Jno. X. Beidler, Esq., Helena, Montana.
Dear Old Friend: -- I had not known positively where to find you until lately I read an interview with you by a correspondent of the Chicago Tribune, and located you at Helena. Dear X it brings up old and pleasant recollections to know that you are still in the land of the living, do you recollect the first time we ever met at or near Twin Lakes, when you had your Burros packed for Washington Gulch, a Small party of us Struck there on our way to that Gulch, and you must remember Jones his wife and children, that when we left the Gulch we Camped at Some Haystaks two miles out and we had forgotten Something and two of the Boys went back to the Gulch for it and Zones gave them the last two dollars to buy a bottle of Whiskey and that you and I and Jones and his wife Slept in a pole Cabin without anything to stop the cracks, and that we had arranged for the boys to fill the bottle with water and place it near his head and that waked me up just before daylight to See Jones take his drink and we Kept a Sharp lookout under the buffalos we were under when Jones raised up and looked. Cautiously around. and then reached for his bottle uncorked it and turned up to take a square drink of whiskey and how he Spluttered. as though he was poisoned.
And you must have a vivid recollection. of the trials and tribulations we had digging through Snowbanks and hunting grass under the Snow for the animals, and I know you have not forgotten, the time we went into Camp and Cleared away 4 feet of Snow to build our fire and thaw out a place for us to sleep and that we had to put up poles to keep the jacks out of the fire, and that the old Georgian that was with us had mixed his last batch of flour to bake by the nice coals we would have in the morning, and that during the night the jacks discovered the old man's dough broke the poles down we had erected. and grabbed the dough and when we waked up and old jinney had her teeth fastened in the dough and that old man was hanging on to the other and yelling at the top of his voice "Here's to you" it was a ground Hog Case, I would give ten dollars for a true picture of that Scene, you have not forgotten how we divided the last bread we had with the animals the morning we Started across the Range and how we had to unpack and dig the animals out of the Snow when they steppecl off the trail, and how we went into Camp at 8 o'clock that evening, without anything to eat for ourselves or animals, and that a relief party Struck us that night at midnight with flour bacon and hay for the animals and how we staid up the balance of the night and fried dough and bacon and filled up and that two days afterward we arrived at the promised Land being Twin Lakes Colorado where we lived on Mountain Sheep and Speckled Trout It still holds good your old saying that we have lived and loved together, I am still living at Hennepin and the raging Illinois River that runs almost a mile an hour, I am not rich but have plenty to eat and wear for Self and family. Since we last met I have had many ups and downs raised two Companys and Served one and a half years in the army and if I say it myself I never had a man in my Companies but what would go miles to do me a favor. Oh, how I would like to see you and have a good old-fashioned talk with you if you should conclude to come East don't fail to Come and see me. Is Dr. Glick still at Helena. The Dr. was kind to me when I got hurt near Bannack on Grasshopper Creek. Remember me to him. If you know of a good mine that is out an owner let me know and I will run out and look at it. I have been Clerk of the Circuit Court for the past 13 years and have 8 years of the last term I was elected for to serve yet. Now X do not fail to write me when you receive this Hoping you are a good Republican and that you will send 2 good Republican Senators from the State of Montana I remain as ever your friend and may God bless you.
JEFF DURLEY.