The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-12-15
Down the Yellowstone.


A QUEER-LOOKING craft rounded to at
the levee last evening. 1t looked like a
gun-boat, but still it was too frail to
stand even charge of grapeshot.
But still the nondescript was "queer, "
for it was unlike any boat which had
moored at this harbor for many years
past There was only one man on
board of the curious-looking structure,
which was neither Mackinaw boat nor
Missouri River battedW. 1t was skiff
of extraordinary size and remarkable
strength, and it rounded into the levee
with the ease of boat propelled by
steam.
The Strengthening craftwas boarded
and its crew interviewed. The crew
was one man, and he himself would suf-
flee for fifty ordinary men. "Libera-
tor Bill'' handled the boat, and Bill was
both Captain and crew. Dropping the
boat and taking up Bill-he was and is
on his way from the Yellowstone coun-
try to his old home in Galveston. Bill
is one of those waits of humanity who
drift out toithe frontier, spend few
years, stake their lives, win them u
name, and come back home to be adj
mired, and 90 back and get killed.
William johnson Is an lrishman who
went out to the Big Horn and Powder
River country four years ago. He went
from Galveston, Tex, where his friends
now reside. He, like many other young
men who 90 to that toughest of frontier
countries, the upper Missouri, entered
into the scouting service.
Frontier scouts, as known now, are
men who are cheaper than soldiers,
They 90 where officers will not permit
their men to go-and the scouts alone
are in general safer than the officers and
the soldiers The Government pays
these men forty dollars per month now;
ten years ago it paid them five dollars
per day. Bill johnson was a scout, and
he won not only a name, but he brought
back with him the "trophies of the
chase" When he grounded up last
evening he came up to Colopy's resort
on the corner of Main street and the
levee and silently took a seat by the fire.
His face, bronzed with exposure to sun
and storm, looked much like an In
dams. He wore a buckskin hunting
shirt, frilled and dirty, and his trousers
were of buckskin, stained but well fit
ting. Moccasins and SLOUGH hat, a
modest demeanor, backed by two good
revolvers and two-pound knife, was
the Introductory. His story was brief.
He desired no particular notice in the
papers. He had been with Gen. Miles,
of the Sixth Infantry, on Tongue River.
He left Fort Little Horn, on the Yellow
stone River, six weeks ago, in charge of
a party of surveyors and biologists,
fourteen in number, under command of
Mr.. Herbert Porter, ga college chap"
Bill says they loaded his boat down
with old bones, rocks and fossils. He
brought them to Bismarck, where he
was left alone. This was four weeks
ago Since that time he has been
floating down stream, journey of 800
miles, all alone. His description of his
voyage is extraordinarily interesting.
His boat, which was built for strength
and defense, is a confederation of the
mans story. He says he floats down
stream at will, a lot of rocks in the
stern of the boat keeping the boats
bow down stream. When he strikes a
snag in the night he says his boat
swings around, he hears bubble and
a gurgle of water, and he floats on.
Said he: Il knew my batteau would
not turn over, and | slept on. If the
current took me to sand-bar stopped
until | got my boat off. let 'er float
every night she would, for was in a
hurry"
He says he has been alone four weeks
and is going to New Orleans. When it
was suggested that he was as near to
Galveston, his home, as he would be
at st. Louis, he said: Don't care; I'm
going to New Orleans" The exterior
and interior arrangements of the boat
are perfect The boat has sharp prov,
with cordage, tackle and an anchor. In
the center there is cabin with foot
rail on the outside. There is mast
and sails and an after-deck with plenty
of room. On the top of the mast floats
one of the guidons of the Seventh United
States Cavalry, used as a breech-clout
and purchased by "Liberator Bill''
from a friendly (?) tribe while he was
carrying mail from Fort Buford to Lit
tie Horn Fort. Inside there is stove,
bunk or bed (there are signs of five
or Sky, and an endless store of scalps
and Indian war trophies.
The cabin smells like an Indian tepee.
For an hour or more the young mana
solitary traveller on the Missouri-con-
versed; but his stories are only those
which have been given before in the
telegraphic reports. He is one of Gen.
Miles scouts going home to Galveston.
He goes by water all alone, 1000 miles,
He is a modern hero, that's all.-Kaa-
SaS city Times.
Texas COlOniSts.