Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-07-23
Up the Missouri.

FoRr BUFoRD, D. T., July 18th, 1879
To the Editor Of The Watertown Republican,:
We left Ponca City, Neb, June 2lst, after
spending day in pic-nicing at that place.
We left at about g.: p. M IN the Ste amer
c. K. Peck, VIM. R. Massa, Captain, and
John Hanna, Clerk. We were soon out of
sight of our friends and began to prepare for
months journey on the Missouri common
ly known as the Big Muddy. We arrived
at Yankton on the 23d inst, and was OBJ
liged to lay there till Friday morning, June
9th, to make some repairs.
June 2Sth we passed the Niobrara River
about 10 O'Clock and from there we had
I. on either side About o'clock
P. m. we reached the Old Ponca Agency
where we wooded from pile which cost
Uncle Sam $3.50 per cord and when Mr..
Spotted Tail, their old chief. was moved this
wood was sold at auction at Sl.l9 We
found a man in charge of the Gov eminent
property which consists Of a Flour and Saw
Mill said to have cost the 6 overnment $40,
OC0; there is also a Agents House contain
ing 81 rooms, Blacksmith shop and School
House. There was an old Indian there; he
said he wis he'd to remain where he was
born and where SO many of TIE braves were
buried. He said the whole tribe would like
to stay but the white chief at Washington
drove them away. Passed Yankton Agency
at $50 p. m. and at o'clock Sunday mora
off one passenger. All was quiet at the gar
rison-
June 3Oth we reached Rose Bud Landing
place located about Il year ago where 10,
600 Indians get their supplies, we took Off
100 tons of corn. There is now 200 Moline
wagons at the landing, aud about year
ago they received 200 suttler wagons and
400 sets of double harness. The Indians do
their own teaming and in a very satista c.
tory manner. There is now lying there to
be issued, $50 plows, rs drags, and 200
ox-yokes, and 20, 0OOlbs. of bacon. We left
early on the morning of the LIST of july
reached Fort PIERRE at 100 p. M. July End
we took off rs tons of freight at this point
to be taken to the Black Hills. Ft.P.is made
up of low shabby log buildings and l was
so glad to get away from there that do not
kpnu OF ha- tipna W. off Tho n.rv
traversed by this great river thus far is
about the same, with trowning hills on
either side with occasionally a strip of table
land adopted to stock raising and cultiva-
ton. The principal places between Fort
Pierre and Bismark are Cheyenne Agency,
and Standing Rock, which is military post
and also an agency, Fort Ri>e and Fort A.
Lincoln the latter about l J miles from Bis
mark. " e reached Bismark July Sth at
$3.50; we found lively little town but the
place showed no enterprise of the people.
The Northern Pacific is building across the
river and intends running a road up to the
Yellow Stone river. We expected to meet
our agent here but he had gone on, and ia
II o'clock we followed him.
The Western mosquitoes struck US and
from there on we were obliged to wear
head covering of netting and gloves
If you would put up mosquito nett
ting they would pull out the tacks, fold
up the netting and lay it away. We ar
rived at Fort Buford at 8 o'clock a. m. july
18th. This place is about three miles from
the mouth of the Yellow Stone river; we
have about $50 N lies further to 60 and we
reach our destination and | for one will be
glad TO get off this boat. l do not as yet
know what my address will be, but as soon
as do GU will be notified and | shall ex-
pect the Old Watertown REPUBLICAN to read.
You will hear from me again when l get
settled. G. D. RICHARDS.
Dodge County.