Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-07-28
Bv H. E. Stevens.

On March 26, 1872, was one of
a party of Northern Pacific Railway
engineers (of whom Major Montgom-
cry Meigs, now U. S. engineer at keo-
kuk, Iowa, was chief in camp on the
west side of James River near the
present crossing of the river by the
main line of the N. P. Ry. in North
Dakota.
Gen. Thos. l.. Rosser was Division
Engineer, with Offices at Fargo, the
end of the track. During the summer
of 1871 a preliminary line had been
run across North Dakota to the Mis-
souri, River near Bismarck, establish
ing the general location. The work
at Jamestown and the work of an
other party in charge of Archibald
Johnson, camped on the Sheyenne
River near Valley City, was determ-
:s71 preliminary. A telegraph line
from Fargo was in operation to John
sons camp on the Sheyenne.
On March 25th Mr. A. o. Eckel-
son, who was at the Sheyenne, re-
ceived wire order from Gen. Ros-
ser to go to the Missouri River. He
left Sheyenne River the evening Of
the 25th, arriving at James River the
morning of the Goth. Mr.. Eckelson
was ordered to take such men and
teams as he needed from Major Meigs
and proceed at once, with all haste,
to the prospective railway crossing
of the Missouri River and squat on
the land contiguous to that crossing.
We were also informed that Mr.. John
Jackman, Major Wood and Mr.. Dickey
had left Fargo during the night of the
24425th for the purpose Of preempting
this land, and that we were expected
to get there first. Neither Eckelson
nor any one of his party had ever
been at the Missouri River crossing.
We were told the location was on the
first high ground above the mouth
of Apple Creek Zone hundred miles
from James River), and were given
compass course as our guide.
The winter of 1872 was one of deep
snow in North Dakota. The spring
was late, a heavy blanket of snow
still covered the country, and every
where the coulees and depressions
were drifted full.
| From the James River camp were
taken six men and five teams. Dur
ing the 26th we loaded the camp
equipment, fifteen days rations, fuel
and forage on two wagons and three
sleds, prepared for daylight start
on the 9th.
Much delay was met in the Pipe
Stem Coulee in breaking a road
through the deep drifts. A team would
be detached from their load and
floundered through deep bank, and
then by means of long rope it was
used as a snatch team to snake the
others through. After we reached the
high ground the deep banks were
not so frequent, but each day there
were bad crossings to make. We
were leaving good road for our
competitors and realized that they
would surely Overtake us.
Upon reaching the prairie NJ. E. T.
Winston and myself were detailed to
carry the compass course, the teams
following in sight by the most feas
ible route.
In 1872 the territory of North Da
kota was establishing a reputation
for billiards., and during three days
of this trip made proud record. II
is now admittedly the blizzard cham
pion.
We made twenty miles the first day
and after pitching tents in the roar
ing wind and snow the cook served
an informal, hearty meal, and We
rolled up in our blankets, somewhat
worn, for night of sweet sleep.
On the 18th we made twenty miles
On the 18th the storm became so Sc
we're that we were compelled to CAM
ct about three o'clock, having mad,