The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1888-11-23
News From the Camp.

CANNED GOODS CANT, Nov. 23d, 1888.
DEAR PIONEER EXPRESS:
The above date may seem little pre-
vious. but it seems that long since We
left civilization. Kittson county, Mimi,
is settled in its southern part by white
people. the northwestern part by Editor
Deacon and other democrats and the
northeastern part by Roseau Indians and
ourselves. As we passed through the
northwestern section the natives were
quite mild as they had just been beaten
in q big battle. 1t is said that they feel
very sad because the victorious tribes
have demanded that they should give up
as spoils of war, the long strings Of brass
buttons wliah they have been in the
habit of wearing for ornament.
We arrived ut the camping ground
safely, cliafely and otherwise sore.
drew the plans and specifications and
Gus took the contract of building the
camp, while went out to shoot an elk
for supper. When started was hun
cry enough to want a big one, but few
minutes walking showed me that a
small one would do, and then when l
thought of the trouble of bringing it into
camp, to skin and cook it, etc, that it
would be well enough to cat came d
goods that night. So we made our sup
per ON canned and bottled goods.
Jud, L. E., G. A. and Ned came along
during the next two days and camped in
u triangular square on both sides Of us.
We have spent the time hunting aud
eating from our stock of canned goods
1t is a grand place for hunting but poor
place for game. We have seer nothing
as yet but catanount and FIVE bears.
I'll tell you about it. Did you ever hear
catamount yell? One night, after we
had had our usual supper Of beans and
bacon ard all turned in to rest, cata.
mount. WHO was probably hunting with
the same success as ourselves, but with.
out supply of canned goods. came
prowling around the camp. He stopped
at the tent where Jud and L. f. slept,
and as lie recognized by his nose that
these were the great republican leaders
Of the northwest, he knew there could be
nothing left for him, cousin Of the
democratic tiger, not even in Kittson
county, and he lifted up Ills voice and
went. And such weep! It's echoes
must have disturbed Growers dreams in
far of Washington. of course eacI,
hunter was up and grasping such wea-
pons as lie could find, prepared to
sally forth. There was little delay as
each wanted to give the other the priv.
lege of the first shot, but it was finally
settled by Jud putting one foot out under
the tent and the catamount stood not on
the order of his going. After him flew
motley procession. the flags Of all nations
fluttering in the 50 below zero MOON
light; but as the catamount had no
clothes on at all and had twice as many
legs Is either of thew, le was soon out
of sight, and as they came to . big log
in the path. the procession halted, went
to roost and had a council of war. It
was here that the five bears could be
seen. but they had started after cata-
mount and didn't want bear meat. Con.
sequently they went shivering and chat
teripg to camp and each put by his
trusty weapon in its accustomed place.
that is, Ned inspiring his rat trap. Jud
puthts feet in their castings, l. +. hung
up the scythe. while ! took the black
snake whip around to the mules, ~ !
heard the off one chuckling to himself
a We came ptle Path, just ss though
we didn't know Is much as Toilette
mnls! And Thompson we'll Thompson
hadn't wsksned at all, being tired out
after hot political eampalG;, Ofoourse
We reused him and told lin Of our nd,
venture, but he just rolled over, said
"yyhat did cat.a-mount to, anyway"
and sposed again. Very truly yours,
HUNTER.
P. S.-The canned goods w,il last 4ptil
Sunday; We will he home next day.
P.S. No. 2.-Booker and Jud think of
returning tomorrow, if they do we will
have enough left 10 last until Christmas.
BE. No. 3.-We have just goton to the
track Of an elk a. fna;Sp hss him and
wants t0o fol GihAt gadsis We wiz
|cassh' hi@.