The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-10-19

to be q ready sale. This summer they erect
ed q large frame barn, with accommodations
for fifty or sixty horses. Excepting that of
MIR. Sherman at.the Springs, this is the best
stable we saw on our trip. When the boys
located N ''hells half-acre," as the place is
called, they were laughed at for supposing
there would be any business at such a bleak
and out of the way spot, but as the result
proved they knew what they were doing.
= The horse thieves have been getting In
their werk in good style In the country south
Of US for the past few weeks. While we
were at Aartinsdale two horses belonging to
Al. Olden were taken from the pasture and q
few days before he lost TWO head further up
the line. These losses caused considerable
Inconvenience in the running of the stage
line, but by persistent rustling the drivers
succeeded In making their trips. We believe
the animals have not yet been recovered and
it seems almost certain they were stolen.
About the same time q freighter who camped
near Msrtlnsdale lost two head of horses and
three days. search. failed to show any trace
Of them. But a few nights before this the
ranch Of Milrea 8 Olsen was paid o visit and
two animals showed up missing next morn
ing. The biggest steal in this line occurred
on the Yellowstone, forty-seven fine Ameri-
can horses being taken from the ranch Of
Harrison Bros. at one time. This 10 sup
posed 60 have been the work Of Indians, o
fuller account Of which will be found else
where In these columns. 1t is believed that
there 10 9 well organized band Of these
thieves sl the way from the Yellowstone to
the Basin who assist each other In running off
horses. "a gentleman who has travelled ex-
scnaively In that region makes these observa-
tons:
1T believe I could 20 down there and pick
upon q number Of the rascals. AT some
ranches I noticed that the men would be. at
home nearly always during the day and very
frequently absent at night. / made 1t a point
to take particular observations in q few cases
and IS a result was convinced that something
was wrong. | believe that il a careful watch
was put upon these parties some important
discoveries would be made. / also observed
that in every instance the parties I suspected
wore toaits crGCats Of some kind and it oc-
cured to me that it is the badge of the fra
tefnity.."
In view of the numerous depredations
committed it behooves the people Of that sec
ten to make ar effort to break up this band,
if such an organization exists. A few hang
ings would doubtless have wholesome eff
feet.
A. Il. Barney4 Co., sheep men who are
located On Sage Creek, have, we believe, the
best record in the Territory as regards sue
cess in bringing their sheep through last win
ter. Out Of q band Of 1000 they only lost
IS and these died Of old age and disease
rather than from the effects of the cold
weather.
''What is the secret Of your remarkable
SUGGEST we asked of one Of the boys with
whom we stopped all night.
1--WE have good ranges to begin with" he
answered, sand we make it q point TO watch
sheep closely and have them in good
warm sheds every cold night. We had also
plenty of hay to feed them whenever the
occasion required. But the main thing, in
aAy opinion, is good sheds. 1t the sheep are
quartered during the night, no
matter how cold it is or how deep the snow,
they will have ambition enough in the morn
ing to go out and rustic for grass. The man
who has q good range, sheds and hay enough
to feed q couple of months need not lose the
Aslf Of ore per cent. in the sheep business in
this country"
"Have you been long ia tho business p
asked.
81 was raised with sheep. My father
didn't feed his docks on the Gram plan Hills
but he die on the hills Of New Hampshire.
I was in the business In Colorado also a mum
Der Of years, but ID my humble opinion Mon
lama Is the best sheep country under the sun.
OF course, It is essential that q man should
know something about sheep To make q sue
cess Of the business. For instance, a young
fellow named Farrar came out here last win
.er with !, 800 sheep. He had neither hay
dor sheds and had never been on Q sheep
ranch il his life bsfore. This spring 400 OF
band survived ind the sheriff took those
There Is 50 much good common sense in
what this young man had to say Or the sub
iect that we submit II for the benefit Of the
sheep men who may be readers Of ths RIVER
PEEsa.
Barrows s. Allis are putting II = new boil
Or Id their mill near The Gap, the old one
having been burned out after very short ser
vice. They have been making .'lots' OF
lnmber during the present season and they