Year: 1873

sUFFERINGS FROM EXCESSIVE HEAT AND HAIL


STORM OF EXTRAORDINARY VIOLENCE-PALH-


oNTOLOGICAL DISCOVERIES OF GREAT INTEREST
rrRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT THE TRIBUSE.l


CHEYENNE, Wyoming, July 17-Prof. Marsh's
exploring party consisting Of - chosen which left
New.Haven June g. after tarrying a few days at
Omaha TO lay In supplies and enjoy the kind hosDtall-
ties Of Gen. and Mrs. Ord, fastened on to the North
Platte station, the Union Pacific Railroad, which was
70 be the starting point for the first trip. AT North
Platte is a small military post connected with Fort
MCPHERSON II miles southeast, and under command OF
Col g. Mills Of the 81 United States Cavalry. Here the
party halted for several days complete the outfit and
arrange for the military escort OF two companies OF
cavalry under Col A. Mills, which we were TO have
across the Plains


AS soon as we cross the North Platte River we shall be
upon the Sioux hunting reservation and although these
indians are theoretically classified friendly, yet,
account OF the general uneasiness OF the Northern tribes
and the attempt TO make some changes In the treaty
with the Sioux it would be but foolhardy undertaking
to 20 unprotected through their country Our plan was
TO march rapidly possible over the $50 miles OF
sandhils lying north Of the Platte to the Niobrara
River which cuts through the geographical formation
known as the great freshwater lake basin OF the Ter
tary, leaving exposed on the sides of tho caons the
P1ocene vertebrate fossils OF which were in search
We proposed TO explore tho region thoroughly, and re-
turn by route neverl before Travelled, across tue
hills. On the morning OF June Is, oil things
beng in readiness the csmp In which we had been lying
for few DAYS was struck and the coumnimOved slowly
ont OF the town somewhat In the following order:
First rode our guide, Hank Clifford the well-known
Indian scout who speaks the Sioux language huenty
having in early years. chosen his spouse from the
daughters OF that tribe, and with him Ed. Lane, Kan
sa scout who been the guide for several OF Prof
Marshs previous expeditions. Then came the officers


with their commands, and the Professor with his party
mounted on indian ponies. The II army wagons fol-
ewed with their guard and the train OF pack mules
brought up the rear had in oil about 80 men, and
over 900 horses and mules With this outfit larger and
more complete than that OF OF our previous exped
tions we were prepared not only to hunt fossils with
safety but also 10 resist successfully attack from any
Of the numerous Indian parties which are proving
over the plains. Crossing the North Platte River we
struck and followed for several miles the old trail made
along the valley by Brigham Young he led his saints
from persecution TO their Western home.


MARCH THROUGH A DESERT.


We then struck directly north into the sand hills,
snd with last look at the railroad and North Platte
we bade goodbye to civilization for months hot,
desert march. need not describe the incidents and
routine of life in tho saddle or Our camps along the
march. We were nine days In reaching the Nobrara,
and every day taxed and ANIMALS to the utmost.
The country is made up OF great sand ranges trendng
northwest and southeast, OF them hundreds of
feet high and only very scany clad In spots with dry
grass scarcely sufficient keep the sand from drifting
with every wind In other parts 1t is broken up into
high knobs basins and sharp ridges, like great
IN choppng sea. Occasionally ia our OrtuOus march,
as we into ridge higher than the rest, could
see around us every direction the dreary end
less succession OF brown hills all alike 20
toned eyes. and onl ~ many more elements in the