Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1885-03-05

A Montana Winter.
FROZEN STREAMS AND FIVE FEET OF SNOW
on THE PRAIRIEs.
Miles City letter.

on THE PRAIRIEs.
Miles City letter.
Reports from oil over the territory say
that the cattle are suffering greatly, both M
tIyes aud 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
hourishment from the scant grazing, and
are therefore suffering accordingly. 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 cat
tie are coming in from the prairies, driven
in by the protraoted blizzard which is sweep
ing over that section of the country In
the southwest, near Bozeman, in Madison,
Beaver Head, and Gallatin counties. the
same state Of affairs exists, and the suffering
has extended to the bands Of sheep as well
as to the cattle herds. In the Musselshel
district cattle matters have a rather gloomy
appearance.
Late in the fall many rowing bands of In
dians-Piegans, Crows and Blackfeet in
their numerous maraudlng expeditions
against each other, stealing horses from the
whites, and running off stock whenever an
opportunity offered. mallciousiy set the
prairie on fire and burnt off the grass The
Musselshel country was particularly unfor-
tnnnte IN thus respect, as directly through II
lay the roadway over which the Piegans came
south to raid the Crows. and over which the
Grows travelled north to get back at the
n Of
expeditions a great deal of fine grazing
country was burned over. and now the cat
iiemen OF that section feel the effects of that
calamity. The last great tire in the Sweet
Grass hills has burned tract OF country 81
miles IN width and twice as long. consuming
number OF hay>tacks put up by the ranch-
men for winters use. Cowboys have been
going over the burned district and the coun-
try 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 cold
weather lasts.
All along the Northern Pacific railroad in
Montana and Idaho the cattle are congregat-
ed near the track looking for shelter, and
not seeming to relish the deep snow OF the
open praIrie, where billiards. are sweeping
with such tremendous force. Tue poor crea.
tures are actYall, frightened, and don't know
what 10 do with themselves. They get IN
der the bridges, or in the ditches On the
sides Of the track. or gather in knots and
banches in the willows near streams aud
don't seem to care 70 Craze The native
cattle appear TO fare badly a.so. but the
greatest suffering Is among the new cattle,
which know not what to do for water. The
acclImated stock Will take great mouthfuIs
Of snow when water il not to be had, and
IN this way manage 10 aiiay their thirst TO
some cNten, but The pilgrims have not vet
learned that art. and are therefore suffering
in consequence. The streams and creeks
are frozen 80 hard that they are no longer
useful for watering places. As freight
train On the Northern Pacific railroad was
nearing Saltwater "a town IN the western
part of the Yellowstone vslleyl the engineer
discovered the track ahead of him complete
ly blocked bv cattle. Before the train could
be stopped II rushed pe!l-meli into the very
m!ds' ot the animals. and ploaghed them
from the rails rlghi and left. \ heavy snow
plough was in front Of the engine, and il
crushed four killing them outright. Four-
the time the train came 70 stands,lil, and
Set the re,' would not masr. The train
men ,Hen .ot down and drove the animl :
oti 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 ty to the nearest
protection.
Near Mics CITY curious spectacle is to
ne seen. The whole valley on all sides of
the town : filled with cattle that Rave come
10 from the range 10 escape the cold. Among
the short, stubby rose bushes that gro.
along the banks Of the Yellowstone and
Tongue river Is sea Of heads, belonging
to the astnnishtd animals that are seeking
what protection the scant ehruhbers affords.
Even IN the streets Of the town great dfoyes
o. cattle meander 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 Is
degrees warmer than out on the prairie, and
no doubt the cattle fee. the difference. and
will hang around until 1t modera'es sutfi-
cientiy TO allow a return to the regular graz
ing grounds. Bat there is great deal ot
suffering among them for food, for there i
surrounding il TO make even one square
meal for the immense drove of animals now
congregated hereabouts
A number Of cattle. among whjcA were
some pilgrims, went out en- the ice of the
Yellowstone river opposite the town 10 drink
at the waterhoies cut in the ice for the pur-
pose of supplying the town. The Old rust
lers went a, the thing in the right WAY, and
quenched their thirst without any difficulty /;
but the newcomers, the Texans, to which il
was new experience, were not so fortunate
on their side and ij Of them fell into the
aperture, one after another and were swept
under the ice and drowned Scores Of
others that fell in bur managed to get out
in some way, were so badly moistened with
the cold water that they froze shortl, after
ward. Ca,,iemen are taking the matter
in hands, and cowboys have been detailed
to patrol along the river opposite these dan
gerous places in order to prevent like acci-
dents.