The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1911-02-03

time We were large enough to Shout
| der one and we felt fully able and
prepared for almost any emergency
On arriving at Sioux City we imme-
diately reported to Mr.. Collins.
Several parties had already ar
rived. AS fast as messes could be
| formed they We're moved a mile or
TWO across the Missouri river. where
la permanent camp was formed. A
mess and outfit consisting of four or
more persons Joined together, buy
ing a good wagon, two or three good
yoke OF oxen, good tent and pro-
visions sufficient to last six months,
On arriving at headquarters Mr.. Col
Inns took US up the river half mile
OF So TO the camp of a couple of
men who had recently arrived from
81. Louis, in order that we might
form mess with them and move
| out to camp.
! On entering this camp. which was
located in the heavy timber near the
river, We saw the occupants, Black
well and McLaren cleaning guns and
shooting at a mark. Blackwell was a
large, swarthy complexioned fellow
Whlle his partner was quite the op.
posite in his entire makeup. They
had the appearance of men that
were injured to hardships-that
their lives might have been spent on
the plains or trapping and hunting
in the Northwest. TO our unsophis-
tIgated minds they had the appear
ance OF being thorough western ran
gers and would be especially adapt
ed to the trip in view; and of course
would be excellent and desirable
partners, and we were anxious to
form mess with them. Conse-
quently We talked the matter over
with them, but they secuted the idea
OF taking six months provisions, de-
claring they would not be encum-
bered with such a load, for as Black
well declared, MACK and I can live
as the Indians do, when We get into
their country and We intend to go,
II we are compelled to go alone" AS
Johnny and I insisted on taking six
months rations, We could not agree
and did not form mess together.
were from all points of the compass
and mostly all strangers to each
ohtre. We soon found a couple with
whom we Joined and in a short time
had selected our entire outfit. One of
my messmates lived in Sioux City
and had crossed the plains to Cali
fornia in an early day. He was very
rugged in build, weight about 200
pounds, never worried or got the
blues, understood camp life and was
therefore, a good hand to take the
lead in the selection OF an outfit such
as we We're in need of and We gladly
entrusted the selection of our entire
equipment to r. r. Whitney, or to
Whit as he was invaribly called.
Our other partner was little
slim, swarthy complexioned tee-
graph operator from Danville, Hi
nois, by the name of Harry Cooper.
He was about my own age and size;
and 50 far as looks went we might
have been taken for brothers. His
dress did not indicate man used to
out door work, nor did his general
makeup betoken a man Injured to the
hardsllips of frontier life, and more
than one had remarked during our
stay in the city that the little chap
looking as though he had just come
out OF band box, would make a
poor stick to depend upon when it
came to the real hardships that we
would certainly be compelled to
meet. But subsequent experience
proved the old saying to be true, at
least in this case, that "You do not
know man until you have crossed
me pla!uS Will MIN IL the "Trip IS
a long one one and made under try
ing and unfavorable conditions, as
most Of these journeys are, but few
of his shortcomings remain unex-
plored at the end Of the journey. AS
we meet the stern realities from day
to day, the real manhood is exposed. |
No shamming or hypocracy can COW
er it up.
SEEKING RECALL OF