The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1934-02-09

paper.
Red Rock there was a great valley
which bore the name of the Centen-
inial, a portion of which had been used
for ten years by the PoindeXter & Orr
people and Joseph Shineberger, but the
great upper end of the valley was un-
occupied.
So it was concluded to drive the Ruby
valley cattle to the Centennial in charge
of an adequate number Of cowboys. The
Centennial derived its name from this
circumstances. In 1876 Poindexter &
Orr drove a considerable portion of
! their herds to the Red Rock valley,
about 20 miles easterly from Lima, be-
ing the first to occupy it, and gave it
the name of Centennial. The valley is,
roughly speaking, about so miles in
length and from 10 to Is in width. The
Red Rock river runs through the Gen.
tennial from east to west. Its longest
tributary, which comes out of Alaska
basin, is the ultimate headwater of the
great Missouri, and from its source to
the Gulf of Mexico it is the longest
stream in the world. At the upper end
of the valley are the Red Rock lakes
two considerable bodies of water. The
Ruby cattle were ranged about the Red
Rock on either side and for some miles
down the river, but well above those Of
PoindeXter & Orr.
On the southerly side of the valley
the main range of the Rockies rises
somewhat perpendicularly; on tn e
northerly side there are the rolling hills
of the divide between the Red Rock and
the Ruby, with the high Snow Crest
and the Tobacco Root ranges toward
the north. It was about 60 miles from
our ranch to the cowboys camp on the
south side of the river, they being
camped not far from where Lakeview is
now. Naturally, I was anxious to see
, the great valley and to join the cowboys
! there. The opportunity came in the
latter part of August when the Captain
told Jim and me that it would be neceS-
sary to take a load of supplies to the
boys in the Centennial; we were to go,
assist in riding herd, and to remain
until the fall branding was done.
The trip over was not an easy one,
with a Ioaded wagon and two saddle
horses, neither of which led very well.
The road from Lazy Mans creek to the
forks of the Ruby was difficult. For
80 miles or more it was a mere COW
trail, and in places very siding. In two
places we stood on the upper side OF
the wagon to keep it from tipping over,
but made the trip without accident,
When we topped the rise which gave
me a first view of the Centennial val
ley, I saw for the only time in my life
a great valley of Montana as it was in
its primitive state; there was not a
habitation nor a fence to be seen.
Indeed. as I remember, there was not
a fence from the head of the valley
(unless it was that which inclosed a
small garden on O'Dell creek where a
man Of that name had recently located
for a distance Of 40 miles down the val
ley. An Irishman, whose name I have
forgotten, had begun the erection of g
log cabin some miles below w camp
Jim had tcld me of the great num-
Der of ducks, brants, geese, and swans
which would be found IN the lower Rec
Rock lake and the river, and he did no
eXaggerate it. We crossed the river Al
the Lousy Spring ford and drove up thu
sluggish river on its southerly side, talk.
ing of the odd color of its waters. A!
we came in sight of the water where i
broadened and hardly appeared tx
move, I said to him, THAT certainly i
curious looking water"
THAT isn't water" he answered
that's ducks"
> The truth is that for a space thai
covered a half acre or more the watel
could not be seen for the wild fowl.
believe the ducks and geese along tina
river and upon the lakes at that TIM
would have III into hundreds O
thousands. Red Rock lake is still
favorite spot for duck hunters, but
differs vastly from what It once was,