The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1934-06-08
Bu]lWhacker Was Frontier Character Who Disappeared
With Passing of West, Says j. r. BarroWs, Pioneer Of
tibet: Knew Dumont, One of Leaders in Rels Rebellion
INV JOHN R.

ua have no trouble in pictur1ng &C
of such mining camps as Alaer
mich, Last Chance or Confederate.
of men we're feverishly strlp-
NO bedrock in search of fortune. we
fn-1et hiatt these men, many hundreds
niles from civilization, needed clotn-
ing. food, tools and supples u es
sort, The freighter WITH MS o. '
the need, yet OF all the o lstll
d developed on n ROCKY nuo a..
frontier, the bullwhacker aio1e Aa q.
entirely disappeared. He IS tooay
rare as the Great AUX. Inc comDoS,
the Indian trader and the sheepneroei
no still doing business in a small way
under vastly altered condltloals. ~
n~rosnector continues to search LOT Iho-
den treasure, but the pioneer IN tIail.
rortation is no more. The Dull tealii
hos so completely disappeared NAV
some descriptive definition u pe nau
hefore any attempt is made to sKetch
this most interesting feature on early
day freighting.
A hill team was not a team OF oxen.
r. MIGHT consist of 8, 10 or IL pairs
ond a bill train was a number OF sucll
teams travelling together In company.
The GEAR of the simplest wooden yokes,
often fashioned by the bullWhacker
himse,f from native timber; oxbows
of bent hickory and chains entenolis
from the lead yoke to the wagons WEI
very cheap in comparison WIN COST "
harness and other horse gear. Inc cat
tie had an inestimable over
horses in that they were not likely 10 pe
stolen bv Indians and at the end OF
their service as draft animals could pe
fattened and slaughtered for bee1.
A bun team of let us say 10 oxen FUR
nished the motive power for three Wag-
ons having short trail tongues
tn the rear axle of the wagon ahead
The wagons were much larger tnai
farm wagon in common use q
Boxes we're large and high n vert
covered with stout canvas tightly drawn
over a lofty framework OF bent WOOD
The bullwhacker wa contracting agent
engineer, conductor and train crew 10
this outfit and, If travelling alone, N
was also cook and herder. In a tra11
of four or five teams it was a common
practice to engage q night herder.
If some white magic could efface tn
wears ana pun Us JAIN w Aooo' '"
might perhaps watch a bull team com
off the bench and make camp IN I
grassy valley. You may be sure the.
would cross the water before unyokine
for they would want to start out in tn
morning without being compelled t
cross a creek before the cattle were u
a mood for pulling. They are loaded
let us say, with general merchandise
winter supplies for the upper Mis-
selshel and White Sulphur Springs. ]
is only 10 days since they were ferrie
across the river at Fort Benton. Their
is no apprehension Of Indian troubl
so the wagons are not parked in a de
fensive corral, but are merely brough
alongside of each other. The cattl
are promptly unyoked, a fire Is bui]
and the evening meal prepared.
Next morning the business of gettin
under way is simple. The well-traine
cattle walk soberly at command to the1
place, the yoke is lifted, the obedier
cattle step under and the oxbow Is slip
ped into place, then fastened, first o
one OK then another; the chain is hook