Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1942-07-11
LIFE WAS GRIM
IN EARLY DAYS,
DIARY REVEALS
ONE HAD TO BE TOUGH TO LIVE
ON FRONTIER, NOTES LEFT
BY LETELLIER SHOW

been more complete had more OF thoss
rugged pioneers Of yesterday known
how to write. Most OF them hadnr
mastered the art. and the few whs
had, seldom chose TO do so, although
It was the day when the keeping Of
diaries was fad.
The world was larger before steam
boats and railroads had conquered
space and, being larger. the individual.
became relatively more important, 81
least IN his own estimation. He found
pleasure in recording the small hap
penings Of his daily life, which was
fortunate for those who came later
as these misspeIled diaries and Jour
nails furnished the historian with m
formation which otherwise would have
been denied him.
Among the records Of the South
Dakota Historical society Is the little
known journal of Louis d. Letellier,
q Canadian Frenchman, who visited
Fort Benton In the summer OF 1852.
Letellier was born near Quebec in
1897, and was one Of a large family
that was eninently respectable but
poverty stricken. Consequently, Louis
learned trade, that Of carpenter,
instead Of entering one Of the pro-
LESSONS. When a fire destroyed his
masters shop, Louis, released from his
apprenticeship had brief interval Of
schooling, which was mainly devoted,
he said, to studying the catechism
and singing canticles." After this for
a short time, he went to an English
school, where the teacher kept us
most of the time drilling as soldiers"
and who enforced discipline with a
CATO mine tails, which impressed him
more than the teaching, for he writes
'T have a mark on my head from 1t
that I will bear to the end of my
days"
Worked in Shipyard
On leaving school, Letellier went to
work in a shipyard where he remained
long enough to earn little surplus
cash. Being Of an adventurous spirit,
he determined to go to the United
States, and gradually found his way
west, earning as he went, until he
finally reached st. Louis, via Buffalo
and Chicago.
He was now on the frontier, and IN
q malarial region where he became
desperately i'll with fever and ague.
A friend told him he could be cured
by going up the Missouri with the
American Fur Co. During an interval
OF chilIs and fever, Letellier went to
the office of the company seeking en-
and this is what happened:
"Mr. Peter A Sarpy, a partner OF
the company, was making the engage
ment. I inquired Of him If could be |
hired to go up to Fort Pierre. After
q close examination of my person, he |
answered: You are sick. We want only |
healthy, strong men who can live on
rosebud IL months time 7 am sick
with fever and ague and want to !
get over it. hope the roSebuds win /
cne,' I answered him. Henri Picotte
Of st. Louis, one Of the associates Of
The company, was present at our con- !
Versation. He said to Sarpy: Hire him.
[ will cure him of the fever So Ellie
Bedard and myself were hired as
carpenters"
In the spring Of 1850 Letellier was
0ne of a company OF 100 men who
eft st. Louis for the Missouri. Their
iiet was not Of rosebuds, but of salt
York, bareback and coffee. This led to
/ preliminary fast on the part Of
-etellier, until the change OF climate,
md abatement of the fever enabled
Tim to partake Of such hearty fare.
About this time cholera broke out
m the steamboat, and the captain,
Joseph LaBarge, and Henri Picotte,
Vho had the company's men in
barge, decided to wash out the boat,
s was customary in cases of this kind.
To this cleansing process
II the passengers including the
holera patients, were landed at
vooding-up point, where their only
heller was found in the trees and
ushes that here grew thickly.
Their stay in that spot was destined j
D be brief, however. I'VE had hardly
ot through building our campment, i
nd laid our sick men ON beds in the
hade from the hot rays Of the sun,
nan cyclone broke up over us, with s