The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1893-07-22
ED1roR BorrrsnAu PIossln.
DeurSaIr.

DearAif:
Perhaps sumo Of your rear-
ers would like to know Something about
the Antler settlement and the pi cnic held
there on tho 18th inst. Having heard No
much about the country west OF the river.
| had agreat desire to see for myself, so
concluded to see the country and stake n
1.-the Picnic at the same time. In company
with . "joily good follow" Of Bottincau who
was fortunate enough to own . fast horse
and like myself was dssirous of seeing the
country, we started on our trip.
He was q good talker aad u fast driver
which made the journey Shorthand it seemed
almost no time until we reached the river.
Upon arriving thcrc we found a party had
just crossed ahead Of us and had the ferry
boat OF their side of the river and all the
signalling wor could do would not induce
them to bring the boat back to our side so
We could cross too, and had it not been for
the kindness of John McPhee who lives
on the west side and about one mile from
the ferry. and who came to our aid. we
might have been there yet trying to cross.
TIL river at that poiat is n very sluggish
stream ofabout 1000 r. tat width and has a
very soft, muddy bottom, all grown up with
a sticky green weed which makes 1t very
difficult to cross even with u ferry. Mr..
McPhee Is fixing up in frst class frontier
style and will In the near future be ready
to accommodates the travellers who pass
that way, which WIFI be a great improve
ment to those who have to haul grain from
the Antler settlement. After eating Il
hearty supper and letting our horse feed
for u couple of hours We started out again.
The country west Of the river Is mostly a
level prairie with here and there a hay
slough, The grass on the high land Is some
thfng'im If we could have got hay
rs good during those dry years down here
we would have considered ourselves Gin
luck The soil is y rich sandy loan with a
quick and subsoil and resembles very
much the Portage plains which is consid-
cred the garden Of the west. All that coun-
try needs to change it from a wilderness to
the lovelie st part of the west is the Iron
horse"
The next house we came to after leaving
the river Is where the Laporte family lives
IA distance Of twelve miles, they have been
there about five years and are genuine
"hustlers" from "awayback'a as their place
will show for itself. They he We about 200
acres in crop and a fine large dwelling house
in course of erection
The Antler settlement or the American
side of the line is confined to claims along
the creek for a distance of six OR eight miles. |
The creek Is very winding and runs very |
compared with the mountain streams
We have here but the water is bright and
the bed gravelly. The banks are lined with
timber and there are some quite large
groves in the bends.
Time and space do not permit me to give
the names of all the settlers but will say
arc an Industrious and thrifty class of
people all from across the line. There not
being room enough on the other side and
they beings so taken up with the Antler they
it over to the American side and
became good ~citiz,ns Of the country which
sfords them its protection. The Picnic
grounds are located in q bend of the creek
On the Canadian side and about two miles
from the line. The creek encircles 1t on the
and north and a wire fence on the
south and east and the only way to gain
admission was by way of a gate at the south
west corner. An admission fee of locts
was charged to help defray the expenses of
getting up the entertainment.
Inside the enclosure is u half-mile race
~ FIN "ASo " we h~AA "ASAO ASAASch
ments were served. The hall had o door in
oneend Cor entrance and the other end had
a door for going out. Whenever the tables
were filed the entry door was closed and no
more allowed to enter until the re was
room, SO life was practically safe,(A differ
emit thing from which occurred at the pres
byterian, church in Bottineau on the 4th.)
There was a large programme of games
which started Immediately after dinner and
occupied the whole afternoon. The games
were well contested and the contestant were
very evenly matched. The best of order
prevailed and everything showed good
management from beginning to end. After
the games were over dancing was freely in
dulged in by all those who enjoy such I'M
til daylight when all scattered to their
several homes and the picnic Is only q pleas
ant memory of the past. The most comical
event of the journey wasa young man from
B%ottineau accompanied by the cherished
one Of his hopes who had driven all the
way to the river with a hind wheel on in
front and a front one behind and kept
abusing the rig for being such AL awkward
thing to ride I'M and his attention was so
taken up thst he didn't'aotice what was the
matter. Thanking you Mr.. Editor for the
space l have occupied I remain
Yours SC.
An Early Settler.