The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1924-08-28
PASSENGERS SPEND ANXIOUS HOURS WHEN

even on the part of the passengers
There seemed to be no alternative
for the officers Of the boat, but tt
5 dump us all, together with Our bag.
l age, on the shore, and leave us t.
: find our way to our destination as
} best we could.
This decision reached, the plar
was carried out, although long
enough afterwards to admit OF
notifying Assinaboine and Fort
Benton of it. This was absolutely
necessary, as the neighborhood Of
Cow Island was then-whatever it
may be nova most desolute re-
gion, and far removed from any
dwellings. The boat left us a lit
tie food; but that was all. For
the rest, it remained that we must
put our trust in Providence, and in
the prompt action Of our distant
friends.
We were scarcely landed before
the army wagons drawn by mules
were in sight, and we enviously
saw the Captain, the Lieutenant,
and the rest of their party hur-
ried away in the direction of AS
sinaboine. Then the steamboat
left the landing, and as it disap-
peared around the bend in the riv-
er, its former passengers began to
wonder how they would pass the
night on the open prairie with no
protection from the cold or possible
storm. 1t was not a cheerful out
look for a woman with two small
children.
Along about the middle of the af-
ternoon, a lumber wagon ratified
into our midst, and the driver, lay
ing down his whip, inquired for
Mrs. Rolfe." I responded with
alacrity. "Well," the stranger
continued, "Rolfe and Wetzel have
sent me for their wives and child
rem, and I reckon we'd better start
right away"
We did not need a second invi-
tation. Then the thought struck
us which we voiced: "How about
food?"
There's plenty of that aboard.
Don't you worry" the driver as
sured us. It was we'll he did SO for
some of the remaining passengers
we're already beginning to quarrel
over the division of the provisions
left by the boat.
Our wagon was an old mud wa
gon familiar to stage-coaching
springless, with spring seats
from which all the spring was ia
ken by the large amount of bag
age slowed away under them. The
pace set for us by the driver had
no regard for comfort, and to ride
for hours in a springless vehicle
behind trotting horses over a
smooth road is almost unendur-
able torture. Our road was not
smooth except at intervals, yet the
speed maintained was not inter
on that account.
Our first meal was cooked at a
amp fire that evening. There was (
to eat but we had to impro-
Use dishes, as none were included
n our SUPPLIES. The driver had a
lew, enough for himself, but
which he generously shared, even
the frying pan, which had to be !
lsed as a plate. An imaginary line
vas drawn through its center .
hen he ate from one side and |
rom the other. For the rest, be- ,
sides the drivers plates, empty cans ]
or papers held the food. !
"Other times other manners"
md Necessity is the mother of in !!
are sayings singularly ap-
oropriate to that camping trip. !
At night a cover was stretched
over the wagon; bedding laid on !
is floor; and there six of us |
packed ourselves in like sardines, .
md slept as only one can out of !
doors. Our driver rolled himself
his blankets and slept with the .
for a mattress. He was our !
guard and our cook, relieving us of ]
III responsibility, and bringing us !
It the end of three days safely to /.