The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1934-08-03

By ELMO

Half past twelve, in the wagon,
bound for Montana! Will and Chell
are sitting on the seat in front, while
I am back inside the wagon, almost
shut out, or rather in, from b I
side world. Billy is walking, driving
our COW, to get her accustomed to fol-
lowing the train. Ella sits on n
bottom of the wagon peeking u be-
tween Chell and will. Chell has on
her debarge dress, tucked up short,
q large calico apron, and her buff
s%unbonnet and waterproof sacque.
She looks like a little girl. I have on
my black and white delaine, a new
green bingham apron, my turba n
waterproof. Will has on his old short
coat and Scotch plaid pants and vest
and broadbrimmed hat. Ella has on
her calico dress and s~unbonnet
BILLY has just come and put back the
cover to our wagon and AIKEN Cheus
place, so now we can see OUT. our
wagons are covered with heavy can
vas, like tents are made of. Tom IS
driving the four mules just ahead OF
us. Two of the ponies are before u
wagon, and the gray pony Is hitched
ON behind. John LeFever and Dell are
driving the COW now"
Not the story of eight-cylindered
speed on hard surfaced highways, dott-
ed with towns and hot dog stands ana
gas stations in 1884, but the beginning
Of a journey de luxe across h plains
in May, 1866, when an occasional stage
station, Indian camp or a fort were the
only calling stations.
Mrs. Ellen Fletcher, newly come from
~.l-. Ara-, Uo,lr 90 tho hYidn nf Will.
liam (Billy) Fletcher of Virginia City,
is the writer. Coming from New York
down the Ohio river and up the Mis-
souri, to Bellevue, Nebr., Mrs. Fletcher
started on her overland journey, e
ing with eyes new to the great open
spaces. Her detailed letters and her
diary give a complete record OF tne
trip and the observations OF a tender
foot. The greatest value in the record
she has left is contained in the excerpts
which picture travel and daily lie
along the way through a region al
most uninhabited for hundreds OF
miles.
Turning from Mrs. Fletcher'S record
of the Journey to the history OF the
Bozeman trail from 1866 until the forts
in Wyoming were abandoned Is like
turning from a summers idyll, spiced
with a few harmless thrills, to scenes
of frontier savagery and carnage. For
the Fletcher party, after leaving Fort
Laramie, were just ahead of the initial
events which ultimately led to the
abandonment of the Bozeman trail un-
til after the Indian troubles were set
tied.
In the party we're MIR. and Mrs.
Fletcher; Townie Fletcher, Biuy's
brother, also making a return trip to
Virginia City; Chel Fletcher, their sis
ter, who, in December, 1866, became the
bride of !. II. Wolfe, who had been one
of the Y lgilantes at Virginia City; Ella,
a daught.r of Billy Fletcher, and John
LeFever, who resided in Bozeman until
recent years.
Children of Mrs. Fletcher: Mrs. Mar
garet Mcdonald of Bozeman, Mrs. Win
fired Gibson of Livingston, Carl Fletch-
er of Livingston, Rev. Sam Fletcher OF
Ennis, Will Fletcher of McAllister, Mrs.
Blanche Thompson of Alberton and
Mrs. Florence McKinnon of McAlister,
and their descendants, still reside
within a days drive of their mothers
bridal home in Montana.
Turning from the beginning of the
journey across the plains on May IA,
1866, excerpts from Mrs. Fletcher's
record follow:
May 10. We travelled fifteen miles
this afternoon. Started at six o'clock
and now it is half past eleven. We US
ually stop two hours at noon to let the
stock rest and feed. 80 I sleep as
sweetly Tin the wagon as at home. Our
beds are very comfortable. I have a
straw bed and feather bed and pillows,
n sheet and two blankets. Chel has
the same, only no feather bed. Their
beds, Chell's and Elias, are in one part
Of the wagon and Billy's and mine in
the other. He puts boards across to
fill out where the trunks don't come,
and the beds are very comfortable"
Soon after leaving Bellevue the party
encountered a severe thunder storm
and rain, the description Of which con-
cludes: I'm the wagon we were not par
~ticularly Inconvenience, only by the
rocking of the wagon. We didn't get