Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, D.T. [N.D.]) 1878-1884, 1879-01-13
Fl. Buf0RD CORRESPONDENCE.
TIE POST LOOSES ITS COyNEC-
TION WITH THE EsCOUNTRY.

TION WITH The COUNTRY.
The Wires Dowa In Several Places
this sfde---Tho Famous "Horse
Guard" Visits the Post---Dr. III. A.
Skinner Improvfng--Misce
Notes and News. FsE }
Especial Correspondence rthe Tribune.)
ss9F IN TIE DARK. ssr,4.s
Fort BuFoRD, D t.. Jan 1, 1878.-We
have seemingly lost our connection with
America. It Is needless to write of our
felicity when the telegraph reached us
from the East, and our hearts were glad
dened with the thought that hereafter we
we were in the ring; we would know of
events as they transpircd insthe States, ard
in the joyfulness Of our: hearts we even
boasted, some of us, that we had become
connected with the rest of the universe.
But today we meet on every side with
the same query-Wbat of the mail? How
about the telegraph line? And both ,ques-
Trans are a,iswered-n0n est. t,f
The army may have. been increased, or,
horrible thought, decreased largely, but
we know nothing oft, and still rest rath-
er contentcdly, sootlied by the conviction
that the train of trouble cannot burst until
on or about January 9Th. t,5s
1t is an unpleasant position, that of
mail carrier. Especially in this season OF
storms, and undoubtedly with trost-bitten
fingers and checks, they earn their wages,
even though they def not arrive on time !;
but it is an annoyance at frontier post
when you get no mail, and the gentleman
who manipulatcs tlls lightning cody, in
forms you, from day to day, that the line
And then when the mall-wagOn arrives
on time, and you sec in the very flourish
of the drivers whip letters galore from
friends and loved ones far away, how
grievous the disappointment when you
learn from that awful potentate, the post
master, the unwelcome tidings, "No East
ern mail today" II this feeble protest
should by chance meet the eye of amy of
the post office fiends who occasionally
miss that sack for Buford, they will un-
derstand that an injured peoplemust oc-
casionally growl. s
ford, were not neglected. II The surround
ingr hills were levied Upon for Christmas
trees, and the .:iittlEsWes at home were
gladdcned by mud 1aSsin erriment and an
abundance OF Christmas gifts. think it
was in the December number Of Harper's
some two years ago that General Strother,
interesting article on ''boys and girls" re
terred to that oft prppoundcd, solemn and
perplexing qyery, ''What shall we do with
them ~ This conuntlrum was very salts
tactolily solved by %tne ladies Of this gar.
rlson, IN so far as> Christmas was con.
cerned. '.,5i" "Elat. il
l have not time Ito go into details I l
can only say there3was huge Christmas
tree, its branches hung with presents, and
the whole brilliantly illuminated; Il great
pile of books with illuminated notices !;
good music in attendance, the rooms
crowded with gay and joyous throng of
delighted children, and Santa Claus HIM
self presiding at the distribution of gifts.
Born OF rio Ii but honest parents myself,
| have synpathized heartily with your
correspondents Vicar, in his painful rev.
cries Ger the lap Of lu Jury, and the child
nurtered therein. wit the striking con-
trast he produces Tor our cditication, in
that connection. Judge then of my aston
ishment as l pceped over Santa Claus
shoulder on Christmas day, and read the
names of the children inscribed on each
gift, to find that though General Order
No. a. laid down no form for this pro-
ccdurc, still kind hearts had prompted l1s
enactment, and every child in ou1 little
burg had been remembered. They were
all there, even towee little ones, and all
received their present" with glee. .
We were all children as tar as enjoy
ment was concerned.
Z. Mr. James Leighton will leave for the
East In a few days.
Mr.. w. B.. Jordan has returned from
Keogh, and was smiling on his numerous
friends during the holidays at the FRA
ders' establishment. ~
New Years passed eff quietly. AS
usual, at Buford, callers were out in r'tull
togs," and Notwithstanding the severe
cold, the ranks wQ1e full.
From casual obscivation and selt-reg
istcring card receiver. it was found that
Professor Sam O Conncll entertained large.
ly, in fact more than any one else IN our
burg. g11ltiglisG 4I
1t is probable that several officers from
this Post will soon be ordered to Lincoln
on court martial duty. Colonel Huston
Licuts. Munson, Jacob, jr., and Bronson
are among the number .
Travel between Buford and points ~
the upper country is uninterrupted, the
mails arriving from Poplar River an. (
Hliles City Oh time. To-day one OF, bioad
waters trains is loading with stores TO
Kcogh at the government storehc use-
The Gros Vcntres who ike in this vi
cinity are, the most OF them, absent OF
their annual hunt. They are camped nea
a range actually covered with buffalo. ant
are rich in robes and meet. naturall!.
infer their hearts are strIng, though ahe..
are somewhat Msslent as to their i4ten
tions'' sass
The TRIBUNE sometime since contained
an account sf the shooting of Ds:EH. 2
Skinner, agency physician at Popla
r. 0fOr- \ 1~nH 60 fa