The Powder River County examiner and the Broadus independent. [volume] (Broadus, Mont.) 1919-1935, 1922-09-08
(By Kate S. Clark.)

~,>ee~~
almost dropped. only able to 60 on
by holding on to their horses necks
walking, but when nearly dark they
reached a stream and both horse and
rider plunged in; then turning the
horses loose. and wrapping them
selves in their blankets, they laid
down and slept the sleep of exhaus-
ton, and when they woke the blessed
rain they had been praying for was
drenching them.
Building their camp fire, after
breakfast they dried themselves out
and took a rest and started on.
They would often fall in with
other parties, who were also crossing
and at one time when they were un-
loading. Center threw his overcoat,
lined with red flannel, on the ground
and when he went to pick it up the
grasshoppers had eaten the entire
lining.
They mixed some dough to cook in
their fry-pan, and the grasshoppers
flew in SO fast, Clark said: 1--WE
served it up as huckleberry cake"
When they were fording a stream
at one time. one of their number got
drowned, and very sad party gath
cred around the camp fire that night.
1t was their great good luck, when
they were travelling alone, to come
across deserted cabin with a stove
In it-whereupon Clark undertook to
mix and bake bread in the oven and
also plain" cake, while Center
went out to shoot some grouse. TAX.
ing his bake" out of the oven, he
laid 1t on table and went out to
take survey of the place. On start
ing back he saw something eating
mis- venture" whereupon he up with
his gun and shot it. It proved to be
a skunk-and the food was left for
the next traveller.
At another time they fell upon a
Jesuit mission, an elevation of some
three hundred acres titled by the In
dams. They at once hunted for the
priest. who was delighted to welcome
them to a Banquet, or so it seemed
to them. The three sat down to a
little stuffed pig. but when they
arose there were three stuffed pigs.
While travelling with a party, some
15 In number, as they were having
noon days rest from the heat, they
looked up to see a party of Indians
riding down on them. They jumped
Tor their guns, but all of a sudden
the Indians halted. One had tied q
white rag to a gun and advanced as
flag OF truce, but the boys had no
idea OF allowing them to come into
their camp armed, SO they made
signs they must lay down their arms,
Then they cried, "Crow, Grow. no
Sioux, no Sioux"
They proved to be a COMPANY of
Crow scouts sent out from Fort Ellis
to accompany a party of the Fifth
U. 8. cavalry in, who had been 1.-TWO
moons" and until they got close to
the camp they thought that was the
cavalry and when they found their
mistake they were the most fright
ened Indians imaginable.
The fret town I remember his
mentioning was Glendive, which was
not Tar from the Custer battlefield
and at that place they first heard of
the news of the massacre, which had
taken place only a little while be-
fore. I'VE did not visit the battle.
field, but no doubt Bub will be roam.
ing around this country next sum.
mer." The "Bub" referred to was a
younger brother Of mine, who was
tnen a cadet at West Point and who
was graduated from there in the
class OF ~. and who served some 40
years in the regular army, both in
this country and abroad.
After that they fell in with a party
OF kansas boys. some thirty in num-
Der, who were travelling with a
wagon and they Joined them.
Whenever they came to a stream
they would swim their horses across
II 1t was too deep to ford, but they
came to one where it was not pos
sible to get the wagon across, so
they went into camp with the inten-
ton OF building a raft the next day.
clark woke up and happened to
think 1t was the Fourth OF July. AS
| nothing had been said about It in
the camp he opened the flap of his
tent and began firing his rifle. In
less time than It takes to tell, the
whole camp was aroused, thinking
Sitting Bull and all his outfit had
got the drop on them, but when they
learned what 1t was they all set ia
and had q general celebration. built
the raft and went on.
After leaving Glendive they must
have travelled southwest, and r.
crossing q stream Clark lost his
horse.
1t was the custom for one to start
IN and II he got safely across the
rest would follow. Center got oyel
safely and Clark started In when hil
horse struck . snag and fell. He III
once cut the pack In order to save
his horse. but he found both he and
the horse were going down stream
and a. he could not swim he had pre.
sence OF mind enough to catch hold
OF . branch which overhung the banl