Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-08-25

who had absolute control. AS may
be surmised, these men were the best
type the frontier could produce, but
aside from the wagon masters and
assistants the personnel was one
which naturally could not be expected
to represent the most reliable or ev-
en- moral element or far eastern So
ciety. The word renegade" was
hardly used those days, but suffice it
to say that among these men thous-
ands were criminals of every type,
who had left their homes largely on
account Of their health, to escape pun.
ishment for crimes committed in com.
munities where they resided.
Freight on Flour, $24 a Sack.
The government in those days had
to pay 50 per 100 pounds per 100 miles
for freight. This meant that it cost
$24 to transport sack of flour from
LeavenwOrth to Salt Lake City. AS
the average time Of OK teams on these
trips was IL miles per day it re-
quired 100 days between Leavenworth
and Salt Lake City. providing that no
serious interference prevented. such
as Indian fights, trouble in fording
streams, delays by storms in the
mountains, assertions by drivers or
deaths of animals. The entire force
was drilled to meet all these cOntin-
gencies and every man was furnished
with a rifle, revolver and bowie knife
to stand off the red men. Thus it
was that Mr.. Caldwell had under his
control the largest armed force next
to the United States army. in the
country and one which presented a
very tough front on short notice.
Mr.. Caldwell's experience in the
Mexican war was unusual from the
fact that being then too young to be
he was serving independently with
his father who was captain of one Of
the companies which assaulted Chap
ultepec. His father was killed in this
assault and young Alexander, grasp
ing his fathers sword, took command
of the company and in very gallant
way led them on to victory Shortly
after, being recommended for an ap-
pointment as lieutenant in the regular
army, while standing an examination
before the military board. he was ask
ed by General Scott what he did
when he saw the cannon balls COM
ing, to which he promptly answer
ed: II lodged them, sir This
frankness settled the matter. Mr..
Caldwell has the unusual distinction
and satisfaction of having participated
| actively in the Mexican war, and then
having begun his business life in the
west when all of it from the Missouri
river to the Pacific was a wilderness
and having seen the spread Of civil
lization over this vast area He had
not a little to do with the first rail.
way building. having built several
| important lines in his state. Mr.. and
Mrs. Caldwell. together with Mr. and
Mrs. Strahorn. covered this entire reg
ion by stage and private conveyance
long before there were any railroads
in it. one trip alone of this kind ex
tending to 10000 miles. This includ
ed more or less river and Pacific oc
can travel after the party had b.
stage and wagon covered a great dea
of Utah. Idaho, Oregon, Washington
and California.
Sees Big Chance in Spokane.
Mr.. Caldwell has not been in Spo
kane for many years and is natural.
filled with wonder at the great pro
gress visible on every hand. He wa
especially enthusiastic on the uni
formity and unusual size and solid
ity of the Riverside avenue structure
and the very large proportion o
beautiful homes when compared wit
those in other similar cities east an
west.
Surprised the Mutineers.
While assertions were not freQuen
it sometimes happened that for som