The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-09-13
TIE BIG-HORN EXPEDITION.

FAILURE AND ABANDONMENT OF THE ENTER
PRISE.
A correspondent of the Missouri RepubE-
can gives the complete history of the tribula-
tions and difficulties of the Big-Horn explor-
ing party, which resulted finally in the failure
of the scheme. The particulars of the final
fasco he narrates as follows
Two days before reaching the Grey Bull
river the party were overtaken by detach-
ment of soldiers, numbering eighty men,
under the command of Lieutenant Wheelan
OF the I'd U. S. Cavalry, armed with two
orders from the War Department. one to
stop the expedition if it had not reached
Twin Greek, near Miners Delight, the other
to the effect that if the expedition had passed
Twin Greek the leaders were to be commu-
nicated with Immediately, and notified that
if they attempted to go into the Big Horn
Mountains, or upon any Indian reservation,
force would be used to bring them back.
This sudden intelligence was mortifying to
the Big Horners, but it was seen at once that
amid the dangers that encompassed them it
would be madness to buck against positive
order from Uncle Sam. All the men were
drawn up in line and the orders were read
to them by Lieutenant Wheelan. Those who
still persisted in their intention of
going to the Big Horn were requested
to indicate their intention by stepping out
from the ranks. There was some murmuring
and grinoiug of teeth among the men, but
no one moved out from the ranks Judge
Kuykendail stated that the intention of the
party was TO proceed to the Grey Bull River,
establish there permanent camp, from
whence they would prospect the country
along the Grey Bull, the Sinking Water and
other sire hms in that region that were known
to be on Government lands, and lying be-
tween the Crow and Shoshone reservations.
and west of the Big Horn Mountains He also
pledged bimself and men that they would not
go upon any Indian reservation to work, nor
into the Big Horn Mountains. Lieut.. Whee-
Jan, having receivedthese promises, and being
satisfied that they would not be violated, re-
turned to Camp Schaunburn at Atlantic City
The day after arriving in permanent camp
two prospecting parties were fitted out con-
sisting of IS men each, one under command
of Judge Kuykendall, and the other under
Mr.. Shankland, leaving Captain Farrar in
charge of camp. Both parties were provided
with ratioDs for ten days. Shankland's party
were out five days and returned. They went
as far as the Yellowstone mountains, weak
ened on it, and started back to camp. After
their return, party numbering twenty-six
packed up and started for Clerks Fork, on
the Yellowstone, in Montana, thereby aban-
: doning the expedition. Judge Kuykendall
and his patty went eighty. five miles from
camp to basin near the head of the north
fork of Wind river. They prospected along
finding nothing on the waters of the Grey
Bull. They passed up a remarkable canon
for 25 miles, with overhanging cliffs on
either side, sometimes obtaining a height
from 1900 to 1000 feet The bed of the canon
was underlaid with boulders and sharp vol
canic rocks, which rendered their progress
very slow aud difficult. A creek meandered
along the bed of the canon, which had to be
crossed by wading up to the knees, at least
one hundred times. No indicationsof the pre-
cious metals were discovered. They emerged
from the mountains on the southwest side.
Indications of saltpetre were everywhere
seen. The slopes and gorges on that side of
the mountsins were covered with timber and
elk and black tailed deer were ranging about
in great numbers. Buffalo were plenty, as
they were also on the Gray Bull, where they
were seen in herds, and the camp was sup
piled with buffalo meat and fine brook trout.
Arriving in the basin of the north fork, a
band of Indians, supposed to be 'Sheep-
Eaters, renegades from the Grow and Snake
J tribes, were discovered, but they Immediately
fed on seeing the party. On returning to
camp a general consultation was held.
The prospects for successful dis
coveries were voted gloomy. 1t was
known that splendid indication of gold ard
silver existed in the vicinity of the north
! fork of Wind river, but as the locality was on
| the Shoshone reservation, it was impossible
under the pledges given to the military
authorities to do anything in the way of
mining. The same was true in regard to the