The Benton record. [volume] (Benton, M.T. [Mont.]) 1875-1879, 1878-07-05
Original Story.
:RONTIER SKET CHES
NUMBER SEVENTEEN
By JOHN J. HEALY.

By JOHN j. HEALY.
/ While enjoying the genial glow of my
Dnesome campfire, few hours after l had
disposed Of my frugal supper, the sur
founding solitude was broken by the
heIodious voice of Tim Driscoll, who had
Bh his companions and was now trudging
Hong the trail in the direction of the spot
Fbere I had made my camp for the night.
Tim said he had left his friends because
Ie preferred travelling with me, but know.
hg as I did that he belonged to the
ltandiferd and Reilly party I suspected
nat they had persuaded him to follow me
pr the purpose of keeping me from get
jug the inside track when the treasure
Fas discovered. I said nothing, however,
but started out the next morning with my
selfapPointed guardian and travelled with
him until noon when we again camped.
Here we were Joined by Bostwick, Perkins,
standiferd, BELLY, Pullman, keenan,,
Sauders and few others. They stated
fhat for few hours after | had Left they
Forked with the boats, but concluded final
ly to abandon them.
/ Provisions being scarce in the Ralston
hnd Standiferd party, some of them turn
I'D back that day and retraced their steps
70 Florence. The boats and tools were
Iaken out of the river and covered with
Rarth and brush to protect them from the
action of the weather. Ia the afternoon
she party numbered but 2 men, with JEFF in
Ehe lead and keenan, bringing up the rear.
For few days the trail was fair travelling,
But the route was through long canyor,,
md as the latter grew narrow the trail be
gan to darken. Standilerd exerted all his
bowers Of endurance to encourage the
TEST, and the party had hard work to keep
Rp with him. Beaver Dick, Geo Orr and
Happy Jack" Jack Gun) outwalked
lll the others and got 50 far ahead on the
rail that they thought it necessary to
llaze trees and tie pieces Of rags to the
PUSHES to show the path they had taken.
they left other signs which were not 50
ncouraging to the weary and hungry trav-
Ilers behind them. The appearance Of
be trees showed where they had made use
4 the method in vogue with the Indians
Fhen the latter are out Of provisions and
a starving condition. They had taken
III the inner bark Of pine trees for food.
There is thin skin next to the wood
'hich, when scraped of, tied into knots
nd eaten contains considerable nutri-
bent, and will sustain life when all other
rticles of food are exhausted. 1t has
ven pleasant taste, resembling the pine.
PpIe. The distress which these men
'ere now evidently in, should, perhaps,
ave warned US to return, but NO one of
be party thought of turning back. while h
lere was one companion ahead. Th
'aternal feeling is characteristic of min.
rs, and has been the cause Of much un-
ecessary sacrifice oflife.
After weeks travel Standiferd, with
w companions concluded to return. Be.
re starting out on the expedition he had
ceived the appointment of Sheriff for the
wn of Florence and, as he stated, it was
for him to be there on a certain
". The trip had already extended far
'yond the length oftime he calculated to
absent and the prospects we're now not
encouraging as they had been the FIRST
eek out. He very reluctantly parted with 2
and our party was reduced to eight men /"
his departure. q
We we're now obliged to ration ourselves
I'D such game rs we were fortunate
Tough to find, but animals Of all kinds,
gu Inc smallest birds, were scarce and
most impossible to bring down. The
III had become SO rough by this time
= = was almost impossible to pick out i
"a !. LOT our weary feet, and the river, i /
y" was rising rapidly, compelled us to j.
sp nigh up on the steep sides Of the i,
'3Son and to make such . circuitons y