The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1934-09-21
AGHE LAST
MAGAZINE STORY
GENERAL WAS WRITING SERIES
OF ARTICLES FOR HARPER'S AT
TINE OF HIS DEATH
Because of his Prominent Official Po-
sition He Wrote Under Pen Name OF
aCol. Cornelius O'Keefe, Late OF the
Irish Brigade" Told of Conditions
In Montana.
Rv GRACE STONE DAT

Thomas F. Meagher was engaged IN
writing a story of his western expef-
fences for Harpers New Monthly
magazine, The editors had announced
the forthcoming series late in 1866.
They had on hand the first install
ment of the story, which was to run
for several months, and were await
ing the second instalment when there
came, instead, the word Of General
Meagher's death.
Since it was uncertain whether any
completed manuscript would be found
In the generals effects, the editors ran
the first instalment of Meagher's rem
tniscences with a full explanation OF
the circumstances, and published also
certain letters from General Meagher.
One letter, dated June 7, 1867, says:
Ever since I dispatched you the text
of my ape on Montana I have been
IN the field 22O miles from here against
the Sioux and other im~placable devils.
Thinking over what I wrote to you by
my bivouac fire, with a pipe in my
mouth, I came to the conclusion that
the articles would be improved by a
few notes. Hence you have them here
with"
Evidently General Meagher did more
thinking thereafter. for on June II he
wrote from Virginia City:
Enclosed you have positively the last
notes for 1.-The First Ride Through
Montana" After a discussion Of the
notes, he says: This will be the first
Illustrated paper ever published upon
Montana" He especially asked that
the Illustrations be accredited to MI.
n1Ae. Toff{e m orficf u1hn ononppnan.
ted him on his rides"
Because Of his prominent official
position, General Meagher chose to
write under the pseudonym, "Col. Cor
nelius O,Keefe, Late of the Irish Bri-
gade." He wanted a freedom of express
ZION which policy forbade if he wrote
under his own name. So, as Col. o.
Keefe, he wrote flamboyantly Of the
Montana scenery, and vehemently OF
the red devils against whom he was
campaigning.
The notes he supplied may well have
been needed at that time. He describes
the service berry, explaining that it
has a very tough wood which the In
dams straighten with great ingenuity
for arrows and ramrods. He mentions
that wild plumS, strawberries, raspber-
ries, and Oregon grapes can be gather
ed by the pailful. He explains that
"parfleches" are envelopes of buffalo
hide, the hair beaten off with stones.
Having used the expression 'fair
aromatic" he Celebrates it with a foot
note characteristic Of his exuberant
style as a writer: "Mr. Granville Stuart
an old and thoroughly experienced ex-
plorer of the Rocky mountains, and an
upright and high-toned gentleman of
accomplished mind and manners and a
universally acknowledged authority on
all matters relating to Montana, Of
which he is, has been since 1857, and
proposes to continue to be for many
years to come, a zealously-enterprising
and Observation-Disclosures, active
resident, in his exceedingly instructive
Compendium entitled, Montana As It
Is" pronounces it an indisputable fact
that the climate of Montana Is much
milder than the climate Of the same
latitude in states east of the Mississippi
valley. Mr.. Stuart adds, When n con-
siders its elevation, the climate Of this
region is almost incredible, but
It's mildness Is proven, because stock
winters here without shelter, and sheep
without feed except such as they get
from the prairie; and stock, If not used
will put on flesh during the winter.
Montana does, indeed, belong to the
Great Hot Air Belt!"
General Meagher and his party rode !
into Montana from the west. Near the
western border they encountered forest
fires, and found bad going in the burn
ed areas. The trails we're pitted with
deep holes filled with cinders, into
which horses stumbled. But trout were
biting in the countless streams along
their way; honeysuckles and buttercups
were in blossom; and life was new and
the world beautiful to Toffts and
Meagher.
At Thompson Falls boulders made the
route almost impossible. At Horse
Prairie flights of wild duck and curlew
darkened the sky. Here they came up
on frontier tragedy. In a log cabin its
owner, thin as a skeleton, white as a
ghost, lay on a pallet of buffalo robes.
His left arm had been almost severed
from his body as he slept, by a de-
mented nan who laughed and pranced
around the injured man, and tried to
commit suicide by slashing at himself
with a blunt butcher knife. Chance
passers-by came to the settlers aid,
and overcame the maniac. Smeared
with blood, haggard, uttering oaths
against the V~igilantes, he wa taken
into custody, and not long after died.
Strangely enough, his victim recovered.
Meagher found Camas Prairie a dis
NAL waste of sapless grass, dotted with
Indian poles strewn here and there,
wherever the camping wanderers had
pitched their tepees. His party
sampled the camas root, which he de-
scribes as a wild onion, white and vapid
when eaten raw, but turning black and
sweet when cooked. He quotes Father
DeSmet's statements that Indian wo-
men provide themselves with long
sticks, and with incredible labor dig
quantities of the mi roots. They
make an excavation twelve to fifteen
inches in diameter, and of the same
depth. cover the bottom with closely