The daily enterprise. [volume] (Livingston, Mont.) 1883-1884, 1884-04-21
EARLY EXPLORATIONS.
A Kentucky Granger Tells of the Earliest
Visit7to- the National Park

| LOUISVILLE COurler-JOurnal !" think
was the first white man to set eyes upon
the great Fall of the Yellowstone, quietly
remarked a man at Alexantler's Hotel the
other evening. S s s.
The speaker was Mr.. John j. G.. Davis,
a well-known farmer residing near Canmer,
a small town on Green river. in the snllth-
ern part of the Statc.s He was talking
with reporter, and the subject was
brought up by "a chance remark on the
Presidential expedition of last summer to
the National Park Mr. Davis was an old
Western Pioneer, having first lett home
for the then explored regions of California
and her sister States, when only a boy. in
1860, and remaining there for several
years. At that time even California. was
but little known to the out side world
beyond the wild stories of its frontier min
ing life. Through all these experiences
Mr.. Davis passed, and his talk is full of
interesting "reminiscences of border exper-
fences, "a 33al .an.sHga1 sja,9 81
II visited the Yellowstone Park twice"
he said, when urged to continue; ..tlle first
time in the summer of 1868. In company
with several others joined an expedition
to go TO Saline river mines, (which had just
been discovered and were attracting great
deal of attention.. That was in the sum-
mer of 1862 We went first to the East
Bannack mountains, which we reached six
weeks after the first discovery of gold.
We st,id there during the fall and winter.
and in the summer of '63 we got up
another expedition to explore Lewis fork,
or Snake river. We prospected up that
stream for some time, but discovered no
gold, hnd concluded to return to the Ban
mock mines. On our return. we passed
through the upper end of the valley or the
Upper Geyser basin. When we first came
in sight we thought the steam from the
geysers was the smoke from a large Indian
camp. We were at about three miles dis
tance, but upon reooanoitessng we discov-
cred that our fears were groundless. We
stayed in the valley in camp for nearly a
day, but beyond examining few of the
geyscrs and hot springs VIC did nothing of
importance. The fact is we had no idea
of the wonders that lay further down the
valley, and never dreamed that we were
on the threshold of great discovery.
We left after few hours, without any of
the party paying any attention to the sur
This was about the last of
August. as well as can remember. A
man named De Lacy was our leader on
this expedition, there being twelve Others,
myself. have forgot
ten the names of the others
with the exception of two men, one Of
whom was called Bill Thompson; the other
was named McNester, but the first name
do not recall.
ssThe second expedition was got up the
next year. Itwas organized at Virginia
City, Nevada, 20 miles east of the Ban
mock mines. The leader was an old Mon
tana pioneer named James Stewart, and
his object in making up the party was to
explore the Big Horn river and its tribu-
tary, the Sinking water. There were
about 70 in this expedition, think We
up both these streams, but
found no gold, and half the party, with
Stewart at their head, turned back to Vir-
ginia City. A man named Miller was Sc
ected to head the remainder, which IN
.luded myself, and we kept on up the
Big Horn. We crossed the Wind River
Mountains into the Wind River valley,
,ut after. a thorough search for tho prec-
Gus metal we were still unsuccessful. Itl'
vas then decided to cross over to the
sweet Water by way of the South Pass.
after aoing this we went into camp for
bout six weeks, at the end of which time
notacr split occurred, and paltj under
James Matthews left,for the Black Hills.
stayed with the remainder, and VIC con-
luded to prospect to the head Of the
sweet Water. When we reached the Col
ratlo road there was another breakup,