The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-10-23
dian tribes In the northwest far away
from civilization.

NsoA SAtOGo su tuO AVktuWCSt lHT UW0v
from civilization.
John McBrown, a ranchmap on
Bear creek. recently related an inter.
esting "reminiscences to a reporter for
The Dc"ver Tribune Repmb.icau con-
corning Mr.. Simpson:
MIR. McBrown was In charge of the
Commissary Of the army of Capt.
Marcy in tho spring Of 1858. when on
its for ed march from Taos to Utah TO
supply Gen. Albert Sidney Johnson's .
suffering soldiers with provisions. 1t
camped on Cherry creek, and MIR.
Simpson, attachc Of the command,
then and there washed gold in his
breadpan from the glittering sands of
the stream.
Said Mr.. McBrown: "Away back
In tho early days. when the Missouri
river was the westermost border of
civilization, young Simpson left his
home in st. Louis and wandered with
the Indians out toward the waters of
the Columbia river. After long alb.
seuce-like the prodigal son-he took
it upon himself to return to his home.
He carried with him skins and furs
from the Columbia with which to pay
his fare down the Missouri on the
steamer when hc should arrive at that
stream. This happened in the year in
which the cholera first swept across
tho country. As the boat on which
Simpson glided down the stream
would approach sand bar. he motto.
cd line would DO thrown out, made
fast to some snag or tree. and then a
couple of deck hands would jump upon
the bar, shovel little hole in the
sand, pop h imam being in it. covcr
it with few inches of debris, and
then Inc boat would move on as though
nothing had happened.
'tSimpson mado inquiry, and found
these human bodies thus left for the
crows nnd buzzards werc tue victims
of cholera. No sooner had the infor-
nation flashed upon him. than hc be-
gan to realize that hc, too, was des.
tined to be dropped upon one of tho
sand bars of the Great Muddy. He
felt twinges Of pain in his stomach, his
feet and hands were becoming numb,
aud us he lay upon tho deck. the
death crew would occasionally slap
him. to see il he was ready 10 be
launched. At last he mustered
strength. and called the captain to him,
and requested that. when he was dead.
his body should be carried to h.s faith.
er, ut st. Louis,
"'And who is your fa,her?' inquired
tho captain, as no looked upon the
dying man in buckskin and mocca-
sins.
"'My father is old DIR. Simpson.
whom all the good people of st. Louis
we'll know"
"'Dr. slmpson? said the captain.
why he is my family physician. Your
request shall be complied with.'
IA few moments later the dying
prodigal saw the deckhand crew bring
huge box filled with Jumps of ice,
which they placed by his side. The
last that he remembered was seeing
one Of the grim and dusky crew, with
his hands PLACED together so as To
form foot-span. measuring his body
SO as to ascertain If the corpse would
lit the caskct. Directly all was over.
Tho prodigal was dead.
"FOr time the boat went creaking
and groaning along over the sand flats,
when, miraculous as it was, young
Simpson returned to life and began
kicking the ice in all directions,
and nearly frightened the wits out
of tho captain and all hands on board.
"This was more than thirty years
ago." said Mr.. Mcl'rown, "and Simp-
son not unfrequently related it,
while sitting about the camp.fircs,
as his famous trip across the river
Styx."