Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1928-02-03
Mon Tana Lou Grill

presence OF immense
herds of buffalo in
eastern Montana, mon lana Lou VII"
along the far reaches of the Yellowstone
river and its tributaries. the Powder,
Tongue and Little Missouri, and to the
north in the Missouri river valley and
its tributaries. was the topic or endless
comment and the paradise OF the Dig
game hunter. Deer and antelope abound
ed. 1t is not surprising, therefore, tnat
the first newspaper interview of record
In eastern Montana touched upon these
three items OF general interest q half CEN
fury ago. The person interviewed was none
other than Mr.. X. Beidler, United States
marshal, with headquarters at Helena
and Virginia City.
The burning Of the hay at Fort Keogh
was q serious matter. Under the direc-
ton Of the commissary department. at the
fort, thousands of tor had been stacked
on the grounds during the summer OF
1878. 1t was the only source of the food
supply for the horses and cattle carried
through the winter. The government,
through the military forces, Immediately
undertook to apprehend the hrebug ana
bring him to justice. More than 40 years
later the hay burning incident produced
a modern Enoch Arden. A man, whose
name is not divulged for several reasons,
a hay tender at the time, in some round
about manner hearing that he was to be
charged with the act Of setting ire TO
the hay, disappeared between twilight
and dawn. His wife, after a number OF
years, not hearing from him believed him
to be dead and remarked In Miles CITY.
Within the past five years the fugitive
returned to the city n found his wife
still living with her second husband. He
made himself known and for a time lived
as O guest in his wife's home. Both nus
bands since have crossed the Great d.
vide.
Fifty years ago in Montana the rela-
ton of the mmens number of buffalo,
grazing in a wild state on the plains OF
the eastern section of the territory, to the
rowing bands of savage hostile Indians
was a much debated and discussed sub
ject. 1t was argued In an editorial APP
pearing in the Helena Herald. In sub
stance, that the territory could not be
made safe for the incoming immigrant
and the settler until the King of the
Plains had been exter1ninated. That was
in 1879. The sentiment expressed grew
until the hunting of buffalo was changed
from a pastime to a commercialized prop
osition. Within four years the work OF
determination was completed. BY the
same token, the wandering n restless
bands of Indian hostiles had been prac-
tically corraled on their respective reser-
vations. The position taken by the news
papers ana Lne cAPlCooSd Ny LA
dividuals appears to have been justified.
Having studied law and by training a
newspaper man, Mr.. IT.. B. McElrath ar
rived overland in Miles City from Bis
marck, in 1879. There was no regularly
established newspaper in eastern Mon
tana. Mr.. McElrath conceived the idea OF
starting one. The result was the appear
ance Of the Yellowstone Journal in July,
1879. 1t was a weekly publication. Miles
~zx- x-~~ r441{yx~ fY,f n ctVa nnlfnu QnH
struggling village, a civil annex to a mil
itary post on the edge Of American CIV
ilization in the northwest. Mr.. NIGEL
rath's journalism was largely of q per-
sonal nature. With a delightful aban-
don he published items tinged with the
romance of his times. Editorial comment
appeared in his news stories. Sometimes
he listened to hearsay gossip, and 1t was
reflected in his news columns. An In
stance OF this latter habit is recorded in
1881.
On Tuesday, June 6, 1881, the river
steamer General Terry arrived at Fort
Keogh and passed on up the Yellowstone
river. On It's return on the tenth OF that
same month, 1t Is recorded that 1t would
load on Rain-in-the-Face, q military pris-
oner at the fort, and 500 of his people,
Sioux, to be transported TO the Standing
Rock agency in Dakota. Other steamers
also were to be employed. including the
Helena, Josephine. Eclipse, General Sher-
man and General Terry. The Cheyennes
were also to be moved to their reserva-
ton. The indian prisoners were kept in
ignorance Of the contemplated move of
the government for fear that they might
make an attempt to escape.
In the meantime the Yellowstone Jour-
nal published two short stories that IL
Illustrated the fear entertained by the alb
oriEinss. In one item 1t was related that
when the General Terry returned to Fort
Keogh, a party OF Indians went to the
steamer and ordered the officers to move
the boat on down the river. The lemon
.strntion brought soldiers who trained a
Hotchkiss cannon on the Indian delega-
ton and they were told to walk back to
their village. Another story appeared