Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-07-25
Big Horn Stories.
,hicaco Times Correspondent.

,. WoOdlnS post lll Acilo"stoiie stealil-
ors and is forty miles below the mouth
of Tongue river. The expedition ar
r;vad on the bank of the river Just as
Tho boat came along. 4 short inter,
low ensued between the officers Col
sheridan learned from Gen. Miles that
bn had been securing the country for a
J;.tance of hundred miles north OF
,Ln Yellowstone and west of the Mis-
.nnri. The command consisted of six
oomnanies of the 9TH infantry and nine
companies of the 9TH cavalry. Not a
SION of an Indian was seen during the
ont Gen Miles said that the recon
noiter had convinced him that the only
hostile Indians north Of the yellow
.tone were those composing Sitting
Bulls Band.
This chief and his warriors are known
+, he on the British side of the line, and
i * doubtful whether they will attempt
IA recross it again this year, especially
AZ they are closely watched both in
front and rear. While Gen Miles was
hunting for redskins north of the Vel
Iowstone. Maj. Lazelle, with four com
NAMES of the fisrt infantry and one com
many of the 9TH cavalry, was scouting
for hostiles south of the river in the
region bordering the Little Missouri.
The major had reported finding the
trails Of some renegade bands, all lead
mo in the direction of the agencies; but
he had not succeeded in catching up
with any of the Indians. He will con
tnue the scout for some time vet.
On the 9TH of July a pheno-
menallv violent hailstorm occurred
at the mouth of the Big
Horn river. Col Sheridan, who
reached there the day following was
told that some of the hail-stones were
larger than mans fist, and this asser-
ton did not appear improbable in view
Of the damage done. There are be-
tween seven hundred and eight hundred
lodges Of Crow Indians at that point,
and their herds number over ten thou
sand ponies. Six hundred ponies were
killed by the hail. The shower of mis-
sizes was too much for them, and, after
once being knocked down, they were
soon peted to death. In the storm the
herds ,tampeded to the river bank, and
one illlIiulth llolt NtIt tioMttl lIlo
the turbulent current and drowned, be-
ing too much dazed and stunned to
keep their heads above water The In
dams were bewailing their loss bitterly.
The steamer Osceola loaded with sup
plies for post No. =, on her way up the
Yellowstone, some weeks since, encoun-
tered hurricane ut the foot of Buffalo
rapids, III one Of the gorges common to
that river. The boat was struggling
along in mid-stream when the wind
which seemed to spring from the rocks,
struck her and blew her against the
beach with tremendous force. As the
hull lodged on the shore the whole
cabin of the boat was broken off and
landed among the rocks. Col Sheri-
dan heard it stated that two men were
killed. The cargo, which escaped dam
age, was transferred to another steamer
and delivered at its destination The
hull of the dismantled and partially de
mOIlShcd boat was still beached at
Buffalo rapids on the 9th inst.
The reporter inquired of Col. Sheri-
dan rs to the stage of the work upon
the new post ut the mouth Of the Little
Horn. He replied that Gen. Buell. WAS
experimenting the construction, and
had force of one hundred mechanics
at work, and was expecting to increase
the numbers of artisans and laborers
to two hundred The three companies
stationed there are also assisting in the
work Nearly two thousand cotton
wood logs had been cut; two small build
ngH for the storage of supplies, etc.
mad been completed; Il saw-mill had
Just commenced operations, and the
survey of the reservation had been
completed. Gen Buell. is determined
To preserve the timber in the vicinity
OF the post, and has accordingly forbid
den the cutting of logs within Il radius
Of eight miles. The lodge poles left by
the Sioux when they fled SO precipitate-
~ after the fight with Custer, are being
utilized in the construction of the bar
racks.
Gen Buell. expects to have quarters
ready for twelve companies 10y the
middle of October. Work is progress
ing, but not so rapidly, upon the new
barracks at the mouth of the Tongue
f,ver, two buildings having been com
pletcd.
Army officers who have been sta
N9ned IN that region for a dozen years
,,old Col. Sheridan that they had never
oeiore seen, at this season of the year,
;" much snow on the Big Horn Noun
,alnS, From all accounts there had
oten no perceptiblc diminution of last
Wntcr'> snow, and this had been steadi-
y added to by frequent fresh falls dur
nag May and June. Several prospectors
.aI arrived at the new post on the Lit
lie Horn who had made an unsuccess-
I ~ attempt to penetrate beyond the
Dig Horn range. The snow barred