Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1879-01-30
wilson's LETTERS.
Down the YellOwstOne.-FOrtC Custer
A Western Cty-DescriptiOx Of
the country Products of
the Soil. Gc.-CuSter's Bat.
tie Ground i'm 1873.

the SOsIs (Ec.-NuSteFS kbdts
y tie Ground i'm 1873.
!. Last summer the writer Travelled throug
IS a great portion of the Little Big Horn va
II lev and found it to be from a half to mil
y in width. The growth OF grass is luxuli
l. ant and the soil exceedingly fertile. Fo
e some distance below Fort Custer the vale,
!, of the Bi" Horn is. we should judge. fou
u or five mics in width. but afterwards be
: comes narrower, being little more than
mile wide. This portion of the valley pre-
sents an exceedingly dreary prospect. thu
: ground being covered with but Il scant,
growth of grass and in many places in
crusted with alkali. while the growth d
sage brush is prolific. The hills. which
flank it on either side. are low. ragged and
in many portions covered with timber. \
ride OF sixteen miles brings us t" the sta
ton; where we were to stop for the night.
On riding up to the building. we found il
to be a small log cabin, havinga huge door
way but no door. In the aperture stood !,
man who we are certain will never be hung
for his cleanliness. Being informed he was
prepared to keep travellers, we disno'ln,-
ed. unsaddletl and went in. Every pros
rect pleases" was not our verdict after
taking a brief survey of the premises. In
the first place. there was no chimney. Il
hole in the roof being the wretched apoI-
ogy for one which the premises afforded
There was a small fire burning on the
ground and the room WAS full OF smoke.
A rickety table. Il stool and IL couple OF
lunks. one of them used us Il chicken roost.
completed the outfit" We remained out
81 ctill supper was announced and then in
dulged in "a slice Of yenisOn. Il piere OF
and cup of muddy cnfi4a : .YsS~.
or milk. Bob" was tied to the fence and
Supplied with an arnIfi,l OF hay and two
quarts Ut oats morning and evening. After
supper the chickens We're disposscssed of
their roOst and put underneath the bunk. |
all arinrul OF hay wis thrown upon il and |
we were given greasy blanket and a robe. |
Being t;'tigued by hard days work. we
soon turned in. The occasional coy cl,,cks
Of the fowls beneath indicative OF conscious |
comfort. we quite enjoyed during the few
moments which elapsed before going to
sleep; but sometime during the night the
vigilant cock, betrayed by the glancin.
'noonbeaiDs. set up Il lusty Growing which
lispelled I'LL slumber and made life bur-
len. He was finally squelched. We were
in the morning by a feeling of
snffocation. and on starting up discovered
that mine host had lighted bis fire and was
preparing the morning meal. Completing
our toilette by pulling on our hat and
boots, 1--WE got out of that with Il rapid
ty that was something surprising. On
breakfast being announced. we returned to
| second experience of petrified dough and
'enison. after which we s1ddlad up and in
luircd the amount of our bill. This we I
discovered was ''only three dollars.' and
IN asking fOl particulars. were Informed [
hat we were charged Is cents Il meal and
$50 for four quarts OF oats. On the {
strength Of that experience we can recon-
mend Ed. Lie to the travelling public as {
nan they will do swell to avoid. for he be- ,
ongs to cl,ss fortunately scarce in Mon !;
ana VIII" charge what they think they can I
ret. For the stage company to keep such !
person in tlat position is, we think. poor
policy rs they neither consult their own ,
Tor their patrons interests. ,
The valley from this point to Terry.s /.
.anding we did not see, as denst. toy hid ,
III objects which were more than few
ards distant. AT the Landing. last Sum- {
ner. the steamboats, unlOaded an immense {
mount OF Government freight. 1t w;,s s
o,nd necessary to establish camp there, {
which was accordingly done. All the Fall. t
ong .'bull trains" have been sseadily ut
work removing this freight to Fort Custer.
,,lt when we were there large quantity
till remained awaiting transportation. A I
'ow OF tents are occupied by company .
If soldiers who are doing guard duty. The
amp Is in command Of Col. Jos. Conrad, {
18th Infantry. whose canvas home we {
ound to be u model of comfort and con- +;
renience.
Half mile further up the stream is {
argc ferry toat, owned by Messrs. Brown
4 Hawk. who swing us over tile stream {
with little trouble and at small expense. t
These gentlemen have besides. a sample
room where cigars are found and comtore {
for the inner man. Here we find also tie
trading store of Mccormick Il Co.. which
has good assortment of general merchan
disc. II
Leaving the river bottom. the road pass i
IS the site OF Big Horn City,a city of grea q
expectations at one time, but Its glory la,
A few remnants of building t
and an empty whisky barrel or two is nj 3
that now remains to remind the passer-b u
Of the uncertainty OF real estate values b 4
tle far west. We are informed that los I Il
we're staked out for over mile when tn. y
place was expected to make large town. o
4 short listsaee further on. We cltmt1a
bench and strike the old trait made by tie v
stanley expedition ~ 1873. The trails G
low dimly seen on either side of the rod, v
nut we Immediately peopled it with tie {
ong line Of nodding ''white b0pnets'' nd
sith the comrades SO many OF wbonjn il
he Little Horn met soldiers tate Id II
AVE gone to that shadowy land wh(c t.
vars alarms are never known.