The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-06-30
in Il Cattle Town.

Miles City, Montana Territory, is the
head quarters and principal Shipping
: point Of the great cattle interest of the
Ierrltory, and its proximity to Fort
keogh, which is only two miles distant.
gives it additional prominence as a
trading place. The town itself has a
curious interest for the stranger, being
Ill many respects different in its charac-
teristics from the other towns on the
line. 1t is more like Il typical border
town and more in COnSOance with the
generally accepted nature of what q
border town should be. COWBOYS with
lariats hanging on their saddles are
seen at every turn, riding on the stout
llttle Droncho ponies of u the plains:
rougll-looking men arc loaling on the
streets corners; occasionally "big In
dian," with squaw or two following
nm, stalks across the scene, and on
each side of the street are innlmerablc
places OF low resort, in which the COM
blncd attractions Of rum and gambling
are openly advertised. These places
are SO numerous, indeed, that they seem
at first glance to constitute the chief
industry of the town. At night they
present Il curious spectacle. Nearly all
are large rooms opening on the street.
The doors are kept wide open when the
weather will permit and inside may be
seen i motley crowd of men and women.
On one side Of the room is Il long bar
from which beer and whisky are dis
pcnScd, and about which there is al
ways crowd. Scattered about the
room are three or four faro layout.
with grim and intensely interested
groups or players standing around them.
Cinnamon, for John thrivcS on the
frontier even has he docs in the large
cities, and, if he escapes being laSs0ocd
by IL mschicvous cowboy, is allowed to
pursue III peace the usual vocatiOnS of
his race. AT some of the tables women
act us dealers of the game, and appar-
entity they are regarded with the utmost
respect by the rough men who are Tempt
ing fortune and wasting their hard
earned savings. Everything is conduct
Ell quietly and in the most orderly man
ner. Tohe sure, there is revolver or
two oStcntatiously displayed at the side
OF heap of money and chips on the
table, or sticking in Il mclracing way
from players broad buciSkin belt;
but they are seldom used and seemed to
he carried more in a spirit of reckless
braNadO than for offensive or defensive
purposes. In warm weather the yaming-
tables are removed to The edge of the
plank sidewalks, and on Il pleasant
summer evening the spectacle is one
that does not impress Il stranger with
the high moral tone Of the inhabitants.
such Is one phase OF life in Miles
City, Hie CAT lc metropolis of Montana.
Another is furnished by the Seattle
kings" and ranch-owncrs, who congre-
gate in the hotels after making their
shipments and talk of their business
prospects, the state of the market, the
chances for Il favorable winter, and the
respective merits Of bunch and buffalo
grass. AS rule they are quiet, rescr-
we'd men, with rough oXtcriors, but gen
tlcmanly in manner and thoroughly in
earnest in the pursuit of their lucrative
calling. They are mostly men above
ne average in intelligence, and the
difference paid to them by the smaller
Try and The cowboys is snoticcablc. They
are men who own or have Il controlling
interest in vast herds of cattle, and have
large interests at stake