Fergus County argus., 1904-10-05
STORY OFPERIL
AND HARDSHIPS
RecoIleetions Of Joseph c. Walker
Who Crossed the Plains From
Iowa in 1868.
PREPARED FOR PIONEER MEET
Long Journey Frau9ht With Thrilling
Incident and Oanger-Montana
In War Times.

Joseph Cul'on Walker pioneer O
Montana, and for many years resi-
dent of lewislowu, viii De- anon,
those who gather in Butte next wecl
in attendance upon the annual meet
ing of the Society OF Montana pio
neers.
In response to repeated request
from his friends he has prepared fo
presentation 10 the society the stOr
of his trip from Iowa To Montana IL
1863, "reminiscences Of his life her
in those early years, and the story o
his return 10 Iowa for his bride an,
later crossing of the plains TO tn
state which has since been his home
BY his courtesy We are permtte,
To publish this matter which is SO full
of interest not only to pioneers O
Montana, but to many pioneers Of 9th
er states. as we'll as to the younge
generation of Montana citizens.
This week appears the first section
of the story. TO be followed next weel
by the conclusion. Much of the mat
ter reads like "The Winning o
Oregon" and doubtless will be incor
porated into the history Of Montana
by either the Pioneer Society or by Ia,
State Historical Society.
The story follows:
On the morning of April Sth. 1863
ander Milton Walker. and my humbl,
Allen Hardenbrook, my brother, Alex
self, Joseph Culton Walker. left Wes
Point. Iowa. destined for Californi,
We came by steamboat and rail L
Atchison. Kansas. Just before cross
ing the river at Atchison, Kansas. W,
We're caught in sand storm and TO
about two hours we were holding ou
hands over our mouths, sometimes
lying on the ground and getting int
every position possible To breathe, b!
getting as little sand with the air W,
inhaled, as possible. Finally We go
over to AtchisOn. When We retire.
the hotel keeper told us to place oul
boots in the hall and he would Civ,
them a shine-that he thought d
would be some time before they wcr,
al t,. Ia. MI fFh f..r hnt
were not for twenty-one months.
On the morning of April 10th W,
took our seats in one of Ben Holli
days Overland stage coaches for Den
yer, Colorado. The other passengers
In the coach were a Mr.. Lappan, Z
merchant of Denver, who had bceI
back to Boston, and with him was {
lady cousin, who was a widow an,
had an interesting daughter about
years old. the widows name beinl
Mrs. Smith. She was coming TO Den
yer TO visit her brother, Colonel Lap
pan. who was colonel of regimen
OF troops at Denver. There was alst
young man aboard fIum Canada.
After travelling one day and al
sleeping together one night IN thu
coach. we were pretty well acquaint
ed. And as our party Of three hat
been raised In Iowa. and the Lappan
at the Hub ti}Ostonl. our language an,
ways were sufficiently different 10 fur
nish amusement to each party. Iney
er travelled with coach load of pas
sengers where everything was nor,
agreeable and pleasant.
After passing Julesburg, three mile
from one OF the stations, tir
came of one wheel. We RENAME,
out on the prairie until the drive
went back to the station for anothe
coach. He came with an old one all tn
top OF which had been sawed of. A
the next station the Lappan's laid oy
er TIL the following day in order u
get covered coach.
When we were within three mile
OF Fremont's orchard We could see tina
IL was full Of Indians, and they wer
running through the cottonwood tin
ber. making south towards the stag
road. About this time our road lei
the Platte bottom, going up over som
sand hills. The sand was SO dee
the passengers had TO walk for full
mile. When We had gotten entirel
upon the high bench, We again saN
the Indians more than a half mil
away. The driver said they were ol
the stage road. We could see, toe
that they had formed a hollow square
one line OF Indians in file on one sid
Of the road. another line on the other
and line across the road at the 9th
driver said that there was very dec
coulee across the road and that tn
open end Of their square began at III,
west side Of this coulee, but Their
was no place We could cross the cou
lee but right where the Indians were
and mat would put us in their hollow
square. There were now just fou
passengers and the driver. We KEEP
the road and when we came neare
we could see that the open end of thei
square began exactly at the bank o
the coulee. We all drew our revolv
eTs. the two passengers on each sid,
of the coach, and placing our arms II
position for action. and covering then
az well as we could. The driver drov,
into and slowly through their lines
But as the mules were getting pretty
close to the closed end of their square
they could see no opening TO pass
through. The leaders made a sudder
Jump and attempted to turn round
but the driver succeeded In prevent
ing them from 'jack-knifing" the out
At. He then ordered the Indians t
get out OF the road, using those Eng
| IIoh ,ynrJc tho indiana fret laarn N,