Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1879-10-23

BozEMAN, MONTANA, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1s7a

n. one-half cents per pound to Guys. whel
a we paid to. We made the distance. abo,
n two hundred and forty miles, in sevcni,
y three hours, our stage having been ups,
T. the first night out. detaining us two hour
le We fortunately escaping with some sligl
l. bruises. \ x
y We intended on reaching Fort Custer t
II remain over and visit the scene of Custer
Il last battle and death, but on our arriys
e learned the steamer Ratchclor would be Il
c Terry's Landing, mouth of the Big Hor
River, on the following day, and wouh
Il leave Immediately for Bismarck. We de
: cided not 10 tarry, but push on. and b,
daylight we were at the landing. Her
: we learned from the military telegraph
operator that the boat had not vet lef
I Miles City, two hundred miles below
This news decided us to go on down tn,
river seven miles to the ranch OF Johr
Guy. and await the arrival Of the boat
: We found here in the log cabin of Mr.. and
Mrs. Guy excellent fare and every atten
ton to make our stay comfortable. This
family an;! half Il dozen others completed
the Aeighborhood in this part of the val
ley. They all settled here two years ago,
and have been facing the Indians on all
sides since they came here, the only trou-
Bile experienced SO far being horse stealing.
Cattle may run at large with safety, but
not SO with horses. The Crow Indians.
whose reservation extends two hundred
miles along the Yellowstone river above
there and forty below, are friendly, but
not so with the Sioux who roam over the
country between here and the Missouri
River. They are considered very treacll-
erons and are very great horse thieves.
Only few days before we crossed the riy-
er at Bakers Battle Ground party OF
Crows had been out in pursuit OF small
band of Sioux who had come on their res
crvation and stolen some horses They
succeeded in recapturing the horses and
killing four of the Indians whose scalps
they brought in with them, one of which
was presented with by Mr.. McGurl, the
trader at the crossing. The few days we
spent at Guys passed pleasantly, there
was quite large camp of Crows near
Terry's Landing who were on the way to
the Muscleshell valley to hunt buffaloes.
These Indians came up to Mr.. Guys to
trade, as he kept small stock Of grocer
les, and he was kept busy and we were
amused watching these noble red men
and their squaws while being waited on. |
The most of them were in full dress and |
well painted. The son of Old Dog, one of
their chiefs, headed one party. We met
here at Guys William Hamilton, q,,ite a |
celebrated character known bv the name
OF Crooked-Nose Bill both by the Indians
and whites. The Crows are his friends.
and II is said he understands the Indian
sign language SO well that he can converse
with every tribe from Mexico to tile Brit
ish Possessions.
Hamilton has the reputation of being a
first-class guide and scout, and has fire.
quently been employed by the military
authorities for that purpose. The whites
as well as the Indians are his friends, and
he is trusted and regarded by both as very
honorable Another famous Indian scout
and guide We met in the Park, known as
\ Yellowstone Kelly. At the time we met
nim he was on his way to join party of
Government surveyors who We're engaged
n laying out the boundaries Of the Park. ..
lie is splendid looking fellow of about /,
hirty years, said to be strictly tenn :.
'erate, OF pleasing manners and address,
nd one Of Gen. Miles trusted scouts.
While waiting at Guys the telegraph
'perator sent us word the boat would not
ONE above Miles City on account of the o
DIV water, and that We had better start s
for that place. The stage S
vas due at six p. m., but did not arrive at X
'uy's till six a. m, twelve hours behind 81
me, as usual. We took our seats this "
me. with the addition of one passenger S,
esides our party. "
We logged on during the day 1T the rate Il
about three and half miles per hour "
ld up to two a. M, when the driver III
'und himself off the road on account OF IL
le darkness. With one lamp on the /
age. but no candle, we concluded to stop. y
e had had one turn over, so we waited nv
It'll daylight, and went on at a snail's ao
ice till We were within nine miles of II
lies City, when the poor beasts gave out N
mpletely, leaving lis standing on the
zen prairie for two hours, when We were &c
taken in tow by teamster and OF
ought to the steamboat landing, where OF
3 found the steamer Bachelor, Captain er
ant Marsh, with steam up and ready to Is
u. We were not long getting on board, OF
d never felt SO much like giving thanks to
when VIC stood upon her deck. We sid
W began to realize for the first time that fol
had taken some chances, especially dur be-
. the latter part of our trip, but as we fev
d gone through safely, saving two scalps me
j or tanning one, We had cause to be am
.nkful. W.S.J. ex