Otter Creek, Wyoming

August 26, 1877 - Tourists from Helena camped near here

As the three released Radersburg tourists traveled by here on August 26, they were unaware of the ten men from Helena camped just a short distance away. The day before, these men had seen the Nez Perce from the top of Sulphur Mountain, and spent an uneasy night pondering the best course of action.

“We camped for the night, but some of the boys wanted to go back home, but the majority was of the mind to go ahead to the geysers, as we had come thus far, and the journey was almost completed.”
– Frederic Pfister (tourist, Helena party)

“Duncan, not feeling safe, took his blankets and made his bed half a mile from camp in the timber, all of us laughing at him.”
– Ben Stone (tourist, Helena party), September 6 1877

“I know one that did not close his eyes, and that was your humble servant. I felt as though someone ought to stay awake; if the truth was known, I felt pretty nervous.”
– Andrew J. Weikart (tourist, Helena party)

The so-called Helena party of ten men included Andrew Weikert,Richard Dietrich, Frederic J. Pfister, Charles Kenck, John (Jack)Stewart, Leander Duncan, Leslie N. Wilkie, Benjamin Stone, and two youths, Joseph Roberts and August Foller, aged twenty and seventeen, respectively. Several of the party under Weikert had left Helena on August 13, reaching Mammoth Hot Springs on the twentieth, where they met the other members. -Jerome A. Greene, Nez Perce Summer, 1877

The next day their fears were realized.

Fearing another surprise attack like the one at Big Hole, the Nez Perce sent out at least three different scouting parties in all directions of the Park. Scouting parties gathered information as to the U. S. Army’s whereabouts, secured food, supplies, and fresh horses. One such scouting party entered the Helena tourist party camp taking what they could.

“I looked around and saw the camp full of Indians with the boys jumping and going in every direction.”
– Frederic Pfister (tourist, Helena party)

John (Jack) Stewart was wounded, shot in the side and in the calfof the leg, and another, Charles Kenck, killed. The othersall scattered and, including the wounded man, made it out of the Park safely. Five of them made their way to Mammoth Hot Springs where they once again encountered Nez Perce, this time by a small scouting party of young warriors.

Credits and Sources:

NPNHT Auto Tour Toute 6 Brochure