The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1881-01-05
Onieiai Report OF nm Exploration
Through the Famous Big Horn
Mountain Country
Grand Canons Two Thousand Feet
Deep. aud Heights with Perpet-
ual Winter.
LContinwd.l

100 49, -
near Tongue river, though it would not
do for wagons without a great deal OF
labor. AS we descended, we came in
sight Of six lodges Of Crow Indians.
They fiocked out TO see ms, half-clad,
dirty and hungry. These Indians were
scattered along the base of the lower
range in small camps on the tributaries
of Custer river, and at this season sub
sist mostly on berries, which are very
plentiful, particularly choke cherries.
skirting along the foot hills, we again
assembled to the lower range, after cross
ing Grass lodge creek, and camped near
the highest point of the ridge between
the headwaters OF Custer and Big Horn
rivers. Here we had our best views OF
the country TO the west and north the
valleys OF the Big Horn and Sinking
water.
The sky was of perfect serenity, The
light transparent atmosphere allowed
us to see the forms Of mountains far
away. A blue, silken veil seemed
thrown oyer the range which bounds
the national park on the east. the
gilded snow crest having a faint film OF
blush purple, paling of a line of steel
at the higher peaks.
The Big Horn calon commences just
below the mouth of Sinking water, and
all streams from tho east reach 1t
through gorges and deep canons.
On the 25th we startsl for Fort
Custer. via old Fort c. f. Smith, and
we left the mountains with regret. The
i%nvigorating atmosphere, the resinous
odor Of the pines, the pure cold crystal
water, such as man dying Of thirst
would think Of, fine hunting and ex-
cellent fishing, all had taken a strong
hold on us.
Perhaps some scientist can explain
why it is that no tributary OF Powder
river contains trout. l a only state
the fact that none do, and add that
every obligation for perfect trout
streams seems fulfilled.
On the morning of the 25th we left
our camp on the mountains in bright
warm sunshine. 1t had rained during
the night, and every blade of grass
glistened as though studded with
diamonds. To the left and right the
valleys, as far as the eye could reach,
were filled with soft, feecy clouds, form
ing apparently a level white sea blown
into pillows by n gentle breeze, and as
the rays of the sun played upon them,
they took on a peculiarly rich satin
lustre. The rough cahons and wild,
rocky gorges were hidden by thismantle
of clouds. As we descended we first
encountered a fine, drifting mist, which
we could only feel rs it blew against
our checks, rs though each atom Of air
was laden with moisture. Lower it
became thicker, at times rain, aud still
lower a steady, persistent and gloomy
drizzle. The .higher point in this in
stance had the smiles of sunshine, while
the valley was wrapped in gloom of
mist and rain.
We proceeded to and camped near
Fort c +. Smith, and from this point
visited the iBlack canon on Aug. 81,
where we killed a mountain sheep, and
in the Big Horn canon, four bear, but
it was impossible to get down to them
on account of the perpendicular wall
Of rocks.
The Big Horn canon is ruggedly
grand, is about one thousand two hun
dred fee. deep, the sides are nearly
perpendicular, and the rocks are tinted
with many colors.
The Black canon is formed by a
small stream emptying into the Big
Horn river, some eight miles from the
point where the latter stream breaks
out of the foot hills near Fort Smith.
The sides are inclined at all angles and
clothed with sombre pines and spruce.
1t is an architectural work fashioned
by natures hand. The columns, arches
and turrets crowd through, and stand
out in bold relief from the background,
while here and there Is an isolated
pillar of solid rock cut by time from
narrow causeways, which only lead out
the abyss below. This gorge or
canon is about 1000 feet deep. There
is a small stream at the bottom con-
tanning trsut, and there is one fairly
good trail leading down for pack ami
mails.
Some little gold has been found this
season ut the bottom Of the canon.
The bare ard broken adobe walls of a
portion of old Fort Q. F. Smith still
The Sioux swarmed in when
the post was abandoned eleven -yesrs
ago, cut down the flagstaff, and burned
and destroyed all that was left by the
There is n small graveyard near the
old post, a few square yards enclosed by
a low stone wall. A slender, modest
monument and a few rude
mark the graves of 1t.
stenburg, o guide, several soldiers and
citizens, nearly all killed by Indians. ]
The limestone pillar has been Clipped
aud broken showing the impotent rage.
Of the savages. 1t is a lonely, deserted
place, but these victims Of Indian
hatred probably sleep as peacefully as
though in a city of the dead. Al