Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1879-03-06
WILSON'S LETTERS.
Down the Yellowstone from POrcu
pine to TT. X eOgh.

. pine to TT. H eOgh.
Leaving the Little Porclpine station, the
road again climbs a bench. which is about
four miles wide. and then descends into
the largest bottom we have yet crossed
since leaving Clark's Fork. 1t is from one
TO four miles in width. and about thirty in
length. The growth OF grass is magHifi-
cent. A moving machine could run for
miles through meadows that will rival the
carefully tended hay fields of the East
We are informed that the average yield is
from one to two tons of hay to the acre.
i The first ranch reached is that OF Fletch-
or and Anderson. two Colorado boys, who
learning that the ''Star of Empire" had
started for the Yellowstone country, very
scnsibly decided to follow in its wake.
We found them busy on their ranch build
ings, which before now are doubtless COM
plcted.
A five miles ride through splendid meal
ows brings It's to the abode Of Peter Jack
son. who kindly invites us in TO rest and
take "A little liquid no,rrishment. But the
clear blue skies, tie bracing breezes. and
the beautiful world about us. is stimulant
enough. and We therefore decline portion
of the hospitality offered. but make him
happy by adding his name to our subscrip
| ton list.
! The next station is opposite the mouth
Of the Rosebud and is kept by Messrs.
Johnson 4 Simpson, who make us thor
oughly comfortable, with when we camp
for the night. These men. as hunters and
| scouts. have rOamed over Il large portion
| OF the Northwest. but becoming tired Of a
wild life. have finally driven their ''stake''
and propose to remain permanently in their
present location. The evening is spent
about their roaring fireplace and the hours
whiled away in recounting stories Of adj
venture by flood and field" with Indian
and wild beasts. About 8 o'clock johnson
goes to the door Of the cabin. An eXclam-
alton OF surprise brings us both to his side.
when in the moonlight about one hundred
yards away we discover Il herd of about
twenty buffalo grazing. The light from
the doorway startles them. We make a
break for our rifles and just as they are
moving off give them q yolley. One old
fellow staggers for a moment, but regains
himself and is off with the rest What
would our eastern nimrods think of shoot
ing buffalo from the doorway Of dwell
ing?
Three miles beyond. j. ii. Henderson
has located and little further on Kennedy
& Philips have opened Il ranch. In the
lower end of the bottom we find quite
dairy farm, which is owned by three young
men under the firm name of Bandenburg
4 Co. They ale milking thirty cows and
find immediate sale for all the butter they
can manufacture at from Is cents to 81 a
pound. Having been among the lucky
ones in their hay operations this season.
they are well satisfied with themselves and
are very enthusiastic in their predictions as
to the future of that section.
A toll road leads up over the point of the
next bench, which is very cretltable to the
enterprise of its proprietors.
The next bottom is twelve miles long
and at one point two miles wide, but has
no distinguishing features worthy OF men
ton. Finally. the ferry is reached and in
a large boat we are taken across the river.
4 short distance from the landing party
of Indian scouts are encamped. who are
under the carc Of Capt. E. z. Ewers. 9TH
Infantry. The past summer they have
done quite an extensive amount OF FIRM
ing. 1t had been our intention to give tile
of produce they raised but having
seen it mentioned and commented upon
by nearly every paper in the Territory il
would be an unnecessary infection to again
repeat it. The Captain has naturally be-
come greatly interested in the progress Of
his charge. After many years experience
in frontier warfare. he is very decidedly of
The opinion that it is the cheapest to feed
the Indians well and be at peace.
A two miles ride, over a level plain skirt !
al on one side by gro til Of cottonwood :
IN ] on the other by ''bad lands whose hills
If odd and peculiar shapes gives to the
scene wild and singular beatty. brings lis !,
% Fort keogh. We were completely sur
Drised at its great proportions. tor in itself
t contains. with its numerous civilian EN-
Dloyees, a population larger than many !,
western city. Fourteen companies are !,
here-'horse and foot" The :
parade ground, which we would Judge to
De half a mile long. is circled by Il broad
smooth drive which has recently been set
,ut with young cOttonwecds. About this !,
lrive is grouped the quarters Of tile officers !,
md the barracks Of the men. The former
ire large. airy, two-story buildings. The :
barracks Of the men are finely finished, two
stories in height, and each has a long piaZ-
"A on both first and second floors. which
,xtend the length OF the building. A broad I
,rick walk leads from the Communicates 7
,fiice past tie officers quarters to the hos n
,ital which is fine, conmodious building. u
The Post trader, Capt. W. ID. O'Tcole, has Il
large store building and carries IN i'm a
nense stock Of goods with which to sup l
,ly the wants OF the large garrison There Y
S neat post-office building and a COM
ortabl" club room supplied with billiard
ables, newspapers from all parts of the
ountry and various other luxuries which
0 ''this perishing body" are of vast i'm I
'ortance. Indeed many Of the good things n
# that club room come from foreign lands. It
ome of them are brought from distant
amaica, others from Holland and others q
till from the sunny isle of CUBE. Home
are not neglected, and Kentucky I
y her industries is largely represented. |
When we were at the Post it was under y
ommand OF Gen. Nelson A. Miles. 9TH al
Infantry, who, we expect, will soon have
barge of the military district of Montana te
FRED. NJ. WILSON.
DisOhndient Sfuhauf.