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3. The Man from Pike County, MO
- University of North Texas Press
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17 CHAPTER 3 The Man from Pike County, MO P owell “Pike” Landusky and family owned a ranch on Rock Creek a few miles from the Curry brothers’ ranch. His nickname was derived from the county he hailed from in Missouri. Landusk y, of Polish-French descent, was a lanky six feet tall with e xceptionally long arms. His nearly 200-pound frame possessed phenomenal strength and endurance. He had the reputation of a battler and bra wler, and was famous for his volatile temper, especially when he was drinking.1 Landusky was nineteen when he left his home in Missouri to tra vel to the goldfields at Last Chance Gulch (Helena) and Alder Gulch (Virginia City) in Montana Territory. The River Press later reported that he took passage with several friends on the steamboat Henry Adkins to Fort Benton. “Landusky displayed pugilistic propensities, and just before F ort Benton was reached he and some of his associates star ted a melee, terrorizing the passengers.” They left the boat peacefull y at Fort Benton after the captain received support from a group of vigilantes who were in town. Another account says he rode a horse all the w ay from St. Louis, sometimes with a wagon train, but mostly alone.2 It is commonly stated that Landusky arrived in Fort Benton in 1864 on his way to the goldfi elds at Last Chance Gulch. Ho wever, since his birth date is reported as March 4, 1849, he would have only been fifteen years old at the time.3 A more accurate date for his arrival is 1868, with some accounts placing it in Jul y of that year.4 Apparently he was much more successful at fighting than in finding gold. He never lost and soon became known as the most r uthless and toughest fighter in the district. Later, at Rocky Point, he met horse thief Brocky Gallagher, regarded as the toughest fighter in that part of the country. These two brawlers agreed to do battle, but when Gallagher was getting the better of the fight, Landusky grabbed a six-shooter and proceeded to beat his opponent. The 18 Chapter 3 fight ended after Landusky threw Gallagher into the Missouri River. As a result of this victory, Landusky’s fighting fame spread all over Montana.5 From Last Chance he went to Alder Gulch and tried his luck at panning for gold, without much success. To support himself he w orked for Colonel Charles A. Broadwater’s Diamond R freighting compan y.6 Sometime in the f all or winter 1868/1869, Landusk y and partner John Wirt began trapping at the mouth of the Musselshell Ri ver and trading with the Indians. Things went well until one day a band of Brule Sioux came into their camp and confiscated the partners’ furs, traps, and provisions . When one of the Sioux g rabbed a buffalo steak that was cooking over a fire, this was too much for Landusky. He went berserk, knocking the Indian into the campfi re with the fr ying pan. He then tore of f the latter’s breech clout and slapped him in the f ace. In the next instant he grabbed his gun, using it to beat and punch any Indian within his reach. The Indians understandably thought Landusky was crazy, possessed by an evil spirit. In order to appease the evil spirit, the Sioux band gave the two white men several horses they had stolen from the Cro w Indians. Landusky and his par tner were lucky to have been left alive. This was the beginning of his intense hatred for the Sioux, w hich soon extended to all tribes.7 For the ne xt decade Landusk y continued to trap, hunt, and chop cordwood for the Missouri Ri ver steamers.8 In the f all of 1879, Landusky , Joe Hamilton, John J . Healy, William Jackson, and others, established a trading post on Flatwillow Creek.9 On December 8, 1880, a group of Blackfeet braves and their wives camped outside the post for the purpose of bartering for furs. It is certain that Landusky was filling up on the whiskey that was dispensed at the post, and the Indians may also have been par taking. Trouble started, according to J . H. “Jim” Boucher, who was at the post, when Landusky noticed a squaw sitting on the floor with a Winchester rifle. She was taking the cover off the rifle...