Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1935-05-25

into the townsfte that is now Glacie
Park station.
With 8 small camp outfit and bed
lding and travelling with no loads on thi
wagons, we started over the Whlsl,
i trail, reaching the North Cut Ba1il
river the first night
Our next days travel led us over The
high ridge 70 the north Of Cut Banl
and down into the A6uskez swamps o.
the MIX river. From there we went K
the top Of the Hudson Bay divide. fol
lowing the ridge for 10 miles through
| the open parks Of wind-stunted Jack.
pine trees, and down the half mile %
almost perpendicular west side of the
hudson Bay divide, known as the
Beaver Slide" TO the st. Mary's valley
below.
BY the time we had worked with
claiming the wheels Of the wagons 50
that they would not push the horses
and crush them, it was almost dark
and we went into camp near a noun
tain spring at the foot OF the hill.
BY noon the next day, we reached
the NarroWs camp and were pleased to
find the manager. assisted by his wife
and daughter, had taken down all but
one Of the tents and had the bedding
wrapped in bundles, ready to lead in
the wagons.
One day was used to move the tents,
bedding and eats to the cabin at St.
Mary'S town and to load the wagons
for their return trip.
AS it was impossible to haul q load
up the steep Beaver Slide" hill, our re-
turn trip to Nfidvale had to be made
over the old freight road that led
through Browning, which added some
80 miles to the distance.
Since the nights had to be spent in
open camp while on the road and 1t
was the time Of the year that billiards.,
and even zero weather could be expect
ed, I was anxious that all possible
speed should be made on the return
trip to get the two women TO the rail-
road before mountain storm should
sweep our trail.
The first night on our return trip was
spent on the North fork of the Milk
river, a distance of some IS miles. All
day the team horses had pulled the
heavy loaded freight wagon, lurching
and bouncing over the boulder strewn
road or through the deep ruts that
caused the running gears some times
to drag on the high center of the grass
covered wagon trail.
While the men gathered "suuaw
wood" (dry cottonwood and WillowS)
from the brush Lined banks Of Milk
river, Embarrassed and unsaddled our
horses, and picketed or hobbled them,
and made beds for the women under
the big freight wagon, and hung can
vas from the wagon box to the ground,
as as to cause Windbreak, the women
cooked supper over the open fire.
BY the time supper was ready and
the harness and saddles had been hung
across the tongue Of the wagons TO pro-
bect them from field mice and porcu-
pines, darkness had settled, and we ate |
in the Pickering light of our camp |
Fire.
The second night of the return trip
ound US camped by the side Of the
freight road on Ldvermore creek, some
eight miles from the agency town Of
with % miles left on our re- |
urn route to Midvale. 4
I had decided that, should the good |
weather hold out for one more day,
would push our tired horses through /
o the end Of the trip even though we
raveled into the night. Up until now,
Bob Gray, the teamster, had been driv-
ng the four-h0rSe team, with the big /
oaded wagon and had been driving
he spring wagon, hauling the camp
manager, with the women taking turns 1
Il riding my saddle horse, when they
Decame tired of sitting in the 1olting
wagon for the long hours at stretch.
But on the morning of the last days
ravel, exchanged places with Gray,
move faster and told him to take the
le0Dle into MidvaIe, and let me bring
he freight outfit in by myself.
When they pulled across the long
lats and out Of sight mile OF more
head Of me, all four were riding IN the
gilt wagon, with the two horses trot-
Ing along behind at a jog-trot. set
led down 10 coaxing and driving my
cam ct q gait I hoped they would be
BILE to stand for the q miles ahead Of
hem.
BY noon had passed through
browning, and had covered half Of
he distance Of my days travel. UNI
itChed my team near small prairie
AXE and turned them loose with the
arness ON TO Craze on the tan bunch
rags while settled myself out Of the
fnd to eat my noon lunch.
AS finished my lunch and rolled 8
lgarette, my attention was attracted
) lone rider silhouetted against the
nOw-capped Rockies, on the skyline OF
be foothill, where the road leads 10
fidYale. Some Blackfeet Indian on his
ray from his home to the agency, or
1WUUy GfUn5tuE DNCE W 3AADt4&C1 AN4d8Cf
1olEing for horses or cattle, thought.
nyway, sat sti1 TO offer the rider q
Inch and to visit while he ate.
AS the lone rider drew nearer, could
be that IL was not a man. but a very
red girl, and the girl ! had hoped was
earring the end of her trail for real
sst IN 8 spring bed and food cooked
yer q regular stove.
After I had fixed some sandwiches
u her lunch, started to get my team
Id hitch them TO the wagon. Within
mother half hour we were sitting up
y the high spring seat with the team
lgRAng the load at snail's pace up the
lng grade.
Tire afternoon sun was sinking and
- horses were becoming weaker and
eaker. BY the time the sum had set
shlnd Squaw mountain, they refused
J even tighten the tugs IN spite q
~ coaxing OF whipping
/ was IA 3 situation had found my
VII Ia many times had been alone,
should not have minded, but here
III load OF bedding and food, and
T~yenx old city girl, who was as tired
a 4. a L.