The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-02-24
SCOUTS !! J I TELL
ABOUT THEIR
20-MILE HIKE
Two Members of Troop {
Have Interesting Trip TO :
Gain Merit Badges

NO. recently TOOK ABOUT q SU-mNe
hike in order to qualify for their
hiking merit badges. They had q
very interesting trip, which they de-
scrsbed to Tribune reporter as fol-
lows:
1--WE left town with our packs as
early as we could get away after
breakfast, taking with US all the re-
quirements for cooking two vege-
tables, camp stew, rice pudding
and an omelet. This, as you will sec,
required several cooking utensils not
IN the usual mess kit which had to
be packed in.
Our course lay a mile west of the
Fort Lincoln road which brought US
to the dynamite warehouses. There
are three Of these buildings which
are isolated from each other and are
very carefully locked and posted with
signs allowing no shooting or other
commotion that would cause danger.
Right by is large sand and gravel
pit operated by the Wachter Transfer
company.
The Fort Burial Grounds
"Going on south from the gravel
pits we walked along the west side
of the Fort Lincoln military preserve.
80 '"SNA NoSsu6 cPOG au NHbS oSS VSOh
was the burial grounds of the fort,
where we found three graves; one
headstone was erected to Brown, an
other to Lawson, while the third one
was unnamed. Flags that had been
placed on the graves by friends were
still doing their duty, although one
had become loosened at one corner.
Fixing up this flag as best we could,
we continued on our way.
"1'he next item of interest VIC
found to inspect was the old power
house Or pump station connected with
the fort grounds. The boilers and
pumps are still in the building, al
though not connected, and we de-
scended to the bottom of 25-foot
cement we'll evidently used as res
crvoir. The building and we'll must
have been we'll built AS neither show
ed any signs of decay.
Leaving the pump station some
discussion ensued as to whether VIC
should continue due south or 20 half
a mile east to see Lieutenant Beavers
grave; so compromise was made in
that we went south for some half 9
mile and, finding road going dia-
gonally across the field we struck
the road near which this grave is
located. Lieutenant Beaver was con-
nectcd with General Siblcy's forces
ana was shot by Indians and buried
in the trench. An emergency lodge
,ofNMasons was convened and he was
buried with Masonic honors, and as
this was the first Masonic meeting
on record in what is now North Da.
kota, the Masons have erected tab.
let to his memory and to conimcmor.
ate the spot. A picture of the mod
crn Boy Scout was taken standing
revcrcntiy by this tablet erected over
the body Of the old Indian scout.
Saw Field Mouse and Rabbit
Continuing our way we took
diagonal cut across the fields toward
the Methodist scout cabin. As VIC
entered the timber along Apple Greek
we saw our first wild animal, which
Wa a large field mouse. AS VIC
chased the mouse from cover to cover
we, scared up the only rabbit we saw
all day. We then crossed the creeh
and went up to the Methodist cabin
which we found securely locked and
shattered. The cabin and grounds
were very neat and tidy. We rested
unite a little here before continuing
on our way.
"As it was showing just little we
could not see very far, but made out
the broad expanse of the river over
The tree tops and struck out through
the trees in that general direction
We heard bird sing out Chick-a-dee.
dee-dee, but although we looked very
carefully could not locate it. The
Missouri appeared before US all al
once and we found ourselves just al
the north end of Sibley Island. We
were Aismayed to find water some
six inches deep along the shore OF
the river and walked up and down
the bank for some distance before We
could find place narrow enough te
Jump across, and crossing the ice II
the slough or side stream we found
it necessary to cross the water on the
side next the sand bar. Crossing the
sand bar we were surprised to see
what appeared to be geese, but or
approaching them we saw that some
Is or 20 ducks were feeding in what
we thought was another seepage OF
overflow. We got real thrill wher
we came within few feet to see thai
it was the turbulent old Missouri roll.
ing right under US. We were each
carrying driftwood which we expected
to use in getting over the seepage or
the west shore of the river and we
now clutched the wood more firmly
as it would not be surprising if We
should step on thin piece of ice
over that racing flood. But W.
found no further difficulty, even very
little flood water on the west side.
The Joys of Camping
"By this time we were getting
pretty tired and hungry too, so a.
soon as a favorable place presented
itself, shelter from the wind. woot
for fire and close to the river, WI
made our camp for noon. Two shor'
but large logs were placed side by
side for the fire place and we sooI
had nice blaze coming up between
thcm. Ice was cut from the rivel
and melted for our water supply ant
we started both the stew and oul
vegetables going. AS we had to mel
all our water 1t seemed that III.
water boiled away awfully fast frou
these dishes. The next dish WI
started cooking was rice for Abe rio,
pudding, and this had to be watched
) very carefully to keep it from burn
ing or sticking to the bottom Of TIL
j, dish. My pal did not want me to pu'
any sugar into the pudding, saying
that we could put it on as we ate il
hut l prevailcd upon him and WI
etirrcd it in and were mighty glas
we had put the sugar In rs the pud
ding tasted very good to us. TIL.
vegetables and stew were good too
although we were so hungry that WI
did not let the stew cook Ms long a,
we otherwise might have done. WI