Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1931-12-03

Der. the chest was exhausted and the
snow looked deeper and more impene-
TABLE than ever. We were between
Saltese and DeBorgia and were also
mighty hungry. Two Of us struggled
through the snow to the section house
at DeBorgia, expecting to find supplies
there. But the family had left and all
we could find when we searched the
house was soda crackers and big onions.
We took it all and that was what we
had to eat for II hours. 1t was hard
railroading, but it served to emphasize
the realization of the difficulties which
used to attend the crossing with a pack
train.
There have been some perilous cross
ings of this old pass. One Of the best
couriers that ever rode a horse was
w. H. Pearson, the express rider whose
wonderful endurance and courage
saved the Stevens expedition in 1855,
after the treaties had been signed with
the western Indians and with the diff
ferent Blackfeet tribes. All through the
expedition Pearson had served the gov
ernor, keeping him in touch with af-
fairs at Olympia. Two of his rides
across the Bitter Root were the most
interesting of all the incidents con-
nected with the crossing Of the Bitter
Root mountains. One Of these crossings
IVES in the early weeks Of an excep-
tionaIly snowy winter. The other was
made in such quick time that its story
is almost incredible, but it is vouched
for by the official records of the expe-
dition. The midwinter crossing OF Gov
ernor Stevens and his party is one OF
the most interesting incidents in the
history of western Montana.
About the region which is contiguous
TO the Occur d'Alene pass there has
been thrilling history written. Fire and
flood have contributed to the material
OF this history; disaster and destruction
have held sway here: the pluck and
perseverance of the people have fur
nished an example which might well
be followed by the talking boosters who
hold the floor in some other commun-
tiles. Grand is the scenery here: mar
velous is the beauty Of the hills sweet
is the music Of the streams: glorious
is the promise for the future in the
mineral wealth which is hidden here
But the hills are scared and SCARED
with the marks Of the conflict between
man and the elements.
It is an interesting trail to follow
even now, when the hand Of man has
transformed it from its old appearance
but it must have been a wonderful
place when Pearson rode across it, &C.
companied only by an Indian guide, tc
deliver the news of the west side to the
governor who was in council on the
Missouri. It is not a difficult matter to
picture its appearance then, if it is
seen now in midwinter, for the great
depth of snow which falls here oblit-
crates almost entirely the landmarks
which man has established and re-
stores the summit to its primeval con-
dition. Save for the thin, dark line
which the railway makes, there Is moth
ing here in midwinter to indicate that
there has been an invasion of this
mountain wilderness by man. 1t Il
weirdly beautiful and 1t is so silent
that the stiffness rings. But the story
of Pearson: that's the thing.
w. H. Pearson was mis- name. He wa!
one Of the many men whose deeds con-
tributed im~measurably to the peaceful
conquest of the northwest - deed
which outshine many Of those thai
have been blazoned upon the scroll o.
history, and have been immortalized II
song. But these have received scan1