The Baraboo news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1884-1911, 1905-09-20

Fditors News Having been re-
,nested to give some of our exper-
;.nces as homesteaders in Lyman
n South Dakota, [ cheerfullY
,omoly. not because the narrative
pi0 be especially interesting but to
chow that we are not beyond the
o,le Of civilization, though in the
lind and near the rendezvous of the
late lamented (nit) Jack Sully and
bis gang.
In Aug, 1904, having failed to
secure prize in the Rosebud draw
mo, we hit the trail for Lyman
county. This county is across the
Missouri river west of Chamberlain
and is 80 miles long, east and west,
and from 80 to 80 miles wide.
Our party consisting of Miss
Johnson, Miss McGilvra, Mrs. Nc
GIvra and myself, left Armour Aug.
sth We had a regulation prairie
schooner, a tent, working untensils
and provisions. Seventy-five miles
from Armour, we found what we
wanted, a section of desirable land
IN one body. On the 18th three of
g fled and on the 25th. Mrs. Nc
Glvras sister, Miss Dickinson, fled
% the remaining quarter in the
section. Our land is rolling but
can all be plowed and [ would pre-
fer beginning farming operations
there to digging rocks and stumps
. IN Wisconsin. Plenty of water for
house use can be secured at a depth
/ tl2 to Is feet but for stock, dams
built. The soil is black loan
Nib clay subsoil with enough
! An5o to make travelling in wet
Nather a decided nuisance. To
those who never saw gumbo [ will
say it is a soil that for srick-tuitive-
ness can not be compared with
Wisconsin clay. One mile of travel
genuine gumbo can arouse more
ire than five miles of clay. For
tuDatelY for me, | have not travelled
1t very much as I am holding my
claim by proxy in the person of
my wife, but she has made twelve
trips to Pierre, which is 35 miles
distant, and does not lack for
experience.
IN February I drove to the claims
with load of furniture, bedding.
etc no pianos but plaiu necessaries.
The snow was foot deep on the
level and drifted in mauY places,
and the thermometer was down
ai0und Is degrees below every
morning, When I started with a
AeaVy load and no roads progress
was allow. 1t took me seven days
70 drive the 100 miles. At Cham
0eFIaln hired a teamster to take
part of my load. Two days out we
AaG change in the wind and snow
oegan to fall, thicker and thicker.
'ot at dusk we tried to get lodging
d sheep ranch but was refused.
We went about a mile but the
Nofm increased suddenly, and we
UM the trail and our bearings
"elet the borses drift with the
VINO and yelled occasionally. There
'ds one chance in a thousand OF
ITaching shelter and we won. The
UsFder became alarmed when the
"OFn increased so suddenly and
S@S out with his lantern. Our
-VFSes drifted down a ravine near
N sheds and in the distance we
y" a faint glow. 1t seemed miles
S'@! but was really only a few
'0oS' 1t was the most welcome
~Se' nave ever seen. My partner
~o I tell you, Nc, it seems like
Ss Lords on our side" and my
~'"'t said amen" The storm
%'ed = hours and it kept th'
~'uerS busy shoveling to proven
,~S sheep from smothering in th'
Sheds.
Asew days later I drove to Pierre
@'erthe ladies and Feb. Is we begal
: eight lronths continuous resi-
'-'e ga the claims, preparatory
1s7'lrg in Oct. We have oursectiol
!, ~utor's Note: Mr.. McGiIvra an