Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-08-07
Carriers of 1S69-Rogers, Father Of
Of the late Jim Barry, Prize Fighter.
'ROG''

(EdltOrS NoCe-IhlS MS
torical sketch by Mr.. Winship was
ularly timely just now at the season
when the rural delivery carriers are
holding their annual gathering. Also
as this is being printed, Mr.. Winship
is making a trip from San Francisco
to Boston to attend the annual la
tional encampment of h Grand
Army of the Republic, and he makes
about the same time it took to carry
the mail In "Rogs" day from Fort
A~bercrombie to Fort Garry.)
(By George B. Winship.)
: Previously to 1871, when a daily
line of stages was established from
Fort Abercrombie to Fort Garry, nov
Winnipeg, the delivery Of mail was
made by Red river carts in the SUM
mer and by dogs in the winter q De-
liveries were made twice a week, and
rude log cabins, sufficient to shelter
nan and beast, were built at con-
v~enient timbered points along the
banks of the river. Leaving Fort
Abercrombie and crossing Whiskey
Creek, a few miles out, Holy Cross
was the first comfortable station on
the way northward; then came
"Hutche's"; Georgetown. Grand
boundary line. settlements of Metis at
frequent intervals were encountered
all the way to Fort Garry, but the
principal places Of refuge were at
Sinking River and Scratching River,
both popular resorts despite their
suggestive nomenclature.
Subsequent to the establishment Of
the stage line additional stations were
I,,t1% ~ L. 20 q q%@1, 49, 10000
ty miles, among them were ELM Riv-
or, Goose River, Turtle River, Big
Salt, Little Salt, Bigerstaff's, Thirty
Mile Point, and LaRose.
The summer and fall campaign was
not devoid Of adventure and hard
ships by any means; but it was a pic
mic on the lawn under shady trees
compared with the winter and spring
campaign. Mosquitoes, muddy roads
INC flooded streams were on the sum-
mer bill of fare, and billiards., snow
banks and zero weather were some Of
the luxurtes provided for winter en-
treatment. Water covered the low
lands of the valley until late in the
summer, and those places were breed
ing nests for mosquitoes, whose num-
Der and voracity were Incompetent
sible. There were days. however,
when these %ravenous little pests were
-airly decent in their behavior, and
would leave a few drops of blood in
the veins of man and beast; but at
other times when the air was heavy
and fetid they showed nc mercy to the
unfortunate traveller. Generally men
could ere their bodies from the
vicious assaults and secure snatches of
rest at night; but the poor animals
had no rmo Of defense and were
fairly eaten alive.
In the 1owlands between Grand
Forks and Turtle River, before drain
age was the vogue. I have seen clouds
Of mosquitoes so dense as to partially
veil the rays of the sun and SO hungry
horses blat with pain when boring
for the hearts blood Of the distressed
animals. Mornings and evenings
were heir regular meal hours, and
woe betide h man or animal tina
invaded their dining room at such
times.
There were no bridges across streams
in those days, and fording was the
only way of crossing. When swollen
by heavy rains swimming was neces-
sary, n as the carts Of freighters
and mail carriers were made entirely
of wood they were easily towed across
by the swimming pony.
Late in the fall of 1870 I overlook
a half-breed at Goose River who had
yuct AtANaU g cdAS CtoSSli6s pQI lldu
difficulty in ascending the muddy
bank. His pony, failing to secure a
foothold, was unable to pull the cart
up to high and dry ground. After re-
peated efforts the man solved the diff
fculty by unhitching the pony, and
tying q knot in his tail, to which he
fastened N end of q piece of shay
anappy and the other to the shaft Of
the cart. Having. thus arranged mat
tiers he signaled by wild gesticula-
tions and staccato whoops, and the lit
tie fellow lunged forward with spirit
and determination.
/ was amazed at the unique spec
tacle n seemingly cruel ~expedient.
and expected something unusual to
happen at any moment As to the
nature Of the impeding catastrophe /
could not ~conjecture. Possibly the
poor pony might be pulled inside out,
like pulling a glove on your hand; or
possibly his entire carfiiaginous back
bone might be pulled from IDS place,
leaving a raw, red creyice down the
back of the animal and filing the air
with hair, flesh md vertebrae. But
| my fears were rroundless, nothing ss-
rious hHppencd the ~energetic littis
irony. He swaye6 frcr1 side to side
for a moment, executed . pfrnutte,
and by Z. Tremendous effort yanked
the cart out Of the mud hole and mp
tho bank II any part Of his a7ratnFnr