Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1934-07-28

half past twelve, m the Nsson5
bound for Montana! VIII and Cheh
ARE sitting on the seat In front, while
am hack inside the wagon, almost
shut out, or rather In, from the out
eIde world. Billy Is walking, driving
our COW. 70 get her accustomed 70 xoi-
lowing the train. Ella sits on the
notion Of the wagon peeking out be-
tveen Cheu and VIII. Chen has on
her debarge dress, tucked mp short
= Iarve calico apron, and her buff
aunhOnnef and waterproof sacque'
Sire looks like a little girl have on
INV black and white delaine, new
ereen Bingham apron, my turban ana
Vvafernroof. VIII has on his old short
coat and Scotch plaid pants and vest
ana brOadbrimmed hat. Ella has on
her calico dress and sunbOnnet
aBiuy has lust come and put back the
cover fo orr wagon and taken Cheus
place. 50 now we can see out. Our
1raoons are covered with heavy can
vas like tents are made Of. Tom Is
driving the four mules just aneao o.
US. Two Of the ponies are oelore ouL
wagon, and the gray pony Is nischeo
On behind. John LeFever ana Den are
driving the COW now"
Not the story Of eight-cyindered
speed on hard surfaced highways. dott-
"a with towns and hot dog stands ana
cas stations in 1894, but the beginning
Of a tourney de luxe across the plains
IN Nav. 1866. when an occasional stage
station, Indian camp on a fort were the
only calling stations.
Mrs. Ellen Fletcher, newly come from
Cuba. New York, as the bride OF Wal
liam CBilly) Fletcher Of Virginia Guy
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 SEE
ing with eyes new to the great open
spaces. Her detailed letters ana net
diary give q 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 NE
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 1855 until the forts
In wyoming were abandoned Is Ike
turning from a summers tdyll, spiceo
with q 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 tran I'M
til after the Indian troubles were set
tied.
In the party we're Mr.. and MRS.
Fletcher: Townie Fletcher, Billy's
brother. also making a return trip toI
Virginia City; Chell Fletcher, their SIS
ter, who, in December, 1866, became the
bride of 1. M. Wolfe, who had been one
OF the Vigilantes at Virginia City; Ella
q daughter of Billy Fletcher, and John
LeFever, who resided In Bozeman until
recent years.
Children of Mrs. Fletcher: Mrs. Mar
garet Mcdonald Of Bozeman, Mrs. VIM
fired Gibson Of Livingston, Carl Fletch-
er Of Livingston, Rev. Sam Fletcher OF
Ennis. VIII 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. Fletchers
record follow:
May 1S. 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. sleep as
sweetly Tin the wagon as at home. Our
beds are very comfortable. have a
straw bed and feather bed and pillows,
one sheet and two blankets. Chell has
the same, only no feather bed. Their
beds, Chells and Elias, are in one part
of the wagon and Billy's and mine Ia
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: "In the wagon we were not par
ticularly Inconvenience, only by the
rocking Of the wagon. We didn't get