The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1880-04-08

ed to the Flathead River. Twas tire6
OF prospecting, and, being still nervous
l. thought months fishing and hunting
would restore my nerves, and hoped
would remove the specter of the small
pox village and its ghastly inmates from
my mind. had crossed the range by
one of the Milk River passes, and had
come down the western slope some dis
lance above the Flathead Lake. Riding
down the valley saw horses with ropes
on their necks, grazing on plain where
brook joined the main river. Sus.
pectlng Indians, l hid in a thicket and
examined the plain closely with my
glass. l could see nothing except the
horses and some objects under q thorn
bush by the side of the creek. 1 rode
to the bush. There, in q
filthy condition and in the erup
lively loathsome state of small
pox. lay two men, miners like
myself. Their condition was indescrib.
ably offensive and pitiable. The iron
prospecting pans lay near them; also
bacon, flour, rifles, and great quantities
OF blankets. 1 dismounted, unsad.
died my horse, turned him loose,
and, building a shelter of blankets. al
once began cooking for and nursing
those men. I nursed them long. When
they were mending, had recovered SC
that they could walk about little, ]
took sick. was chilly; little waves OF
cold ran down my backbone; l had
headache, had fever; these grew
worse for a few days, and then knew
nothing, until woke up to find myself
as loathsome an object as ever was seen,
The two men nursed had nursed me,
They told me they had contracted the
disease by breaking into the lodges OF
the dead Blackfeet on the Marias and
stealing their blankets. l naturally was
angry at this, and expressed myself
freely. Frank, those two men resented
the fretting of a sick man, and let me
alone to get well the best could; not
only left me, but they stole nv horse.
l lay around until got strong, and then
! hshed and hunted and slowly walked
to the mining camp on Dog Creek.
When l meet those miners, if ever do,
l shall kill them. Now you know how
got the smallpox.
Amazed at the story, looked at Ed
and said:
4" In wonders name, man, what made
you stop with two utter strangers and
nurse them through the small -pox? You
could not have cared for them. What
difference did it make to you whether
they lived or died?'' Never will | for
get the look the grand fellow gave me
as he said: "Well, by -! what else
would I doP" 1t was a hopeless task to
beat selfisnness and inhumanity into his
handsome head; SO that conversation
dropped, with huge increase of admir-
alton on my part for my comrade. Long
after Ed thought was asleep could
hear him giving vent to snorts of aston.
ishment, and in bewildered injured
undertone repeat the only profanity I
ever knew him to be guilty of: "Wen,
by II" Once saw him rise on his
elbow and look into my face as I Law
on my back. The full moon shone
brightly on me. saw him look long
and earnestly at me, and then he Law
down muttering, "By -,he was only
joking!"
The next day finished my engineer
ing reconnaissance, and it was necessary
for me to 60 to Deer Lodge. So +
parted from Ed, agreeing to meet him
at the mining camp on Elk Greek in
week or ten days.
Arrived at the camp on Elk Creek, |
asked for Van Thusen. He had gone
fishing. The camp was in a narrow
valley. Steep hillsides rose from the
water almost. To the south the slope
was wooded. The northern slope was
bare. The stock of the camp had eaten
the bunch grass very close. The strong
winds constantly blowing had shifted
the top soil. 1t was gone, leaving the
delicate, wiry roots of the grass stand
ing above the soil in moss1ike clumps.
There were a few stunted pine trees with
ragged limbs on this northern slope, all
leaning to the northeast. There was no
inn in this camp; so went to the low
log saloon. Putting my blankets and
rifle behind the bar, told the barkeeper
that was a friend of Van Thusen's,
and wanted to sit around until he re-
turned from fishing. There was a stove
in this saloon, a number of stools, five
tables, and few cigar
boxes filed with poker chips. Back of
The bar, on rough shelf, stood an array
u WAieo JULIUS. mduy SII1du STcoHlSQ
drinking glasses with thick bottoms were
On the bar. At one end of the bar stood
\ pair of delicate gold scales. On hear
ng my name, the barkeeper took q /
lively interest in me. and pressed me to
oartake of drinks, "just one little cock
ALL" but | begged off on the ground
hat could not stop at one. In the
afternoon sudden mountain snow
'torm came tearing down the valley, and |
he miners, quitting work, came flock
ng into the barroom was introduced |
o many as g This is the friend Van was
5elling us about" All were very kind |
o me. A volley of profanity from the
street in front of the saloon; the door
vas opened and slammed to again; and |
here, shaking the snow from him, stood |
! rufian with two revolvers belted to |
i'm. Spanish spurs were on his heavy
,oots. The brim of his SLOUGH hat was |
urned up in front, revealing mean,
face. Striding to the bar he /
,alled: 'Drinks for the crowdn'
)ne or two only drank with him. He
,oastfully Dragged of his skill in playing
,oker, and wanted ''some gentleman to
,lay." He was accommodated at once.
Declining tn plav freeza ont - for