The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1896-03-19

TSZ ,eNAS; brought few
t3s,iz,. ~ new wspapers,
a%' months old, which
described the great battles that were
fought, and these nad been read and
passed from hand to hand. But these
hardy irortiersmen were waging war
of their own against the wild animals
and still wilder men they daily en-
countered, and had little interest in
the great war so far away. They spoke
of the "States"--the country east OF
the Mississippi-as of some far distant
land, and they would talk of the day
when, with generous fortunes, they
should return TO make happy the de-
clining years of the old folks. But for
many OF them tnat day never came.
Some fell in battle with the savages,
some died of wasting uisoase. ana 9th
ers deferred the time so long that the
| old folks passed away, and then they
had no occasion TO leave the plains
and mountains they had learned to
love.
1t was so long ago that cannot now
remember the names OF all the mem
bers of our wolting expedition. There
were thirty-tive men in all, and
some of them were accompanied
by their Indian wives and children.
Our transports consisted of four heavy
wagonsyF', 1--~''.'a- ar horses eaun'
and large 0and of saddle and pack
horses, each one o. us owning five 60
IL dozen head. This little company
was made up OF eight different firms,
and each firm had its own camp and
mess outfit. Ny partners were Dan
+. and Jcif D., ,wo fearless and honest
old frontiersmen, who many years be-
FORE had come West in the service of
the American Fur Company.
1T was almost noon, one day late in
November, that We left the abode fort
and the cluster of low cabins and
pulled out of the valley. Ascending
the long, steep hill, and moving out
onto the rolling prairie, we found our
selves at once among small bands of
buffalo and antelope; and us we moved
slowly northward these bands in-
creased IN size and numbers, until
they formed seemingly vast and con.
tinuous herd.
Our objective point was the Sweet
grass Hill; three lone piue-clad buttes
Just south OF the Canadian line, and
sixty or more miles east of the Rockies.
In the afternoon of the fourth day ont
we reached the west butte. and campgd
on little stream which flows from il
southward, until finally it Is LOST in
the thirsty ground. We did not dare
camp very near the butte, for had we
done so II war party would have had u
great advantage i'll firing down upon
us from the high points. lustead, We
chose for our winter camp ground the
centre of wide, level fat about half
mile from the Quite where we built
O strong, high corral large enough TO
hold all our horses, aud around the
outside put up our lodges Then,
after hauling great piles of dry cotton
wood and quaking ash for fuel, we were
ready to begin wolling. Owing to the
danger of being attacked by the
Indians, we arranged it SO that at all
times there should be eight men in
camp, and ninth one with the horses,
which were corralled every night.
Never before nor since have l seen a
more ideal place for the hunter than
the Sweetgrass Hills in those days.
Climbing to the top of the butte one
day got out my glass, a long, power.
iul telescope, and took good look at
the surrounding country. North,
south, east ana west, as far as the eye
could reach, the prairie was fairly
covered with buffalo and antelope.
Herds of elk and deer fairly swarnled
on the nine-clad sides of the hills; end
higher up, among the rocky ledges,
the timid bighorn made their home.
Little bands of bears, nearly all
grizzlies, We're rowing about con-
stantly, feeding on carcasses the
wolves had killed, and occasionally
securing some unwary animal them
selves. As for the wolves and coyotes,
they were everywhere; singly, IL
pairs, in bands of fifty and more.
Lest We interfere with one another,
the direction each outfit should take
in putting out bats was determined
by lot, and was very we'll pleased
that my firm drew the northwest
course. Going from camp in this di.
rection, We would pass over tht west
shoulder OF the butte, thspcs Il into