The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-01-09
old 4. RED RIVER DAYS
j. ]. Hill Swaps Pioneer Reminis-
cences With Chas. Bottineau.
THEY HAD NOT, NET IN 80 YEARS
The Famous Guides Brother Didn''
Expect to BE Remembered,
but Was Surprised.

Jed. Hills mastsrful mind for details
and his marvellous memory were never so
forcibly demonstrated than for one brief
hour yesterday, when he clasped hands
with man whom he had not seen in more
than thirty years and talked Familiarity
|3of frontier persons and events that might
easily have faded from his recollection.
The circumstance was all the more re-
markable because every other constdera-
ton seemed secondary when Mr.. Hills
attention was riveted with al1-absorbing
interest upon the state preliminary move
at Washington against the Northern Sc
curities company.
At the busiest moment Of the afternoon.
when men high In the business world
craved an audience with Mr.. Hill only to
be denied admission to his private Office,
he extended. the "glad hand" to Charles
Bottineau Whilom trapper, scout, guide
and frontierstnan.
Charles Bottinenu-a brother fthe late
Pierre BOttineau, Of Minneapolis, whose
name is SO closely identified with the
early history Of the stete-had met Mr.
Hill thirty-two years before on the for
mer's farm, on the western edge of the
Red river valley, near the international
boundary line. Hill, who was then only
dreaming Of future empire, had come
down from Winnipeg on Stow shoes, on a
tour Of inspection through the Red river
of Bottineau. on whose farm he camped
en- route. Bottineau krew. the country
like book. and Hill was quick to turn
this knowledge to his own account.
Charles had all the difidence and love
of solitude that distinguish the typical
pioneer. He loved the free life of the
plains, and there he has remained
scarcely keeping pace with the world
moving events which have marked the
0f ho O1o11 ocin liz
does he venture into the city. He came
to Minneapolis few days ago to visit
his nephew, ). b. Bottineau, son Of
Pierre. In talking over the old days, the
! name Of Mr.. Hill came up, and the
/ nephew proposed that Charles pay his ole
| friend visit
Il guess he's forgotten all about me, ;
was the reply. Hes lost all track o:
Red river carts and dog trains, and
| amt in his class any more.'
| The younger man expressed the belle
| that Mr.. Hill would be glad to see his for.
mer acquaintance, and became so insisten
that Charles Bottineau finally consented
to seek an interview with Hill.
| The word "Bottineau" had magnetic
effect upon Hill when the visitors re.
quested admittance to his Office in the
state were thrown promptly to one side
The storm and stress Of legal battle
hostile to Mr.. Hills vast interests were
forgotten in the presence of the gray ane
grizzled companions Of other days.
Hello, Charlie, how are your was his
hearty greeting as he grasped the Others
| hand In grip that caused even the
pla1nsman to vince.
| The callers then explained that they
had just dropped in to pay their respects
and that they had no intention of tres
passing on Mr.. Hills time. He In
sisted on their being seated, and re-
! preached Charles for not having looked
him up in all the years since they had met
on intimate terms in the wilderness. Their
Mr.. Hill became reminiscent and allowed
his memory to rove over the Red River
valley of the past. Without any prompt
ing from Bottineau, he asked what had
| become Of Joe Haml1n, whose Indian name
was Cache, and who had acted as Mr.
Hills guide in their trip overland from
winnipeg. 40 re. '.s...
81 remember" said Mr.. Hill, "that II
| was in the winter and I was pretty badly
! used UP with NAL de raquet (snoWshot
| sickness)" .sass.
Then he went into the particulars about
! the Red river country and betrayed 6
more intimate acquaintance with the geo
| graphical details of that section than ever
Bottineau boosted. Neither had the big
| railroad man forgotten a single name Of
IuA u duC1 "a WY o6Cu1 WILL WuO1l A1o AdS
come in contact in the old Red river cart
days. The hour hand had made the cir
| cult before they arose to go, and ever
then Mr.. Hill wanted to prolong the con.
| versation.
| Charles Bottineau was born in 1924 or
the Minnesota side of the Red river, neal
! the present site of East Grand Forks
While he never refers to that distinction
he is probably the Oldest living native OF
Minnesota. His present home is at lie
! Roy N. ID.