The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1895-01-03
items UNDER SUD-HEAlS.
Agent Wilbur'S Account Of the Hard
Winter Of 'S0-'Si.
NEWS OF THE STATE AND WORLD
Captain Fred II. Reed Writes 10
s'The Herald, While Travelling
Through Montana - Analysis OF
Yakima Sell.

EDITOR HERALD-This bright, beauti-
full winter morning We are speeding away
through the great state OF Montana. The
thermometer registers "a below zero it is
therefore very natural that shonld draw
comparisons between Montana and Yak
ima-for when | left Prosser yesterday
morning they were blowing, and the
ground was not frozen particle.
A Northern Pacific overland train lie oil
a traveller could ask--for safety, comfort
and ease, mail, baggage and express car,
smoker, first class tourist sleeper, diner
and Pullman--in fact, town on wheels.
Outside, singing cold; inside, warm.
peasant and delightful-with everything
the heart can wish. OF all the transcon-
tinental roads, the Northern Pacific gives
the traveller the most for his money.
Leaving Prosser Thursday morning e. 8
O'Clock, we wind down the Yakima river
to Kennewck, cross the Columbia to
Pasco, SO dear to the eastern man, thence
to Spokane, across the panhandle Of
Idaho, into Montana. Skirting along
the shores OF Pen d Oreille, one of the
most beautiful bodies OF water in Amer
lea We have left the open country and
now wind our way, after leaving the lake,
up the Clark's fork of the Columbia,
cross the Flat Head reservation, one OF
the most attractive Indian reserves in the
west thence UP the hill over the famous
Marent trestle into Missoula, staunch,
healthy Montana city of thoroughbred
aud good people; up the canyon to the
summit, through the Mullan tunnel, down
to Helena, the capital OF Montana.
There are but seven passengers on the
car, very nice conductor, porter who
would be o. X. II his feet were mates, a
young lady as pretty and bashful as a
violet. She had been posted before leav-
ing home, and given schedule OF what
staying by her instructions. She has a
dandy lunch, and spends her time eating.
There are two sheeny travelling men, who
know 1t all aud more. They have been
trying to make mash on the young lady
but she won't have it and is little
frightened. She has looked at me once
or twice, and If these beastly men get toe
fresh she will proba bly, come ovsr to me
for protection-which will try and give
her. l am very glad have such good
face.
Our next passenger is nervous cid
lady, who squirms around and keeps the
conductor at slow boil. Our next is a
mining man with jag. He is rich,
dressed up. drunk and happy; but it will
be different in the morning. The next is
q mild-eyed, swest-faced widow Of about
fifty. She told the conductor she had
just buried her second husband. / can't
talk with her, because / should cry and
tears do me up.
This is hasty size-up Of the crowd. !
hear that an opera troupe will get on at
Mandan. II that occurs l shall get off /;
for won't ride across the bad lands with
q lot Of opera singers. However. the por-
ter says he will look after me, and see
that nobody scares or catches me; so
l have quit trembling and feel safe. We
arrive at st. Paul Sunday morning at
o'clock. Will write you again when l
get fairly into the swim.
FRED r. REED.
i
The winter of IssO.sI.
The late Father Wilbur, for a quarter
of century agent Of the Yakima 1ndi-
ans, made the following report of the
winter of 1SS0-S1, which was the most
trying in the history of this country and
which resulted in crushing blow to the
stock interests:
"The unusual severity of the past win
ter proved severe blow to our Indians.
In obedience to my instructions they have
been in the habit OF providing forage for
their stock during the winter, which has
usually proved more than sufficient But
last winter was one of unusual severity.
From December LIST till nearly the 3lst OF
March, the earth was covered with
depth OF from eight to thirty-six inches
Of snow, with heavy crust for tbs most
of the time, so that animals were unable
to move outside the beaten paths; conse-
quently, when the supply of forage was
exhausted, cattle and horses were unable
to reach the creek bottoms, where they
might browse on bushes, but for the most
part persisted where they were. Nor did
much success attend the efforts of many
OF the Indians who tried to save portion
OF their stock by breaking roads to the
creek bottoms, though some we're saved in
that way. Probably 80 per cent Of the In
dian horses persisted and so per cent. of
their cattle. Many families formerly in
comparatively good circumstances we're
reduced to poverty and the means of all
seriously impaired. The effect has been
that some have been stimulated to greater
effort. and now look to the cultivation OF
the soil for support instead of depend
ing, as formerly, on the sale OF ponies.
News OF the state and world.
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