I told him about the region at theheadwaters of the Yellowstone and Madison rivers, which had not beenexplored, and he became very much interested. A Mr.Clark, who as I remember, was connected with some mining operations wasat Diamond City, and since there was no hotel, was staying at the "DitchOffice." I found he had traveled extensively and had, at timescontributed articles to magazines. At thattime I had charge of the "Boulder Ditch Company" at Diamond City. The first attempt made by me to make an exploration trip to theheadwaters of the Yellowstone and Madison rivers was in 1868. No effort was made during 1868 to organize a general exploration ofthe Yellowstone region, at least so far as the public records show butthere was individual interest in such a project. While a partydid go as far as Mammoth Hot Springs (the Curtis-Dunlevy expeditionmentioned in Part I), their visit was essentially a prospectingjunket. All the visitors agreed that efforts should be made to explore theregion and that a report of it should be sent to the government.Īs previously mentioned, the Indian unrest occasioned by the openingof the Bozeman Trail route prevented an implementation of Meagher'ssuggestion during 1866, and, when conditions were at last satisfactoryfor an expedition into the Yellowstone regionthrough establishmentof Fort Elizabeth Meagher and Camp Ida Thoroughman by the Montanavolunteers early in 1867the tragic death of Acting GovernorMeagher cooled the enthusiasm of most of the gentlemen who had madeplans to explore the headwaters of the Yellowstone River. Meagher said if things were asdescribed the government ought to reserve the territory for a nationalpark. None of the visitors hadever heard of the wonderful place. When he was questioned about the Yellowstone hedescribed everything in a most graphic manner. Viell an old Canadian married to a Blackfootsquawwho during a lull in the storm had come over to see thedistinguished visitors. His interest was greatly aroused by my recital and perhapseven more so, by that of a certain Mr. On that occasion I spoke to him about the wonders of theYellowstone. We were received with a warm welcome and all ourwants were abundantly supplied and we were in condition to appreciateour royal entertainment." Concerning thestory-telling with which the time was passed during that stay at themission, Father Kuppens adds: Beidler and Neil Homieand a young lawyer namedCornelius Hedges, were traveling from Helena to Fort Benton to assist innegotiating a treaty with the Piegan Indians when overwhelmed by asudden, savage blizzard and forced to seek shelter at the mission. Thesemen, among whom were acting Territorial Governor Thomas Francis Meagher,Territorial Judges H. The exploring parties of 1869, 1870, and 1871, whose cumulativeaccomplishment was a definitive knowledge of the Yellowstone region,were a direct outgrowth of an earlier interest in the area's wonders.Thus, it is necessary to go back a few years for the genesis of thoseefforts through which the true nature of "wonderland" became generallyrecognized.Īn incidental outcome of the visit of Father Francis Xavier Kuppensto the Yellowstone region in the company of Blackfoot Indians in thespring of 1865 (see Part I) was his relation of that experience to aparty of gentlemen who were stormbound for several days at the old St.Peter's Mission near the mouth of Sun River the following October.
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