The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1883-07-11

CHAPTER XIV.
ruR posRpup ExPKDrfI0N WHICH FIRW AT
nAcrED ATTENTION TO THE BEAUTIES OF
rus yERrrLE VALLEYS, OF THE LOWER
oouxrHY-FHE BATTLES AND HARDsHIPs
ENDURED ON THE TRIP.
A man named J. L. Vernon came to
Boseman in the fall of 1873. He had
been with Gen. Stanley on his trip up
the Yellowstone and claimed that he
had found gold in paying quantities at
Rosebud creek and being very smooth
talker he had convinced great many OF
the truth Of his story and quite a large
number agreed to go to that country in
the spring. Another expedition was
formed at Bozeman to open up the lower
country for settlement, for which pur-
pose many merchants and prominent
men Of this place contributed horses and
supplies.
The two parties concluded to join forces
and doing 70, met at Ed Quinn's cabin
ON O'Rsar creek in February Of 1874 and
elected Frank Grounds captain, Will
liam Wright a. lieutenant and E. B. Way
adjutant. All told, the party numbered
l49 and was composed Of the best material
in the country; many old Indian fighters
and trappers from the Yellowstone and
Boseman, and adventurous miners, who
would face anything for the chance Of
d,xings, from al over the Territory, were
with It. The party had two pieces Of
artillery, the old Big Horn gun and a
twelve pound Howitser from Fort Ellis.
William Cameron (who had been in the
artillery service during the cavil war; was
made chief gunner. Some Of the party
used pack animais but the greater num-
ber Bad thsir baggage and provisions
transported in wagons Of which there
were twenty-five.
Starting on the 18th Of February, the
command moved slowly down on the
north side Of the river. The grass was
very poor and the horses could not be
worked hard and no more than ten miles
sday was averaged through the whole
trip. There was nothing of interest hap
pened to the party till about the last Of
February. The men did not want to dig
rifle pits and the older heads in the
party thought that Il wonld be necessary
to have scare; 20 two men were to fire
their rides in the hills and come in cry
ing Indians. This they did well and it
had the desired effect, and trenches were
dug at every camp after this.
Vernon had gone ahead from Quinns,
with small party and when near Pom
pey's pillar, turned back and joined the
expedition near Canyon creek and trav.
eled with it till it came near Pompey'f
pillar. He, knowing that all his talk were
lies, left the party and with one COM
panion (Rockafellow) went to the Mis-
souri, and down that river in boat. On
the way down he and his companion
,ouarreled and Vernon cut his comrade
badly with knife, when just above Fort
.Buford, and nothing more has been heard
from him since that time.
On the 10Th of March the expedition
crossed the Yellowstone on the ice about
four miles below the mouth of Porcupine
creek and laid over here for five days
while party of twelve men went on q
prospecting trip up the Porcupine. On
the evening Of the 25th, the prospecton
came in and reported no gold, and the
next morning the expedition started and
leaving the river struck across the coun.
try on an Indian trail to the Rosebud
When about eight miles out from the
river Bill Hineman and Charles Dryden
(who had gone ahead hunting) came
rushing their horses into the train and
Just after them were seventeen Sioux
A the Indians saw the party they wheerl'
ed to the left and went up on hill te
have q better look at II. The Indians
were stripped down for fight and had
left their robes, blankets, extra moccasini
and dried meat, in hollow about half 9
mile away. The advance guard from the
train dashed ahead and found and cap.
tured the cache.
The night camp was made just beyond
this, on high ridge, and water for cook
ing had to be brought from gulch three
quarter. Of . mile away.
The next day ten miles were made and
as the night before, the camp was fl,
from water. The next day they Travelled
but about eight miles and made camp al
noon. Alter dinner . small party went
ahead to choose the course for the NOR
rows trip. When they were about .
mile away and just q they were going W
. sharp hill, ON whose top was q thicl
growth of pines, George Herendeen, wht
was about fifty yards behind looked VI
and saw au Indian running in the tim
Der. He instantly fred and cried In
dians. The boys ran back and divides
in two parties as the Sioux commence.
firing. One part Of the whites woul'
IRE rapidly while the other would retrea
for about fifty yard, then the latte
would stop and protect the retreat of tn
former. They were soon met by part!
from camp and the Indians retreated.
At this time Bostwick was stationed a
picket near the upper end of LON
sloping ridge to the right of the camp
On the point of ridge, just beyond AM
running parallel with this at about 60
yards distance the Indians sat down AM
had ~ moke; after having done this two o
them walked towards Bostwick and mad
signs for him to come and meet them a
they wished to talk. He walked hi
horse towards them and while crossin
a little gulch which put him out of sigh
of them for . moment, six of the Indian
came rushing over the hill and wer
within thirty feet before he saw then
He fred his Winchester and wheelin
his horse, ran back at full speed, the
having better horses, kept close up an
shot him in four places. Bostwic
emptied the magazine Of his rife 9
them, but hit none. The ammunition {
the Indians must have given out for on
had out his bow and was fitting an arro'
to the string to finish. his victim, whe
Jack Bean, (who was . picket on tn