The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent., 1920-10-22
EkALAKA WRITER EXPLAINS
MEANING OF THE PHRASE
'.PO w DER RIVER!

(By J. r. Lewis in the Ekalaka E;.ele.)
The other day rode from Bro.:dus
to Miles City with an old-t:mer named
Bill Hicks, known as wild Bill of
Powderville. He said he had lived
in Montana for forty years, had
punched cattle with Jim Dohlman.
Omaha's famous mayor, known as
cowboy Jim." and lad lived in Pow
derville in its Widest, maddcst days
and witnessed more than one shoot-
ing aflsax th.. s.rmipatcd ;atally 2,,d
acreaseW Tie popH:ation OF Boot Hill.
Hicks said he couldn't remember a
time when the cry ,.Powder RlVer,
was not i'll vogue. 1t mea.t about
the same as the expression I'm from
Texas in order words. m bad
man from Bitter Creek" In The early
davs many wild fellows came from
Texas with herds OF cattle and the
Texans for toughness have generally
been considered second to none, but
Hicks SAYS the I'm from Texas fel-
lows got it put all over them by the
Powder river bunch.
According to the Miles City Star,
in the ancient wild and woolly days
The cry Powder River was synono-
nous with hilacity and reckless bois-
terousness excited by John Barley
corn. I'm from Powder River,
was a challenge to any and all that
the speaker was tough. unbroken ana
hard to chain. The boys from the
ranch and range when in the city 1or
a good time. after liquoring up 10 a
more or less degree, announced theH
toushness by claiming Powder river
as their home and abiding place, ana
woe to the one who questioned thelr
prowess or had the temerity to doubt
their qualifications.
Later the cry became Powder
River. Let Err Buck!'--the slogan
of the Miles City Roundup. There Is
peculiar fascination about TINS
veil. voicing as it does the wild fre2-
dom Of the plains and the reckless
abandon OF the cowboy. 1t was car
ried by the Montana soldier boys 10
all the cantOnmen:s from the Pa
ci1ic to the Atlantic and became the
warcry of the Yanlks when they swept
the Hun from the battletields OF
France. 1t has circled the globe ana
achieved immortality.
Powder river rises in the Big Horn
mountains in central Wyoming and
is the largest stream in this part OF
Montana south OF the Yellowstone. II
is skirted with generous fringe OF
cottonwood trees and bordered by a
wide and beautiful valley. DURING
the summer the river Is senerails
low. but in time OF fresActs IL Ie'
comes a raging torrent.
Like several of the other old towns
in Montana, Powderville has her Boo'
Hill. where they used to bury the
men who died with their boots on. II
ia the Oldest place on the river, dating
hack to the days Of General Custer
and would be fertile field Tor some
Kfpling of the West, who could nnc
material there for many lul1d tales
log houses OF ancient appearance are
still most common structures IN tnt
region and many of them have his
tory, especially the old log buiidint
in Powderville which housed TN
early day saloon. This part OF Mon
tana has been styled THE Last stahe
of the Cowboy"
The usage of the term Powder
River! Let 'Er Buck!" has revised III
aar,v-day meaning until now the tern
fmniies perseverance, steadfastness
a disnosition to meet md overcome
all obstacles come what may. II
this later translation which prompt
ed the Broadus Chamber OF Com
merce to adopt the slogan "Broads
Let 'Er Buck" in the county ses
campaign.