The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1883-10-03
The Chronicles of the Yellowstone.
An Description Of the Country its Indians the Early
Settlers; Their Struggles with the Aborigines, and
Interesting "reminiscences Gathered from
The Early Pioneers.

Es OF THE YELLOWSTONE" has been applied
form1
BRIDGE. cutting off many miles and hav-
ing better trail by doing so.
Major spurgin and company STAYED
back with the wagons, and the monu-
ments of his skill in road making, show
plainly to this day; for two high and
rough mountain spurs had to be crossed
by him before getting to the Mammoth
Hot Springs.
Howard crossed the Yellowstone at
Baronett's bridge, which had been par
tally burnt by the war party that had
been at the springs, and went up the
east fork of Soda Butte creek and up that
to the Clarke's Fork mines; from thence
down Clarke's Fork.
ss AT the mines George Huston and some
others of the mountaineers joined the
command as scouts and were much liked
by and stayed with Howard to the end.
When the command passed over the
last mountain and down to the Clarke's
Fork plains, the Nez Perces were but q
days travel ahead.
Gen. Sturgis with six companies of the
9TH Cavalry had been lying near where
the Clarke's Fork pass opened to the
prairie for several days; then, thinking
that the Nez Perccs were coming out Of
the mountains by the Sinking Water
pass, moved over to that river. On the
day that he left the Nez Perces came
down and when, the second day after
ward, he returned, he was both behind
the Indians and Howard: Hesoon over
took the latter and was given company
of cavalry and some scouts and again
hurried on in pursuit.
On the evening of the 18th of Septem-
Der, the Nez Perces crossed the Yellow
stone and camped.
About two miles away and down the
river, was a ranch and stage station,
owned and kept by II. H. Stone and
Elliott Rouse. Early the next morning
they discovered the presence of the In
dians and mounting two horses that they
had kept in the corral, went about two
miles down the river to a ranch owned
by Bill Brockway; at which there was
two men. They put their horses in the
corral at this place and watched the In
dams who were at the stage ranch plum
dering and burning.
Half an hour after their arrival at
Brockawayis, the stage came in from
below with three passengers, two men
and woman. The stage stock was put in
the corral with the Others and prepara-
ton was made to defend the place; but
at the last moment; when they saw the
Indians coming in great force they weak
ened and all went to the brush, which
came close to the house.
The Indians took the stock from the
corral and hitching up the stage team
rode, with horses at a gallop, all over the
prairie and when through with this
sport, left the stage and harness about
four miles away.
Before leaving Brockway's the In
dams set buildings and haystacks afire
and as at the stage ranch everything was
burned. .....
A small band of Nez Perces went down
the bottom to a cabin nearly opposite
tie Josephine tree and surprised and
killed two men while they were eating
their dinner. After firing this cabin,
they went little further down and
burnt little store; whose proprietor had
fed.
The Crows and Nez Perces had been
very friendly and had hunted buffalo
together for years, but the chance of
plunder offered was too strong for the
Crows friendship, and many of them
volunteered to help crush the little band
that was struggling so bravely for what
they believed to be right.
On the morning Of the 18th the Nez
Perces sent their women and children
and extra stock ahead up Canyon creek,
and most of the warriors stayed behind
to plunder and burn the ranches spoken
Of About a hundred Crows, unseen by
the Nez Perces, went around the hills
and striking the lead of the fleeing band,
captured and run off a great many
horses.
One Crow was captured by the Nez
Perces, who whipped him with their
horse whips and taunted him, saying,
that he and all Crows were dogs, that
they would not kill him, for he was not
worthy of it, tut they would use him as
any other dog they caught stealing.
About 10 a. M, Sturgis crossed the Ael-
lowstone and rode fast on the trail up
the Canyon. In its narrowest place the
command was checked by volley from
the hills on either side, which killed two
soldiers and wounded another. The
cavalry formed and charged the hills but
the Indians ran before them. Sturgis
kept on the trail but had not overtaken
the Nez Perces when he arrived at the
Musselshell river; at which place he was
stopped by courier from Howard, who
wanted to catch up.
The Nez Perces kept on at a good pace
and on the 2Sth came to Cow Island on
the Missouri. A large amount Of goods
for Helena and other parts Of the Terri
tory had been landed here from a steam
boat and wagon train was in the act of
being loaded. The white men who
were there made quite gallant defense
of the property, but were too few and
had to retire. Bradley (who was well
known on the Yellowstone and at Boze-
MANI was killed. The Indians recruited
their scant store Of provisions and
clothes, and destroying all that they did
not want, went on. During the afternoon
of the 29th, they crossed a spur of the
Bear Paw mountains and camped on
Snake creek about four miles from the
range.
| On the 18th of September, Howard
sent couriers to Keogh apprising Miles of
the coming of the Nez Perces and their