Sun River sun. [volume] (Sun River, Mont.) 1884-1885, 1884-03-20
in the morning and slept until 10. We
were sorry looking set when we got

in the morning and slept until 10. We
were n sorry looking set when we got
up. Our eyes were red and swollen,
caused by tho dust which scvcnty-fivc
horsemen would naturally raise riding
Mt full speed over dry parched
prairie. But worse than all was the
appearance in camp Of ten citizens
who it seems we had mistaken for III
dians the night before. The dctach-
ment of moul t d infantry riding
down upon them in tho gathering
darkilcss were also mistaken by the
citizens for Indians, and caused them
to make tracks for the mountains close
by. They said they did not see the
cavalry ut all, thus showing us up to
the "doughboys" in good style.
The next day We started up Big
Spring creek over onto the head of
Flat Willow and around to the Gap
in quest of some one whom we could
catch. We took no rations with Ills
except little sugar, coffee and salt.
We were to make flying trip to sat
isfy Gen. Sherman that there were no
Indians in that neighborhood to mo-
lest him while on his return to Wash
ington The first night out We camped
on the scene Of the late fight between
tho Crows and Sioux. Nothing re-
mained to show that few days before
u terrible battle had been fought.
Everything looked SO quiet and peace
ful that it was hard to imagine what
had taken place there. Wo were not
to be beguilcd into the idea that we
were entirely safe, however peaceful
the place appeared. At night the
horses were tcthcrcd in circle, and
n strong "chain" guard put out. The
next day we reached Swimming Wo-
man creek and camped close to an
Indian corral, and the next wc were
ut the Gap, where we learned that we
were to 90 on to the forks of the Mus
sclshcll, whore I company had preccd-
cd us. Reaching this point we lay
there several days, for what purpose l
know not, except it was to eat up what
little rations we had left which was
about the only thing we done OH the
whole trip.
Both companies lay here for several
days waiting to see il something would
not turn up. The time was spent in
hunting mostly. The experience of
n couple Of these hunters was anus
ing, as thcy shot bear and killed n
buffalo with one shot, or ut least they
thought they did. About three miles
from the forks over on what was then
known as Big Elk creek, these two
would-be nimrods made this wonder
full shot. 1t occurred about in this
wise:
Early one morning Jim and Tom,
us they were called, started for this
creek in search of elk. Having
reached the creek they commenced to
look about for tracks. Jim, who was
somewhat in advance, saw what he
thought to be large bear. 1t was
slowly making its way into the mouth
Of u largo coulee that came down the
mountain side Tom was immediate
ly informed OF tho discovery, and
both started, hot haste, up the noun
tain so as to head him Off. When
near the coulee, and about whore they
expected bruin to be ut that time, they
dismounted, tied their horses and
crcpt carefully up to the edge of the
ravine and pcered over. Sure enough
thme he was, looking as they said af-
forwards, "as big as n mountain" Tom
fired Immediately after he saw him,
but his bullet flew wide of it's mark,
and only caused tho huge beast to
raise it's head. Jim then got in n shot
that took effect, as the old fellow
seemed to cvince some notion of com
ing out of his retreat, whereat both
hunters made for their horses. After
mounting, they looked back, and see
ing nothing after them, they conclud-
ed to take Il second look. So riding
up close they cautiously pcered over.
At first nothing could be seen of their
"kill,' but by stretching their necks Il
little they soon discovered him lying
at the bottom Of the gulch apparently
dead. AS theSides of the ravine were
too steep to get their horses down,
they were led back and again tied.
The two mighty hunters then pro
cceded to dress their game prcparato-
ry to bringing him in. When they
got down into the 'gulch where the
bear lay, they were astonishcd to find
that he had horns. In fact they had
killed an old buffalo bull instead of a
grizzly. The joke would never have
been found ont but for Tom who told