The Dillon tribune. [volume] (Dillon, Mont.) 1881-1941, 1885-08-29
WITH A GRIP-sACK THROUGH THE
GREAT NORTHWEST.
Notes written for the Dillon IR1BrNE.I


From Junction City to Buffalo, "yo'
ming-a distance OF about 165 miles-the
stage passes through the famous Crow
reservation-probably the most fertile ter
rilory in Montana-composed OF series
of beautiful valleys watered BY the Big
Horn and Little Horn Rivers.
This stage line was one OF the famous
Star routes, the contract Of 100000 TO
$4,000 attracting considerable attention.
At present the Wyoming Stage Co. carry
the mails for less than $4,000 per annu'n'
which probably accounts for the accom-
modations afforded passengers who un'
dertake the thirty.six hours ride. This
ride includes an all.night trip in an open
leroy. the inclination Of the passengers to
doze being constantly counter-acted BY
rude shock on the spine and a wild en-.
deavor to save tumbling out as the vehicle
crossed some one Of the numerous gullies.
The Crow Indians are an undoubtedly
lucky tribe, and, considering the fostering
care Of the Government, it is no wonder
they carry the banner as the most placable
and peaceable tribe among the Red Men.
Provided with weekly rations, they take
no thought Of the morrow" and so long
as the rations last their motto is feat,
drink and be merry"
We reached the Agency about Saturday
noon, and found quite an assenblage Of
Indians from the Little Horn valley re.
ceiving their weekly supplies. While the
bucks INDUCED in various indian sports,
including several pony races, the patriot
squaws, as usual, did the hard work, and
the way they packed their ponies would
have put an old prospector to shame.
The Government seems determined to
civilize the Crows, but from present indi-
cations, the Crows seem determined, with
possibly few exceptions, to preserve their
individuality and remain like Crows, pro.
verbally as black as they are painted.
Uncle Sam builds the Indian a nice log
hut to live in. "Lo! the poor Indian"
erects his tepee along side said hut, and,
after knocking out the windows, uses it as
stable for "a few sick ponies"
Uncle Sam provides plows for the more
industrious, and comical sight It is to see
two squaws breaking the ground. A
team Of Indian ponies hitched to the
plow, squaw mounted on third in the
lead, a Ia jeh", while the sister squaw at
the helm vainly tries to run straight fur.
row. AS the stage passed this latter un.
fortunate female turned to gaze on US.
Disastrous feminine curiosity! She
struck snag. The handles were jerked
out Of her hands, and she fell fiat on he.
face in an impromptu Oriental salaam.
Some Of the Crows still cling to their
old customs in disposing of their dead
Crossing stream at the mouth Of a val.
ley (possibly the Reno Valleyl we came
upon one Of the new houses with the usual
residential tepee attachment, while no,
twenty yards away, with the head Of the
body safely supported in the fork Of a tree
and the pedal extremities raised on posts
about eight feet from the ground, was ex.
tended the body Of a defunct Indian. The
driver, from the "ould sod" remarked al
we passed: "Begorra, there was good
Indian, the divil take him, though, he had
to wait till he was Dead" On inquiry, it
proved that Pat had passed the spot the
day he was"sit up" and, noticing two fine
new U. S. blankets which they had thrown
over the body, cody appropriated them
and offered the following as an excuse
"By St. Patrick, the thermometer was &C
degrees below zero, the blankets were brar
new, an may the divil take me If Uncle
Sam couldn't better afford to take care O
lowe PATRIOTIC Irishmen than an oult
stick Of dead Crow" Who did he rob: