Daily Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1882-1893, 1884-09-14
HORSE THIEVES.
How They Were Rounded-Up
in Northwestern Montana
The Duty of Stock Men.
How a Fraud was Discovered
A Horse Ruled out Of
the Races.
Pointers Around the City-A
Batch of Arrivals but few
Departures.
The Horse Thief Round.Up,


In a general review Of the action
taken against horse thieves In north
ern Montana the Husbandman says:
I'VE can assure any who may manifest
"A feeling Of sentimentalism over the
late summary measures resorted to by
the people of eastern Meagher county,
that the movements of the cow boys
have been directed by reliable and re-
spOnsible men-the best men in the
cOuntry-and punishment has been
dealt out only to those who were
known to he guilty. IL has not been
u wild, misdirected raid. governed by
caprice Of COW boys, M people residing
in the states who have read the stories
of how these fellows sometimes enter
a peaceful community and paint u
town red" may be led to suppose, but
the whole matter has been carefully
considered and fully deliberated upon,
when there was no excitement, and
no man has been dealt with who was
not positively known to I've u thief. II
II true that theft IL not made pun
ishable by the laws OF our land, but
when we review the state of affairs
that existed In that section. there can
be NO doubt of the justice of the course
pursued. There was regular organ
lied band of thieves, about fifty In
number. they infested the country
from the Yellowstone to the British
line, and stock was stolen by whole
sale. Horses were stolen and run
across the northern line and seid, and
brands were mutilated with frying
pans and divers and sundry ways.
Beef cattle were also driven off.
As many ~ $50 head were run of
In one herd. The stock grow
ers In that section instead Of making
anything, found IL difficult to hold
their own. James Fergus 4 Son
turned Off liz head Of beef steers per
annum from their individual herd
while In Lewis and Clarke county,
but since their removal TO q new
range their output for the past three
years has fallen off to 100 head per
year; this, too. In the face of the fact
that the ranges were fresh and the
winters light, and II In positively
known that their cattle did not die Of
disease or the severity Of the weather.
The same has been the experience Of
nearly every stock man in that Sec
ton; and II became necessary to do
something or abandon their calling.
The country owes these people . debt
of gratitude for their promptness In
this emergency. To carry on this
campaign which has occupied the en-
tire summer, has necessitated q great
deal of privations and the endurance
Of many hardships, .leepless nights.
living on half ratiOns, swimming
streams, ETC., and has cost from t3,OOO
to 5000 In cash, aud since every
stock man In the territory 10 benefit
ted, all should contribute something
toward reInbursing the men who
furnished the money. II the Mon
tana Stock Growers Association was
thoroughly organized It would be q
matter for its consideration, but as
this has not yet become sufficiently
btrong to master such nm undertaking,
stock men everywhere should send In
their contributions to this Institution
to be applied In this matter. A word
TO the wise In sufficient"
u Dsdsy &c.
At tho Helena races on Wednesday
last one OF the trotten was ruled out
and for good reasons, which are thus
set of In the Herald: 1.-THE Salt Lake
mare, 'Lulie w. who In yesterdays
ESQ race did some good tr0tting, and
1910 .s,.a~ rod A.. 1so sI,la IN IN s,rssols