The Glasgow courier., 1943-10-21

shown by Mr.. Wright and Captain
Cleveland, 1 glued my eye to a
pocket telescope. Variegated and
unexpected patterns were unfolded,
the buttes, the coulees, the hills, the
cutbanks and deep ravines. Rougher
reaches stimulated the imagination
castles, forts and towns, even a
sphinx atop the loftiest badland
butte.
Mr.. Horn pointed out the sand
cliffs that Lewis and Clark had
mentioned in their diary and from
which they had seen their first band
of prong horned antelope. Some
varieties of game he mentioned
inhabiting the lake area are
antelope, Blacktail deer, elk, bear
and beaver. The service plans to
stock some buffalo and mountain
sheep later. We saw ducks, pelicans
and gulls. The setting seems suitable
for one of the largest game preserves
in the country. The effect OF the
rise in the lake on wild life is
uncertain.
The beauty and interest of the
scenery made me feel that this trip
would be enjoyed by the tourist or
vacationer after the war. We agreed
it would be worthwhile to embark
at Fort Peck and run all the way up
to Fort Benton. but a trip to the
headwaters of the lake would
certainly be worth any mans money.
1t was especially interesting to me
as I reached territory had been
familiar with long before 1 had
heard of Fort Peck dam, not because
1 recognized landmarks but because
things were so different.
See He'll Greek
In 1899 a Glasgow group had
organized the Explorers club and we
had made a few expeditions into
the He'll creek country under the
guidance of group from Jordan.
We located the mouth of Hell creek
from the map, but I failed to
recognize it, except the high point
where we had looked across to the
mouth of Sutherland creek. These
bottom lands were all under water,
not even a tree top showing.
We pushed on, for we had a "date
with an oil truck at mouth OF the
Musselshen. The north shore, though
not as rugged as the south, discloses
many interesting bays, which al
ready have proved to be good fish
ing sites for perch, pike, carp, cat
fish and other warm water fish. AT
some spots, even trout, ling and bass
have been taken. About 10 miles
above the dam, the wooded hills OF
the pines" come close to the shore.
AS we approached the mouth OF
the Musselshell, now 100 miles above
the dam, the dead tops of scattered
trees could be seen above the water; |
then tops which were still green
then lines Of standing !
trees and islands of trees with their
trunks only in the water. So far we
had seen little drifting timber, but
it became more noticeable as we
sped upstream.
The first place 1 recognized was
"Leedy's Peak" a butte near the
old Leedy postoffice. I had visited
Bill Arlington here a dozen years
back. His alfalfa meadow, and the
Gallingers' across the river were all
beautiful, sparkling water.
May See Traffic Again
Colonel Roberts mentioned it was
not beyond the realm of probability
that some day barge traffic might
ply the lake and navigation again
be resumed on the upper Missouri.
Now.we were in the great bend
where the Musselshell flows into the
Missouri from the south. Inc
stream has been wldeneo
by the back waters. On the south
shore we saw the anchor tower OF
the old ferry and. soon. the bulld-
Ings of Town Brothers rancn. Ihey,
like many others, had not expected
such rapid rise of the lake. AS
waters rose, they had jacked up thelr
fine ranch house a foot at time
hut finally had to haul it to higher
ground.
Cur oil truck had not yet arrived
at the designated spot. So a1ter
gasoline was ample
Colonel Roberts ordered that the
acajawea continue up the river 10
where the stream re-enterS lts
canks. At the c. K postolIlce'
which was still there at the mouth
# c. K. creek, the river definitely
vas in its banks. The boat clrcleo
md returned on its course.
We had come 1877 miles. hao
,amped at this spot 35 years ago
With Wallace Coburn OF the ola Ch
,utfit and we forded the river mere
o hunt blacktail deer on the south
ide.
When We returned to the rendez-
rous, the truck was there ana alSo
wo cars. The Town brothers hao
ome across the river in motorooats
o pay us a friendly visit. They salo
eS-l