Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1891-07-30
The Dog Creek Picnic.

There is an old saying that whatever
Americans do they do with their whole
heart, and all their energy is bent, for the
time being, on that one act. This was
strikingly exemplitied in the picnic given
last week on Dog creek. For the past few
years it has been the custom for the ranch
men and stockgrowers north OF the Judith
range to hav an annual picnic at the
ranch ofG. w. Cook on Dog creek. and this
years meeting was far more largely attended
and more general in it's character than here
tofore and was an unparalleled success from
start to finish.
Mr.. Cooks ranch is peculiarly well
adapted for such an affair as not far from
the house there is a box elder grove where
the wild blue joint stands to a height OF
four feet. The grass had been previously
mown and under the shade of these trees
the participants ehatted and chaffed from
the hour OF meeting, which was 10 h.. m,
until IL: 30 in the afternoon Of Thursday the
21st inst. After a lunch. consisting OF all
the nice things that can he made or bought,
the assemblage proceeded to the campas
some 200 yards below, where the days
sport began. A collection vas taken up
at which about S4S was raised to cover the
amount of the purses and other incidental
expenses. The first was a tug of war be-
tween the married men and the bachelors.
After breaking several ropes, the bachelors
proved too much for their opponents and
dragged the latter all over the field. Then
there came an egg race, in which you must
-.
yards, the one reaching the goal first with
out having dropped his egg being entitled
to 81. Emmett Hamilton was the winner
of the prize over tive Others. Following
came "a foot race of 40 yards, 50 to first,
81 o. s-,onu. IN unis there were ave en-
tries. Chas. Hall coming first to the string.
A potato race was next announced To
win in thiso one must pick up % potatoes
laid on the ground each one yard apart,
and deposit them in a basket one by one,
the basket being placed at one end. Mr..
Nannest proved too much for younger men
and had all his in the basket first, winning
81. A 20 yard loot race between G. w.
Cook and David Hilger, for which W. I.
Sw p offered a prize OF a sack of potatoes
was then run. After running one heat and
Mr.. Hilger feeling very much elated over
his success, they were told it was "A heat
race and so must go again. Objections
were all overruled and again they came
down the track, heaving like a quarter
horse on a mile stretch. Mr.. Hilger win
ming, he demanded his potatoes, but Mr..
Swope told him he must go to the ranch
four miles distant and dig them. More oh.
iections, but to- no avail. The afternoons
entertainment was iuterspersed by music.
vocal and instrumental, furnished by the
Box Elder quartette, consisting of the
Misses Fergus and Misses Cook. assisted by
several gentleman.
All were glad to have some more refresh
ments, substantial and appetizing, which
were served in the prettiest manner by the
prettiest girls etc, etc. A horse race was
then run between several COW horses, in the
first heat OF which Chas. Halls horse, mis-
taking it for "a hurdle race, jumped over a
cart, tipping it completely over and throw
ing Charley some twenty feet. Will Fergus
was declared the winner and was paid the
purse OF SO. Dancing commenced at 9p. IN.
and lasted until the last couple were ex-
hausted. The partitions had been taken
out of Mr.. Cooks residence, making an
abundance Of room for the merry dancers.
The,music consisted ofMr. Garlick on a three
stringed violin and Charlie Chance on an
accordian, assisted by the Fergus boys on
mouth organs. Mason Gudgel was expected
but failed to appear. A grand repast was
served at midnight.
About 1 a. m. of Wednesday a recess
was taken and a foot race for ladies run
The distance was 20 yards and five entrees
were made. The first and second heats
we're declared no go on account OF the win
ner jumping the track, but after two more
trials Miss Lizzie Cook carried off the hon
ors and a purse of So. Each runner wal
entitled to a small purse. Soon after tn,
crowd began to dispense, each party o
ladies being accompanied by an escort o
some dozen boys who followed them to tn,
turn of the road, there waiting till the last
view had passed away and the dust agar
settled on Mother Earth.
The attendance was about 122, As coupl,
sitting down to first table, 16 lonely gen
tlemen later, and thirty-six children undel
six years OF age being in at the finish. Al
Join in extending their appreciation OF tn,
festivities and feel they can never repay
for the good time given them.