Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1874-04-24
YELLOWSTONE EXPEDITION.

To Hon. John p. Bruce, Permanent
Chairman Yellowstone Wagon Road
and Prospecting Expedition:
S1R-No courier having arrived, the Com
lnittee, on the 10Th inst. sent Major Reed
and S. S. Bowles with dispatches and malfti
] the Expedition, with instructions to obtain Q
1 report from the Council. They will return
without unnecessary delay, and will, nc
doubt. 60 through.
On the 18Th inst. the following was received
rom y. S. Marshal Hard:
'.FoRr BrN1ox. April II, 1874.
J. Y. BoiKRT:
DEAR SlR-To-day two men came in from
the uighwOod Mountains, having two horses
and mule. They are from the Yellowsto ne
Expedi.iOn-0ne OF them is j. L. Vernon.
who went as guide tor the party: ~. .n.e other
| Is called Rocky. fsent a MESSENGER TO-DAY
from here to Fort Shaw with telegram to YOU,
as there IS some mystery connected with their
leaving the command. and as you may like
20 Know OF ...eir arrival here.
icurs Truly.
CHARLES D. HARD,
Deputy U. S. Marshal"
With reference to this matter it must in the
first place be understood that Vernon did not
go as guide, as he claimed to Mr.. Hard, nor
did he or his party leave the Wagon Road
Expedition, either as part of it or as follow
ing, independently, with it. On the contrary,
he and they left Bozeman privately and pre-
vious to the departure of the Command. All
efforts to combine the two parties having
failed solely on account of Vernon's extreme
demands. most Of those who had originally
joined him concluded to cast their lot with
the main command, but, as Secretary Wick
ersham's roll proves, the combination was
eventually effected. There is reason now,
however. to believe that Vernon himself
abandoned the Expedition, taking Rockfellow
(''Rocky'') with him, within two days after
the junction Of the two parties.
In my report of March 10Th, published in
the COURIER March Goth, the story retAiled
at the Mission by this same Rockfellow to
Messrs. Nelson Story and John B. Bo CERT is
given in full; but, as has since been suspected,
his visit to the Mission was merely foraging
expedition for the benefit of Vernon and him.
self, they having iDgloriously aban doned or
been elected from tho command, Of course
the SAID story was manufactured to suit the
occasion and their need Of cartridges and
-four, while the representations of Vernon,
referred to by Marshal Hard. are wholly the
products of Yernon's imae nation.
It may as well be here stated that but few
in Bozeman ever placed much, il any, conf
dence in Vernon or his stories and profess
slons and it is duo the Committee, now that
his actual character cannot be doubted by
even those who did believe him, to add that
It did not endorse him, but distinctly gave
his tales, as such. Tor what they might seem
worth, while ut leasta part Of the Committee
meyer credited word he uttered aud was
careful to SO express itself.
The Wagon Road Expedition was not sug-
eested or aided by Vernon, but was distinctly
a distinct movement, and one which would
have been made without Mr.. Vernon and If
he had never been heard OF. Its objective
point even was, as Vernon admitted, not the
scene of Ills proposed operations, while the
fact that he departed independently with less
than ten men, and the Expedition went with
nearly $50. and without any direct reference
to HIM or his gold, is conclusive evidence
that the Committee is not responsible for his !
vagaries.
Your opinion, sir, expressed SO often dur
ing the organization OF the command that |
Tue man is insane-is evidently correct, and
[, for one, though not glad to see my humble |
prophecies regarding him fulfilled. am yet glad |
hat he is RECALLING Fort Benton with the |
story Of his gold and his picket pin.
Upon the return of Nessrs. Reed and |
Bowles We shall have full data in the premises.
Though we have no word from the COM
nand itself, the following assuring report is |
made to ne:
The Council promised Roe's party that it |
would build rock-piles and leave word on
hem as the command progressed, to guide
he party OH its way back from Bozeman.
IN or about the LIST inst, D. E. Rouse having
oired the party, one Of the rock piles was
cached inst above the mouth Of the Big
Torn, and 1t was supposed the command was
hen about 20 miles beyond. Here our in
Messrs. I.epine and Gibson, started
his way-thc party moving on to join the
Expedition.
am, for the Committee,
J.v. BOGEET,
Secretary and Treasurer.