The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-04-07
DAUGHTER OF FIRST
Army SURGEON HERE
RETURNED FOR FETE
Mrs. Jsssamins 6urgum Of
Arthur Recalls Event OF
Childhood Days

Among those who attended both the
ceremony attendant to the laying q
the cornerstone Of the original Da-
kots Territory capitol building and
the cornerstone laying for the new
capitol Oct. ., 1882, was Mrs. Jessa-
mine Burgum Of Arthur.
Although small girl when the ter.
ritorial capitol cornerstone was laid.
happenings Of that far-off day still
were bright in the memory Of Mrs.
Burgum, who was the daughter Of
d. b. r. Slaughter, first army sur
geon to be stationed at Camp Han
cock, which was located on the prop
erty now occupied BY the federal
weather bureau, before Bismarck was
. town.
Dr.. and Mrs. Slaughter first came
to Dakota territory in 1870 and were
stationed ct Fort Rice with the 18th
Infantry, which had been transferred
from Fort Homboldt, Tenn, ct the
close Of the Civil war. Forts were
located along the Missouri river and
the James river. Later DR.. Slaughter
was transferred to Fort Abraham Lin
coin and subsequently In 1872 to Camp
Hancock. where Mrs. Burgum was
born. It was the duty Of the nth
infantry to guard the Northern Pa
cific surveyors from surprise attacks
BY the Indians, for the warlike tribes
had forbidden the whites to occupy
territory west Of the James river.
Wa No Railroad
At that time there was no railroad
n the whole territory with the ex.
oeption Of the one ct Pembina, Mrs.
Burg1m sayx Roaming hands Of In.
dams and herds Of buffalo traversed
the prairies. IN fact, the last Of the
sreat herds Of buffalo had been seen
Just north Of Capitol Hill shortly be-
fore the cornerstone laying. There
was great excitement among the
hunters at this occurrence, according
to Mrs. Burgum. Saddling horses, the
hunters gave chase, but the greater
number Of buffalo escaped By swim.
ming the Missouri river.
II was but . small girl when The
first cornerstone was laid" Mr.. Bur.
GIN recalls. "What happened that
day still u clear In my memory, for
We had to get up early to b ready
tor the arrival Of the special trains
between 7 and 3 o'clock.
"We drove with our horses and
phaeton from cur home, where the
country club now IL. across the
prairies to the scene Of activities,
over buffalo paths which were no
moro than deep ruts.
1T was = thrilling scene, and I al.
ways shall remember General Grants
gray hair and beard and tho gray
suit Of clothes he wore. Ny mother
said, Children look at him and IL
ways remember you have seen Gen.
eral Grant Privately I thought he
looked very much like our old friend
End neighbor. r. B. Mason, Gather
ot Mrs. w. H. Webb Of Bismsrck).
sitting Bull There
Sitting Bull and his warriors were
there and We eyed him with fear, Tor
4 was Just seven years since the Gus.
Ter massacre. Our elders had 90 Of
ten lamented the Staying Of those
gallant officers and men from the
It'll Cavalry ct Fort Lincoln, whom
hey had met and mingled with 20.
tally.
Just the year before. Sitting Bun
Ind his warriors had surrendered and
we're brought to Bismarck and later
% the Standing Rock reservation. Ia |
group Of steamboats,"
Sitting Bull was Q thrifty soul, Mira
3urgum recollects. and sold hts auto.
Iraphed photographs to visitors for
3 cents each. He wrote his name, |
Settling Bull" according to Nrs. |
3urgum, who says he learned to spell |
{ that way from the French priests |
Turing his exile In Canada, before he |
surrendered to the U. 8.
He was IN uncompromising Indian
|atrtot. Mrs. Burgum has reason 70
'elteve, for he refused to Sign . treaty
nth the whites. declaring the whites
lever kept one.
'.But he marched In the parade that
nv In 1885," she said, carrying 4
amer with the words, March Of
'iviliSation.' Another Indian carried
b y. .. flag"