Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1883-02-19

from our meanderings. Mr.. Reed, who
objected to starting ont, was pleased to
term the trip ''the fight of the nine
idiots" He stated that he had always
held chat there was no sense in one man
holding out alone. against the rest of a
jury, but thenceforth he should be more
charitable.
At one point, when he suddenly came
upon the river, Mr.. Wright expressed
profound establishment. at its extreme
width, while peculiar look and very
audible smile passed through the party
as !he was told that be
was looking down instead of
across ii. There is one pecularity about
travelling over the prairies of Dakota,
when the road is missed no one ever
turns back. II he simply drives ahead
IN the same general direction he invari-
bly, comes out at his destination. This
rule being applied by our party. we at
last found good road, and just as day
began to break we drew up at the so
called tavern OF the so-called town of
lMiiitown, 81 miles from Huron. Aper-
fect fusilade at the door at last secured
admission. and when an almost intermin-
able search produced lamp its feeble
rays discovered q sheet-iron apology for
a stove. Into this were thrust wads of
hay aud from the dense clouds of smoke
that Immediately filled the room we felt
sure there must have been some fire. A
window pulled wide open and nthe con-
test that followed between the smoke,
cold and heat the latter finally gained the
mastery and were once more in a degree
comfortable. Soon after the perfect
Amazon OF a landludy put IN an appear
aace and declared that she .hadn't
nothing to feed such crowd as that and
she wouldn't try eithe." Guide Hazend dwho
seemed well acquainted, undertook to
argue the point, but she soon ssat
down" upon him in 80 vigorous manner
that he was completely squelched, while
the rest were nearly convulsed with
laughter. After little further negotia-
tion she condescended to give us some
bread and butter and coffee, which favor
was most gracefully acknowledged by
Mr.. Melville. The ''old man" was sent
''down town" after coffee and operations
commenced. Meanwhile from one to
three children appeared from every door
OF the domicile. Each seemed to have q
severe cold, while handkerchiefs were not
Q luxury indulged in. Our guide in
formed us that the meal would be ready
in few minutes, and our hopes were
dashed by the announcement that the
coffee had "burnt up.'' Two or three
pans of biscuit followed suit but at last
breakfast was ready. We entered and
took seats around long table. Such a
variety OF expressions will probably
never again pass over the same faces in
the same length of time. The influenza
stricken children were ranged in a line
along the wall. An almost paralyzinP
attempt to suppress burst Of laughter
succeeded poorly. Alexander, purple in
the face, gazed fxedly at Melville who
said his cordial had made him sick, and
from the expression. of his fea-
tures no one seemed to doubt it
Hazen attempting the appearance of an
"old stager' and without any plate, sal
at one corner of the table making great
pretences of hungriIy devouring a bis.
cult which, however, failed to disappear
After feeble attempts to make away with
the queer-colored biscuit, to dodge the
dark spots in the cookies, and delicate
sips at the coffee, we gave it mp and
took hssty departure.
A bright sun and o beautiful and well
settled country engaged our attention
for brief time, but before we had gone
far Messrs. Melville and Smith fell upor
each Others necks and slept, while Ste
vens was obliged to decline the danger
GUS proposition Of locking arms Will
Hazen. while they engaged in fashiona.
BILE calls on Morpheus. The other team
pursued different course, and after
tedious ride over the heavy roads We
both arrived at Scotland at about .. m
This place has an enterprising appear
ance and good hotel, which We did moi
fail to appreciate. After good dinner
and some comical bargaining with some
rival Jehus, we all started, with the ex
ception of Messrs. Reed and Ingersoll
FLOR Yankton. thirty miles distant. At
p. m. we drove up to the Merchants /,
tired but triumphant party, having &C
complished the distance from Huron /,
Yankton, 40 miles. in midwinter, acros
the open country, in about twenty.sevel
hours.