Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1905-05-30

special envoy of his people to ne
gotiate for the lasting peace between
the two tribes. Stories of the chase
and the work of the day, as we'll as
forecasts of the journey ahead are
themes that pervade the conversation
OF this circle. The least important,
Dut still an interesting, member Of
the party is an Assinaboine Indian
dog curled up comfortably beside the
lire: this wayfarer Joined the party
down the river and continued with
them. AS the night wears on the
sergeant OF the guard may be seen
making the rounds of the sentry
posts, and lone sentry may be dis
cerned as he keeps vigil over the six
canoes and two piroguos, or double
canoes, that form the method Of con
veyance for the goods of the thirty
Two souls that make up the ex-
petition
The following morning May 2lst)
the weather being favorable the whole
party passed up the river, using the
towline to drag the boats along, and
the journal says that twenty miles
were made this day, camp being
pitched on the north side of the riy-
Ell. This camp was in the vicinity Of
what is now called Flat Coulee.
Nothing Of incident was noted on
this day. On May - the expedition
passed the mouth of Beauchamp
creek and camped in one Of the bot
toms on the north side about ten
miles below the present river village
OF Rocky Point. No mention is
made OF the point at the mouth Of
Beauchamp creek where the Missouri
has changed its channel, and it is ev-
ident that this was overlooked by the
explorers. At the point where Beau
champ empties into the Missouri the
latter stream has departed from the
ancient channel, to cut it's way
through the badlands, the old bed be-
ing plainly traceable for miles as it
wends its way across Sun prairie to-
ward Milk river
The record of the 23d and 24th of
May tells OF unusually cold weather
for that season, much as we have ex-
perienced it during the present
month. Ice formed on the water on
the 24th day Of May. On this same
day the party saw the Little Rocky
! m n oinS in thn ictn
was sent out to explore them. He
did not proceed as far as the noun
tains, becoming discouraged after
having gone in their direction about
ten miles. On May 25th frequent men
tion is made of the rough character
OF the country and the appearance of
salts, quarts and mineral in the hills
bordering the river. At that time
the party was approaching the Dau-
phin rapids, twenty-three miles east
of Judith. The following day May
26) these rapids were reached, but
were named Elk rapids, from the fact
that while the expedition was labor
ing to get the canoes and pirogues
over the rapids female elk and her
fawn swan down through them. Cow
and Bull creeks were both passed
this day. Bull creek being named
Windsor creek after member Of the
expedition. On this day Captain
Lewis first viewed the main range OF
the Rocky mountains from the high
hill just west or Cow creek. Along
here numerous signs of Indians were
noticed, but no Indians were seen,
Notwithstanding the fact that few
miles to the north large villages of
the GroSyentres and Assinaboines
lived, and today those same Indians
occupy the same territory.
Until the mouth of the Judith riv-
er was reached on May % the usual
routine Of the tOwline and setting
pole was in order, and Indian signs |
continued as frequently as on the few
days previous. A creek that is evil
IDENTIFY now called Birch creek was
named by the party Thompson's
night of the 2Sth a camp was made
two and a half miles below the mouth |
of the Judith river, and it was here
that a buffalo bull stampeded through
the camp literally running over every
body and injuring no one.
One hundred years ago yesterday
May 20, 1905) the Judith river was
reached, and Oh that day received its
name. In bestowing name on this
beautiful river Captain Clark was
very probably inspired by the tender
sentiment of love, as the lady from
whom it derived its appellation after
ward became the wife of the famous
explorer. A strange fact in connec-
tion with the naming of the Judith
river is that Captain Clark made a
mistake in the baptismal name of his