The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1895-04-13
~wen:y.Foars Years Ago.
Some Extracts From Van Ostrand's Diary
Conserving Events IN This Section
In April, 1874.

Some Extracts From Van Ostrand's Diary
Concerning Events In This Section
In April, 1874.
The LEADER two or three weeks ago, re.
ferred to tho diary of Fred A.. Van O:t-
trard, tho confidential clerk of the great
Dur!ee 4 Peck company who at n time
owned several steamboats, and built and
operated about forty forts and trading
stores an6 were almost absolute masters
Of the business Of the Upper Missouri
for many years.
Thc following extracts from hls diary
deals with a trip between Fort Rice and
Fort Stevenson in the fore part of April,
he hardship of which brought the fell
disease consumption ON HIM which endea
in his death ut Fort Stevenson, two years
later. The monotenous clerk life at Fort
Berthold is also given an airing:
Fort Stevenson, D. T., April 10, 1871.
Seated by r snug fire in Jaueau1 room
which nearly Eve months ago I left for
my homeward journey, 1 considered my
self Il fortunate mar. One of the most
fearful snow storms l have ever seen is
raging without, q storm which bids
human creatures romain prisoners where.
ever they may BIO until its fury is spent.
Lucky for our party from Rice that we
have reached this place. l. will append
an account of Our journey.
We crossed the Missouri Thursday last
alter dark and stayed there over night,
opposite t.e fort. We were eight in all.
First and most important was tho corpo-
raj q dne young man named Harrington,
who have soldicred in the 31st, three years.
Four soldjers-ons an old veteran, q good
man, two boys Of II and 10 the last q
wild Lrishman, the fourth a worthless man
good for nothing for our purposs-a team
stsr, q Rec Indian guide and myself. The
men were poorly provided with blankets,
but had plenty to eat. That night we
staid at the landing and before sunrise in
tha morning were off. We made Apple
creek about nosn aud found it fully two
rods wide at the crossing and about six
feet deep with a swift current. We decld.
ca, however. to drive across or try it.
>wap' across in my shirt and drawers and
took q lariat over which was hitched to
the leaders heads. The mail and other
things we're piled up high in the wagon to
keep them dry. The driver mounted the
wheeler and after the men were all in the
wagon we started. I held the rope tight
and ~ the mules got into where it was
swimming deep pulled them out towards
the landing; wagon stuck or the bank
had to unload; got mad at the laziness and
apathy Of some of the men who were
afraid of getting wet; tore around; throw
things out of the wagon, and finally pulled
her out all right; mado ONT coffee; I
changed nv wet clothing in which i had
worked more than half an hour, and We
came on rojoieed that we got through 50
we'll myself receiving this credit as insisted
on the larlat part of it which moved the
team. 1t began to rain before night and
after crossing Burnt creek We sought and
found a camping ground on that stream
in II small grove, after pitching tents--we
had two alOnE-cooki"g and eating our
supper in the rain; posting a guard We
turned in. In the morning We found an
inch of snow. After breakfast We started
for the Painted Woods to repair our
wagon reach which was broken crossing
the last creek; found the place kept by q
German, who flew around and made things
pleasant for us; staid over night, Saturday.
This was the place where Reeder was killed
last year and his grave and the shanty he
he'd occupied were pointed out to us.
Sunday morning we took a late start; day
slear but not cold; crossed Painted Woods
creek with some difficulty; two miles this
way we camped ON Turtle creek the
came place ut which we staid two years
ago, nearly. Two of our Irishmcn must
go hunting after supper; they struck for
the woods; the sun went down and no
Irishnen; fired guns and hallowed; one
came in: more guns md more hallowing
finally brought the other after dark who
came in half scared to death; he had got
lost for certain; the lesson was a good one
and he wont want to leave camp again in
II straAge country.
A guard was posted again and we turned
in. The last fellow on guard got us out
the corporal and myself-about 8 O'Clock
under the impression that it wal daylight
and we sat up two hours waiting for it.
At last it came and after breakfast We we're
o on the way having about 80 miles to
go. Just before reaching Snake creek we
had a SMALL Indian scare; proved to be a
couple of Rees. At that place the man
Reed who was so particular to keep out of
the water and do no more than he was
obliged to, fell into the creek whore it was
about a foot deep; the good hearty laugh
we had at bis expense cooled down our
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