Sun River sun. [volume] (Sun River, Mont.) 1884-1885, 1884-05-29
LOST ON THE RANGE
Unpleasant Experience Of Montana
Stock Man in Search Of Fields
Green and Pastures New.

A' ." DoNiis, OLc VI MONTANA \
prominent stockmen, we'll known in
the Sun River Country, had rather
tough experience in tho eastern por-
ton OF the territory lately, the par
tie',lars of which VIC copy from the
Independent.
Mr.. Downs was near Forsyth look
ing for u new range. At Frozc-to-
Death he hired man with two sad
dlc horses and a puck animal to take
him out into the country surrounding
the headwaters OF tho Dry Fcrl. of
Little Porcupine, some fifty OF sixty
miles distant.
The third night after they started.
the horse which Mr.. Downs rode, II
good saddle animal, was stolen. They
trailed it for about twelve miles, but
finally lost tho track and resumed
their trip.
After travelling u while Mr.. Downs
shot at IN antelope, and the pack ani-
NAL went to bucking and unshippod
its load. Tho guide became very an
cry ut this, and presently asserted his
intention of returning TO Froze-to-
Death. He also affected to believe
that some cowboy they had encoun-
tered the day previous, had stolen his
horse. Finally, with the remark that
he thought he could head them of ut
Il certain ford which he mentioned,
he galloped away leaving Mr.. Downs
with the pack animal.
BY the time he had succeeded in
saddling up and repacking the blank
cts, provisions, etc, his guide was out
of sight, and he found himself alone
in strange, uninhabited country,
with scores Of miles between him and
civilization. He did not have much
in the way Of provisions, us the bulk
of supplies had been cached when the
horse was stolen; but he thought he
had enough to last him until he could
explore the country toward which
they were heading, and SO he decided
to go on alone, expecting he would be
able to accomplish tho object Of his
journey and return to the each by the
time his grub gave out.
He rode on for three days. and hcy
ing asccrtaincd that the country, on
account OF the scarcity of water. was
unfit for Il stock range, he turned
back and commenced searching for
the each, as his provisions were run
ming low. But the never ending sue.
ccssion OF hills, and hollows, and val
leys, seemingly all alike, rendered it
rs hopeless rs looking for needle in
n haystack. Finally, after prolong-
ing the search for two or three days,
unayailingly. he gave it up and dccid-
cl to make his way back to the settle
ments rs best he could.
Coming to pool of water, he stop
ped to let his horse drink, dismount-
ing for the purpose. Tho animal
wadcd into the pool, and while it was
drinl.iAg, II half dozen or more cattle
made their appearance on an cleya
ton near by. They were evidently
steers that had strayed from the herd
n good while ago and were us wild ns
deer. On seeing Mr.. Downs they
snorted, stuck up their tails, and ran.
The horse looked up hastily and see
ing the cattle running, dashed off af-
ter them. He had been uneasy for
several days, seemingly anxious for
brute companionship, and doutless
now sought it in these wild steers.
Mr. Downs followed, but the cattle
would not lot him approach nearer
than one hundred yards, when they
would stampede, with the horse fol-
lowing close ut their heels. This
hopeless pursuit was kept up for
hours. the cattle growing more wary
Mt each approach, until finally ut
about dark, they with the horse still
close after them) had gone entirely
out of sight.
Mr.. Downs predicamcnt was OK
lremely porplcxing and unpleasant.
In addition to being left afoot miles
ind miles from any human habitation,
he was completely bcwildered and
lid not know which way to travel to
reach settlement, and besides was
left without provisions or even coat,
everything being strapped to the sad
lle on the horse which had left him.
His rifle, which was also usually fas-
onod to the saddle, was fortunately
II his hand when tho horse ran away.
1t was now near dark, and making
ais way rs best he could to the near
'st clump OF cottonwoods beside the
Try bed of creek not far away, he
sindled a fire, and tired, hungry, and
,old the was in his shirt sleeycs),
went into camp" for the night.
lone who has never had similar