purpose, and ina few months he succeeded in raising the necessary amount. This secured and he outfit made up, by April 30, 1841, he was able to set out from St. Louis on his way back to the Rocky Mountains.

He had for companions two Fathers, Gregory Mengarini, and Roman, and Nicholas Point, a Vendean, and three Lay brothers, Joseph Specht, An Alcasian, William Claessens and Charles Huet, both Belgiums. They were all members of the Society of Jesus, and their divers nationalities would seem to have foreshadowed

Page 38

the cosmopolitan character of the future population of Montana.

Our missionary band left Westport on May 10, moving toward the Platte River, whose banks they followed for over two months. An Irishman, named Fitzgerald, and two Canadians were in the party as drivers. John Gray, a noted mountaineer, was also with them in the capacity of guide and hunter. Apart from mounts and a few pack animals, their traveling outfit consisted of three carts, and one wagon drawn by ox-teams. These were the first wagons and oxen brought into Montana.

On his departure from them the preceding year, the Flat Heads had promised Father De Smet that an escort would be sent to meet him at a certain point, at the foot of the Wind River Mountains by the first of the following July. Faithful to that promise, ten Flat Head lodges were on the spot at the time agreed upon; Father De Smet, with his companions, did not reach the place until the middle of the month. The Indians waited for him from ten to twelve days, that is, as long as they had any provisions with them. On falling short of these, they were compelled to go to the mountains some distance off, to hunt for something to live upon. Being made aware of this near Fort Bridger, Father De Smet detailed John Gray to go in search of the hunters, who were not slow to respond to the call.

In the band of Flat Heads who had come to meet the missionaries were the following: Gabriel Prudhome, a half-breed and Father De Smet's interpreter the year before; two son of Old Ignace, Charles and Francis, who, as we related, were baptized in St. Louis in 1835, and Young Ignace, the companion and guide of Father De Smet, on his first trip. Brave Pilchimo, whose brother was one of the five slain at Ash Hollow by the Sioux, and old Simon, baptized by Father De Smet the previous year and the oldest man of the tribe, were also in the number. All these ran ahead, to forestall the rest in greeting the Black Robes. Old Simon rode as fast as any, looking, speaking and acting as though the vivacity of his youth had come back to him; while Young Ignace traveled four whole days and four whole nights without a bite to eat, that he might be among the first to welcome the missionaries.

Page 39

But by this time the commissary or larder of our travelers had become depleted, and their mounts were so jaded by the journey, that they were expected at any moment to drop. After consulting over the situation, it seemed advisable to proceed toward Fort Hall where new supplies could be secured. Having learned, in the meanwhile, that the main body of the tribe were on their way to the buffalo hunt and camped along the banks of the upper waters of the Beaverhead, Gabriel Prudhome, with a companion, was sent to bring them the news of the arrival of the Fathers and to secure a relay of horses for their use.

Father De Smet, accompanied by young Francis now led the way toward Fort Hall, whither he arrived on the 15 of August, the Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady. He was joined there by the rest of the party on the next day; Gabriel Prudhome, with fresh horses for the rest of the journey, came in a few days.

Taking leave of the emigrants in whose company they had traveled, our party left Fort hall on August 29. Wending their way up the Snake River, they cross the continental Divide and directed their course toward the headwaters of the Beaverhead, the main body of the Flat Head being then camped somewhere in that vicinity. As they proceeded in that direction, they were met by groups of Indians eager to greet them. On august 30 they reached the main body of the tribe, and the reader may well imagine the joy of both the missionaries and the Indians.

After a few days of rest and happy intercourse, during which the site of the mission was also agreed upon, the missionaries, with an escort of several Indian lodges, set out for the Bitter Root Valley, the home of the Flat Heads, where the mission was to be established. Ascending the slop of the mountains and recrossing the main Divide, the descended into the Deer Lodge Valley, which they followed to the northwest end, that is, to the mouth of the Little Blackfoot, just where Garrison is toady. In crossing the larger streams, they christened it "St. Ignatius," after the glorious Founder of the Society of Jesus. But the gold seeker, taking no stock in Saints, later on changed the original name into that of "Hell's Gate River."

Father De Smet and companions followed the river down to where Missoula now stand, and thence, turning southward, went

Page 40