Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1880-10-14
Prom Hon. 3. A. stnnc.
resno,,,,e,,s, (3aliipolts Journal.


Correspondents Gallipolis journal.
EprroR JoURSAL-In Iny last let
ter gave your readers an account
Of my ride across the Rocky Noun
tains into Montana 70 hunt up some
OF nv chiefs In order to have them
GO TO Fort Hall to meet the Honor
able the Secretary Of the Interior,
and now, with your permission, !
propose giving them some notes of
our journey to Fort Hall Agency 200
miles south OF here. ~
Everything arranged, on Thursday
morning. August 9th. the ''red
SKINS" headed by their chief Ten
day, each dressed in his ''brightest
and best" and painted in the most
approved style, with q six-shooter
In his belt and carbine strapped to
bis saddle, put in an appearance. and
after obtaining rations for their jour-
nev, announced their readiness to be
Of.
Accompanied by the haif-breed in
terpreter, Bill--referred to in for
mer letter--and seated in our Agen-
cy spring wagon in which we carried
our blankets and robe to be used for
bed, and drawn by span ot
Agency horses, we led the way,
closely followed by Tenday and
some twenty other Indians.
Our route lay Immediately up the
Lemhi Valley, and it being 20 O'Clock
when we left the Agency, we made
our calculations to reach eighteen
mile crossings stage station-dis.
tant thirty eight miles, before night.
About noon, the Indians halted in
the shade of a clump Of cottonwood
trees Immediately on the bank OF the
river, tethered their ponies, kindled
fire, cooked and ate their dinners
aud then lay down to rest for an
hour.
Fortunately for Bill and myself we
were now near the house of ranch
man whom I had met once before,
and just when passing his door be
came out to inquire where all the
Indians were going, and the thought
struck me that | would inquire the
time of day, hoping thereby to in.
duce him to ask us to stop for dinner,
which TO my great delight he did. ]
did not wait for second invitation,
but volunteered to tell him that
when among my friends at home
never suffered myself to be coaxed
to partake Of meal, and that we
would take him at his word and dine
with him.
We soon had our team unhitehed,
watered and fed, and going into the
house was introduced to an intel
ligent, good looking and tidy house
wife who WAS busy getting dinner,
Before dinner was announced l had
learned the names and ages of two
or three children, what State the
mother came from, how she liked
living among the mountains of idaho,
but left blissfully ignorant as to
what she thought Of an inquisi-
tive Indian Agent.
Dinner was soon announced, and
we sat down to "a good square
meal" consisting in part of ham and
eggs, new potatoes, onions and peas,
with as fine specimens Of biscuit,
butter and tea as | ever tasted. We
ate heartily, and enjoyed our meal
hugely, not knowing what our fare
would be for supper.
Dinner over We thank our hostess,
tell her if she ever calls On us in
Ohio wife will cook her spring
chicken and give her t,eo meals for
one; shake hands with all the chill
dren, bow ourselves ont at the door,
and HE away for eighteen mile
crossing, where we intended stopping
for the night.
About sundown we reach the sta
ton to find long, lean, cadaverous
sort of looking old bachelor who was
trying to get his horses into the stable.
He was nearly run down, and with an
old slouch hat in his hand, and his
shirt collar unbuttoned and flung
back on his shoulders, and painting
like lizard on q hot rail, he wound
up string Of oatl.s With wish
you was in ell, you old ard 'caded
sun of a.. / looked at the poor
fellow and laughed away down in my
very boots. / thought of Sut. Low
engood and his lizards, and inward
ly wished l could see six inch
specimen crawl from out the poor
fellows shirt collar.
Thinking we had better get into
the good graces of the old fellow for
we wanted to sleep in his stable that
night | jumped out of the wagon
and volunteered to help drive the
horses in, and making myself as
agreeable rs ! possibly could, i in
Iuired if we could have the priyi,
egc of sleeping under his roof for
he night, to which he replied yes,
provided the old boss does not come
IN the stage, but if he comes you
'an sleep out there by the hold 'ay
tack.
In about two hours the stage came,
ind the boss not being aboard, we
we're allowed to spread our blankets
ind robes under shelter and turned
n for the night.
AT six next morning we are off for
Birch Cleek-another stage station,
iistant ~ miles-where we stop over
light.
Saturday morning the Sth, just as
he sun was gliuting with golden hue
he crests Of the Birch Creek Range,
which We have now left behind us,
We start for Eagle Rock, distant 73 |
niles, which we must reach before |
'ightfall, or else sleep out of doors
n regular Indian style, as there is
ot even hut BY the way.
At noon we reach Camas Lake. a |