The Ronan pioneer., 1917-01-26
VAUGHN BRAVED
WRATH OF SIOUX
MONTANA PIONEER MEMBER OF
MCKNIGHT EXPEDITION
TO ALDER GULCH.
Caravan of $50 Men and 100 Wagons
Kept Under Army Discipline Dur
ing Progress Through Territory of
Sitting Bull; Many Massacred on
Same Route Following Year.

In the rush in the early sixties to
reach Alder gulch from the beaten
immigrant track that led through
southern Wyoming there were many
bolder spirits who were eager to run
the risk of Indian ambush in new
paths through the wilderness in the
hope thereby of shortening their
journey by few weeks or even
few days. At the same time that
John BoZeman, after whom the city
of Bozeman was named, was at Fort
Laramie trying to organize train
to take a cutoff route east of the
Big Horn mountains, trader at this
post by the name of Mcknight was
organizing a caravan to go north
westward through the Wind River
country west of the Big Horn noun
tains, thereby penetrating the heart
of the wild region where Red Cloud
and Sitting Bull reigned over 20, 900
or 10000 Sioux.
Mcknight was confident that his
route offered great advantages over
all others and he issued a call for
500 determined men to join him with
100 wagons.
Vaughn Among First to Respond.
/ Among the first to respond to this
appeal was Robert Vaughn, who,
though past the age of 80, is still liv-
ing at Great Falls. Vaughn spoke
for himself and four others. Out OF
the scores that passed through Lara
mie that day bound for the new gold
diggings 20 joined the Mcknight
train. This company of close to 10C
men pulled out about quarter of a
mile in the direction they were tc
travel and established camp.
"This camp was a kind of 'refin-
ery,'" said Mr.. Vaughn recently, in
recounting his pioneering expert
ences. "Here one and all might con
slider the perils and privations likely
to be encountered. The faint-heart
ed ones took the safer route by way
of the South Pass. However, in a
few days we had $50 men and more
than 100 wagons. We were aware
that we were going to travel through
several hundred miles of untrodder
wilderness infested by Sioux, SO n
was necessary for us to be we'll
: armed and organized. Before start
ing we took vote and selected &
captain and two lieutenants, and {
committee of three to examine every
:: one and see If he was prepared witt
guns and sufficient ammunition, ant
, If his outfit was substantial enough
}, to make the trip.
Depended Great Deal on Guide.
"a paper was drawn in which wa
inserted provision that we were tt
stand by and defend each other a
all hazards; to this we all signed ou
names. We realized that it was ;
perilous undertaking, but we pressed
onward. We depended great dea
on our guide. He was reared il
Canada and had been in the emplo.
J of the Hudson's Bay company. Hi
: tact and courage, on more than on
occasion, resulted in the avoidance
of trouble with hostile Indians.
"Roll was called every evening
Each man had to be on guard fol
four consecutive hours during the
night. To form the camp the frs
wagon had to make a circle until i
faced the hindmost one, and eacf
one followed, forming thus a stock
ade, the horses being driven past the
inside hind wheel of the wagon ii
front; after unhitching the tongue
was thrown over the wheel and rest
ed on the axle. At night all the
horses and tents were on the inside
and the sentinels were on the out
side.
Indians Taken Unawares.
"When the Sioux came to ou,
camp they would go from one tent
to another in sullen manner with