Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1877-08-08
UP THE
\ Description of that Stream and Its Prin.
eipal Tributary, by II Yanleton Man.

BISMARCK, August /, 1877.
Editors Press md Ddhotaaan Thinking
that a few lines from the Yellowstone and
some of your readers, | will try to give a
description of the country through which
they flow. Taking passage at Bismarck on
the steamer Big Horn, that new and fast
boat of the Coulson line, we soon reached
the Yellowstone. This river is as large as
the Missouri for the first two hundred and
forty miles. Then we reach the Powder
river, flowing into the Yellowstone from
The Yellowstone this far up is thickly tim
bered with a fine growth of cottonwood.
There are islands every four or five miles,
| which are thickly timbered. The valleys
extend back on the north side of the river
for two or three miles, and furnish excellent
hay lands for about fifty miles from its
mouth. Then the bottoms gradually be-
come narrower, and the timber more scarce
as WI near Bear rapids, and finally the
bluffs hang over the river on both sides at
a ! point known as the Devils Back Bone.
Then comes Buffalo rapids, five miles long,
and the swiftest on the Yellowstone. From
here the river runs through a better coun.
try to Tongue river, Cor post No. ~ aud
from there to the mouth of the Big Horn
the bottoms are covered with a fine growth
OF timber, from twelve to twenty inches in
diameter. This point has been designated
by Gen. Sherman as Big Horn City. All
the steamboats, have to unload here, and the
supplies are hauled overland by teams be-
longing to the Diamond r train from Mon
tana. This is owing to the swiftness of the
Big Horn and its short bend. It is forty
miles by land from this point to the Little
Big Horn Cor post No. y. Like the Vel
lowstone, the Big Horn is thickly timbered,
and has numerous islaads. Game exists in
abundance here, and affords good sport
for travellers. Fost No. 2 is building where
$ the Little Horn empties into the Big Horn,
1t is situated on q high bluff like Fort Lin.
! coin. The Custer battlefield is eighteen
miles to the southeast, on the Little Big
Horn. The Big Horn mountains are sixty
miles to the south. They are partly GOV
cred with snow, and can be seen plainl,
d from the post. Miners come into the pos
t every week to get provisions, and all return
e to the mountains. They claim there is no
G much gold there, but they manage to pa,
for all their grub in dust There is a Niger
in the wood pile somewhere(. | should no
wonder if there was a stampede there thi
fall.
The government seems to have a goo
deal of trouble getting its supplies up t
lie post No. 2, as the contract boats are MAXIM
X very slow progress, being unable to stem tn
rapids. Their freight is lying along tn
river in several places. The only boats the
TX have done anything in this river are thos
y of the Coulson line. l don't know whethe
u it is the superiority of the boats or the skill
all others in this trade; but one thing / d
know, Uncle Sam made Il big mistake in M
l. awarding the contract to this line. Th
a government officials see their mistake nov
lOi IIlSS utNt CIldIlGicu llS IOSSDuu, Dl
y Horn, Far West, Western and Key West
ID take the supplies to their respective post
u The Gen. Sherman got to the Little Ri
rs Horn IN July 22d, with only S4 tons
freight. 1t would remind you of issue da
at an Indian agency to see how she distribr
ted her freight along the river. She had
,s. wood choppers on board, besides the crew t
r help wood up. I think when the govern
ment comes to figure up profit apd loss
will find that the Don Cameron has mad
M them more money than the Sherman.
The steamer Big Horn Joe Todd maste
te and VIM. Evans clerk, has made a very SUI
IS cessful trip to post No. 2. She unloade
1875 tons of freight and within Is miles
ne the post without putting out a line. Fro
ay this point the rapids are very swift and 81
had TO put out two lines before getting
r'z the post. Gen. Sherman and son started c
~ July 26th from Big Horn City for the Ye
lowstone park. They intend crossing Il
~, mountains and down the Columbia river
the Pacific coast. They had an escort
one company of the I'd cavalry and fol
scouts.
les Generals Terry and Card, chief quartz
lep master, were passengers down on the F
West from Tongue river. This last name
elk boat is doing her share and none Of the
az need attempt to pass her. She is the que'
F. of the western waters and while command
by Capt. Earl will hold the belt for tt
of season. The Rosebud, Grant Marsh masts
He and the Big Horn, Joe Todd master, a
err plying between posts No. ] and No. 2.
NE may look cut for some fast time. Th