this. I am a mountaineer--that
is a trapper a good many years ago I met with your father Horace Greely
on the plains, and greatly admired the old gentleman. The way I came
to make his acquaintance is this. A drunken, unruly Cuss seeing that
your father appeared quiet and peaceable thought it safe to play the
bully at his expence so he commenced to insult and threaten Mr. Greely
in a pretty rough manner. Seeing that your father was quiet and
peaceable and did not wish to quarrel with the Cuss I took the Cuss in
hand, and spoiled his beauty for him, and taught him a lesson to mind
his own business. Mr. Greely greatly overated the trifleing service I
had done, he thanked me warmly, he became very friendly with me and
gave me good advice. Among other things he advised me to do was to get
a breach loading rifle instead of my muzlle loading rifle. I laughed
at the idea I supposed my old muzlle loader was the best. Since then I
have found out that Mr. Greely was right and that I was rong. Mr.
Greely at the time offered to purchase one and give it to me I refused
to accept it. He then told me any time I changed my mind to let him
know, and he would send me a good breech loading rifle. I have often
thought about it since, but never wrote to him. My reasons for writing
to you now are these; I and my partner Beaver Bob started down the
Yellow Stone last fall to trap near the Big Horn river. We were pretty
successful and made the Beaver mink martin and other vermin suffer--but
one day we were attaced by a hunting party of 15 or 20 Ogallala Sioux.
In the fight my old partner Beaver bob was wiped out I was wounded but
managed to make my escape and after a pretty hard time reached the
Mission on the head of the Yellow Stone--I mean near the head. I lost
my horses all my outfit in fact almost everything. When my ammunition
was expended--I mean used up--I threw my rifle away and took to the
brush and ran for it--I mean the chance of life. Lately I have heard
that Mr. Greely has handed in his chips--that is passed in his
checks--I mean gone to limbo you know. I'm sorry for the old man but
we must all go some time you know. and now miss what I want to know is
will you instead of your father send me a breech loading rifle. If you
do I shall be much obliged to you and if you don't I hope there is no
harm done. The kind of rifle I want is one of Sharps new improved
shooting rifles with a barrell 36 inches in length and a b