The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-04-22
Millions OF Wild Geese Pass Over
Helena Toward the Frozen
North.
The Beautiful Sight Witnessed by
People Out Early In the
Morning.
1t signified the EARLY Advent Of Weather
somewhat More LAMB Like In
Its Tone.

lhose who were on the streets Of Helena
at an early hour yesterday morning wit
messed sight and heard serenade that il
Ia given to them to hear but rarely. 1t was
the time for the spring migration OF wild
geese TO the northwn,d which occurs an
nually between the Goth day of March and
the last day of April. This year tho geese
came near taking all the time that was
allowed them. Now that they have passed
over and are winRinR their way toward the
frozen north, the inhabitants OF this Iati-
tude feel that tho long delayed spring
weather is due. For the wild goose is gen.
orally looked upon az better prognosti-
Gator OF warm weather than the signal SER
vice branch OF ths agricultural department.
Ordinarily the flight OF the millions OF
wild geese through the air would have at
tiacted very little attention. They usually
fly so high that they cannot be seen.
though their discordant "honk" can bs
heard. The goose. whether wild or domes-
tic. has been put down as a very stupid
fowl. In reality he is quite intelligent.
This is shown in the method of their flight,
1t is made in regular battalion-like order.
Each individual goose keeps its place in
the ranks. male leader at tho head of the
triangle. When he 10 tired he retires to the
rear and another takes the leading and
most fatiguing position at the apex of the
line o: flight. There is method even in
the triangular shape of the column as it
sails through the air. 1t is the form
which offers the least resistance to the NOV.
ing mass.
Had 1T not been for the lights Of the CITY
making bright circle many hundreds OF
feet into the air, it is not likely that the
migration of the wild geese would have
been noticeable event. Perhaps, the pas
sage over Helena taking place at night, il
might not even have bsen known. But il
was known, and from midnight until She
first break Of day the skies over head seemed
to be. filled with the psculia -ly distinct
''honk" OF the wild geese. The lights OF
the city had evidently caught their eyes.
They were either blinded by the reflection
or else curiosity got the better of them.
Whichever it WAS the column of march,
was broken right here, and the immense
flock WAS broken into bunches. the intel
llieencs of the supposedly stupid goose
broken and scattered by an unex pected
assault; and still it was not quite like it.
The fragments of such an army under such
circumstances would very likely have
scattered in every direction, and it would
have required good leader to have ever
gotten them together again. With the
geese it WAS only matter of getting to-
Rether again. In bunches of from ten to
thirty. sometimes in the shape OF wedge,
at others in the form Of a crescent, they cir
cled around and around Helena. Each
individual goose seemed to think it incum-
could. SO as to attract the attention of the
other bands. Now and then one or two
would get separated from the bunch and
then their cries and those Of their former
companions were terrific until they got to-
gether again and all sailed around in search
of the others.
Outlined against the big blue black dome
Of tho sky the sight was an interesting and
pretty one. 1t was not starlight night.
Now and then the man with his head
thrown back and his eyes directed upward
would see silvery line cross the heavens.
It was travelling like meteor. and bat for
the noise that came from it might have
been taken for fine Aim Of cloud hurried
along on stiff breeze at a great height.
At times some OF the bands fsw very low,
so low that it was possible to make out the
shapes and count the numbers in line.
Along toward dsybrsak the scattered
bands. after crossing and recrossing each
other hundreds of times, gradually began to
get together. Instead of ten or twenty or
thirty there were hundreds together. Az
night wore away the bands OF hundreds in
creased to thousands. At the first sign of
day break the thousands found the other
thousands. and as the lights went out
there was one wild chorus of "honks'
which sounded like "hallelujah" and the
immense flock once more got its bearings
and scared away toward "the utmost polar
point. amid the silent desolation OF uu-
known countries. shut out from the prying
eye of man by everlasting and inseparable
har arsiarn 0f ica3 -