The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1920-10-14

ohk hot tO0 "
southern Wyoming there were many
holder spirits who were eager to rur
the risk of Indian ambush in new
paths through the wilderness in the
hope thereby of shortening theil
journey by a few weeks or yer
few days. At the same time that
John Bozeman, after whom the city
of Bozeman was named, was at Fort
Laramie trying to organize a train tC
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 a quarter of a mile in the
direction they were to travel and
established camp.
Mr.. Vaughn's story of the expedi-
tion follows:
This camp was a kind of refinery.
Here n 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 than 100
wagons. We were aware that we were
going to travel through several hun
dred miles of untrodden wilderness
infested by Sioux, so it was neces-
sary for us to be we'll armed and or
ganized. Before starting we took a
vote and selected a captain and two
~lieutenants, and a committee of three
to examine every one and see if he
was prepared with guns and suffi-
cient ammunition, and if his outfit
was substantial enough to make the
trip.
Depended Great Deal on Guide
"a paper was drawn in which was
inserted a provision that we we're to
stand by and defend each other at
all hazards; to this we all signed
names. We realized that it was
perilous undertaking, but we press
I'd onward. We depended a great
leal on our guide. He was reared in
Canada 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
with hostile Indians.
"Roll was called every evening.
Each man had to be on guard for
our consecutive hours during the
To form the camp the first
had to make a circle until it
'aced the hindmost one, and each
me followed, forming thus a stock
lde, the horses being driven past the
inside hind wheel of the wagon in
ront; after unhitching the tongue
vas thrown over the wheel and rest
ID on the axle. At night all the
and tents we're 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 a sullen manner with a
look as though they
rere going to massacre every n of
S. Probably the reason they did
OF was that we had taken them I'M
wares; besides we were as good as
n equal number of soldiers if it had
ONE to fighting. By the year fol-
)wing they were better prepared for
hey had obtained guns and ammuni-
on from the traders. Then they
illed many immigrants. The sue
year travel through that
art of the Sioux country was entire
discontinued, and Fort Phil Kear-
ey was established. A few months
ter all the soldiers, 81 In number,
ere killed by the Indians-not one
as left to tell the story. And these
wages kept up their m%urderous
eeds until the Sioux war of 1876.
at was against the rules of our
IOA any OnS " hluul0 d lire
ter dark. The object was to pre-
INT the Indians from locating us at
Ight. We were obliged to camp
here an abundance of water could
} obtained. A small spring would
1t meet III requirements, for we
I'd nearly 800 horses. 1t was hard
r us to cur game of any kind
r the Indians kept driving it away
we approached, and it was not pru-
mt for us to venture far from the
urse we we're pursuing to look for
~.
Bruins Challenge Refused
zone day at dinner time I climb
the mountain side until / reach
land that was almost level. Two
three hundred yards away I saw
large brown bear. Elevating my
n, 1 took aim at the brute. Just
en- a second thought came to me-.
d I said to myself: IF I kill 1t, all
III and good; If 1 only wound 1t.
! get the worst of it, / paused for
minute, looking at the bear, and
g longer / looked. the larger 1t
smed. The bear stood and looked
me, and finally he walked away
WY, occasionally looking back.