The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1880-12-30

111 us4Auy o1iy ADOut v totb oocps
but having . tTeAehsroas bottom, Il can
oniy b foTded ~ soma 81 Tie mSst "a
sofzhAs points. Ths sAteT, Though
muddy, IL neariy free from Sikali. The
valley l. walled IN for neariy its entire
iength by hsfs and b4d lands, ahd,
though rather narrow, has very nch
soil and very hne hay land. and. I have
no doubt, 10 well adapted 10 agrieul-
ture without irrigation. We marched
up the Rosebud river some sixteen
miles; then. going up the valley Of =
dry creek, NE assembled the divide
between Tongue and Rosebud rivers.
There are some springs at a few yards
from them. The banks Of the creek
are heavily lined with underbrush and
cottonwood, and the adjacent country
gives hns protection from winter
storms. and excellent grazing for stock.
At o point near liz mouth Gen. Terry's
and Gen. Crooks forces met In 1876
and crossed over 10 Tongue river, the
trail still being quite distinct leading
nearly east. Ours was about 10 degrees
east Of south. Arriving on the divide,
We struck the head OF q small stream,
and followed Il 10 Tongue river, the
distance between these two streams.
Tongue river and Rosebsd, being only
ten miles. This route would furnish
an excellent wagon road and in dis
tance 10 shorter than the one leading
up the Tongue river from its mouth.
We marched up Tongue river eight
miles. and camped opposite the mouth
Of Otter creek. The day was intensely
hot. the Thermometer Indicating 90
degrees In the shade. The next day
We continued eight miles up the valley
end crossed the stream. which was
greatly swollen. by means OF n raft,
swimming our animals. Nothing was
lost and nothing wet. this good fortune
being due mostly 10 tho earnest, hard
work Of the men and Indian scouts,
who tied lariats 10 the raft and swan
tho river, taking the ropes in their
teeth and towing the raft TO the opposite
bank. The days thus far had been
very hot anb the nights cool. with very
heavy dews.
Tongue river i An exceedingly crooked
stream, and the valley. now settled
with scattered ranches, was, n few
years since, rs nearly IN Indian para
disc a II Is possible u imagine. The
bends give wide bottoms, affording
splendid camping grounds; the adjacent
pine clad hills. bad land bluffs. grassy
valleys. and rolling country supplied
them with plenty Of game. The stream
Is heavily timbered with groves Of cot
tonwood, and some Of the bottoms are
covered with n thick mass Of wild rose
bushes, bullberries. currants, plums.
gooseberries and grapes. The vegeta-
ton seemed Mt least two weeks In nd
vance Of the Yellowstone.
Moving up the valley the next day
ON the south side some fifteen miles. va
came TO Hanging woman's creek. This
small stream takes It's name from n
Cheyenne woman who som ten years
ago committed suicide by hanging herself
TO q tree, owing TO domestic troubles.
Tho Cheyennes In 1876 came down
this stream in December, TO join the
Sioux under Crazy Horse, after having
their village destroyed by Gen. Crooks
cavalry and Indian scouts In the Big
Horn mountains. Their rude lodges,
made OF bark and small sticks, were
still standing ut the place where they
camped In that bitter cold weather.
This stream will afford n splendid To-
cation for stock ranges; the water Is
slightly alkaline, but there are fsh and
beaver In It. Tho valley Of Tongue
river virtually terminates at the mouth
Of the stream after passing beyond Wolf
mountain.
From Hanging Woman's creek the
white snow peaks or ridge Of the Big
Horn range IL clearly visible in the dis
tanco. The latter seems short, and
tho ravincs, bald slopes, and pine clad
hills c~onfusedly intermingied. look rs
II one could ride.easily from base to sum-
init.
Near the headwaters Of Hanging
Woman's creek We found small bands
OF buffalo, and in the distance saw
largo herds.
There were slight showers during the
night OF the 26th and the day Of the
9th. The head Of Hanging Woman's
creek terminates In high broken bluffs
and bad lands, and It would require
some search rs well rs a good deal Of
labor TO construct a wagon road over
our trail.
Ito be C~5ntinued.l
Mothersi MothersH Mothers.M