Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1942-03-14
BUFFALO HUNT,
PLAINS WEDDING
ARE DESCRIBED
EVENTS THAT OCCURRED IN 1874
TOLD IN MEMOIRS OF
JIRAH H. ALLEN

open was taken from the memoirs Of
Col Jirah H. Allen of Columbus and
gives an interesting chapter in his life
as a pioneer
Hearing there were buffalo within
two days travel from the Crow agency,
at that time located on Mission creek,
a party of six, consisting of Major
Reed, A. p Fox, Yank Everetts, Mr.
BoWles, Miss Little Pony, a Crow In
dian maiden, and myself started on
the hunt. We had several fast horses
and a team and wagon. Late in the
afternoon on our first day out we
came to Duck creek and there decided
to camp for the night. After picketing
our horses we gathered around the
campfire, already made by Little Pony.
and awaited supper while the snow
was falling fast. Yank Everetts said:
We have with us an Indian woman
and a Mr. Bowles, who intend to live
as man and wife. propose, as they
are not yet welded, that one Of us
perform the marriage ceremony To
this we all agreed-that 1t was the
proper thing to do. Fox was a very
clerical looking gentleman, tall and
very thin, and said he would perform
the ceremony if it were agreeable to
all concerned. Being informed that it
was, immediate preparations for the
ceremony were made.
Ceremony Begins
Uncovered, Fox stood calm and
erect, his black overcoat buttoned UP
to his chin, in the bright light of the
blazing campfire. Gentlemen, please
take off your hats and we all uncov-
cred at once. The bride laid aside her
wrap, a gray blanket, disclosing her
wedding dress of dark striped calico.
A beaded belt encircled her waist, and
around her neck was a necklace Of
elk teeth and beads, and a medicine
charm at her throat; with dainty
beaded moccasins on her feet There
stood the bronzed bride with her hand
clasped In that of her lover.
I'm a slow, solemn voice Rev Fox
said:
what is your ladys name, Mr.
CIT sede eacot, Cneaning Little
Pony the bridegroom replied
"sMr. Bowles and Miss Little Pony, |
1t becomes my duty as an appointed
magistrate to perform this holy and
sacred ceremony of uniting you In
the bonds Of wedlock. If anyone pres
ent has a word to say why this pair
should not be Spliced, why say now,
or hereafter keep quiet.
Here on the densely wooded banks
Of Duck creek, standing on the snow
covered earth, before these witnesses,
before the rushing waters of this creek,
With its nodding trees and bending
willows that dip their green branches
n it's clear, crystal waters, while above
Is tower the Crazy mountains crowned
With the eternal SHOWS, and sweeping
winds that come unbidden to us, I'M
rammeled and unconfined, free as the
)iris that swim and fly in the air,
n happy freedom wandering where
hey may until their Creator calls
hem to rest. Take her, MIR. Bowles,
AXE him, Miss Little Pony, to your
leart Comfort each other when the ;
ays are dark and gloomy. In sickness
heer, in health love, and remember 9
is your duty to assist each other DER \
he rough trails of life and live until n
be end comes. May you both live a v
wing, happy joyous life, and q few :
tile Bowles make your lives COM
lete. now pronounce you man and L
1fe.'
" Amen, we all said, and gave three a
1eers for the newlyweds and the APP r
ointed preacher for the fine manner I
/ which he officiated. The bride re- +
lived congratulations from us all, and
i'd 'Sar par, meaning, don't under Il
and, or, what is it. a
1.-THE die was east by murmuring : :
brook r
"As hand in hand loves vows they !,
took T,
Soon the wedding supper was over =
nd later the happy pair retired to I,
le bridal chamber In the covered 81
agon. Then we all made our shake F
OWN for the night on the snow ii
,vered ground, and listened to the a
ar Of the wind and the creeks muir .,
urtng song until sleep fell over all CT
he bridal pair arose next morning q
) fresh and fair as the day was bright. =
THAT day we reached Big Timber r
eek and camped, and the following
ay we came in sight of buffalo, and 4
Established permanent camp on the =
eadwaters Of Sweet Grass creek N
here were buffalo feeding for miles
round. Besides buffalo we bagged 3,
her game-deer and antelope. From d
&c Uu4ld4O We bOOk bllC yI4u1G cuts ! -
meat and saved the choicest skins L
n robes, which Mrs. Bowles stretched N
I'D prepared for tanning. The bride il
nd bridegroom were happy and kept "a
mp while we went hunting. ~
zone day took Bowles hunting with hi
e. We saw a small herd of buffalo, "a
ost Of them being bulls. He insisted N
ling after them afoot, and after
footing into them the bulls charged E.
/ him with tails erect headed the n
Drses toward him and saved his life
: dropping his horses rope as I al
Issed him, he was running toward me, :,
Id shooting into the herd which -;
cared off and we're soon out of 30
Int IN the hills. -
After about two months had II
ssed we returned to the Crow agency,
avily laden with meats and skins, at
d for many days we feasted. or,
The Bowles' honeymoon continued he
til spring when, by mutual consent, on
y separated; and time and death
! T4oy-foI fhof - |