Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1879-03-27

reports and the exhibition OF mug 1
gets which they declared came from the t
forbidden land. Hundreds of emlgrants y
gathered along the Missouri river, and also 9
in the adjoining territories, before the snow {
had left the ground in the spring of 1915,
resolved on making their way to this new
El Dorado. Ignorant Of the danger that
menaced their every step, it was full time
for the authorities TO realize the gravity OF
the situation, and adopt some measure to
prevent the wholesale slaughter of these
mistaken wanderers by its troublesome
wards. The Sioux had refused to surrender
their right to the Black Hills. The miners
had plainly shown their determination to
possess them. AS the entire army, II used
for the purpose, was insufficient to stretch a
Gordon Of pickets about the coveted ground,
either to keep the miners out or the Indians
in, but one course remained, viz !: to dlspos-
sess the Sioux of their Independently If
possible !; that failing. then by the right the
stronger can exert over the Weaker-force
and force meant war, and war meanta reign
OF terror on the frontiers.
The good people of Montana and adjoi1-7
ing territories, the eager spirits, Who lmpa-
tient of the slowly moving methods OF the
crowded walks Of the East, had abandoned
their comfortable homes to seek a'new lie
and fresh adventure among the.wilds of the
grand and beautifsl mineral-laden. game
Astounding Rocky mountains. These, after
wears of the toll and hardship that are al
ways a concomitant of the lite of a pioneer,
have settled in their new locations with a
feeling of content not unmixed with a never
ceaslng dread Of the sleepless enemy who
was forever watching their doors.
What was supposed to be the richest part
of the mountains was still uneXplored be-
cause of the danger that beset the path Of
the daring soul that would presume to'in-
; wade the sanctxap sanctoaN7a of the savage
Sioux-the Yellowstone valley and the
Black Hills. The tabled gardens of fairy
{ land were never SO jealousy guarded by
: their hideous dragons as was this terra a1-
: cognita. The fabulous stories told OF the
inexhaustablea wealth of the Black Hills
were changed to apply to the Yellowstone
valley, which was a land rich with verdure
over which, summer and winter, roameC
game in abundance-eount.ess thousands O
deer and elk, driven out OF their mountain
businesses by deep now Of the long win
ters !; the hosts of buffalo sullenly retreat
ing before the biting wind and storms 0
snow that swept from the frigid north-al
q these sought this lovely valley where the
y warm, sweet winds from the Pacific KEEP
the nutritious grasses free from snoWs; ant
) though hunted continually by the Indian
who came to the valley for the same reason
that controlled the game-a desire for food
y they would not be driven out into the snow
+ belt that surrounded their feeding ground
n and thus furnished the Indians a never-fail
ing supply of; food. The sayages, after
II winter spent in idleness, or, still better 70
y them, just hunting enough to keep them i
S. tirst-class training, would come forth Whe
* spring opened with an abundant store {
" dried meat nlen and women, horses an
/; dogs, all in condition to renew with fres
m vigor. the work of rapine and murder t1s
ID has been from time immemorial, to then
n the most fascinating Of pastilles. Foot b
r. foot have the aborigines of this c~ontinel
~ been driven from the Atlantic, to the dista1
shores of the Pacific ocean, and though a
ay last robbed mostutterly of their possession
e. it has been a costly theft to the spoiler
up Tie path of the ever retreating savage ha
n been marked with the smoke OF burnin
as Ehomes and the slaughtered bodies of mel
ed women and children, the innocent victim
as of a system of fraud and theft that, by r
elf ducing the Indians to the verge of starv
of ton, at length drives them to open wa