The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-05-28

fork. and though he lost one horse en-
route, yet he nevertheless made the
trip mostly on horseback"
This fact brought in its train the
discovery of c warm atmospheric cur
rent and less snowfall in the more
northerly crossing OF the Rockies, and
afterward led to the selection Of that
route for the most advantageous rail-
road crossing.
In the spring the necessity of bring
ing large supplies from Fort Benton
caused Lieutenant Mullan TO appeal to
the friendly Flatheads for assistance.
They took the matter under advise
ment, promising to send him next day
as many sticks as equaled the number
of men and horses they could spare.
The next morning" says the lieuten-
ant. their chief, Ambrose. came to
Fort owen, where ] was a guest, with
a bundle of 1877 sticks. each represent
ing a horse or man." and he goes on
to speak in such high terms of this
tribe. and their unfailing generosity
and friendship toward his party. that
we are glad to note. farther on, that
he always paid them promptly and ad-
equately for their hired services.
THE ROAD COMPLETED
The work on the latter part of the
route was hastily and temporarily
done. in order to furnish transporta-
ton to a body of 300 troops, under
Major Blake. who were waiting at Fort
Benton to proceed to the REINFORCE
the last of July, Lieutenant
Mullan placed all his means
of transportation at the dis
posal of Major Blake, with guide. in
terpreter, wagonmaster. etc, and fly
ing as lightly as possible with his own
command and a few pack animals. re-
frnn Nj TOD
paired and reconstructed 1t where nee
essary, i'm advance of the wagon train.
and had the satisfaction of seeing the
expedition arrive at Walla Walla with
out accident, 81 days after leaving Fort
Benton. the first military expedition
by way of the upper Missouri and
Columbia rivers.
After a years use the road was nee
essarily relocated in part, and made
to cross the Spokane river at Antoine
Plants place, some miles above the
falls. As this worthy pioneer and his
ferry were well known to all old tim
ers, IL is pleasant to be assured that
he was "a very worthy half breed
Flathead Indian, who speaks both
French and English; has a small field
under cultivation, from which he OBJ
these. with the salmon found in the
river, form an abundant supply for
his Indian family"
Chief Saltese is also spoken of as
"a worthy Occur d'Alene Indian
frank. honest and friendly-who has
several acres under cultivation"
The improvements i'm the mountain
road necessitated another winter camp.
a winter of unprecedented severity.
during which the white men and In
dams suffe~ed much. and most of the
livestock n the country persisted. This
winter camp was named in honor OF
Colonel Wright. Cantonment Wright
IMMIGRATION POURS IN.
In the following spring, the news
coming that 364 emigrants were at
Fort Benton for Walla Walla and
other points. bringing saw and grist
mills etc, the road was again rapidly
put In order bridges finished. the des-
truction by freshets repaired, and the
track through the timber cleared and
broadened.
Says the lieutenant: II saw In this
the commencement of long line of
emigrant travel, that in years to come
search of new homes towards the Pa
cific slope"
The newcomers, about whom the
lieutenant set our minds at rest by
vouching for them all as "a very prop
er class of persons" reached Walla
Walla late In August. precedeu ana
witnessed in every way by the con-
struction party. the first immigrants
over the historic Mullan road. There
the command of Lieutenant Mullan
was disbanded, the outfit sold, and he
says Thus ended my work In the field,
costing seven years of close and ar
duous attention. exploring and opening
up a road of 624 miles from the Col
umbia to the Missouri river, at cost
of $500 0OO."
Appended TO this report is a though
full list OF Recommendation TOR Irav-
elers." among the thousand of speci-
ncations OF which occur the following
solemn admonltions: Soak your
wheels well when the opportunity oc-
ours"
"a gray mare is preferable as a
bell animal"
Never maltreat animals. but gov
ern them as you wonld a woman, with
kindness, affection and caresses, and
you will be repaid bysthelr docility ana
easy management" with which pro-
found bits OF philosophy we viii close
this sketch OF the gallant lieutenant
and the famous Mullan road.