Fergus County argus., 1890-05-01
Cattle VS.. Sheep.

/ The usually peaceful township of Tibet
has been torn by internal dissension aud
| the sturdy stockmen have been bracns
4 their nerves with io-rod pizenl for the
savage throes of threatened warfare. Blood
was in every eye and sulphur ia the air.
aud something was bound To happen. The
cause of this smou.lering volcano was the
entrance aud location of II band of sheep
belonging to Mr.. Chas. Severance of Okla
upon the range betwee Buiia. and Trout
creeks in the Basin. The range was one
used and desired by number ri local eat
tiemen, whose herds aggregate nearly 600
head, and while often grazed upon by bands
of sheep belonging in the neighborhood,
this invasion from without seemed to them
to call Tor "A vigorous protest. There was
no question about the legal right of the
sheep to feed upon that range. but the eat
tlemen were equally certain that they had
no moral right there. The only thing to he
done was to gather the cattle and herd
them also upon the same range. and get az
mueL benefit out ri it as possible. This
was done, aud on one ar two occasions the
cattle and sheep became more or less mixed
No sheep were injured no threats indulge.
in. but the result was an excited sheep
herder and an rate sheep forenan. The
latter lodged complaint with just ice Red
ding Of Tibet for disturbing the peace. a
warrant was ISSUED and five of the cattle
owners were arrested forth9ith Excite
ment ran high. Deer lodge threatened the
bold cattlcmcn. The neighborhood could
hear or talk Of nothing else. Monday, the
21st, was appointed for the hearing, and IN
spite of the nasty weather bot swarmei
with the manly forms Of cattl.nen, horse
men aud sleepmen, eager .. see the out
come "I the contest. county Attorney
smith had appeared on the scene the day
before, armed with the sinews Of war ia the
shape of a seamless sack full ri law books |
The defendants appeared on Monday with
Attorney Edward 4. Russell af Helena, oi
the former firm of Russell Bros. .f Ross
Fork, whom they had found visiting his |
ranch. 4 jury bad been summoned by the |
justice at request "i defendants, and all Was |
ready for til. fray at I y IN.
But, la aud behold Upon opening of
ecuting Attorney Smith then offered Il SO
called amended mi,laint, which against |
the vigorous protest of the attorney fo. The |
defense, was admitted by the court. The
crowded court room tth- b,t dining room /
WAS full to oyeriloming with men " wl,o eager
~ followed the lights of eloIuenre md legal
pyrotechuics engaged in by opi..'sng conn
sci. The first decision by the court seemed /
(. augur no good for the prisoners. They
were arraigued, hut before lIleading their
offered "a demurrer Ia he new com
plaini. Again the waves of elnpu-,,ce rose
aud fell upon the huslel and awe-insprrsl
crowd the goddess ri the scales was ear
ncstly appealed to 10y both sides. aud the
court was evidently bur,leaea is deep and
solemn thausht. lie rose aud calmly
stated that the demurrer of the defense was
SUSTAINED aud the prisoners diseha rged.
Great was the iubiiation Of the cattlemen
ihereat. The crowd wa. plea sed with ahat
they had had and wanted more, but the
struggle was over for the time being. The
Ilag of the cattle princes floats triumphant
he sheep foreman is perpleNed. aud the
iuture is full nf promise of further develop
neBis. j.