The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1883-11-28
Fort Asslnaboine.

We wonder if there is anyon who
likes to roll out of a warm bed at three
O'Clock OF q cold, frosty morning to take
the early coach for an all days ride.
But that is what had to be done to get
to our destination (A]ssinaboine) in II
day. All is blank to the nodding pas
senger from the city to the Marias, with
the exception of a chance to stretch
ones limbs by q walk up hill as long
as it's jaw-breaking name-the Cra-con-
du-neZ. For the rest of the twelve
miles we consign ourselves to the tender
ness Of the driver-Clark. We are all
glad to roll out of the coach, sleepy, cold
and hungry, ready to be warmed and
fed at Nose Solemon's. The proprietors
were soon routed out of bed, and when
we were thoroughly warmed were hand
ed over to Madison, the dusky genius
who presides over the culinary depart
ment of the hotel de Solomon. Since
the addition of Charley Miller to the
firm they have built a new building and
propose putting in a well selected stock
of general merchandise, and the big
rush through there that will follow the
opening of the northern reservation
next spring will find them well fixed to
do business.
After crossing Maria's river, as it is
named by Lewis and Clarke, ia honor
Of some fair lady, WI are in the Indians
country. The luxuriant bunch grass
reminds us that dame nature evidently
intended this country for a fine stock
range, since the buffalo, the red mans
cattle, have been wiped out by the steady
inroads of the whites and the use Of
their weapon. the death-dealing rifle,
by the initiative wild friends. Clear to
the post the country is one long stretch
of rolling upland, the monotony being
only broken by a stop at the Coal Banks
for refreshments and change Of horses,
and also at Box Elder. The only signs
of game are the hides Of coyotes anG
buffalo wolves stretched and tackled to
the walls of stage stations. Game being
so scarce these hungry animals seem to
fall easy victims to the we'll strychnined
bait which is put out for their special
benefit. The paymaster's escort rolls
past US and sets some of the passengers
guessing as to how many of the gallant
boys in blue have already ''gone broke"
through bad Judgment in estimatingIthe
size of the "hole cardn or indulging in
too much Milwaukee beer. Close upon
tllC ACCiS. " tIC CSColU III oiS VI oIC
characters of the country, "Tangle-leg-
ged Benz in a Red river cart. Ben is
very glad to see us and is inclined to be
sociable, so much so that he would take
a drink with us, but we declined the
honor, inasmuch as it was to be at our
own expense, and whirled away, leaving
the poor fellow gazing Wistfully after US.
, We roll into the post promptly at six
and are treated to a sight Of Fort ASSN
aboine by lamp light. AS it is built on
a leyel plain and around a rectangular
parade ground about a half mile long and
a quarter wide it look well from Broad
water, McCulloh & Co.'s store, which
stands on end Of the p~arallelogram.
The post traders here seem to be doing q
rushing business and the room is throng-
ed from early morning until closing time
at night with a motley crowd of custom
ers, all with plenty of coin of the realm,
showing that Uncle Sam had 'loosened
up" as he does bi-monthly for the boys
in blue. The boys at the store are all
pleasant and accommodating and make
a stranger feel at home in he time.
The site of the post on Beaver creek,
and six miles from Milk river, was Sc
lected by Col. J. r. Brooks, who march
ed here with six companies from Fort
Shaw in the spring of '78. It was estab-
lished at this point to prevent the hos
tile Sioux under Sitting Bull, who were
then camped at Wood mountains, from
making raids into northern Montana
and Dakota. The Rosebud massacre
on the Yellowstone of the dashing Gus
ter and his entire gallant band seems to
have impressed the military authorities
that Sitting Bull and his followers were
bad men and needed watching. The
buildings were commenced in the spring
of '79 with Broadwater as contractor,
Gen. Kruger being on the ground with
the 18th infantry. Col. Lee, quarter mas
ter, was III charge of the construction.
AS near as we can learn congress has ap-
propriated S225, 900 for the material and
civilian labor used in the construction of
the post. Ole Olesen the veteran brick
maker informed us that seven million OF
brick were used in the erection OF the
buildings. ~. x. &.
ITO BE coNTINUED.]
The creditors of III. G.. Tillinghast d
Co. are to meet in Chicago on the 4th OF
December. 1t will also be Of interest to
the Montana creditors of the firm to
know that the assignee has asked and
has been granted permission to continue
the business in the interest of the cred
itors. This is supposed to have been on
account of the firm having, before the
failures made purchases in the north
west which have not yet reached Chi
cago.-Independent.