Distinctly Montana Magazine

18 D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A M A G A Z I N E • FA L L 2 0 2 4 heavy to brake. Always the wheels were getting clogged with mud that had to be carved out with their knives, which slowed their progress considerably. Fi- nally, on the 25th, they made Fort Yel- lowstone. Again, the Corps had to deal with flats to their puncture-proof tires and declamination of their composite wooden rims in the rain and the mud. After a day and a half rest, Moss and his men took a five days' leisurely tour through Yellowstone. In his official re- port Moss wrote that he took a picture of a bear on a bicycle and that "several tourists came to the camp to take pic- tures of the bicycle corps." He summed up the reaction of the corps: "Soldiers delighted with the trip—treated royally everywhere—thought the sights grand." They started back on September 1st, ar- riving back at Fort Missoula on the 8th. They averaged better than six miles per hour over their 800-mile roundtrip. The following winter, Moss traveled back east to work with Spalding on design improvements to the bicycles based on lessons learned from his Lake McDonald and Yellowstone trips. Spe- cifically, steel rims, more spokes, heavi- er gauge frame and a gear bag fitted into the diamond in the bicycle frame. Twenty-two of the newly designed bi- cycles arrived in Missoula on June 4th, 1897. Each weighed 32 pounds. Moss enlisted 20 volunteers for the ride, which included five soldiers from the previous year's Yellowstone trip. One of those was Sergeant Mingo Sanders. At 39, he was the oldest and most experienced. It would be his job to translate Moss's vision into action, maintain troop morale, and be their de facto spiritual guide and confidant. Also from before was Private John Findley. Findley was a first class mechanic, as he had extensive experience with bicycles prior to enlisting. If a bicycle failed on the trail, it would be Findley's job to see to the necessary repairs. Rounding out the men was Lieutenant James Ken- nedy, the fort's surgeon. Additionally, Moss convinced Edward Boos, a report- er for the Daily Missoulian, to accompa- ny them. Boos was an avid wheelman and the son of the owner of the newspa- per. Moss keenly appreciated the value of the publicity they would get from Boos's regular reporting from the field. Moss planned a route that would again follow the Northern Pacific Rail- road to Billings, repeating some of the route they traveled to Yellowstone. They would then veer southward to follow the Burlington Railroad through Wyoming, South Dakota, and Nebraska into Missouri and to their destination of 406-600-3582 406blinds.com Voted Best Window Treatments In Montana! 2024 B E ST M O N TA N A A S V O T E D B Y R E A D E R S O F W I N N E R ! Book Your Free In-Home Consultation now! Serving Missoula, Bozeman, Butte, Belgrade & Helena

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