The Mineral argus. [volume] (Maiden, Mont.) 1883-1886, 1885-04-02
NORTHERN CATTLE-RANGES.
How the Poor Brutes Driven from
Texas Suffer in the Blasts Of
Montana Winter.

y AOUt8uu w lutCI.
rne Coyotes and Prairie Wolves on the Trail
Of the Struggling Herds.
A Pitifal and Painful Invasion.
The present cold weather in the
northwest il unprecedented in the his.
tory Of the country. saysa Miles City
special to The Chicago Times. 1t is Sc
verest on the cattle. many of which
are Texas pilgrims, shipped or driven
in during the late summer and fall.
For the past fortnight the weather.
both day and night. has scarcely ever
been warmer than 40 degrees below
zero. and more often has it been in the
neighborhood of 80 below. accOmpa-
MED by most piercing winds and bliz-
yards from the north. Since Dec. l,
when the winter commenced in dead
earnest, there has been no break
in the cold. which has seemed to grow
stronger and stronger every day. until
it eliminated last night in the dread
full temperature of SO degrees below
zero. Mercury thermometers are all
frozen up, and are Of no use. The en-
tire autumn to Dec. l was beautiful,
balmy weather-all that the cattlemen
could wish fOr-and save promise Of a
mild winter and q successful season for
the cattle. But since that date cattle
matters have put on IA different aspect,
and unless there is a break soon in the
Arctic weather there is apt to BIZ great
suffering among the cattle. Especial
ly will this be felt among the pilgrims.
or rather last seasons impOrtations, for
Il 10 ~
residence on the ranges before they
can become acclimated and hardened
to the cold plains of Montana. There
were shipped out Of Montana, last sea-
son. about 5000 cattle, including
dressed beeves, while fully 100000
were brought in for fattening purpo-
ses. Over $4,000 were imported by
rail. The majority came from Texas.
and were ycarlings. BY the end of
the second ear. If living. they will be
hardy Montana steers, thoroughly ac-
climated, and able to rustic for them
selves. But the first year all new cat
tie require some attention and more or
less feeding. Hence it is that the
present cold snap is an unfortunate
thing. especially for the Texans. II
they weather this season successfully.
nothing except very severe winter will
cause any material loss among them.
Reports from all over the territory
say that the cattle are suffering great
ly, both natives and pilgrims, and that
it is feared a run over the ranges will
show heavy losses. In the northwest,
near Fort Benton, the snow is very
deep and the weather very cold. SO
that the cattle cannot find sufficient
nOurishment from the scant grazing,
and are therefore suffering according.
ly. Near Missoula, west of the Rocky
mountains, and also in northern Idaho,
the snow is said to be from five to six
feet deep, and the cattle are coming
in from the prairies, driven in by the
protracted blizzard which is sweeping
over that section of country. In the
Beaver Head. and Gallatin counties,
the same state of affairs exists, and the
suffering Las extended to the bands of
sheep as well as to the cattle herds.
In the Musselshell district cattle mat
tiers have a rather gloomy appearance.
Late in the fall many rowing bands
of Indians, - Piegans, Crows, and
Blackfeet.-in their numerous maraud-
ing expeditions against each other.
stealing horses from the whites, and
running off stock whenever an oppor-
tunity offered, maliciously set the
prairie on fire and burnt of the grass.
The Musselshell country was particu-
larry unfortunate in this respect, as
directly through it lay the roadway
over which the Plegans came south to
raid the Crows, and over which the
Crows Travelled north to get at the
Piegans. In consequence OF these fire.