The Benton record. [volume] (Benton, M.T. [Mont.]) 1875-1879, 1878-07-19

By some landmarks known to one of
the party we believed we were approach
ing Fort Lenhi, an old Mormon fort, aban-
d med some ten years previous. We
knew the place had been deserted, but we
tried to persuade ourselves that it was
again occupied, or that, at least, we should
find a volunteer crop of vegetables grow
ing on the soil that had formerly been
cultivated For three days more we
struggled along, our hopes centered on
reaching the for. Our bill Of fare con-
sisted of wild garlic, varied with an oc-
casional sun flower or mouthful ofgrass,
and, although we exerted ourselves to
travel rapidly, our march could not have
exceeded from three to five miles
per day. At length, on the 18th
day of June we were surprised
and oveuoyed to discover Fort
Lemhi in the distance, and so positive
we're we that our suferings were now at
an end, we forgot our hunger and felt as
happy a.d as hopeful as if toll and dan
ger were unknown to Us. We could i'm
agine we saw the smoke curling from tue
| chimneys Of the house, people moving
about the doors, and could even smell the
savory odor OF d dinner cooking. But,
alas what a cruel disappointment was in
store for US. On reaching the fort we
found it completely deserted, and not al
ounce Of food Of any kind within It's walls.
Before reaching the building Driscoll and
Perkins had given out and refused to move
a step further. They had, indeed, become
too weak and exhausted to travel on the
day previous, but by urging and assisting
them we had managed to get them along
few hundred yards at time. Bost-
wick proved himself on this occasion the
strongest and bravest of us all. He not
| only never complained Of his own suffer
ings, but always had a word Of encourage
meut for those who lacked his nerve and
power of endurance. He sat down beside
poor Dnscoll and Perkins and begged
them TO keep up thcir courage, and not to
dishearten the rest Of us by giving up
shen few miles further mi 4ht bring Us
within reach Of succor. The determined
confidence Of the man is fully shown in
q slight but to Us most important incident.
Shortly after reaching the fort a solitary
pralr,e chicken made its appearance inthe
grass, about hundred yards distant,
Bostwick's nuerring rife was pointed a
the bird in an instant. | knew that unler
ordinary circumstances be never missed
a shot, but exhausted and weak from
hunger as he was. it seemed hardly pos
shle that he could shoot with any degree
Of accuracy. | therefore begged him to
aim for the body Of the bird instead of the
neck or head as was customary. The re
port Of bis fifteen pound rife was the only
reply aud the chicken fell over dead with
its head neatly sealped. A better shot was
never made by the most skillful sportsman
under the most favorable circumstances.
Perhaps this incident was all that saved
The party from yielding wholly to despair.
Bostwick, it is true, was still strong and
able to travel for many miles yet, but his
unselfsh anxiety for his friends did more
to sustain him than any hope Of saw
ing himself, and as he would not leave
Driscoll and Perkins, who were now com
pletely undoDe, his chances were no bet
ter than theirs. Though very weak and
hopeless was notq quite as far gone as
my two companions, and would have COR
tlnued the journey had they been still able
to travel. After reaching The fort and
consulting together, we concluded that
our only chance was for BostWick to start /
out alone and endeavor to reach Deer
Lodge or Beayerhead, while the rest re
manned at the fort. The chance for his
return IN time to save US, or indeed or /
reaching the points named, was very
small, but it was our only hope, and to
leave our suffering companions was not to
be thought Of. Bostwick very reluctantly
consented to make the trip, and Driscoil,
whose mind was now wandering and who
mad ALREADY attempted 70 take his own
life, insisted that he was all right and that
be would accompany Bostwiek. whether
the latter wanted him or not
There was bare possibility that Bost-
wick, should he succeed in finding the
lnountaineers' wagon road from Snake
r.ver, might fail in with some enlgranttrais
and obtain provisions from them, even il.
he should not be able to reach the settle
ments. With thi hope IN view, but prob
ably with strong belief that he had seen
Us for tie last time, the brave fellow start
ed o. his errand of mercy, followed by the
now nearly insane Driscoll.
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4 man was killed by circular saw,