The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1922-09-01
lBy Kate S. Clark

take Greeley's advice to young mer
and go west. They were Herbert
Clark of Chelsea and Solomon Center
of Gloucester, Mass.
Leaving Chicago they made then
start from some point in North Da-
kota on horseback to cross the
plains. The journey took seven
months-and many were their mis-
haps and adventures-some of which
will relate exactly as they were
written in their home letters.
The first real serious trouble was
some time in June, when they became
exhausted from want of water, and
almost dropped, only able to go 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 ethem-
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 I'M
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 we're 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 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
take survey of the place. On start
ing back he saw something eating
mis- venture" whereupon he up with
his gun and shot it. 1t 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 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 party, some
10 in number, as they we're having
noon days rest from the heat, they
looked up to see a party of Indians
riding down on them. They jumped |
for their guns, but all of a sudden
the Indians halted. One had tied a
white rag to a gun and advanced as
a 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, Grow, Crow, no
Sioux, no Si0uxi"
They proved to be a company of |
Crow scouts sent out from Fort Ellis
to accompany party of the Fifth |
- ~ NoFNiAJ ALL WIZ kido DCCn tWO |
moons" and until they got close to
the camp they thought that was the
cavalry and when they found their |
mistake they we're the most fright
ened Indians imaginable.
The fret town / remember his
mentioning was Glendive, which was
not far 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. 1--WE did not visit the battle
field, but no doubt Bub will be roam
ing around this country next sum-
mer." The Dub" referred to was a
younger brother of mine, who was
then cadet at West Point and who
was graduated from there in the
class of TT, and who served some 0
years in the regular army, both in
his 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
hey would swim their horses across
I 1t was too deep to ford, but they J
;ame to one where 1t was not pos
'ible to get the wagon across, so {
hey went into camp with the inten- {
ion of building raft the next day.
Clark woke up and happened to {
hink it was the Fourth of July. AS /
lothing had been said about it in {
he camp he opened the flap of his
ent and began firing his rifle. In '
ess time than it takes to tell, the I
Whole camp was aroused, thinking s
Hitting Bull and all his outfit had i
lot the drop on them, but when they
earned what it was they all set to 7
nd had a general celebration, built t
he raft and went on. q
After leaving Glendive they must t
ave travelled southwest, and in {
rossing stream Clark lost his c
orse. Ii
1t was the custom for one to start t
n and If he got safely across the r
est would follow. Center got over s
afely and Clark started in when his
orse struck snag and fell. He at 8
nee cut the pack in order to save +
is horse, but he found both he and 6