The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1886-08-25
FORT BENTON no CLAGETT.
Government Guide and Party Gets Lest in
the Bear Paw Mountains.

mite an interesting "Trip 10 Tue ooai BANKS
ID 1nd c1agett whittier he went to catch the
'.oorer Rosebud. With some reluctance
- suhm tied to the following interview {
Renorter I understand colonel, that
-o, have recently returned from Clagett.
can YOU give me any information relative
.otbaf country and the condition Of the
river2
coI. L.-Yes; I have had, L regret to
seC. unusual opportunities for observing
roodly portion of northern Montana while
? search of the steamer Rosebud. When
40 left here we fully expected to go no
a,rther than the Coal Banks, as it was
hen thought that the steamer could easily
oot nm to that point. We arrived there
monday night of last wees and for the
,oxt eighteen hours confidently expected
\ eee the steamer Coming around the
END" but at the expil alton Of that time
courier arrived with the cheering lntelll-
pence that the steamer could proceed no
brther than Clagett. In the mean time
five army wagons laden with soldiers and
camp and garrison equipage had arrived
at the Coal Banks from Assinaboine, like
wise expecting to take the steamer there,
huff this news speedily brought tele-
oraphic order from Col. Otis, commanding
tbe post, to start the next morning at
half past six o'clock for CIagett. a team
/ ser. an old pioneer and ''forty-niner"
Y FIR all T know, said he knew all the roads
and trails, as he had secuted over the
Yco1ntry years ago. Hence ne was duly
installed as guide and the column moved
/ out in good order and should have reached
lCagett easily that day. In an unguardea
Emoment decided to follow our army, TAX
line it for granted that the old pioneer
Eknew the way. [ supposed too that ia 2
EHme of profound peace, and within radl-
(u Of sixty miles from the post at which
lhe troops were stationed, the country
would be familiar to them, and that
lnairie road to the present head Of naViga-
lion on the Missouri could easily be toll
lowed. don't know what Uncle Sam
has got an army on the frontier for If is
hot to know something about the country.
IEell we travelled faithfully and may say
Hncessant1y without food or water all that
Elay straight towards the summit of the
bear Paw mountains in search or the
Iteamer Rosebud. Once the hay road
which the troops were gallantly following
lnnin the ground and out Of sight. lt
lgss then that sought out the old pioneer
lmd mildly suggested to him that | sus-
Erected we had missed the Clagett road
Imd we're going, not towards Clagett, bat
away from it. Then we Travelled while
E without road, then the wagon driven by
ri the old pioneer teamster capsized, and
henif you had heard the pious eJacula-
tons which then and there commenced to
echo and reyerbrate around the Bear Paw
enyonyou would have been forcibly re-
minded of ssour army in Flanders"
It was here that I resolved to secede
from the army and strike out OH my own
hook. 1t was the first time in my lite
hatI ever regretted following the flag OF
my country. just as darkness was falling
around us we arrived at a sheep ranch
where we found excellent quarters ana
Aosptable greeting from the Kaiser Bros.
slere we learned that we were no nearer
CRgett than when we started in the early
morning. Then it was that my faith III
aae old pioneer was badly shaken, and !
m now fully convinced that if you want
Aolose your way, all You have to do is SIM
kplF inquire the road of an old pioneer.
lne next day, tired and dusty, we arrived
EtCagett, where the good steamer Rose
oad was in waiting. Capt. Todd gave US
hearty welcome and after our long and
weary journey overland the steamer look
Atome to be about the biggest craft
Ever beheld.
Reporter What became Of the army
sagons?
Vol. L.-Oh! they took the road to
oW Island from the sheep ranch and an
aaan scout had to be sent after them GO
Plng them back to Clagett.
Rep.-What do you think Of Clagett:
Col' LII think very well of it. 1t !
'aa money to invest il real estate lWould
qy corner lots in CIagett. Our friend
'&fis has first class store there and is
eing good business. | came Up On the
4gett side of the river and was surprised
aad 50 much really fine country imme-
@ely tributary to the place. The Ju
%l river at that point is a good stream,
, N broad valley is well timberea and ap
70 be remarkably fertile. Col. Nor
- mas expended much labor and money
open out roads from the Judith country
Slagett and as a consequence his place
i ssiready attracted the attention ofmans
'''e wool growers in that section as !:
pplng point He has a large and well