Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1891-03-19
JUDITH VALLEY C A

-
Mud, mud everywhere. 1t is a pleasant
change, however.
Senator Baylies reached home last week
from the capital by way of Billings.
A Judith bench show-sund dogs seen from
one Of the Basins numerous plateaus.
The chinook-well, we said enough about
the chinook last week. Vive la chinook!
Friday evening last a very pleasant dane
ing party was given at the residence OF
Eugene Ackiey.
1t seems hat Taylor Allen, for SO long a
time a resident Of Utica, has cut adrift
from the Judith and her many attractions.
Mr.. Allen is now sojourning in the city of
the saints, close by the shores OF the great
Salt lake.
Mr.. and Mrs. Hawson OF Cottonwood
we're in Philbrook last week. They came
over with the intention OF leasing the Hotel
Judith, but Mr.. Williamson had already
decided to stay with it a while longer, even
il it does threaten to make him rich.
Mr.. wiliston. the gentlemanly travelling
man of the Williston Hardware company
ol Dliliukb, vas III L tht htotc " bhc
week. During his journey Sunday morning
from Utica to Philbrook a misunderstood
ing arose between the aforesaid gentleman,
his horses and a certain snow bank. The
upshot was that lie and his team parted
company. Mr.. w. came into town afoot.
while his team and cutter tool the back
track to Utica. The services of a black
smith were the means of an early recon-
citation.
The ultimate greatness Of the great Jul
dith Basin has long been an assured fact.
The salubrity OF climate, mineral wealth,
fertility of soil, never-failing water supply.
unlimited coal mines, and an almost end
less supply of timber on all the surround
ing mountains, all speak in stentorian
tones, as it were, Of Fergus ceunty's won
derful resources. These blessings, SO I'M
limitable, that we enjoy to-day were not
secured for us in a week nor in a years
time. Those hardy pioneers even so late
as ten years ago contested inch by inch
their possessions. They slept with their
guns by their sides, for they knew not the
day nor hour when the cruel Indians would
swoop down upon them with all the treach-
u hbu nv VI hSi ce'@eS
kind. Jesse Phelps, now one of the Judith's
most prominent cattle men, was one OF
that noble band of pioneers, and it was
through his great bravery in a great meas
ure that the hostiles were finally subdued.
As the name OF Daniel Boone will forever be
inseparable with the early history OF Ken
lucky, SO will be the names OF Judith Basin
and Jesse Phelps to the nations yet unborn.
At that time young Phelps was just out
from Michigan. His embonpeint was not
so pronounced then as is the case now. He
He was young OF years, 1.-THE OF limb, and
courage-well, his courage was boundless.
1t was in the fall OF 20 that Mr.. Phelps
was encamped near the forks OF Wolf creek,
at AL Pearse's old place. Besides Mr.. Phelps
there were Matt Price. Ed Resser and Jim
Root, all old-timers who could substan-
! tiate their stories with the scars OF many a
conflict. Jesse was certainly in a good
school, and he was bound to learn, and SO
he did. One evening about one hour after
dark Price returned to camp from a hunt
, for horses down about the crossing OF the
old Benton road. He came in much agi-
tated and told OF being chased twenty
miles by a band of forty-fve Nez Perces,
/, but owing to the f~eetness OF his horse and
the coming on OF darkness he managed to
gain camp. This was a fine starter for
; Phelps. His eyelids Immediately gave up
( the job in despair OF covering occasionally
his eyeballs, and his heart got in about
! thirty extra beats per minute. 1t was
E Phelps night to look out after the horses,
so he went out and picketed them all with
D pins as long as your arm. In the mean
E time Root and Rosser cached a gun in a
4 ~neighboring clump of willows, and to the
trigger was attached a cord that wound it's
devious way into the rear of the tent.
4 When Jesse returned Price was killing In
dams way down in Texas. He told OF a
fellow who once was with him, how he
dropped his gun and sought the seclusion OF
the darkness and individual safety when
, surprised by Indians. This recital OF
treachery had it's effect upon young Phelps,
for he braced up. clutched his gun more
firmly, and swore that he would never, no,
never, leave his companions to the fury OF
hostile redskins. Price meanwhile brought
Z up massacre after massacre. He had In
: dams shot and stacked up all around like
long rows OF cord wood, and Phelps invol-
. unfairly turned up the bottoms of his
I trousers to keep them clear OF the running
D gore. Ed Rosser and Jim Root now went
5 to bed, but Price kept pouring it into
u Phelps, when the sound OF a gunshot awoke
the echoes Of the night, and Price, placing
his hand over his left breast, fell forward
upon his face. Jesse Phelps, it is said,
e cleared at a single bound a wagon that
d stood by the tent door, that he lit on the
D opposite side running at a Sunol gait until
he gained the bushes, where he concealed
himself in an admirable manner. The boys
picked up the discarded gun and taking il
out to where Phelps Was sewed it thor
oughlv to his clothes, that he might have
II IL with him when ca ught in a tight place.