The Bozeman courier., 1927-10-07
JameS GOurleye Montana Pioneer of 1862
Saw Exciting Times Along the Y Yellowstone

ever saw" came the emphatic rejoinder.
General Grant was another president
with whom MIR. Gourley became ac-
quainted, having lived across the street
from him in Galena, Illinois. made no
inquiry regarding his impression of
Grant, not being curious on the subject.
Severing his connection with Carson
& Pirie, and melted by the love of ad-
venture together with the desire to try
his fortune in a new country, Mr.. GOur-
ley and another man left Galena for
Australia by the shortest route, the
transcOntinental- They did not follow
the emigrant trail across the plains, but
went up the Missouri on boat captained
] by that prince Of Missouri river captains,
Joseph LaBarge. On the journey, there
/ being nothing to do but view the scenery
and be an interested spectator of every
| thing connected with river travel like
''wooding-up," grounding on sand bars,
soundings. and similar occurrences, Mr..
| Gourley conceived the brilliant idea Of
going to the lower deck, interviewing the
chef and learning how to cook. ''It was
| the most valuable lesson ever learned, -
/ he volunteered.
When we consider the life lead by our
pioneers; how men who were unaccom-
panied by their wives were forced to
gain q knowledge of the elements of
hOusewifely duties if they were fortunate
enough to have cabin wherein to eXer-
else them, and cook. wash and, possibly
mend, when living in tents, wagons OF
dugouts, and this in addition to thei1
other work, whatever that might be, we
can readily credit Mr.. Gourleys state
ment.
Before dismissing the subject Of BACH
elor mending there occurs to me a ques-
ton asked lorn man then acting as
cowboy, although college graduate
and the reply he gave.
l. "What do Won do when the feet OF
your socks wear Out?" I asked.
Turn them over with the heels or
top" he replied Certainly laDor-savins
device.
Cooking Jared better than mending
q I fancy, among our pioneers. Almost al
! men who came to Montana in the CO.,
! I attained to some degree OF skill in cook
ing They could make griddle cakes
baking powder biscuits, fry bacon, boi
beans, stew dried apples, and accomplish
! a fair cup OF coffee, although they wer
prone to leave in the grounds from da,
to day, thus adding to the strength, i
not the flavor of the beverage. Som
S progressed so far in the culinary art tina
4 they achieved a good loaf of sour dougl
bread. The best bread I ever tasted wa
1 made by a miner r-caTpenter-ran O
: what might be termed a general utiltt
man, and was raised, not with yeast, bu
with sour dough.
Join PrOspectOr's Ranks
On his arrival in Idaho, now Montanl
Mr.. Gourley and his companion weT
forced to remain here during the win
ter, there being too much snow on tn
mountains to permit of crossing then
Some British Columbia men came up tn
river with them, expecting to go mort
from Fort Benton to some mines the
owned on the headwaters Of Fraser rive
These also found their plans frustrate
by the setting in of cold weather, ths
compelled them to tarry where they wei
until spring.
They were impatient to proceed, v,
this being impossible they utilized the
first opportunity to follow the miner
ever present instinct to prospect for gol
This they succeeded in finding abol
seven miles from Helena, at old MontaK
City. Almost every collection of a doze
or more shacks was given a name by Il
founders and then, with unfailing opt
mism which visioned the future instes
Of the present, they tackled on the wol
"city." At this city, doomed to an ear
death, Mr.. Gourley claims were Il
first gold diggings in the Territory.
know, for was there. It came about
this way. I chanced to spend the nigl
on a hilltop in that vicinity, with Il
rope that held my horse fastened arouI
my waist. I didn't mean to lose tn
horse and have to go afoot. In the NOR
ing when 1 wakened, caught glimp
Of smoke which it stood merin hand
investigate. It proved to have aris
from the breakfast fire Of my form
boat companions the men from Britt
Columbia, who made no secret Of VIII
they were doing. This is how 1t ha
no pened saw the first gold diggings wit
ia the boundaries tE our state