The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-04-01
HORSE FLESH AS FOOD
Charlie Allard Ate 1t 0lCa and Says 1t
Is Good.
LOST IN THE CLEARWATER
He and John Hammer Lived on
Their Horses-A Tale of Hard
ship and Horror Told the
"Standard' Reporter.

For % days John Hammer and Charles
Allard ate horse meat three times a day
and were thankful to get it. That was
years ago, but the experience made n
vivid impression upon them both. Charlie
Allard, who was at that time hardly moro
than a boy, tells the story as though it
was but yesterday when he and his part-
ner endured the terrible hardship of semi
starvation and a battle for their lives
with the elements of winter.
"Jack Hammer and / were riders on
the old pony express, which carried the
mail from Fort Benton to Walla Walla.
at the time Joe Clark had the contract. /
had the trip between Mission and
Horse Plains, and Hammer rode
from Horse Plains to Missoula. We
had been working steadily for
some time, and consequently had not
had a chance to spend our money, SO both
of us had a stake. This we planned to in
vest in horses over in Idaho, and to bring
them into Montana to sell. There was a
good margin to be made, as we figured, SO
we gave up our jobs and went into Idaho
by the good old Mullan road, late in the
summer of 1873. We made the trip with
out accident or incident, but changed our
minds about buying cayuse ponies, and
instead we bought % mares, as fine n
at that time. With these we had decided
to stock "a range and to raise horses as a
business. When we were ready to return
Hammer wanted to take short
route, via, the 'Lo Lo cut off,
opposed it and told HIM
we never would get the horses through,
but he was very determined and proposed
dividing the bunch of horses SO that L
could go my way and he his. To this |
would not agree and told him I'd go
through in spite of all the snow on the
mountains. Twas young and headstrong
in those days myself.
several snow storms fell upon us as
we climbed the mountains, but not enough
to retard our movements, though after
we got to a point about half way on our
Journey we encountered the heaviest snow
storms / ever had the misfortune to see.
The snow came down in chunks. My
partner wanted to turn back, but was
obstinate now and would not. The snow
was getting deeper as we progressed, and
our camps became closer and closer to-
gether as the journey daily became more
tedious and difficult. A month had al
ready passed away and as our provision
mel ed away before our devouring APP
petnes starvation began to stare us in the
face.
.Many were the councils we held about
our camp fire that sank deeper into the
snow until the banks which it had melted
fell in and eXtlngulshed the feeble blaze.
"Lhe weather was getting colder and the
situation became desperate. 1t was USE
less to think of advancing further with
the horses. and one morning. after a
breakfast of flour and water baked hard
over the fire, which had been our only
food for several days, l took my six
shooter and went to where our little band
OF horses was huddled in snow. l selected
the first one in the lot and shot her down.
Hammer wanted to know if l was crazy. l
told him no. was hungry, and in a short
time had a strip OF horse flesh toasting
on the Goals. l have eaten meals that
were daintily prepared and had
an elaborate menu, but never a
dish that tasted SO good as that horse
steak in thes midst of the Clearwater
country. Hammer would not touch the
meat, it was revolving to him, but
when he saw how enjoyed the meal he
sampled it and then fell to and ate as
heartily as /.
"Ths meal gave me an idea and l I'M
unfolded the plan to Hammer, which was
at once put into execution. Our camp
outfit was to be left on this spot and the
horses killed sufficient to supply us with
meat as much as we could carry. In or
der to make it as light possible we
dried 1t as near like the Indians prepare
jerked buffalo meat as we could over the
fire. We repaired our snow shoes with
horse hide and one morning babe fare
swell to our fortunes, and with scanty
strapped on our backs, set our faces
homeward.
"The hardships of that journey can not
be fifty described. The snow was about
six feet deep. We could not travel far in
q day, as II took some hours to prepare a
camp and get wood enough toge her to
keep us warm during the night. Constant
vigilance was required to keep the fire
alive. One of us prepared tho bed of
boughs on the snow and went through
g. g
other gagh ered fuel. This occupation was
relief from wallowing through flying
snow in an unknown trackless wilder
ness.
DAY after day we kept up this struggle
for existence and we were growing weaker
all the time and our burdens of food,
though really much lighter, seemed heay-
Ter than when we started.
"Hammer was worn to skin and bone
and as he walked wagged his head from
side to side. / have been told since that
had the journey lasted n day longer he
would have been stark crazy. | was not
far from the preliminary stage of losing
my reason myself. In dreams l saw food
and warm rooms. / slept on blankets
and reveied in luxuries and when l woke
10 reality the shock was trying.
For % days we were wandering in
those mountains, wnen late one afternoon
we came out on an elevated piece of
ground and short distance below | saw
an Indian camp. Poor Hammer fell
down, unable TO stir, but | managed to
reach the camp and being acquainted
with the Flathead language q lrected them
TO Hammer. who was brought into camp.
Through all our misfortune some
guiding spirit ruled over us aud we struck
the oniy way out of that country. We
were then in the 10 Lo pass. No rescuing
party or guides had aided US. but We came
from tue same country in which the Car
lin party we're lost and where George Coll
gate 10 Is his Ilte last winter.
Hammer and l came into Mssoula a
few days after reaching the Indian camp
and you NAV judge how We were changed,