Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1859-01-27

heard we're fev. but 70 me pregnant with
isteress, and we're simply
"Well, let " both co." s 4a
"I'll 60 If you will'
That's tie way to talk it;-when shall
10 gc" -ar .r- G
"Let me ses-shis Is Tuesdsy-to NOR.
row we can fx up and start the day after.
What do you say?"
agreed: III be ready"
Knowing the s,eakers TO be .sch "sri
gensris "-taDd q very peculiar /" yeneris"
At that, for the hrst was none o.her than
the celebrated and acknowledged Agamen.
non Of Indian Agents, Col. A. J. VAUGHAN,
and bis companion tho we'll known Napo.
leon Of western voysseur=, Major ALss.
AsDEa CCLsEsTsox, long the able and
efficient manager Of the American Fur
Company g exte ssive interest on the Upper
Missour.)-and learning that the contem.
plated "g0" was trip across the Rocky
Mountains on > visi. to our neares. neigh.
bors in Washington Territory, was highly
pleased with the prospect Of . pleasant
and agreeable month at least.
With such men the determination
found preceded the execution but little, as
the necessary arrangements for their de-
parture were undertaken Immediately !;
and the following dny the whole Fort was
alive with the hustle and activity incident
to the selection of men and horses, and
the preparation Of supplies and packs for
the journey. .s 81
All was accomplished in good time, and
accordingly on Thursday Sept. 10th, the
usual good-byes were spoken. and well
mounted and fully equipped in every par.
ticular as We thought, our party gayly
rode out Of Fort Benton, and happy in
anticipation Of the pleasures gladly faced
the west, en- route for tue far-famed sleeps
ofthe ROCKY Mountains.
When drawn up in marching order. I
found the company consisted Of eight per
sons. the veteran voyageurs Major CuL.
EERrsox aud Col. VAUGHAN at the head.
Eve good men long accustomed to the
prsirie and the camp in charge Of the an
imals and equippage. ard one supernu.
merry whose position, duty and qualification
it would be difficult to define.
We soon found that we must endure our
share Of the common annoyances, incident
| 10 the starting Of every expedition On the
prairie, ! believe, and we're repeatedly
halted to tighten clash cord or re .ad :
just . pack, na:ters requiring no small
delay. Indeed on one or two occasions it
was quite vexatious 10 gather up the Va.
rious articles, a. the horse when the pack
turned would per,inaciously insist upoE :
perlec. freedom from all contact With .
bundle 80 lily adjusted as not to remain
"righ, side up" and thercupon' institute
series ef muscular exercises which gen
orally resulted in . wild run across the
prairie, each successive jump leaving some
article Of the luckless load scattered or
the ground, until saddle and al we're thus
disposed Of However We would quite as
pertnaciously pack and repack, continuing
on our way during the brief intervals that
the aforesaid packs would remain as they
were placed, until We reached our first en-
campment, on an island in the Missouri
ri:er only six Or eight miles above Fort
Benton.
Here was grass abundant and luxuriant,
and every requisite for the comfort of man
and beast that camp could offer, and it
WAS thought best to stop early and spend
the day in q thorough overhauling Of sad.
dies, and proper division and arrange.
mont Of loads, in order to prevent the
recurrence Of the annoying mishaps con-
sequent upon our too hasty, and it may be
too happy. outset.
Our animals were .uuloaded, our tent
pitched, and the most Of US complacently
observing our sable friend AuGusrE (gen-
orally called Goose operating with bis
usual celebrity and dexterity among the ket
ties, in but little more than no time. Our
complacency WAS however Of short dura.
tion, as Goose was q regular Comet
among the pots and pans, performing the
necessary revolutions around and about
them by ire.light with As much speed and
safety IS ever comet rushed through host
Of worlds By the light its tail. II WAS
his pride to have received diploma from
the Prairie-man's university. duly signed
and sealed by its presiding genius, EIpe
risnce, having lived long years in the Fort
and on the plains and having been the cou.
slant and favored companion Of Maj. CuL
BERrsoS on many . weary voyage BY land
and BY water. in summer and in winter.
in danger and in sscurisy, and il wss there
fore with the satisfied air Of . master d.
recting attention 10 ef-d'ouvre, that he
announced IN the short space Of twenty
minutes, "soupe pare
Supper was promptly dispatched, and
wile lolling ON the long thick grass. each
one in bis savorite attitude for securing
greatest eass and comfort, and enjoying
the svsr.deligh.ful after dinner pipe, the
objects and prospects Of our journey were
freely discussed, and the probabilities Of
the weather seriously predicted and calcu.
listed.
II appeared that the two erAnd objects