Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-06-23

powerful and warlike neighbour, the pro-
lection OF the United States government,
guaranteed to them three-quarters OF . con-
tury ago, 10 still their portion. A short
dlstsnce above Fort Stevenson the Dacotah.
landed at q wood pile which proved to be
the property of Rec family. The female
members of the household were vigorously
at wofk subduing the forest with axes as
the boat ran alongside the bank, while the
husky buck who occupied the position of
head of tho family leaned against q cotton.
wood tree. In oil his primeval elegance, and
complacently surveyed the scene. He was
the financial agent Of the concern. I Judged.
for he took the money which equaw labor
had earned, and that he is careful and trust
worthy In his transactions 10 rendered Ger
tain BY his demand for pay for the whole
wood pile In ono dollar bills.
The Rees, tho Gros Ventres aud the Man
dana are oil we'll disposed Indians. They
raise small crops aud possess some wealth
in ponies. They have been the friends Of
the whites since the beginning Of history
In this region. There 10 q tradition that
the Mandans are the remnant of a once civ.
ilized race and that the Rees were also
once familiar with the ruder arts. If this
be true they are sadly degenerated. They
are a dirty, squalid people and havn't half
the attractiveness or ambition of the war.
like Sioux. Physically and mentally they
are q lower order Of Indians. Some of
them live In log huts. others in dirt houses
and others In dingy cloth tepees.
While we were wooding at the Rec camp
tonight q furious storm Of wind, hail, rain
and electricity came down upon US from
the west, but we had out a halfdozen lines,
which anchored Us firmly to the bank. The
storm was short and furious. Just as it
was opening the steamer Helena rounded .
bend from above and swung to under the
same bank which gave US protection and
put out her lines. After the storm had
ceased the Dacotah went on her way, hav.
ing yet q couple of hours of twilight.
The appearance Of the country is chang
ing slightly. Buttes are becoming more
frequent, the soil is growing lighter in colo,
and along the cut bluffs are visible we'll de
fined streaks Of Ignite. This is the same
formation which is found at various points
in northern Dakota. At Bismarck it is
digniGed by the name Of coal, and is usec
to some extent as fuel. The bluffs and buttes
which have lost their river sides by the &C
ton Of the water show clean cut faces fron
base to apex upon which many a geological
legend is written. They show the sand ant
clay beds, the compact sandstones, the bed
of mari and clay and gravel cement, an
the Ignite Of the tertiary period. Th'
record Of glacial action, of aqueous deposi
and Of the inal subsistence Of the origina
waters is written upon the walls Of thes
hills and in the terraces and slopes whic!
lift them from the plain. Geological re
search has shown that all this region wa
once the home Of the %rhinoceros, the camel
the tapir, the elephant, the crocodile an
the mastodon. have seen none Of these
but the savants tell US their bones lie mould
ering in the subterranean dust of thes
plains. There is in facl a wonderful deart
Of animal life. The %treeless plains and tn
wooded bottoms alike seem deserted, br
wood choppers tell us that there is an abur
dance Of deer, antelope and some ell
They do not show up when steamboats, ar
passing. 1t is we'll for them hat they Civ
the Dacotah a wide berth. On her lowe
deck are two hundred and seventy men jul
turned loose upon this wilderness, from ii
s states, all in their native ferocity. Ever
mothers son of them is armed with a 81
e shooting revolver about two inches in leng'
and when a duck shows its head above wat
each one of the two hundred and seven
d empties the six chambers Of his revolv
into the river, and the result is that t
is duck has to get up and 60 away to 4 quiet
ri spot. Imagine the consequences should
k antelope or a deer put in an appearance
the bluffs a mile or two away. The Dae
1e tab would be lifted out Of the water in o
It. grand fourth of July explosion. So
H. continue to hope that no large game v
n become visible.
r.. tThe conclusion Of this letter will be given
to- issue.l
ut DR.. 81. D. Dodge, denl,st, Dewitt's bio
b Yankton.