San Antonio Daily Light

MISS Mary McLeary, Tells of Their Journey to the Cold Mountain Wilds of Montana. Miss Mary McLeary, daughter of the Hon. J. H. McLeary, late of San Antonio, writes thusly to her cousin, Miss Lizzie Thompson, of Floresville. The letter is the production of a simple school girl and was not really intended for publication, but it gives many pointers that cannot fail to interest the many friends of Judge McLeary: Bozeman, Montana, Oct. 24, 1886. My Dear Cousin—I am almost ashamed to write to you, since I have delayed so long, but I know you will excuse me when I tell you how busy we have been before and since we moved. We had a long and delightful journey to this place. After we left Texas we passed through the Indian Territory, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Iowa and Dakota. The cities I liked best were Kansas City in Missouri, Council Bluffs, St. Joseph, Minneapolis and St. Paul. We had to change cars and stay for an hour and a half in Kansas City, so we had a chance to see the fine depot there and as much of the town as could be seen from the depot and the car windows. It is a beautiful town, built on several high bluffs and the houses look very picturesque away up among the trees. They have a cable street railway there which runs by cables from one bluff to another and then all over the town. Minneapolis is a beautiful city, situated on the Mississippi river just nine miles from St. Paul. We could see from the car window the fine Exhibition building and the beautiful Falls of St. Anthony. We stayed two days at St. Paul and spent the time in shopping and seeing the city. It is also situated on the Mississippi and one day we walked across the long bridge which spans the river. In St. Paul they have such nice street cars. They have some kind of a contrivance by which you can keep your seat and put your fare in the box. It is a little iron track for the money, so that when you put it into the track it will roll down hill into the box. The driver can also shut or open the car door by pulling a lever. They also have in St. Paul Hansom cabs like those in London. They are funny little two-wheeled vehicles and the driver sits away up on top behind and drives over the top of the place where the passengers sit. It will only hold two grown people. After we left St. Paul we went to Billings and we passed through a tunnel on the way. When we were passing through the tunnel it was perfectly dark and I did not know what was the matter until papa told me. We stayed in Billings two weeks and had a splendid time there. Lots of Indians come to town every day, for the Crow Reservation is just across the river, and they have a camp just four miles from town. One Sunday Mr. Wildy took Helen and Sarah to the camp in a buggy and Nettie Fraser (a girl who lives in Billings) and I went with them on horseback. We went into several of their tepees, or wigwams, and one old chief asked Mr. Wildy if Nettie and I were his wives. Mr. Wildy had two pair of moccasins made—one for Nettie and one for me. Mine are lovely, and they fit me perfectly, but I don't wear them because I want to keep them as a curiosity. One of the old Indians gave me several pieces of good-luck stone and I enclose a piece for you. I would tell you more of our stay in Billings, but I haven't time. We have been in this place about three weeks, and we like it very much. We have a very nice house, and I have a pretty room with its walls literally covered with pictures. I have been going to school for a week. School begins at 9 and closes at a quarter past 4. We have had snow several times since we have been here, and it is four or five inches deep on the ground now. This town is entirely surrounded by mountains, which look beautiful when covered with snow, as they are now. Good bye. Write soon to your loving cousin. Mary McL.