Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1879-10-23
TOUR THROUGH MONTANA.
How Eastern Montana and tho Vel
lOwstOne National Park 0p.
pcared to Capt. Johnston
and Party.

,, pcared to Capt. Johnston
and Party.
tFroIn the Poughkeep.ie Eagle, n. Y !
In your announcement few days sir
of my arrival home, am le to believe
2. short description of our long trip mig
be acceptable to some of your very ma
readers, at any rate trust some one m
be benefited, which is the only induceme
for me towrite.
D. We left here on the 1st day of May f
= st. Louis, where, after few days spe
}. in visiting friends of that place, we too
}. passage on the new aad elegant steam
e Dakota up the Missouri for Fort Bento
l. We found on board number OF ladies al
gentlemen bound up the river, many
them eXcursionists. At Yankton we we
o joined by Mr.. W. f. Bowen and wife, NJ
!" " Bowen being editor of the Yankton Pre-
: and Dakotiau. At Bismark we were joi
ed by Ex-Lieut Gov. Bros, Of the Chic
60 Tribune, and a large party of milita'
f. officers on their way to the new milital
Post - Fort Assinaboine. The passag
though long one, was for the most pa
agrceably spent. The boat stopped at a
the military posts on the river as well a
the Indian agencies, which afforded us a
opportunity to see the noble red men, a
they are sometimes styled. At one poill
-Poplar Creek Agency-there were q
least three hundred ard fifty lodges est
mated to contain about four thousand In
dams. and at least five dogs to each Indian
Judging from the number we saw on tn
bank-the latter being my estimate. Will
lying at the shore we were treated to wa
dance by about thirty of these braves
wllic, was hideous to look on.
"A large number of these Indians occupied
the river bank viewing the boat and pas
sengers, many of whom carried Winches
ter ard Sharp rifles under their blankets :
these weapons and the large number o1
ponies they are allowed to have keep them
constantly prepared-to annoy and harass
the white settlers.
While on this subject and just here
would like to offer two suggestions to-
wards settling the Indian difficulties. The
first is that every red skin should be re-
quired to surrender his rife. and thereafter
any person caught in furnishing them fire
arms of any description should be executed
on the spot; the second they should only
be allowed one or two ponies to each falnl-
ly. This would settle most Of the Indian
troubles in my opinion.
We reached Fort Benton early in June.
and at the last end of the muddy season.
Our stay here Of three or four days. owing
to the abominable hotel accommodations
and the mud, was anything but agreeable.
From Fort Benton, we were driven over
the prairies in Government ambulance to
Helena, the Capital OF Montana. where we
remained three days looking over the town,
and its Placer mines, and then proceeded
on to Bozeman, about one hundred and
ten miles east from Helena and one OF the
principal gateways to the great wonder
land of America-the Yellowstone Nation
al Park. Bozeman lies at the head of the
beautiful Gallatin Valley, the Latter being
about thirty miles long and about the same
in width. 1t is the county seat of Gallatin
County, contains about one thousand in-
labitants and is growing.
There is one bank here whose genial pre-
,ident is Gen. L. S.Willson. formerly OF St.
Lawrence County in our State, one news
paper, the AvANT COURIER, two churches,
Ind another about to be erected, an elegant
'chOol building, one Jail without an occu-
liant, and the Northern Pacific Hotel, Geo.
". Wakefield, a generous whole-souled
Maine Yankee, its proprietor.
There will soon be erected twenty-five
housand dollar Court House, the money
or which has just been raised. Life and
property are very secure in this little town,
nd this is evidently due to the prompt adj
ofjustice in the early settle
nent of tho Territory. Fort Ellis, an inn
ortant military post, is about three miles
istant. Among its officers we shall ever
ratefully remember Capt. George L. Ty- !
r, 2nd U. S. Cavalry, who with DIR. Car i
cner. Post Surgeon, Capt. McAdam and I
ther officers did all in their power to make t
ur visit pleasant and agreeable, and so in t
ct with the private citizens Of Bozeman,
Y whom we were most kindly and hospi- q
bly, treated. The production of wheat, '
its and barley already grown in the val t
y is simply enormous. g
The mountains by which this valley is c
grounded on all sides afford luxurious n
sture the whole year for cattle, sheep S
d horses, no hay beng cut for winter
sding, and no shelter other than the tim G
r being required. When we crossed the v
untry in June, never saw finer or NOR, d
rifty looking cattle than we met with on j
, p-iries after passing through very v,
Tere winter. The climate of Montana te
IN all accounts for a good part OF the 81
ar is pleasant. No better evidence OF D,
$ is needed than look at its inhabitants. IN
ever saw more vigorous or hcalthful hi
king people, and for any one who has
IN small amount of capital up, and nj
Ing tor stock growing, either cattle, OF
,ep or horses, there never was better til
ening. W
We obtained our guides and outfit at M
kCsIdli OIIu et0i lOI tic dTk OIL Tic Ill
h of July. The party consisted OF my in
e. self, and a young gentleman from ila
Pa, besides the two guides in,
her formidable party to face few tn
ldre.l miles Of wilderness, and when We ne
learned of the capture, the year before, w
! small party on the same errand by the no
Perccs Indians. But We klt we were on
near the grand and slightly spot to tn.
, back track, SO We went on. The Va
tsvas BY wagon seyea.y-five nliles to see
great Mammoth Hot Springs, and dia
lce through the Park on horse back sta
ut two hundred miles. The latter we (
! not so0n forget. The wonders to be rec
within the limits OF the Park would ant
palees, sapd shall only attempt to de- the
be . very small part ofau we saw. on.
e dill not get very early start from the ne
ngs and at about four In the aftelnoonl.rc
saltcd and camped for the hight, thir- at /
miles away. Early the next morning and
we're on the way again, reaching Tcwer five