The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-05-18
WILL 1T EVER BE REVEALED?
THE STORY OF A MONTANA sURvEE,

commonwealth OF Pennsylvania
The organization Of my party was COM
plete excepting the position of cook. The
men had engaged were mostly miners,
and represented every portion Of the coun-
try. Ny friends had recommended Chi
nese but wanted man who could cook as
we'll a. drive provision wagon. While
casting about for such q man I was APP
preached by quiet-looking individual
whom had often observed in the Office of
the Metropolitan hotel, which was company
headquarters in Helena. He was apparent
ly about fifty years of age, rather bald in
front, with deep set grey eyes, well-built
and of medium height. His side whiskers
were iron grey and closely cropped. His
quiet manners seemed to hold him aloof
from the noisy members of our party. I
had put him down as a philosophizing in
dividual, an inmate or boarder at the hotel.
His nams was William ]. Tanning, and, of
course he had heard all about our projected
expedition to the Hsllgate river valley, to
commence the survey for the railroad.
Twas about leaving Helena without a
cook, when, as said, was approached by
this man who said:
II understand you are looking for cook
EYES," said, "Do you know of good
"Well, yes,' said he, smiling, cor rather, at
least, if you take the man would recon-
mend, you need only do 90 on trial."
who is he?" asked.
seeing my evident look of surprise, he con-
tin1ed:
been much about the world, on this contl-
nent and in Europe, I have often found
myself IN such circumstances that have
been compelled to cook, and once, in the
army, cooked for several weeks for COM
pany of soldiers, and now, being entirely
without resources, and a stranger here, l
just thought would apply, and can as
sure you that. for all the art cuisine re-
qqired in the Rocky mountains, feel my
1 Thought for a moment, "this
man talks too glibly for a cook.' but
pleased with his address, and after being
assured by himself that he understood
horses well I concluded to engage him. He
evinced so much business tact that l'passed
the details over into his hands and the next
morning he reported everything packed and
book was made out in good business form
and in an excellent hand. But, curiously
enough, at the top of the page was quota
ton from Hamlet.
1 remarked: "You appear to like shaks-
! "Oh, yes; I know him nearly by heart.
This memorandum book is full of iottinga
of his and odd lines of my own" he said,
carelessly turning over ts-leaves.
'Jove"' thought, what jewel of a
cook; man of both literary and culinary
taste; hewill dash pepper into the beans
SALT Evidently he is gentleman, and
am ever glad to have an opportunity to
help one in such distress"
As our wagons drew up before leaving, a
great crowd surrounded us, and just as they
started amidst the cheering and the crack
trained cayuses, overheard one voice of
the crowd call out, Don't eat any of that
mans biscuits, ~ Possibly it was the
voice of disappointed applicant, and no
further attention was paid to the remark.
An hour after the wagons had departed,
followed on and caught the hindmost team
two or three miles out, but the cooks wagon
was nowhere in sight. Galloping ahead.
shortly caught view of its white cover a
mile ahead. enveloped in cloud of dust.
Evidently the horses must be running away,
thought, and only after considerable urg-
ing of my horse I overlook the wagon.
Great was my surprise to find that Tanning
and ripping out oaths that would have done
justice to Colorado bull whacker.
For moment I was dumb-found-
ed, not knowing what was the
cause of his excitement, and feeling some
respect for the mans age and general abili-
he realized my presence he would desist
from beating the horses. But not bit Of
it. The lashings and oaths kept up in nc
very harmonious unison. Finally called
to him not to whip them any more, and as
he drew in the reins, letting them take an
he aI<,,,k .S,,Sv, n
the horse He still interlarded his remarks
with oaths, and had finally to check him
in that, a matter that he seemed not to take
with a very good grace, though he said
nothing.
We came to camp that night about half.
way up the mountains in Ten Mile pass, a
a point where a fine spring crossed the road
and where little opening in the pine tim.
timber promised to afford pasture for the
horses. Tanning cooked the supper ad
mirably, and put everything away in sys
tematic manner.
I notic,d, however, that he would oc-
s saly mutt, mutter an oath, clenchine
ment appeared to be mislaid. Gathered
around the fire was the group of fifteen and
stories began to be told, soto voce, by some
of the q mbers experienced in the noun
Rockies, and shall never forget the exhil-
arating sensation that possessed me.
The next drive found MS thirty miles ad
vanced and on the westirn slope of the
mountains overlooking the beautiful Deer
Lodge valley. The fourth day we reached
our starting place, the initial point of our
survey at the mouth of Little Blackfoot,
the head of Hellgate river.
Two weeks later We had surveyed about
twenty-five miles, and nothing of interest
in connection with this story had trans
PRED. It was true had become
heartily tired of Tanning and only
awaited his recovery from a slight
attack of sickness to discharge
him. He was morose and had quarrelled
with everyone in the party. He had been
self to his tent. In the meantime, Mckin-
stry, our Oldest axeman, had taken his
place as cook.
Camp was ordered to be moved that after
noon, and after dinner everything except
the cooks tent and few utensils had been
packed up. McKinstFy, under the direc-
tion of Tanning, who had come out of his
tent for that purpose. was busy cooking 9
batch of bread for supper. Tanning said
he felt very i'll and asked my opinion of his
case. He had no fever, though his pulse
was quick but weak, while his eyes had g
peculiar and unnatural brilliancy. He said
he suffered pain in his head Bnd asked fol
morphine. but there was none in the medi-
cine chest. He then took weak tonic
advised, and seemed composed.
Directing that camp be moved three milei
below to the mouth of Flint creek, pre-
pared to leave.
We were late in camp that evening, an6
the moon was Just supplanting the sur
VIXEN We sat down to our evening repast
The s'bOyss' had ahOt come wild ducks dur