The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1889-09-28
Another Of Mr.. Brooke's Many Adven-
lures,

Another Of Mr.. Brooke's Many Adven-
lures.
Mr.. F. X, O'Kelly is in receipt of
a letter of recent date from Hon +.
G. Brooke, of Whitehall, Montana,
who has so many friends here.
Among many other matters Mr..
Brooke tells of "a mishap that befell
himself and fellow traveller last
winter. We take the liberty to give
lit in his own language
First he says: II may send one
or two car loads of horses to your
county to sell. What think you of
of itl Consult my friend B, Nj.
Dorsey on the subject. l have driv-
ing and saddle horses most of them
not broke.
THE present has been the BUSIEST
of my many busy years. When not
in the saddle l have been helping
my wife at home attending to the
wants of strangers and old acquant-
ances. Since FEBRUARY we have had
many railroad magnates, engineers
DC with us.
IL will now tell you of another of
my many narrow escapes from death.
On the night Of Sunday, February
Bird the stage from the north had
passenger who expressed a desire to
pass through the Jefferson river
canon. | informed him that / had
been through on horse back but a
wagon or buggy could not 60 through
unless they took the chance of driv-
ing on the ice for several miles. As
he seemed bent on going and having
the apr earance of an educated gen
tleman, we were not long on Monday
morning agreeing on terms and get
ting ready for the trip. We had
good strong spring wagon and a
team of high metal hitched to it.
My passenger after entering the
canon seemed to despair of getting
through, and / confess that it was
wild, reckless undertaking, but |
had told the gentleman / would take
him through and determined to do
it. Mountains of solid rock lowered
in perpendicular walls for hundreds
of feet on each side .of the river.
Sometimes we found room enough
on the bank to drive along and at
other times were compelled to take
to the ice which we found dangerous
on account of the air holes. After
emerging from the canon on broad
bar we came upon full corps of
railroad engineers at work. Then it
was l found out who my distinguish
ed guest was. The men were sur
veying for more direct route to
Butte City for the N. p, r. r. After
spending some time with the engi-
neers we drove on arriving in the
valley below the canon before dark.
My passenger then wanted to push
on to Gallatin City, station ON the
N. p. Railroad. Arriving at
ranch after dark we engaged the
rancher to pilot us across the Jeffer-
son river. Unfortunately we struck
weak place in the ice and the
lower wheels or near side on which
my heavy passenger sat broke
through the ice, then the horses and
wagon went down. My passenger
springing from the seat got on the
ice which proved strong enough to
bear him. The strong current caught
the bottom of my wagon and turned
it up on its side, the near hubs rest
ing on the bottom of the river. The
rims of the upper wheels caught on
top of the ice, thus breaking the
current and saving me from being
swept under the ice. Holding to the
lines l managed to climb from the
wagon to the ice, my horses standing
in the water mid sides deep. Our
pilot galloped back to his house,
getting rope, and thence to a
neighbours where he got another
ranchman and returned and went TO
work cutting a channel for the
horses to get to the shore. Making
rope fast to the wheels we got the
wagon right side up. While l man
aged the team my passenger held the
lantern and the ranchman cut the
channel. While the man went for
help / managed to get the horses
loose from the wagon. After being
in the water two hours we got all
out and horses hitched to wagon
the horses nearly froze, my head the
only dry spot about me. After a
one mile drive we reached all old
pioneers house, where we were wei
coined and cared for until after
breakfast next day.
During the remainder of Febru-
airy we had lively times in the canon
between the engineers and laborers
of the two great railroads. A police
force was kept on the ground to pre-
vent bloodshed At last in March
compromise was effected and both
roads will use the same track for 25
miles through the canon.
81 will ship my cattle and horses
early next month and will load them
on the cars at my home, Whitehall,
it being station on the N. P. Rail
road, and in a few months will be
the junction of the two roads.
Montana is now on the eve of her
first great election for Governor and
all other state officers, including
members of congress and the legisla-
ture, which will elect two United
States Senators. / would have no
doubt of the result if it were not for
the large vote on the line Of the rail
road, most Of them foreigners. Jus,