The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1875-01-22
WEATHER TALES.
Bijah's Story, the Reporters Story, and
S. the Old Mans Story. A

] As the reporters sat around the stove
waiting, Bijah spoke up and said:
There's half an hour to spare, and
move we all tell story"
It was agreed, and biting off another
piece of licorice, he began:
g Talk about cold weather! You ought
to pass one winter in Arizona! In the
winter of 1870, which the natives call an
open winter, the weather was SO cold that
coffee froze on the stove while we were
getting breakfast. We had to use a wedge
to split butter open, and potatoes put into
a red-hot oven to bake would-freeze in less
than five minutes" 5s.
Well, some died, but we saved a good
many horses and cattle. It was great
deal of trouble. Wehad to pack each ami
mai in a box, cover him with cotton-batting
and fur and then build fires all around the
boxes. Even then some Of the horses were
SO frost-bitten that their hoofs dropped off,
and the poor animal had to be taken up on
sheets and taken down into the valleys
when spring came. Some of you may think
I'm lying, but the man who says so wants
to come down behind the tannery and say
it-yes, he docs. I've lived in this world
too, long to have any young man cast .slurs
on my statements" .--.
A REPORTERS STORY. .
After Bijah had been assured that every
body in the circle placed the most implicit
confidence in his story, a reporter cleared
his throat and said: ...
81 never had much to do with cold
climates, but know how hot it is in Afri-
ca. When was reporting on the African
Dogstar, the leading morning paper in that
country, six men had to stand and fan me
as wrote. One day two of the six got
into a fight, and the heat was too much for
the other four. It melted this left arm
right off, you see, and my right leg was
saved only by the greatest exertions. I
know it looks like a big story, but if any
of You doubt my word I'll give you the
names of several respectable parties in
Africa who can be addressed. But that
wasn't hot weather-not real hot day.
when the sun got to melting the types in
in the cases, the door-knobs dissolved, and
awning frames burned like straw, then we
had to stay in doors and look out for our
selves. know Of several instances where
parties taking aim atrabbits had the barrel
of the gun to melt before they could fire a
shot! .--
AN OLD MANS STORY. Ft..
There was an old man there, stranger
in the city, who had heard of the doings of
the Central Station Court, and had come in
to see for himself lie had listened very
attentively to the other two stories, and
after taking a long breath he commenced
Gentlemen, you may observe that am
an old man, My locks are as white as the
driven snow, my limbs are weak, and it is
evident to any of you that have not long
to stay in this world I speak of this
because it doesn't seem likely that /, 50
near the grave, would tell lie for the sake
of telling story. No, no; shall speak
nothing but the solemn truth was going
to speak about snow The winter lived
in California was a poor winter for snow
There was great complaint that the crops
would be frozen ont, aud many farmers
were down-hearted. / was over in Los
Angeles county one day, hunting, and
while going across II plain, came upon
a circular hole in the snow, with ladder /
leading down. Filled with curiosity, I
descended. I went down 267 feet by the
One hundred and fifty feet farther down
came upon a village. sleighs were dasfing
about, business going on, and everybody
was looking for a tllaw.'' d s4