Port Royal standard and commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-08-31
THE BIG HORN MOUNTAINS.
A Sketch by "Sun" Reporter with Gen
Crooks Prospecting Party.

A Sketch by n "Sun" Reporter with Gen.
Crooks Prospecting Party.
After the first ascent, which was very
steep, our trail was not difficult, and
meandered through beautiful pine
groves and lovely little valleys, literally
covered with flowers, whose delicious
perfume made redolent the air. Plats
of excellent grass and ripping trout
brooks were frequently encountered,
and after travelling about fifteen miles
we bivouacked upon the main branch of
Tongue river, here a swift running
stream of about fourteen inches in
depth and half as many yards in width,
containing no fish.
Numerous signs of large game had
been observed, and several of us imme-
diately started in pursuit while the re-
mainder made fires and got ready our
scant repast. The pines had been badly
barked by bears in search of their res
inous sap, but no "bruins" were seen,
and but single blacktailed deer repaid
our hunting exertions. The mosquitoes
were almost unendurable, their numbers
being doubtless increased by the pres
ence in our neighborhood of numerous
lakes and lagoons, some perennial but
most of them consisting exclusively OF
melted snow water. The only means,
indeed, by which we could rid ourselves
OF these troublesome pests. until the
cool night air of the mountains drove
them to shelter, was by sitting in the
smoke OF our camp fires about which we
now gathered.
This was always the most charming
hour of the day. Numerous stories Of
adventure and romance were told over
our cups of hot, black coffee; and,
thoroughly tired and hungry, every one
seemed to enjoy his rations of bacon and
hard tack. A bit of nicely broiled veni-
son was, however. very grateful addi-
tion; and the best and most expeditions
process for its preparation was shown us
by Gen. Crook, who is an adept in this
and all other frontier arts. He is, in
deed, thorough mountaineer, as our
experience has enabled us abundantly to
testify; and to those who know him, q
most kind and afable gentleman.
"Dou't go at this as though you we're
at clam bake" he said. And then cut
ting q slender willow stick and remov-
ing the bark, and sharpening both ends,
he stuck thereon alternately cross
section of fillet and slice of bacon, the
whole being su, mounted by large
piece of the latter. One end was insert
ed in the earth, before the fire, the meat
being upon the other and held In posi-
ton by o notch. When done, he thrust
the stick into the ground in front of
him, saying: "The bacon both salts
and favors the venison, the stick is your
plate, and the fresh, green grass fur
nishes a seat, napkin and spread COM
bined; what more do you want9" Some
one in the party made an impromptu
sugar cake, by soaking a cracke::
in water, sprinkling moistened sugar
upon it, and baking over live Goals.
+ I'll ese are campaign expedients.
As we were without tents, we wrapped
ourselves in blankets and slept under
the friendly shelter of fir trees. Be-
times in the morning we were stirring,
and after hasty breakfast resumed our
march for the summit. In little
while the Indian trail, which here d.
verged from its direct course and led
up the canyon of Tongue river, became
almost impossible. Everywhere the
ground was moist from the innumer-
able little trickling rivulets proceeding
from the melting snow above and having
their confluence with this stream. N8
unfrequently they were subterraneB,
and our route lay through continuous
bog. The ascent became very difficult
and steep, and numerous crossings OF
the torrent were a necessity. Added to
this, we passed through burnt districts
where the devouring element, aided by
the wind, had destroyed the pines for
miles, and leveled them with the ground
in almost inextricable confusion. 1t
was the exception, indeed, when our
mules did not step over log or
bough, and our progress was conse-
auently greatly impeded. Cascades in
Vulnerable boiled and seethed about us,
the roar of their waters in such con-
fined space deafening the ear to any
other sound.
Where fire had not interfered the
canyon was we'll wooded with pine, FIR
and cottonwood and many beautiful
groves and romantic spots we're trav-
crsed. Its walls were almost perpendic-
ular and often of solid granite. Every
where the scenery was most picturesque
and beautiful. Emerging from the
forest the crest became visible, and our
trail led over bank of snow, evidently
with solidly frozen crust when crossed
by the Indians, but which, when at
tempted by US, broke, and our mules,
sinking to their bellies, were only ex.
tricated by hatchets. ..
The ascent upon the side slope was
difficult and somewhat dangerous; but
when accomplished the result more than
repaid our efforts. We were above tim
Der line, which here is at an elevation
of nearly twelve thousand feet, and in
region of perpetual snow. On two
sides the view was magnificent and ex-
tensive, embracing the Wind river and
Heart mountains, one hundred miles
distant, and snow-capped Like that upon
which we stood, and the intermediate
basin containing the Big Horn river,
whose waters were plainly visible. The
undulating surface of mountain and
prairie presented an exceedingly pic
turesque aspect. About us-above and
below-were bald peaks, immense areas
covered with large powders almost ex-
clusively of granite and banks OF snow.
To the north, Tongue river forced its
xro,, o-oI, n r,oroo of limestone n1anV