The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1897-10-23
ON DlVERelNa LINES.
RECoLLECT1ONS OF OLD FORT RICE AND VICINITY.
~. II. Taylor in "KaleiAoscoptc L.lyes"l

HERE are times IN the slllatter OF unlnpOrt n
detail where memory refuses to catch on" OF
help out, when a record of The event sought be
come misplaced. wave positiveness in saying i
was thu steamer Big Horn, that brought Genera
Hancock and party from Fort, Stevenson to Fort
Rice, on the 4th of July 1869, though personally
fortunate to beat least temporarily~-of the party
But as this chronicle is a record Of events and OIL
characters of which the Hancock party had moth.
ing to dol beg pardon Of Of my readers for
this opening diression. But upon this occasion
while that distinguished officer was entertaining
the commandment at Fort Rice and fellow officers
with a flow Of claret and champagne from the re.
ception cabin on the steamer, the chronic1er Of
these pages had hied himself up the gangway,
and after a few hundred yards stroll, found himself
on a cracker box seat at Durfee & Peck trading
house and sutler store for the garrison.
Gala day had brought all the post characters
there. Leaning against the counter with his leg.
crossed, rested Frank Lafrombeau, the half breed
awaiting ferryman about to take him across the
dark river. Beside him and watching the display oil
red and black blankets and bright caicoes, was the
interpreters Sioux brother-in-law-One Hundred
at that time the most noted Indian horse thief on
the Upper Missouri. Some soldiers were joshing
and he was giving "back talk" in fair English
He had previously made a trip to St. Louis city;
had picked up considerable roguery, and but lit.
tie else, other than his language addition that was
any real beneflt,-rather the reverse.
Fue,her along the counter, s,stood a tall black
mar examining some newly purchased articles in
company with the partner of his bosom-a smiling
Sioux matron. He ratified away in Sioux-now
to his red painted wife now to One Hundred
now to some %lounging Sioux scouts,-speaking to
the white soldier or citizen, only when spoken to.
Why should he do otherwise? Let the magician
now wave a prophets wand over this black mans
head, and call down time for a year on what is to
be. What do we see? A covering of cold earth
tor Lafronbeau-a post interpreters garlands for
this Africo-American. Again raise the wand of
magic over this kinky head-call times advance
seven years, lacking nine days. What do we see?
A vale containing hundreds of dead and mutilated
soldiers. Avale containing thousands of excited
Indians putting to torture a giant black. Ramrods
are used to punch out his eyes; his feet and
legs filed with shot and small balls.
''Why this fiendishness?" asked the %writhing
black. why this hypocrisy" answered back his
red tormentors, land why assist these white dogs
i'll spying us out aud destroying your wife's peo-
ple?" Thus had black Isaiah fallen-Fcrt Rice's
second interpreter.
Gut away with the magicians spell, Away with
the events Of what was to be. Let Isaiah talk
ON with One Hundred-let the soldiers Joke and
josh in the Durfte & Peck trading house. 1t is all
a part of the life drama that they are billed for.
But another actor now appears at the doorway.
A boyish face, and form tall and slim. Eyes, blue,
and with a restless glance. scanning the faces to
the right and left of him as he strides softly along.
How, Melbourne" spoke out some one from
among the group Of soldiers.
"How," tartly replied the young fellow spoken
to, as he turned on his heels and walked out the
door, and who was evidently searching for some
one not within the store.
"Melbourne seems restless since he received
his bobtail, VS. said another soldier as he looked to.
ward the door.
"MaKe anybody restless under! the circumstan-
ces,' added still another soldier, land hate his
race and his kind"
Yes chimed in Outstanding citizen, it was a
tough case as understand it,
At that moments steamers whistle admonished
down stream passengers to be on the move to-
ward the landing, and with that the chronicler
made exit for a few months from Fort Rice and its
surroundings.
+soldier parlanc for discharge from service without character.