The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1926-11-12
(Bx LESLIE a. cox

TIFTY years ago, a young man,
seeking fortune and adventure,
n arrived at Bismarck, North Da-
kota, from the family homestead To-
Gated a few miles from st. Paul, Min
nesota. He had worked his way west
ward, across the wilderness, always
having Montana in view. Here he
hoped to take up land and eventu-
ally enter the cattle business.
This young man, Matt Elgin Of Miles
City, was well fitted for the tasks he had
laid out for himself. Endowed with a fear
lessness which was ever to be called upon,
coming from pioneer stock, he had no fear
of the future, but was anxious to take his
striving to get a fOOthOld in the new state
of Montana.
Arriving at Bismarck, the young adven-
turer came abruptly to his journeys end.
He had no horse to continue his trip to the
promised land"; there were no railroads
to Miles City at that time; and he was fore
ed to await the time when chance would
open a way before him. For several days
he rename din Bismarck, doing odd Jobs
and hoping to get a chance to join a wa
gOn train. There were many rumOrs Of In
dian trouble, and the dangers of the trail.
One day there pulled into Bismarck two
wagons, one drawn by a team of bulls and
the other by two of the largest horses Ell
gin says, he ever saw. There were in the
party, seven men and one woman Elgtn
made their acquaintance. He learned that
they were bound for Miles City, then the
old cowtOwn on the banks Of the Yellow
stone. He offered his services and arrang-
ed to travel with them. The party had sew
eral horses and saddles. Some cattle were
also being trailed along.
The party was we'll supplied with prOvis-
ions, guns and ammunition. Elg1n was ask
ed many questions regarding the indians
AS he had never been in Montana, he could
only tell them what he had heard-that
the Indians were being driven out of Mon
tana, and that the country of which Miles
City was the center, was a promising Sec
tiOn well protected by Fort KeOgh.
Elgin Becomes Leader
Early one July morning of 1877 the party
departed from Bismarck, following the old
government trail and headed for Miles City,
Elgin was the youngest OF the party. lie
was given a horse and provided with q
Winchester rifle. His task was to lead the
wagons through difficult places and over
rough roads. 1t was a trying journey.
They pushed on and on through hostile
country, where occasional bands OF Indians
could be seen crossing the plains in the dis
lance. Every precautiOn was taken at night
when camp was struck. There was an
abundance of grass for the stock and water
was plentiful. Game abOunded; deer and
antelope were plentiful and occasionally {
small herd of buffalo was sighted. Some
of thees animals were killed by members
of these animals were killed by members
and coyotes were encountered. On JheSt
they did not waste ammunition. Coyotes
hOwled around the camp nightly.
The party travelled by easy stages dur
ing the day, and were favored with per
feet weather. One night, however, there
came a clOudburst and the camp was flood
ed. One evening in August, the party ar
rived in a beautiful valley walled in on thu
north by high, bare buttes. There were
high banks of a dry creek. Some places II
the creek bed were deep water holes. Grass
was abundant and tender. From that pOin
a close guess brought them within sixt!
miles Of their destination. This camp wai
at about the point where now stands the
town of Ismay, Elgin says.
Besieged by Indians
They cOrraled the stock in the dry creel
bed, where the high banks afforded ampl
protection. They ct long grass and fee
the stock there. Excitement prevailed II
that the end of the journey seemed so near
The night was a beautiful one. A full
moon made it almost as light as day. VI
to this time the trip had been cOmparativel
u%neventful. The men sat around the cam
fire smoking following a meal of buffalo
meat and sOurdOugh biscuits. The fir
died away and the men rolled themselve
into their blankets to rest.
During the still hours of the night, FL