The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-07-22
KITCHEN SKETCHES
BADLANDSH HISTORY
FOR OLD SETTLERS
State Agricultural Commission.
er Praises Weird Area as
National Park
TELLS OF ROOSEVELT DAYS
Battles, Ranching, De Mores
Packing DebacIe and Other
Traditions Recited
TELLS OF ROOSEVELT DAYS

tOlQ q gaC0eT1ng OF OlQ SeIClcTS IIVIH
the western part of the state here
Sunday.
Speaking at a picnic celebration,
Mr.. Kitchen, who formerly was county
superintendent of schools in Billings
and Golden Valley counties, declared
that the Bad Lands has q geology,
landscape and topography each dis
tinctive in itself.
"Those who are familiar with this
rough, broken country" he sale, can
see why it was the favored home Of
the Indians and the virgin haunt Of
such wild animals as the mountain
lion, wolf, coyote, elk, deer, antelope,
mountain sheep, bear and the buffalo.
I'VE hold that the Bad Lands
country, with its peculiar charm and
grandeur where one seems to become
attuned to the infinite, and about
which so little seems now known, Is
to become outstanding as one OF the
great scenic wonders not only Of
North Dakota but of the world. The
Lewis and Clark expedition, camping
on the Missouri river just north of
Bismarck for the winter 125 years ago
marveled. the next spring, when they
beheld the North Dakota Bad Lands.
The Bad Lands are not only remark
able for their scenic beauty, but for
history enacted within their. borders.
Looked Like Hell to Sully
"The village of Medora is located
In the heart Of the Bad Lands Of the
Little Missouri where Andrews and
Sully creeks flow in from the west
and east. The old army cantonment
was located on the west side of the
Little Missouri river from Medora and
known as Little Missouri. In August,
1864, General Sully's command passed
through Medora and had his battle
of the Bad Lands with the Indians
about Flat Top butte, just southeast
Of where Sentinel Butte now stands.
Sully described the Bad Lands as
Hell with the fires put OUT
General Sully had come down
from his engagements with the In
dams as Killdeer. In 1874, the Cen
eral Whistler expedition marched
through Medora following practically
the same route as General Sully.
THE next army expedition was in
1875, under General Stanley. STAN
ley's expedition was sent to protect
those making the initial railroad sur
veys for the route across the Bad
Lands. In May, 1876, General George
A. Custer. with his Seventh United
States cavalry, camped on the Little
Missouri river a short distance south
Of Medora: he went on west by these
Sentinel buttes and On to the Little
Big Horn river in Montana and found
martial immortality when he precip-
itated battle with the hordes under
Sitting Bull and the Custer massacre
was reported back.
Eaton Establishes Ranch
Red Tomahawk, the Indian who
later killed Sitting Bull, still resides
on the Cannon Ball river south OF
Mandan.
I'm 1882, Howard Eaton established
a ranch on the Little Missouri Just
south of Medora where Custer had
passed through. This became known
Is a famous dude ranch, the Custer
Trail Ranch. Eaton left In 1906 and
relocated at Wolf. Wyoming, where
he established another world famous
dude ranch. He died seven years
ago."
Mr.. Kitchen traced the historyof the
Bad Lands country up to 1883 when
the French Marquis De Mores, then Is
years of age. decided it would be well
to kill and pack the cattle where
they grew" A million dollar packing
plant was built on the banks Of the
Little Missouri at Medora.
"A tall, brick smokeStack survives
q fire that destroyed this unsuccess-
ful plant" Mr.. Kitchen continued
"The marquis had married Medora
o Hoffman OF New York city,
brought her west. bestowed her name
on the town, and built for her a man
sion Of 28 rooms on an eminence on
the west banks Of the Little Missouri.
The De Mores castle Is an object Of
much interest and couriosity. The
castle Is open during the summer sea
SON for inspection. Here will be
found innumerable relics and articles
Of the Marquis and Madam De Mores.
This castle constitutes one Of the most
interesting museums in the northwest.
1t Is but a short distance off the Ma
tional Parks highway and easily ac-
cessible.
Roosevelt Gets Interested
I'm September, 1883, Theodore
Roosevelt stopped off at Medora and
became q partner in q ranch run
by Arthur w. Mortified and Sylvane
Ferris. Joe Ferris, Sylvane's brother.
had the Pioneer store at Medora and
Roosevelt roomed on the second floor
Of this building when in town. Joe
and Sylvaue Ferris are now in Cali
fornia.
Roosevelt named his ranches the
Chimney Butte, and one farther down
the river the Elkhorn ranch.
Ills three registered cattle brands
were Triangle, Maltese Cross and
Elk's Horn. Roosevelt resided mostly
at the Elkhorn ranch. The log cabin
from his Chimney Butte ranch was
taken to the San Francisco exposition
also to the st. Louis Worlds fair in
1904, and now stands on the state
capitol grounds at Bismarck. About
the only remaining evidence Of the
Elkhorn ranch was an 900 pound
stone doorstep.
Roosevelt gained his health in his
Bad Lands life, and. after becoming
president, In q speech at Fargo, pro-
ncunced this splendid eulosy TO the
healthfulness OF the state, FAD II
MT been for my North Dakota ex-
9 HHs