New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-08-16

found an intelligent German stacking hay-one, he In
formed me. of families who had settled tho
Pomme do Tcrre. and were happy In thor wild hcmes
Tho Pommo do Terre River came In sight toward sun
set, but the sager0ad passes few Of the recent
settlements The ar became gratefully COOL almost cold
moonlight alvered the lakes and the prairie flowers DO
came sweeter the dew fell. Finally, at 10 O'Clock.
dark knoll With two tents upon its SIDE before u.s. ana
we halted at our own camp. On ono side there WAS
pond. full OF reeds and waterlies; smudges" were
burning most sspiciously before the tentdoors ana
smoke OF Arabian odor in volumes from behind
immense manure-heap the knoll. Here there was
old stockadefort with several log houses inside al
the space filed with SMOKE and suggesting pigs, heas
mnsketocs, and dirt.
Only six or seven years ago there was murder here
and throughout all this region. The stockade was
erected after the Indian and-snce the SIOUX
have oil been driven beyond Red RVer-whi noVer 10
needed again. there seemed TO me TO he no necesS
for the weeds and filth, the neglect which initiated rum
about the place. Had single tree becn planted peioro
the door should have q kinder memory OF Pomme DC
Terre. We waited long for supper, In room ned Win
smudge SMOKE But the meal WAS ample and not I'M
sliIfnlly prepared when we finally called TO IL;
only the water was detestabe having such haVor VI
black mud that 1t tainted tho tea and cohee
The men sent In advance by our new leader, COL.
Hazard had everything In readiness. A conche OF
prairie hay, covered with double blankets, promised
oapal slumber but alas every puff Of air brought up
from the pond a multitude OF tornentors. who 1pene
trated the "snudge" deed the tobacco odors OF the
Interior gnawed through the bags OF netting Into which
We had thrust heads. and murdered sleep In tho
vest manner The night filed, not only with their
music but with the grOans and signs OF their Victims
There WA no difficulty in killing them; they 80
unacouaintod with that they settled upon our noses
and ears with shocking tameness and held still TO Do
crushed They came in quarettes, and one beng saih
the survivors serenaded with trio some sainaritan
toward morning, ooped up the tentcoves ana leu the
strong cool wind blow u.s. but they padded against
1t like an Indian against rapid, and the dawn hnaiiy
scattered us, but not them.
Something of the fine edge Of our enjoyment was taken
of when we left Pomme de Terre this morning The
hunters and fishers rushed away enthusiastically pe'ore
breakfast to return with dragglcd trousers ana bastod
hopes; yete forgot these and oil the mseres Oh
the night in rolling over the fair breezy landscapes
which here divide the waters Of Hudsons Bay ana the
Gulf OF Mexico. The Pomme de Terre River turns south
ward and Joins the Minnesota while only IS miles to the
north tho Otter TAIL the main branch OF Rcd River
The region between sometimes called Hight OF Land ,
gradually subsidies from the picturesque rolling lake
dotted prairie into dead apparently endless ievc-a
black oamof wonderful richness resting on deep clay
subsoi in which water is very scarce. This plain ex-
tends on both sides OF Red River for 80 or 40 miles, and
northward to the frontier distance OF more than 200
miles
Our noon halt was at Old Crossing the Otter Tall,
where there ia a ferry station, and some thatched
stables The stream Is not more than 30 yards wide
Here the Sioux murdered three Of the early settlers,
which may possibly be the reason why the garden Is
wilderness of wild sunnowers, why no tree has been
planted near the house. and attempt made to beauy
or even cleanse repusve roughness and shabbness
of first settlement.
The afternoon very hot and dusty. and the great
plain bounded on the west by the advancing and re-
ceding timber lines of Red River became at last simply
wearisome. We all rejoced when the stage trail, after
sdrting fields of oats and wheat turned into elm
groves and willow thickets, and drew up before civil
lied house. which proved to he Mr. Nolans tavern at
Macaulay vile opposite Fort Abercrombe Afew stores
and saloons but OF all the grand old elms, almost
persuaded us that had back TO old settlement
Welcome was sight Of hogshead Of clean water. In
which foated lump of ice two feet thick; and welcome
also good supper the that 1t was served
at once. MuskeOes, learn are very poor crop at
this place and we look towards tents with less
OF painful uncertainty.
We have just been visiting Fort Abercrombie. on the
Dakota shore The view from its western gate over ths
immense plain with cluster OF Dakota lodges rising
near against crimson sunset Is thing TO be remeni-
bered