Cheyenne transporter. [volume] (Darlington, Indian Terr.) 1879-1886, 1885-02-15


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-
tunty offered, maliciously set the
prairie on fire and burnt off the grass.
The Musselshell country was particu-
larlv unfortunate in this respect, rs
directly through it lay the roadway
over which the Plcgans came south TO
raid the Crows, and over which the
Crows travelled north 20 get ut the
Piegans. In consequence of these fire.
quent expeditions great deal of fine
grazing country was burned over, and
now the cattlcmen of that section feel
the effects of that calamity. The last
great fire in the Sweet Grass hills
burned n tract of country thirty-iivc
miles in width and twice rs long, con-
suming Il number of haystacks put up
by the ranchmen for winters use 1t
commenced about Dec. 9 and burned
five days, during which time an inn
mense amount of good grazing was
consumed, and many cattle in cOnse-
quence left on very short rations.
Cowboys have been going over the
burned district and the country ada
cent thereto gathering the cattle aud
driving them to the foothills and shell
tered places, where they will fare
much better than on the open prairie
while the extreme cold weather lasts.
All along the Northern Pacific
railroad in Montana and Idaho the cat
tie are congregated near the track
looking for shelter, and not seeming
to relish the deep snow of the open
prairie, where blizzards are sweeping
with tremendous force. The poor
creatures are 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 the
willows, near streams, and don't seem
to care to Craze. The native cattle APP
pear to fare badly also. but the greatest
suffering is among the new cattle,
who don't know 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 manage to
allay their thirst to some extent, but
the pilgrims have not yet learned that
art, and are therefore suffering in con-
sequence. The streams and creeks
are frozen so hard that they are no
longer useful for watering places
Yesterday afternoon, as a freight train
on the Northern Pacific railroad was
nearing Saltwater Ga town in the west
ern part of the Yellowstone Valley,
4 IionnNrnroI hn
ahead of him completely blocked by
cattle. Before the train could be
stopped it rushed pell-mell into the
very midst of the animals, and plowed
them from the rails, right and left. A
heavy snow-plow was in front of the
engine, and it crushed four, killing
them outright. Fourteen others were
damaged more or less by the time the
train came to a standstill, and yet the
rest would not move. The 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 several of
them attacked the train men, causing
the latter to fly to the nearest protec-
ton.
- Near Miles City curious spectacle
is to be seen. The whole valley on all
sides Of the town is filled with cattle
that have come in from the range to es-
cape the cold. Among the short,
stubby rose-bushes that grow along
the banks of the Yellowstone and
Tongue rivers is sea of heads, be-
longing TO the astonished animals that
are seeking what protection the scant
shrubbery affords. Even in the streets
of the town great droves of cattle me-
ander back and forth, as the tall
houses on either side have the appear