Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-06-22

ing us his own hopeful expectation, as
well as his personal knowledge, and
legendary histories Of gold and san
culinary efforts to penetrate the un-
known. Though they were somewhat
dreful, they, by no means cooled our
with a pleasant goodbye to Boze-
man, we started for the Yellowstone
up the unnamed Sour Dough creek
This creek was lined for a mile with
camp wagons which had been aban-
doned by men who had gone to seek
new fields Of fortune. Our route was
well defined by mountain sides. There
were bushes of sarvis berries and wild
cherries, well loaded, and plenty of
game Natures park shielded us from
the wild men Of the forest, as well as
the refugees, many of whom found hid
ing places In these mountains.
Follow Wagon Tracks
THE second night we passed on what
Is now known as Trail creek. Mr..
Sacket. skillful angler furnished a
mess of trout, which we fried on some
hot stones. Sacket will be pleasantly
remembered by many old BoZemanites.
His remains rest where he so long
dwelt. He suddenly died a few years
''Saddled and bridled, we now started
for the Yellowstone. We arrived about
1870 near Fridley, then called after
him who was so kindly known as one
/ who always had his latch string out,
now known by the meaningless name
I of Emigrant. Here some wagon tracks
I greeted our eyes. The wagons had left
the Bridger and BoZeman parties some
weeks before to seek their fortunes
where pioneers long before had found
gold.
Moore, from Georgia,s gold fields. had
company him to the lure Of the west.
He was first to pan gold In 1852, but
since 1t had not proved productive he
set out to other fields of fortune, leav-
ing the girl to the mercy Of the under
world, where she was known as Netde
Moore, lost to friends and forgotten
by all. A., -, ,.,,.-.u.
the tracks on the other shore. We soon
found some men fishing, and went on
to the camp, where we found about 100
men and some four or five women.
Some planned to winter there. Sackeg
fished while proSpected Few gravel
prospects, but no bedrock. Sacket kept
our larder well filled with fisn ana
antelope He bagged an antelope
latter five days, now Sept. 5, we
again took to the saddles, up past SIX
miles. across the Yellowstone above
the now Minter creek. Here we campeo
and made a willow fire. Sacket soon
supplied us with six finnieS, eacn spread
on as many flat rocks, with piece
Of bacon on each. This, with cracker
for each Of us, and two quarts OF sugar
less coffee made q dinner to be envled
by kings Here we camped Tor i've
days, feasting on the best.
Yankee Vim Hill
1.-THE afternoon Of Sept. 8, 1854, we
took an old trail over Yankee jim
hill. now so historically known. On
craggy tree hung three-quarters OF g
fine. fat elk, somewhat magpie-- picked
and about four or five days old. we
took eight or ten pounds and con-
tinued about six or eight miles. we
found good water handy, so we cooked |
our elk on fiat rocks, as we were not /
encountered with frying pans and pots
Here we noticed the trail was unused.
No sign Of wild warriors could be seen
we surely slept a sleep Of lonely bliss
with no fear, except OF a rev nasslng.
rocky winter homes. A few long-lost
lodge poles insured us that we were
far from the red bandits OF the prai-
ries We passed small lake IN Cne
rocks; we passed on to where Gardner
Is now located.
I'VE started early O6pb. 1os 11OP1A8
TO reach the Yellowstone lake py the
IS. Sacket Travelled ahead and FOL
lowed some 200 yards behind.
mot far from Eagle Rock we saw
man emerge from the Willows. Inc
trail was trackleSs, so where was ne
from? I was soon by Sacket's side. we
motioned the man to come on.
HE came up with confidential pleas
ire, so we were soon all seated on the
We told gr1 hfQ vocation. nlS
hopes, his aspirations. He said ne was
! free trapper from the south FORK OF
Snake river, and that he was looking
'or a more abundant field Of fur: A
Tree trapper was q trapper VINO De-
onged to neither the Hudson's Bay or
American Fur company.
Near noon we turned to the river
IN our left. Our new friend brought In
! young antelope, which made us two
fine meals. His supplies were suited
10 his mode of life. He had told us OF
MS activities on Salt lake, Snake river,
Salmon river, the Big Hole, or Wisdom
river, of his losses and gains, and his
experiences IN the Hell Gate and Flat
head country. His present home was IN
South Snake river. where he had left
his partner few weeks before. He told
us of the jackson lake, the country
around Yellowstone lake, and OF what
be termed water volcanoes.
Descriptions Daze Them
His descriptions could only daze q
person. He had evidently only seen
some of the flowing springs. He said
one came to the top five or six feet
and then sunk back He had crept up
and peered down into the smoking
mouth. He said there was one Ike
that quite near by.
"He most earnestly invited us to
come and inspect it with him. We
agreed to visit his find He was soon
ready and led us across a flat. He was
some 800 PAGES ahead Of Sacket. and
he, in turn, was 200 PAGES ahead OF me.
saying maybe this fellow wanted our
outfits like a fellow took" from his