Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-08-21
Life in Montana.

ESQ.,, of Little Falls, we are enabled to
publish the following letter which he
has just received from Mr.. Moses Coe,
a young man who is well known and
highly esteemed in this county, aud
who has been in Montana over year.
Sherman, Montana, Aug. 9, 1879.
J. Root, ESQ.,: Dear Sir: I have
just received a letter from home say
ing that you would like to hear
from me. = Well, Jerry, I know that
I ought to have written before now,
but you know that I never liked to
write. I am the same old Nose, how
ever, and am we'll and hearty and hope
this will find you the same. The red
skins undertook to make game Of me
six weeks ago, but they failed in do.
ing so. This is how it happened. I
went out into the hills about six miles
from here to chop pine wood, and I
camped alone that night as I had off,
en- done before, with the sky for tent.
I soon fell asleep, and awoke with a
jump and yell and the flash of two
guns IN my face, but before I could
raise my gun they took to their heels
and were out of sight. I then started
home, but had not gone far when the
skunks came back and shot at me
again. I returned their fire, and a
laugh was all the answer I got. We
exchanged shots three times, and the
noble red man came to the conclusion
that his medicine was no good for
that night. The first two shots took
effect, one in each Of my legs, one just
above the knee, the other through the
thigh, both barely missing the bone.
The doctor happened to be passing
through the settlement, and was camp
ed near our cabin. I hobbled home,
and the doctor soon bound up my
wounds and told me I would be able
to walk in six weeks. My partner
took the best Of care Of me and I could
walk in three weeks, and am now at
work. Well, Jerry, I think you took
the wisest plan when you got spliced
but never you mind am going home
and you may tell the girls in Little
Falls to brace up, for 1 am liable to
pop the question to the first one /
meet. I am getting sick of this her.
mit-like life. There is not an unmar-
ried woman in the settlement, nor q
girl over eight years Of age.
Well, am making a living here in
spite of all the bad luck. We have
a good crop of vegetables, which will
bring US at least one thousand dollars
this fall. We have a ranch of 100
acres fronting on the Yellowstone riv-
er; also a woodward and a yoke OF
oxen. A person can't keep 3 horse
here unless he sits up every night and
watches it. One yoke of oxen was
butchered for me since I came here,
and the men forgot to pay me. 1 fell
disposed to pay them in lead. Now,
if I tell you the truth about the game
there is here, you will not believe me.
T have killed over one hundred buffalo
and seven grizzly bears this summer,
and / don't know how many antelope,
deer, mountain sheep and elk. have
shot buffalo from the cabin door. y,
This country suits me tip top, all
but the ladies, which belong to the
Crow tribe. Lots of fellows here are
married to Grow squaws, but they are
too rank for me. Write soon and tell
me all the news. Give my regards to
Leon and all inquiring friends. I have
had two letters from Charles Simmons
this summer. He is still in Bismarck
Yours truly, MOSES Coz.