The Benton record. [volume] (Benton, M.T. [Mont.]) 1875-1879, 1878-05-17

coming up TO the huge stone heard one
Of the men exclaim:
"Hellol What's this 2"
Just behind the boulder laid NV elk. the
blood streaming from three wounds near
his heart.
There was no help for it now, I had to
acknowledge to TIE boys that had fred
three shots at the animal, and supposing
that | had made miss each time conclud
ed not to let them have the laugh on me
The elk was even then not quite dead
but tried to struggle to his feet when we
approached him. Tt did not take US long
however, to kill him. He was the fattest
animal [ ever saw butchered, and the BOYS
estimated the weight, dressed, at eight
hundred pounds. The hide, which Char
ley May stretched and dried, afterwards
proved as seryiceable as Brian O'LYnns
famous breeches. 1t made me 8 most ex-
cellent pair of shoes, and the remainder
was afterwards used on the bottom Of a
gold rocker, and presume thousands of
dollars were rocked out with it.
After two days more Of weary marching,
we struck the Elk City trail from Orc I7ino
and Lewiston. Here the Elk City party
left us, and the 0ro Fino boys, including
myself, kept straight ahead and were
soon gladdened with the sight Of q
we'll known 1andmark-Pilot Knob,
which is close to the main Nez Perez trail.
From here we met with few obstacles to
our progress. 4 broad trail led across the
the summit Of the mountains, and brought
us to within twenty-five miles Of Elk City
and about the same distance from the
Mountain House, located near the foot Of
the divide. Towards the latter place we
now made bee-line, and BY ten O'Clock
the following day had the pleasure Of in-
tervewing our friend (?) Townsend.
No doubt we presented mostrepulsiye
appearance, and Townsend evidently mis-
took US for party Of road agents fleeing
from justice. He gave us anything but
warm reception, and intimated as much
that our room was more desirable than cur
company.
rF1n 3
were not disposed TO be repulsed il this
manner, and We informed Townsed that we
wanted grub, and grub we must have.
This information had the desired effect,
and our sulky host at once produced an
abundance Of bread and vegetables, for
which We paid him handsomely in gold
dust.
From Townsend's we struck out for
Orc Fino via Lawyers Crossing, camping
one nj ght on Canas prairie. It seemed as
though we were destined to have trouble
whenever We touched this spot.
On the night mentioned we turned out
our horses, never dreaming that there was
an Indian near, or that the animals would
not be found when wanted.
The next morning, however, five Of the
horses were gone, and We discovered,
about mile distant, small camp Of Tn
dians. We had no occasion to 60 to the
camp, as the Indians came to US before
we had cooked breakfast, and protesting
great friendship offered 10 find our horses
forns. The search continued throughout
the day, but the horses were not found;
and in the evening the Indians informed
US that we could not have the horses with
out large reward.
That night the owners of the horses
threatened vengeance against the Indian
thieves and BY morning we had all deter
mined to have the horses or clean out the
camp. We however, adopted . plan which
we hoped would bring the Indians to terms
without hostility. We first offered them
i reward Of ten dollars for the return Of
the horses, and on this being refused We
surrounded the herd Of Indian ponies, close
by. threw ropes over the heads Of five Of
+ the best horses in the herd, brought them
to the redskins camp and told the owners
that unless5they returned the stolen ami
mails within FIVE minutes We Wonla take
what we had and leave.
This move had the desired effect. Our
horses which we're slowed away IN the
brush, were brought out and delivered to
as and we left the camp without further
trouble Within two hours after Ne left
The camp We arrived At 0ro Fino City.
| Wefound the settlements geatly changed
during our six weeks absence The town
was heated between the forks of 0ro Fino
and Rhodes Greeks, about three miles
from Pierce City. 4 sav mill was now i
operation, the creek fora distance ofeigh'
or ten miles was svarming with men, u
busy opening up their claims and many
making rich clean up.
Rhodes Greek was rich enough for fonl
Or five miles up, and contained some 9
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