Nov. 8, 1913. 
FOREST AND STREAM 
605 
formation peculiar to this country is gradually 
cut away from all sides, leaving a hill or core 
of somewhat harder texture to stand by itself, 
showing what the original formation was before 
the cutting away took place. At the Red Buttes 
the Platte cuts through a high ridge of red 
sandstone, the eastern escarpment forming the 
buttes. 
For six or seven miles the walls of this 
gorge rise rough and broken to great heights 
on both sides of the river, which threads its 
shallow way through the center of the gorge. 
Beyond this the river opens out again into a 
broad, beautiful grass valley, extending for some 
fifteen or twenty miles, at the termination of 
which the Platte entered the mountain canons, 
practically impassable to teams at that time. 
For the same reason of impassable canons, 
through which it flowed, the Sweetwater River 
could not be traversed from its junction with 
the Platte too near the great detached rock 
called Rock Independence. Thus both the mouth 
of the Sweetwater and the Platte, where it is 
joined by the Sweetwater, pass through precipi¬ 
tous canons, at that period utterly impassable 
either to boats or teams. 
In the afternoon the column of the third 
division passed the mouth of Box Elder Creek, 
a. fine stream flowing into the Platte from the 
South. It is a singular fact that many creeks 
in this western region are called ‘ box elder,’' 
confusing the traveler. It is similar to the cus¬ 
tom prevailing in the Eastern States of calling 
many creeks by the name of “Fishing Creek.’’ 
There are also several “Devil’s Gates” and 
■“Standing Rocks,” etc. 
The mouth of Deer Creek was some ten 
miles or more beyond, and it was seen that it 
•would almost be impossible to make that point 
before night. Pressing on, however, the division 
was able to make night camp just east of Deer 
Creek. The other divisions had reached a loca¬ 
tion about two miles west of the mouth of Deer 
Creek, where a good ford in the Platte joined 
the south trail with the north trail. Here those 
divisions encamped on a long narrow stretch of 
open grass land, screened from the river by 
large cottonwoods and aspens, and having sev¬ 
eral fine springs of sweet cold water bursting 
from the high grounds above. This was an ideal 
spot for a camp, and it was unfortunate that it 
could not be reached by the third division for 
■that night, for the place in which that division 
was forced to pass the night was totally incon¬ 
venient and inadequate in comparison. 
The days were now becoming very warm 
during the middle of the day, and the evenings 
and nights cold. It therefore became the cus¬ 
tom for many of the settlers to gather round the 
camp-fires after supper. If the wind was blow¬ 
ing off the mountains, which here were scarcely 
ten miles away and rose to a great height, it 
became very cold at night, sufficient to cause 
much occasional discomfort to the settlers and 
their families. The elevation of the camp at 
‘this time' approximated over 5.500 feet above 
sea level, having much to do with the coldness 
•of the atmosphere. Much annoyance was now 
had during the heat of the day from mosquitoes 
and flies. The cold nights had this comfort, at 
least, that they brought temporary relief from 
these pests. From this time on the insects were 
always in evidence, and according to the wind 
sometimes almost unbearable. The stock were 
worried by the flies almost without cessation. 
The teamsters adopting all sorts of experiments 
to keep them off, some of the teams presented 
the appearance of walking shrubbery. 
Another pest, which while not so bad, yet 
was destined to remain with them to the end 
of the journey, were the birds commonly called 
“whiskey jacks,” in Oregon they are called “camp 
robbers,” in California they are called ‘meat 
hawks,” in Montana they are called “buffalo 
birds,” while by the Indians they are called 
“moose birds.” Their real name is the Canadian 
jaybird, or Perisoreus canadensis. They range 
the mountains from the cold regions of the far 
north to Arizona and New Mexico. They are 
depredators of the worst kind. They pounce 
upon and destroy every living thing small enough 
for them to overcome. The nests and young of 
other birds are choice tid-bits for them. They 
will follow the camp incessantly and cannot be 
driven away. They will perch close by, and at 
the smallest opportunity make away with any¬ 
thing edible they can carry off. The bird is 
about ten or eleven inches long, with a light 
gray body, nearly white on top of the head, a 
dark ring around the neck and black feet. Many 
are the tales told of the thieving propensity of 
the “whiskey jack,” it being said that they will 
often pluck the sizzling bacon out of the frying- 
pan in the hands of the cook. They have fur¬ 
nished the target for revolver practice to thou¬ 
sands of campers in all parts of the Rockies. 
Nevertheless, if their thievery can be overlooked, 
they are a cute and companionable bird to lonely 
campers, as they never take offense and fly away. 
About one hundred miles to the north and 
slightly west of the point where the expedition 
was then encamped is situated the site of old 
Fort Phil Kearney, nestled at the eastern base 
of the foothills of the great Big Horn range of 
the Rockies, on the headwaters of Piney Creek, 
a branch of the Powder River. Near the site 
of the fort is situated Massacre Hill, where, on 
Dec. 21, 1866, a party of more than 2,000 Sioux, 
Cheyenne and Arapahoe Indians, under ' the 
leadership of the noted war chief of the Sioux, 
Red Cloud, surrounded nearly a hundred U. S. 
soldiers under Colonel Fetterman (for whom 
Fort Fetterman was named), and after a very 
desperate battle, killed every one of the whites. 
Captain Brown, a noted officer and Indian fighter, 
and Jim Wheatly, a noted scout and guide, were 
among the slain, and when found apart from the 
bodies of the others, had a pile of fifteen dead 
Indians before them. The bodies of the whites 
were much mutilated after death, some eighty- 
six of them having their heads smashed with 
an oak war club and the brains beaten out in 
many cases. 
Red Cloud, the war chief of the Northern 
Sioux, whose Indian name was Mock-pe-Lutah, 
was so named because of his many deeds of 
blood, and the custom of his braves to wear red 
blankets and red trappings upon their horses so 
that when coming into battle they swept down 
upon their enemies in such numbers wearing red 
trappings that they became likened to a red cloud 
sweeping down. The appearance of Red Cloud’s 
mounted braves proclaimed to the enemy their 
identity, and their reputation for slaughter 
spread consternation among their foes. 
The old emigrant trail left the Platte River 
near Deer Creek, thence passing over the hills 
to the north, making a wide detour, and descend- 
Kennel. 
SPRATT’S DOG CAKES 
should form the staple 
food for a 1 1 breeds. 
Spralt’s Cod Liver Oil Biscuits 
are invaluable for old or delicate dogs 
or those recovering from sickness. 
Send 2 c. stamp for “ Dog Culture 
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Factory and Chief Offloes at NEWARK, N. J. 
AIREDALE TERRIERS 
1 lie Ideal Sportsman’s Dog for game hunting of any 
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Also brood bitches in whelp. Champion Red Raven at 
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ELMHURST FARM KENNELS 
5900 Jackson Avenue, Kansas City, Mo. 
Book on Dog Diseases 
AND HOW TO FEED. 
Mailed PRBB to aay address by the author. 
H. CLAY GLOVER, D. V. S. 
US W. Jlst Street NEW YORK 
DOGS FOR SALE. 
Do you want to buy a dog or pup of any kind? If s«, 
send for list and prices of all varieties. Always on hand. 
OXFORD KENNELS, 
35 North Ninth St., Philadelphia, Pa. 
For Sale — Pedigreed English Setter 
4% years. Excellent on quail. Pedigreed Pointer, l 1 /^ 
years, partly broken. J. H. FINCH, Greenwich, Conn. 
FOR SALE 
Handsome Black Pome ranlan 
Son of Little Pebbles, 18 months old, kind disposition 
and very stylish companion. Write for particulars. 
Box B, Forest and Stream. 
Warranted thoroughly broken Pointer dog, 3 years old. 
Fine retriever—grandsire Fishel’s Frank. Price $100. 
J. CURLY, Fitchburg, Mass. 
IMPORTED NORWEGIAN BEARHOUNDS, Irish Wolf¬ 
hounds. English Bloodhounds, American Foxhounts, 
Deer, Wolf and Cat Hounds. Illustrated catalogue for 
5c. stamp. ROOKWOOD KENNELS, Lexington, Ky. 
Trained Beagles, Rabbit Hounds. Fox Hounds broke on 
rabbits and fox. Coon. Opossum and Skunk Hounds; 
Setters, Pointers. Several hundred ferrets. Guinea Pigs. 
BROWN KENNELS, York, Pa. 
WANTED—Setter dog, thoroughly broken on partridge 
(ruffed grouse) and woodcock. Must have good nose, be 
stanch to wing and shot, obedient, tender retriever, and 
old enough to hold his breaking. Please do not offer 
dogs not fulfilling these conditions. Address "B. A.,” 
care Forest and Stream. 
FOR SALE.—Fine lot young dogs and bitches. The 
best wildfowl retrievers. Rieman’s Chesapeake Kennels, 
Easton, Maryland. 
FOR SALE.—A number of thoroughly trained Pointers 
and Setters, also some nice youngsters. 
GEO. W. LOVELL, Middleboro, Mass. 
WANTED—Black Pomeranian about one year old. Must 
be healthy, house-broken and sweet tempered. Send 
photo, description and price to Box W., Forest and 
Stream. 127 Franklin St., New York. 
An advertiser may be covering an immense 
field and believe he is exhausting possibilities. 
Perhaps a smaller expenditure, focused on a 
more responsive field, might lower his ex¬ 
penditures and enlarge his profits. 
