The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-01-23


into general circulation. The writer was
evidently greatly imposed upon by accepting
loose talk for selid factS.-ED. n. N.-W)
Miles City IMon.) Cor Chicago Tmes.l
Reports from all over the territory say
that the cattle are suffering greatly, both
natives and pilgrims, and that it is feared u
run over the ranges will show heavy losses.
In tho 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 accordingly. Near Mis-
soula, west of the Rocky mountains, and also
in northern Idaho, the snow is sold TO DO
from five to six feet deep, and the cattle are
coming in from the prairies, driven i'll by
the protractei blizzard WI ich is sweeping
over that section of country. In the south
west, near Bozeman, in Madison, Beaver
Head, and Gallatin counties, the same state
of affairs exists, and the suffering has ex-
tended TO the bands of sheep as well as to
the cattle herds. In tho Musselshel district
cattle matters have rather gloomy APP
pearance.
Late in the fall many rowing bands Of In
dians-Piegans, Crows and Blackfeet-in
their numerous marauding expeditions
whites, and running off stock whenever an
opportunity offered, maliciously sot the prai-
rie on fire and burnt OFF the grass. Tho Mus
selshell country was particularly unfortu-
nate in this respect, as directly through it
lay the roadway over which the PieganS
came south to raid the Crows, and over
which the Crows travelled north to get back
at the Piegans. in consequence Of these fro
quent expeditions great deal OF fine
grazing country was burned over, and
now the Cattlemen of that section feel the
effects of that calamity. The last great
Grs III the Sweet Grass hills burned tract
Of country thirty-fve miles in width and
twice as long, consuming a number Of hay
stacks put up by the ranchmen for winters
ue Cowboys have been going over the
burned district and the country adjacent
thereto gathering the cattle and driving
them to the foothills and sheltered places,
where they will fare much better than on
the open prairie while the extreme coll
weather lasts.
All along the Northern Pacific railroad in
Montana and Idaho the cattle are congre~
gated near the track looking for shelter, and
not seeming to relish the deep snow of the
open prairie, where blizzardS are sweeping
with such tremendous force. The poor
creatures ara actually frightened, and don't
know what to do with themselves They
get under the bridges, or in the bitches on
the sides of the track, or gather in knots and
punches in tho willows near streams and
don't seem to care to Craze. The native cattle
appear to fare badly also, but the greatest suf-
fering is among tho new cattle, who know not
what to do for water The acclimated stock
will take great mouthfuls of snow when
water is not to be had, and in this way man
age to allay their thirst to some extent, but
the pilgrims have not yet learned that art,
and are therefore suffering in consequence.
The streams and creeks are frozen so hard
that they are no longer useful for watering
places. As freight train ON the Northern
Pacific railroad was nearing Saltwater IA
town in the western part of the Yellow
stone valley the engineer discovered the
track ahead of him completely blocked by
cattle. Before the train could be stopped it
rushel pell-mell into the very midst of the
animals, and plowed them from the rails
right and left A heavy snow-pow was in
front Of the engine, and it crushed four,
killing them outright. Fourteen others
were damaged more or loss by the time tho
train came to a standstill, and yet tho rest
would not move Tho train men then got
down and drove the animals Off, clearing
the track with great trouble. They seemed
perfectly wild with cold and fear, and sew
eral of them attacked the train men, caus-
ing the latter to fly to the nearest protection.
Near Miles City curious spectacle is to
be seen. The whole valley on all sides Of
the town is filed with cattle that have come
in from the range to escape the cold. Among
the short, stubby rose bushes that grow
along the banks of the Yellowstone and
Tongue river Is u sea Of heads, belonging to
the astonished animals that are seeking
what protection the scant shrubbery affords.
Even in the streets Of the town great droves
OF cattle meanier back and forth, as the tall
houses on either side have the appearance, IL
not the reality, OF conveying warmth. The
weather in the city must be at least 10 or ID
degrees warmer than out ON the prairies.
and no doubt the cattle feel the difference,
and will hang around until IL moderates
sufficient to allow a return to the regular
grazing grounds But there Is great deal
of suffering among them for food. for there
is not enough in the town nor in the valley
surrounding ii to make even one square meal
for the immense drove of animals now con-
gregated hereabouts.
A number Of cattle, among which wero
some pilgrims, went out on the ice of the
Yellowstone river opposite town to drink at
one of the water-holes cut in tho ice for the
purpose of supplying the town. The old rust
lers went at the thing in the right way, and
quenched their thirst without any difficulty;
but the newcomers, the Texans, to whom it
was new experience, were not so fortunate
on their side, and forty-fve of them fell into
the aperture, one after another, and were
swept under the ice and drowned. Scores of
others that fell in but managed to get out In
some way, were SO badly moistened with the
cold water that they froze to death shortly
afterward Numberless bodies are lying
along the river bank, farther up stream,
frozen stiff, having evidently come to their
deaths In this way. Cattlemen are taking
the matter in hand, and cowboys have been
detailed to patrol along the river opposite
these dangerous places, in order to prevent
like accidents.
The cold weather appears to have brought
myriads Of coyotes and prairie wolves from
somewhere, as the whole territory Is literally
alive with them. These scavengers formerly
| followed in the wake Of the mighty tufralo
herds that once filed the plains OF Montana,
| but now that they have returned 10 must be
| that no more buffalo are to be found, and the
cattle are to supply their place. These
| miserable brutes are committing great raw
| ages on domestic CATTLE particularly the
| calves. The latter are weak, tender, and
| stunted with cold. and can not keep up with
their stronger parents. The coyotes watch
these calves, and II one becomes tired and
lays down in the snow to rest he Is sure to be
| set upon by score OF ravenous wolves and
| torn to pieces The county authorities find
| they are compelled ut last TO give their at
| tention to the growing evil, and they are
| therefore Offering free strychnine to oil whc
| viii use 1t In the determination of those
| pests As there is bounty offered for every
wolf killed, also ready market within the
territory for the skins, many Of the cowboys
/ are entering into the business Of wolf-poispn-
in addition to their regular pay as herderA