The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-01-13

Fort Benton River Press: We notice
that several of our Montana contem-
poraries are engaged in a hog story
contest. the regular pork harvest sea-
son giving the opportunity for report
ing the size of the crop in their respec-
tive localities. The first news of alb
normal pork production came from
LewiStown, the size of the return, If
we remember correctly, being $50
pounds to the carcass, which was fol-
lowed by news from Choteau to the
effect that a Teton county hog had
beaten that record by several pounds.
Then Judge Strevell of Miles City
topped off the record with something
little more hefty than the Teton
county phenomenon, and the Judge was
subsequently knocked out by Andy
Gilsdorf of Billings with a Poland Chi
ma that dressed a few ounces over 513
pounds. Mr.. Gilsdorf has 25 witnesses
to prove the truth of his allegation.
each of whom can also attest to the
edibility of the pork
The Billings record remained unchal-
lenged for several days, but eventually
Messrs. Cox e. Pyle of Dillon came to
the front with a 3-year-old Poland
China that is said to have dressed 547
pounds even. and its owners are pre-
pared to make an affidavit TO this
effect before a notary public whose
commission has expired. This Dillon
hog, so far as we can learn. holds the
blue ribbon for dressed weight against
any porker that has been killed in
Montana this season.
We fear, however. that the triumph
of Messrs. Cox & Pyle of Dillon will
not be of long duration. We believe
the pork championship of Montana
will soon be claimed and awarded to
Col. Bob Sutherlin of Meagher county.
1t is reported that Colonel Sutherlin,
editor of the Rocky Mountain Hus-
bandman. is holding his prize hog until
all his competitors have been heard
from, and will then floor them with
a knockout hog story that will make
their heads swim.
About the time the present national
administration came into power. "a sub
scriber to the Husbandman approach
ed Colonel Sutherlin with a juvenile
pig which he desired to cash in on ac-
count. The shoat was a rusty. sorrow
full looking member of the hog family
so small and thin that a knot was tied
in his tail to keep him from getting
through the cracks in the hog pen, but
fhe experienced eye of Mr.. Sutherlin
detected in that emaciated frame a
wonderful capacity for meat produc-
ton, and in return for a properly exc
cuted bill of sale the original owner Of
that shoat was given a receipt for $50
on account. A corner of MIR. Suther-
Inns experimental farm was then en-
closed and a, suitable residence for his
new acquisition was constructed, and
the work of the greatest pork produc-
ton on record commenced.
After treating the shoat to a course
of medicine designed TO eradicate mi
crobes and other enemies of meat pro-
duction, good health and rapid devel-
opnent, Colonel Sutherlin arranged a
daily bill of fare for the animal upon
the lines of the Daily Hints to House
keepers" presented regularly in the
Helena Independent. The diet consist
ed largely of prize cabbages, rutaba-
gas, squash and other agricultural
bric-a-brac contributed by subscribers
TO the Husbandman who desired to see
their names in print to which was
added large consignments of seed corn
and other truck received from Secre-
taTy Morton. of the department of ag-
riculture, and occasional chunks of
roller composition from the Husband
man office. That hog just rolled in
luxuries, and at the end of two years
had grown to splendid proportions.
As the hog grew, Colonel Sutherlin
became more and more interested in
his pork producing enterprise. Flesh
producing food OF all kinds was pur-
chased regardless OF expense, and the
porker encouraged by every known
means to gorge himself to the limit.
In the quiet hours of night. even. the
fattening process was FASTENED by Civ
ing the sleeping hog a hypodermic in
lection of nutriment. which, we be-
lieve, is not permitted by the rules
governing such competitions.
When last heard from. Colonel Suth-
erlin's hog was too fat and heavy to
respond to the sound Of the dinner
bell. and his meals had to be taken
into his room. At present he measures
some seven feet from nose to tail is
four feet high. measures three feet
across the shoulders and. according 10
Colonel Sutherlin's calculations. will
dress about esq pounds. His owners
is to top the record with half
a ton of solid pork. which will proba-
bly, defy competition from Helena or
any ether preteatious rival