The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1885-06-10
BAKERS RAPIDS.

This caused some little uneaslness but
the Wanting captain scorned the danger.
He would show them how to guide a
boat over dangerous place. Accord
ingly in a very few minutes afterwards
he had the center of the boat Ligh and
dry on the identical rock, with her bow
and stern completely submerged. Hides
loosened from the wreck began TO float
down stream, or became water-soaked
and sank. The boat following passed
over the rapids in safety and ran ashore,
rescuing the crew from their perilous
position as quickly as possible. MANY
thousand dollars were lost by this disas-
ter, and this means of transportation was
abandoned, much to the delight of the
steamboat men, who made great deal
of money from this freight, and trans
ported it very quickly with the aid of
the swift current.
From the middle of April to the mid
die of September all hunting is suspend
ed, for the buffalo is then shedding his
coat and his skin is of little value. This
is the hunters holiday, when his days
are spent in sleep and his nights in
dancing, gambling, drinking and expen-
sive festivities. The bedizzen beauties
of the town contribute, occasionally,
cause for temporary jealonsies and feuds
and great rivalry in dress New suits
and flaming silk handkerchiefs, big hats,
rings and aashy jewelry of all kinds is
purchased with reckless prodigalty.
a Iyr-~,r.ss, DC5EUweu upon Irlends WiLn'
out regard to price, and after spending
few thousand dollars in this wild manner
the hunter finds that he is penniless and
in debt. Without murmur he saddles
his horse, bids adieu to town life, and
remains often in the mountains. hunting
deer or prospecting for minerals, until
the buffalo season begins, when he finds
no difficulty in disposing of his his hides
before the bearers are dead, and, having
a sufficient advance of credit vouchsafed
to purchase new guns, ammunition, bacon
-four and whiskey.
There were gay times in Miles City
when the hunters were in town. The
variety shows put forth their best attrac-
tions in the way of fine formed females.
These girls varied their business of sing
ing and dancing by what the called
'swoRKING THE BOXES"
The boxes were situated very close to
the stage. and after performing q part
each darnsel would be ushered into the
private box, the curtains thrust apart
and her artificial charms, her diamonds
and fine, but abbreviated, apparel shown
up in manner similar to the shop
keeper exposing full-rigged dummy to
the passer-by. Her arrival in the box
was the signal for general stampede Of
hunters, who, arrayed in their costly
rainment, began to lavish their money
to the right and left, each trying to out
do the other in the amount expended.
Wine at $500 per bottle would flow as
freely as water, and the play purposely
prolonged, would often last until the
gray dawn of morning, and find these
men drunk and quarrelsomely jealous. For
each of the dollars spent the powdered
and painted beauties received per-
centage according to her eajolery ability
and drinking capacity.
Besides this the hunter spent his time
and money at the gambling saloons and
dance houses. A particular friend would
often announce through the paper a
private ball in honor of a certain hunter,
and would always be successful in OBJ
tanning all of his hunter friends, an en-
viable share of their money, producing
lively time, probably murder and in
va.iably q large number of swelled
heads. from excessive libations. In
Miles City, of the time | write, were a
number of colored danes and wenches,
who were especially attractive to the
soldiers of the neighboring posts. At all
times and during the hunters HOLIDAYS
they would endeavor to get up enter
tainments such as their white neigbors
engaged in. This presumptiye policy Of
the blacks not unfrequently led to prac-
teal j,kes, such putting pepper on the
stove or
FIRING SHOTS AT THE sToyE-PrPE,