, 1866-01-12
Innerarv Of journey fIOm BlackfOOt.


A party direct from Blackfoot, arrived at
Walla Walla on December 3lst, 1865. They re-
port having experienced much suffering BY the
way. Two of the party, Messrs. Emery and
Hickman, kept journals, from which we copy
Nor. 24.-In company with John Flanagan we
started from the Little Blackfoot; beautiful
day travelled 20 miles, and camped at the mouth
Of Deer Lodge Valley.
Nou. 25.-Started early, and travelled "a miles,
camped at the foot Of a small bill with two
teamsters, who were taking oats to Deer Lodge.
Great excitement here about a new gulch which
had been struck reported very rich. Drove
the horses up at half,past 10, P. NJ, and travelled
all night very dark and cold.
NoV. 26.-Camped at 6, 4. NJ, and aftef break
fast started in company with Mr.. johnson and
q packer named Patrick, who was coming out
to meet his train with nine head of fresh horses.
Travelled IL miles, and camped on He'll Gate
river.
Nov. 27.-Traveled down the stream to the
Big Backfoot, and crossed at Higgins toll bridge.
Query: we would like to know what right the
Legislature of Montana had to grant charter
to Higgins Co. to collect toll on Government
road as their bridge is built on the identical
abutments which Lieut.. Mullan put in. Trav-
eed 80 miles that day, and camped on Rattle
snake creek. New mines reported to have been
discovered on this stream.
Nor. 2s.-Passed through the village of He'll
Gate and stopped for the night in a small log
cabin by the roadside very cold, and spowing.
NoU. 29th.-Purchased provisions and horse
feed at Frenchtown oats, Is cents per pound.
Having late start, we Travelled until IL o'clock
that night saw Messrs. Thomas camp FIRE on
the bank of the river camped on the Bitter
Root river, having made "a miles.
Nor. 3O.-Late start met Thomas and party
that day after travelling 10 miles camped.
Dec l.-Our party consisted of seven men,
all bound for Walla Walla 0id the CGur 'Alenei
| drove until 2 o clock A. N.
Dee. 2.-Stormy; crossed the Bitter Root at
the ferry, and travelled forty five miles that day
and night snow from six to eighteen inches
| deep.
Dee. 3.-The snow very deep intensely cold ;
the snow ranging from three to FIVE feet in depth
one of our party froze his feet, and we had to
camp; two more of our party got lost in the
storm. Built FIRE and waited until they come
up. The ice hung from our eye-lashes SO that
it was difficult to see all our blankets frozen
stiff Took cup of coffee, fed our horses and
started on travelled for four hours, and having
reached point within six miles of the summit,
| the deep snow and intense cold forced US to de-
scend four miles, where we camped three men
| with frozen feet.
Dec. 4-Intensely cold; ropes and rigging all
! frozen. OOL away at ~ o CLOCK ana reaC0eu
the ferry on the morning of the 9th the river
frozen up so we could not re-cross. Purchased
all the -four and bacon which was for sale at the
Ferry, and went down the west bank of Bitter
| Root ive miles and camped.
| Dee. 6.-Hred an Indian guide and crossed
| the range; didn't know where we were camped
on the bank of river that night; dIin't know
what stream it was, buBsupposed it to be the
| Pen d'0rielle.
| D.c Cd AostI
one mule fell in the middle of the river, and
Mr.. Flanagan got dip; after suffering severely
| from the cold, he was again mounted at noon
we reached Crafts ferry, and at dark capmed Oh
| Cammas Prairie.
Dec. s.-Late start, but made Wild Horse Pra-
irie, Is miles, where we cnmped. Here we were
overtaken by R. o. Hickman and W. A Myers
of Virginia City, here we purchased some oats
at the rate of so cents per sheaf
Dec. 9. Travelled all day over a very bad road
expected to meet pacI-train hut were disap-
pointed, aud being short of provisions had to put
all hands on ratons.
Dec. lO.-Nothing worthy of note
Dec. ll.-Provisions exhausted, and as last
resort we killed horse, and tried "Cayuse -
steak. One man froze in camp; built big fire
and thawed him out, after which we Travelled
all that night
Dec 1.-Two of the men sick from living on
horse meat, and the effects of starvation.
Dec l3.-At IL o'clock, we reached the sum-
init of bald mountain, and got our first view
of Pen d'Orelle Lake. Descended the summit
and expected to reach the lake, which we sup
posed to be about fifteen miles distant. Camped
for the night, supposed five miles from the lake
Dec l4.-Fed the horses our last oats, and
after travelling seven miles came to an Indian
village, where we got flour, sugar, fish, and
cammas roots, off which we made a glorious
| repast.
Dee. l5.-Awakened by the Indians chanting a
morning hymn. These Indians are all of the
Catholic faith, and noble fellows they are. Bid
ding our hOsptable friends good. bye, we traY.
eled on to Pack river, where we made camp.
Dec. l6.-Crossed Pack river on ice, and came
to trading post, where we bought so pounds OF
Hour for $50, and bacon at S2.25 per pound
Travelled until dark, and made camp at the June.
tion of the Kootenai trail.
Dec. l7.--Had but little to eat, having fed
nearly all our -four to the animals This day
had fall of l5inches of snow, making in all
two feet; but in places drifted to depth OF four
and five feet. Travelled most of the day on the
ice, along the margin of the lake, and at 3 P. N.
crossed to the south side, and continued down
FIVE miles to the ferry. Crossing the lake was
the most perilous part Of the whole journey, as
the ice broke clear across and the water spouted
until it was two inches on the ice.
From this date, down to December 81, the
party were occupied in reaching Walla Walla
Several of them have feet more or less frozen
and all suffered greatly from cold.
--~-~--~~~-O-o-ol>-~1l
Snow SLIDE.-A snow-slide occurred neal
Robbie Bushs saw MILL on Dry creek, last