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mornmg.rOUTAUi: LA I*IlAI HI Kthen consisted of a small mission house, with a few Salteau Indians camping occasionally close by. Thu above-mentioned settler was the only one from White Horse Plains to this point, some forty-live miles. None of the now numerous cities, towns and settlements of Manitoba had an ex istenee (ill more than a decade later.At Fort Ellice half a dozen Americans were met with, who started from ►St. Paul for the Pacific Coast, but found themselves eventually on the Assineboino instead of the Yellowstone. Thus a company of eight was formed, and instead or the original programme being carried out of making for Fort Edmonton it was decided to strike west to the South Sascatche-wan, then follow up Bow and Belly rivers to tho Rockies and cross by what was called by an old 11. B. Co. factor named Herriot, the Boundary Pass. Thus unexpectedly reinforced, another start was made, and in about eight days travel bullalo were sighted traveling in tho same direction. Fromthis time on for live or six weeks.*and over an area of probably GOO miles, not a clear day passed without seeing from ten or a dozen to as inanvO ®rthousands or more of these noblu animals.It was not then within the range of human probability that in less than a quarter of a century later scarcely one of these teeming millions would be found either north or south of tho international boundary lino.In these bullalo ranges then extending from 100 miles east of the ►Sascatchewan Elbow to beneath the shadow of the Rockies the question of commissariat was never discussed. Bullalo heifer formd the staple, with now and then a calf, varied with plenty of antelope. Vegetables were only a memory, a d the little Red River tlounn stock was carefully stowed away with all that was left of pemmican for mountain provender. For a few weeks both man and beast lived literally ami figuratively on the fat uf the land.All had to walk from 15 to 30 miles, more or less, per day, and occasionally before bullalo were sighted the guns among the party would bring clpwn as many ducks, mud-hons and prairie chickens as would make a stew for all hands sntlicieut for supper, breakfast and sometimes a snack take \ while on route next day.Vicious looking prairie wolves were close companions, and a dozen or more of them would take possession of a camp ground before the rear cart could get 100 yards away. On one occasion two buffalos were killed about half a mile from camp in the dusk of the evening and left with the intention of taking what was needed of them next morning. Tho dead animals, however, brought hundreds of those prairie scavengers from all points of the compass, and the pandemonium thus created can scarcely be imagined. At daylight not an ou ce of flesh was to be found, while thoroughly picked bones were scattered over an acre or two of ground. Among these bonos were the half devoured remains of several wolves that were killed iu the frightful scramble for bullalo meat.NO MISHA 1* OUCUHHKDfrom attacks by the buffalo, either wounded or in defense of their calves, with one exception, when a bull charged down upon one of the men near the edge of a deep ravine. He saved himself by a tremendous jump of ever so many feet to a ledge on the opposite side. After looking over the precipice the animal concluded not to follow and at once started after the herd. The hero of* this adventure found it no joke to get back to the camp side ot the gulch.Two or three times south of the Bow or Belly, for the junction of these rivers was not observed, sand dunes wore struck, which necessitated an immediate return to the river for water. O11 one of these occasions night overtook the party after fourteen or fifteen hours travel without a drop of water. One of t he men, a stalwart iWissourian, in arranging his cart took hold of the nmsslo of a rifle, which accidentally exploding, carried away all tho fleshy part of the right thumb, inside. The ball then went through thonock, almost grazing the jugular vein and passed out near the collar bone. His companions thought ho was certainly killed; bin the neck wound proved only a slight one, that (if tho hand being much more serious. Both were bound up as quickly us possible; but not before bleeding and thirst had rendered the poor fellow delirious. A little rain water caught in blankets, not of tiie cleanest, partially quenched his thirst. It goes without saying that there was little or 110 sleep in camp that night.Bofurc break of day a start was mado for the river witli the wounded man, still delirious, strapped down to a cart. Mid-afternoon men and horses were in tho river and maddening thirst was alleviated. In two or three days the man. got hotter, but in t he meantime his sufferings wore excruciate g by having to ride in an absolutely springless cart diagonally over deep buffalo tracks. After gelling on his feet again ho rapidly recovered strength and before mountain travelling commenced was nearly well; but with a hand much weakened for life.By the middle of September the party was anxiously on tho lookoutfor aFIIIST 01,1 M1*8 K OF V’HF. KOCKIKN.For a couple of days tho weather had been thick and foggy, with oc
Newspaper Details
Victoria Daily British Colonist
Victoria, British Columbia, CA
Wed, Jan 01, 1890
Page 3
Full Page
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Anonymous
CA 28 Jul 2020
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