Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-03-05
WINTER LIFE AT A FOkr.

CoIvilIe.
Away out in the north western corner
Of our country near to the border of Brit
lsh America, Fort Colville is hidden away
from the knowledge of man, buried in
snow for most of the year and with the
thermometer standing for months steadily
below zero. From private letter of an
officer We extract the following description
of the life and amusements of the exiled
people at the post
wish you could have some of the sleigh
ing have been enjoying every night for
some time past. have been taking ad-
vantage of some of the privileges of my |
Office of quartermaster, which would be
quite considerable if had time to devote
to them. ''Cold turkey is what these
advantages are called here. l have some
twenty mules and twelve horses in my Q.
NJ. stables now, and although :.lost Of
them are at work every day, there is always
fresh four-in-h hand available when
l have no evening work on my hands. l
found a very fair cutter in dilapidated d
state and put our blacksmith upon it, ana
this, with my four ambulance mules and
four COW bells for sleigh chimes. is not to he
sneezed at. Occasionally use horses, but
the mules are the fastest, and more in ac-
cord with the COW bells which are becoming
my distinctive announcement through the
clatter of the usual sleigh bells.
Staff duty out here nearly always falls
- 81
quartermasters are lieutenants Of the line,
with no extra pay or assistance, and with
the additional duties Of commissary, adj
jutant, &c. They do the work of the
quartermastcr' department., while quar-
termasters seldom get farther than Wash
ington, New York, San Francisco, sc. In
some unexplained way Major Forsyth, a
real live quartermaster, made his ap-
pearance at Camp Chel.n, q post in this
wilderness, and did not succeed iu getting
relieved for nearly = year; but now his
place is taken by 2L lieutenant of the
line, who assumes, in addition to his duties
as commissary and adjutant, those of quar-
termaster for performing which alone F.
got the rank and pay Of major and the
assistance Of trained clerk on a salary of
800 month. The lieutenant will
have to take his clerical force from among
| the soldiers.
| On Sunday Hunter and l drove ont to
orr company hunting camp &; each COM
pany has now got detachment in the
mountains after venison. We found them
very comfortably housed in 4 snow bank,
under shelter tent, but in front of the
shelter the SHOW had been cleared away from
square Of about ten feet and banked up
so that the walls were rs high as the head.
In this space the camp fire burned against
a large tree as back, and everything was
as snug and warm as if they had been in
garrison. By the way, it is curious how
little We realize the fact that the mercury
is below zero, and good way below it too.
We dress warmly to be sure, and although
we wear heavy overcoats we don't bundle
up: and never think of putting off
moonlight sleigh ride Or staying at home
on account OF the dropping of the mer-
curry We found our party had not had
much success; the. snow here, being per-
fectly light and feathery, there is no crust
to impede the deer and assist the hunter.
4 who has hard work in two or three feet Of
it. l, however, have lately been we'll sup
piled with ducks and deer, as the hunting
parties, OF whatever company, always
think it well to remember the chief of the
pack mules and bob sleds.
The garrison minstrel troupe gave their
first entertainment, which was !. graId
success, on Dec. %. 1t took place in the
library building which built last year.
A neat little stage was erected, with foot
lights, side scenes, flies and upper lights,
and a painted drop curtain. The orches-
ira was very good parlor organ, two
violins, a guitar, bass-viol and flute. The
audience was full, all the officers and la
dies, and people from the country round
about. When the curtain rose at tho tap
of bell and the semi-circle of chairs was
filled with a dozen dusky gentlemen in
black coats, white vests and ties and
gloves, it wasn't hard to imagine oneself
in the East again. The end mcn-bones
and tambourine-wcre perfect profession
ais and their jokes were fresh and good,
every one. Tho singing was excellent, the
choruses well-trained and some of the
voices very fine. I believe l told you
about their having serenaded us some time
ago. Then the entertainment went ON
with clog dances, sketches, negro and
Irish songs. The whole thing was just
what you would expect to see in New
York or Philadelphia-no localisms in it,
which is quite hard thing to avoid in
garrison. Our company was largely rep
resented in the troupe and music, and we
are quite proud to think that we have
such fund to rely upon to keep up good
spirits.
On Xmas eve we all met at the colonel's,
whore Xmas tree had been rugged up
for the children. The little chicks were
all expectation when, about o'clock,
sleigh dashed up outside with a grand
jingling of bells and Captain H., who had
slipped out unnoticed, was heard
hammering the door with his heavy
whip, in the character Of Santa Claus,
and grand one he made when he was
ushered in out of the driving snow which
had lodged all over his fur costume, he