The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1935-05-09

verse with the strangers without re-
proof on their part.
On the Stage.
/ The strangers assured us that they
| came only to have us ready for the
stage as it was about to depart for
| Montana in very few minutes. So
we set out without breakfast, without
supper the night before but with The
glee Of traveller who shakes off the
dust Of one place before hurrying to
another
The strange men rode atop the stage,
as their duties made it necessary that
they should view as we'll as be exposed
to view: they were hired messengers,
employed in service of stage companies
to protect passengers and to guard, as
well all treasures out Of mines in!rusted
to these companies for shipment, from
road agents who ever resorted to vio-
lent means in robbing and plundering.
with nothing to impede our progress,
and not even perceiving our hunger,
we rolled along excited and happy after
six galloping horses which were re-
lieved by like number at a station
20 miles ahead On and on we sped
through the day, through the night,
sleeping intermittingly as we sat bolt
upright in crowded seats
Horses were yet leaping over The
roads in the darkness Of midnight, (
had dropped in slumber hoof beatings
upon the hard ground had become in
audible, but could hear the wheels of
the coach, SO | judge that my subcon-
scious mind had not fallen below the
range of attention.
We're nearing the boundary line Of
Montana, called down the driver from
his position outside, which was high
above the backs of his wheelers, "and
you'll have breakfast at Lima, where
we change horses" Breakfast All yes,
breakfast Our first meal since a day
and two nights past and that to be
enjoyed in the territory Of Montana
Journeying on with continuance 10
the extent Of two more days and a
night, we landed in Bozeman, the goal
Of our aspirations.
Among my travelling companions,
recall, in particular, one whose surname
was Emmett We had all acquired stua-
tons Immediately upon our coming into
this beautiful valley Of the Gallatin--
all except our friend Emmett The only |
prospect affording -recompense that lay
open to him was service in the regular /
United States army. So, in accordance /
with circumstances, Emmett Joined The |
regular army, an adventure he later re-
gretted having put at risk.
He had gone out to Fort Ellis, four |
miles east of Bozeman, and enlisted for
a term of five years. He was given a
soldiers uniform in which he was subs
jected to Uncle Sans bidding through |
in position of high authority !
and often young Emmett was exposed to |
imperious commands from subordin-
ate commander who, in turn, incurred /
contempt and hatred from the young |
soldier.
A few hours after the young man
had been accepted as a soldier, call I
from government headquarters came
for detached party of cavalrymen 10
join General Gibbon in opposing the
flight Of the elusive Chief Joseph and
his tribe, the Ncz Perces, as they were
already on the Lolo trail, heading for
the buffalo country in northern Mon |
tana and southern Canada
These Indians had received many
messages to move to their
newly allotted territory at Lapwai, Ida,
and to relinquish and leave behind
them forever their greatly loved ter
ritory in eastern Washington and Ore
gon and central Idaho, including the
lower Grande Rond and Salmon rivers,
a large part Of the Snake and all of the
river districts. Joseph, with
his band refused to recognize the new 7
treaty or remove to Lapwai This re-
fusal led to the Nez Perce war in 1877 |
My friend, Emmett, was one of the 30 I
cayalrymen who set out from Fort@
Ellis on an early July morning on a
journey Of 200 miles over roads and
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