Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1935-06-15

LIZ UdSk AAlt0 b4AC SAJAC "a n cgCCp tllAl-
bered hill, sort of amphitheater, with
heavy growth Of young frs on the
encircling slopes down to the Level
ground. At one point an almost per-
pendicular ledge rose 10 or - feet
from the flat and then dipped back
under the hill Camp was pitched in
/ front Of this ledge.
Making camp for the night was no
small task. Every one except the Siren
and his mother tumbled out in the snow
and worked. First roaring fire was
started IS or 20 feet from the per-
pendicular ledge. The boys, with
shovels, cleared most Of the snow away
between the fire and the cliff. In a
little while heat reflected by the rocks
melted the remaining snow and dried
away the moisture so the area between
the fire and the hedge was compar-
atiVely comfortable. In 1t the women
and children gathered and were join
ed there by the Siren and his mother
The Siren blinked his eyes, and took
big Whit Of campfire smoke. 1t was
his first outing.
While the teamsters cared for the
horses, the other men dragged in wood,
set up tents and laid bough beds. The
snow was first swept off where the
tents we're set and the boughs laid on
4AOLCA willie ILLS WUtA Wdo
going on, the women prepared supper.
Hot biscuits had been called for,
so the big Dutch oven was brought
out. 1t was a round, flat-bottomed
kettle-hke affair, perhaps Is inches in
diameter, and six inches deep, of heavy
cast iron, with 8 cast iron top, and
stood on three legs about five inches
long. A Dutch oven was always part
Of the equipment Of any up to date
freight outfit and, though crude, was
a highly efficient baking arrangement.
A pile OF glowing Goals was raked to
one side Of the fire and the oven set
over them. Then several shovelsful
of Goals was piled on the cover and
around the sides Of the oven. After
giving time for heating, the cover was
removed, the oven creased and the
biscuits put in. The cover was then re-
placed and more embers piled on top
and around the sides. When uncovered
some % minutes later the contents were
just that shade Of brown a housewife
loves TO see on biscuits.
A tired group gathered in the fire.
light for supper. There was little talk
to drown the rattle Of wood handled
knives and forks on tin plates. Bis
cults, fried grouse, boiled beans and
dried apple sauce, with tea and cof-
fee, made the bill Of fare. Lack Of
variety was more than offset by keen
ness of appetites. When the meal was
over the cooks had no complaint OF
their cooking not being appreciated.
Everyone was in bed early. A full
moon rose above the eastern mountains
and, shining on the snow, flooded the
canyon with light almost equal toI
that Of day. The campfire OF big logs
sent q drifting column Of blue smoke
toward the stars. Though the wind
was scarcely felt in the sheltered camp,
It could be easily heard sweeping the
mountain tops and was manifest In
the fleecy ScurTying clouds that hur-
ried overhead from west to east.
The Siren was quiet part Of the
night. He was bottle baby. As long
as there was plenty of warm milk in
Thing else was to his liking he was fair
" quiet. But everything else was not
10 his liking all Of the night, II later
reports are to be credited. Toward
morning, when the whole camp was
he sleepiest, the Siren started. Nothing
ais father and mother did suited him.
For hours he exercised his lungs with |
lusty squalling. Not until too late
'or the grownups to sleep any more,
+ they were to travel that morning, |
lid he snbside; apparently satisfied IN |
lis mothers arms, and sleep sweetly.
Long before daylight the men turn |
ID out The moon had set. The dark, |
blue vault of night was ablaze with |
nyriads Of twinkIing stars toward
Ehich shot streams Of sparks as logs /
we're throw on the bed Of Goals /
eft from the fire Of the previous
hight. In the blazing freight the /
horses were watered and fed, break
asst prepared and eaten, tents taken
Town and bedding packed. AT daylight
he days travel began.
at the time Of which I write the
.anvon, or the Little canyon, as 1t
Vas called, was comparatively new. It
lad been built in 1872 by Nicholas Hil-
'er and william Johns. Its purpose was
3 avoid long, steep hills Of the original
HgfIlau survey. which extended from
ear silver city northeast up q long
ruIch past Diamond springs, over the
rest of q range Of high hills, and
hen down another g1lch TO the Mall
olrn Clarke ranch on tine Prickly Pear.
We nmw road was probably no short
+ than the old, but IL followed the
alter Grade and, save for few steep.
arrow RradeB where the mountains
aFae fnwn 10 the creek was an ex-
$3.50 srsessxs5tnfes FsfaA fnT that period.