Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1941-08-08


they were under government protec-
ton. The commissary was large. but
for meat they depended much on the
chase, in which Captain Fisk always
joined, and besides the buffalo they
had elk, deer and antelope, and for
variety, ducks, geese and other small
game.
Camped On Sunday
The caravan remained in camp
Sundays. when religious services we're
observed, the Episcopal service being
followed. in which Langford led Sum
day in camp as a day of rest was not
always a success. Generally, for the
men, the wagons had to be repaired,
tires set, the oxen's feet doctored, and
the women were busy with bread
making, repairing clothes and the
weekly wash. On the banks of the
Cheyenne occurred an incident which
occasionally happened, a wedding. ac-
cording to the service of the Episcopal
church, read by one of the party, pos
sibly Langford. The ceremony was
followed by a dance on the plain with
music on the violin.
Many points of interest were passed
which it is not necessary to describe
Lake Jessie, five or six miles in cir
conference and lake nearby Captain
Fisk named Lydia, in honor of his
wife. Nearby were traces of camp
of General Stevens, identified by
Guide Bottineau. At Lake Jessie wood
and water were taken on for several
days, under the advice of the guide.
The night camps were named Camp
Aldrich and Wisdom, after Minnesota
congressman; Camp Townsend, after
the assistant adjutant general of the
United States; Camp Lincoln, after
the president; Camp Halleck, after the
general of the western army; Camp
Stanton, after the secretary of war;
Camp Hamlin, after the vice presi-
dent: Camp Wilkinson. after a Min
nesota senator, and Camp Ramsey,
after Governor Ramsey of Minnesota.
See Buffalo Herd
The weird but familiar howl of the
wolf and coyote was heard at night,
and on occasions the aurora borealis
was to be seen in all its brilliancy.
When wood was not to be had the
never-failing buffalo chips were al
ways available; the coulees which ran
through the country, occasionally deep,
made detours necessary to keep the
general western course.
Monster Herd Of Buffalo
To the north of the Missouri river
is high plateau 300 or 400 feet above
the surrounding country and about
IS miles wide, running northwest and
southeast, and which forms a boun-
Diary between the tributaries of the
Missouri and the Red river and
streams which flow north to the Hud-
sons bay.
The hunters occasionally got lost
and were compelled to stay out all
night, but they generally turned up.
Sometimes mounted rescue parties
were sent out to search for the miss
ing ones. Buffalo herds encountered
were numbered by the thousands, and
one day they estimated the herd at
100000 head.
A band of Sioux Indians objected to
the white man travelling through their
country and asked by what authority
he did SO, scattering the buffalo. his
only source of raiment, food and shell
ter. A council was held at which Cap
tain Fisk told their chief that the
great father at Washington had sent
them, that they were friends of the
Indians, and he gave them presents
in token of such friendship and asked
them to be friendly with any whites
who went through the country. The
Indians became insolent and demand
ed that the party turn around and
return to where they had come from.
Captain Fisk told them that they had
been sent by the great father at
Washington and must go to the noun
tains; that there were more buffalo
than they needed, and that if they
were injured the great father would
pay them. They continued insolent
and the chief said that he had 100
lodges a few miles to the north, and
that there were 400 lodges of Assinni-
BONES a few miles ahead and many
YanktonS a few miles to the south.
The chief asked what he would do if
they attacked the train, and the cap
tain said that was a foolish question
to ask a white man-that they were
going forward.
Indians Lost Nerve
The bugle sounded and the men got
their rifles. An effort was made to
prevent the train from moving, but
Knox, the wagonmaSter, whom some
old-timerS will remember, described as
a 6-footer, thrust them aside and the
train started. At this display of de-
termination the Indians lost their
nerve and suddenly became friendly
and asked them to kill some buffalo
for them, as their horses could not
catch them. Bottineau and his son
rode with them and helped them kill
dozen of a large herd, and they left
them dressing the carcasSeS and pack
ing the meat when they went to their
camp. The expedition saw no more of
them or the 400 lodges a few miles
ahead
Another interesting incident &C.
CURED in the birth Of a child, which
incident caused little delay in the
days march.
The party spent several days at Fort
Union. the trip having taken 81 trav-
cling days, averaging l6 miles. At this
time the post was in the possession of
Pierre Choteau Jr. & Co. Of st. Louis
known as the American Fur CO. The
fort was described as on the north
bank Of the river, about three miles
above the mouth Of the Yellowstone,