The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1920-10-15

In the rush in the early sixties tC
reach Alder gulch from the beaten
| immigrant track that led through
southern Wyoming there were many
holder 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 a few weeks or even a
few days. At the same time that
John Bohemian, 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, a trader at this post
by the name of Mcknight was or
ganizing a caravan to go northwest
ward through the Wind River coun-
try west of the Big Horn mountains,
thereby penetrating the heart of the
wild region where Red Cloud and
Sitting Bull reigned over 10000 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
died at Great Falls about two years
ago. Vaughn spoke for himself and
four others. Out of the scores that
passed through Laramie that day
bound for the new gold diggings 20
Joined the Mcknight train. This
company of close to 100 men pulled
out about quarter of mile in the
direction they were to travel and
camp.
Mr.. Vaughn's story of the expedi-
ton follows:
"This camp was a kind of refinery
Here one and all might consider the
perils and privations likely to be en-
countered. The faint-hearted 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 hun
bred miles of untrodden wilderness
infested by Sioux, so it was neces-'
sary for us to be well armed and or
ganized. Before starting we took a
vote and selected a captain and two
lieutenants, and committee of three
TO examine every one and see if he
was prepared with guns and suffi-
Gent ammunition, and If his outfit
was substantial enough to make the
rip.
Depended Great Deal on Guide
"a paper was drawn in which was
Inserted a provision that we were to
stand by and defend each other at
Ill hazards; to this we all signed |
,ur names. We realized that it was |
perilous undertaking, but we press |
ID onward. We depended a great |
leal on our guide. He was reared in |
yanada and had been in the employ |
If the Hudson's Bay company. His |
act and courage, on more than one
occasion, resulted in the avoidance of
rouble with hostile Indians.
"Roll was called every evening. |
ZACH man had to be on guard for
our consecutive hours during the
light. To form the camp the first
ragon had to make a circle until it
aced the hindmost one, and each
ne followed, forming thus stock
de, the horses being driven past the
inside hind wheel of the wagon in
lOAl, d1l0I Lie tOuS
ras thrown over the wheel and rest
d on the axle. At night all the
orses and tents were on the inside
nd the sentinels were on the out
ide.
when the Sioux came to our
amp they would go from one tent to
mother in sullen manner with
look as though they
ere going to massacre every one of
S. Probably the reason they did
OF was that we had taken them I'M
wares; besides we were as good as
4 equal number of soldiers if it had
,me to fighting. By the year fol-
wing they were better prepared for
ey had obtained guns and ammuni-
On from the traders. Then they
He'd many immigrants. The sue
eding year travel through that
TT of the Sioux country was entire
discontinued, and Fort Phil Kear-
y was established. A few months
er all the soldiers, 81 in number,
re killed by the Indians-not one
s left to tell the story. And these
RACES kept up their murderous
eds until the Sioux war of 1876
''It was against the rules of our
mp for any one to kindle fire
err dark. The object was to pre-
1T the Indians from locating us at
hit We were obliged to camp
ere an abundance of water could
obtained. A small spring would
meet our requirements, for we
| nearly 800 horses. 1t was hard
us to secure game of any kind
the Indians kept driving 1t away
we approached, and it was not pru-l
it for us to venture far from the
lrse we were pursuing to look for
Bruins Challenge Refused
One day at dinner time 1 climb
the mountain side until / reach
land that was almost level. TwoI
three hundred yards away l saw
arge brown bear. Elevating my
/, ] took aim at the brute. Just
n a second thought came to me,
| / said to myself: IT kill 1t, all
] and good; II only wound 1t,
get the worst OF it, / paused for
minute, looking at the bear, and
longer looked the larger It
med The bear stood and looked
me, and finally he walked away
Wy, occasionally looking back.
walking az the bear did, only in
4rnou&<n d&~oo<{nn 0o1~ A1~~I