The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-10
SIGNS OF A MILD WINTER
Unless Indications Fail 1t Will
Be Unusually So.
ALL THE PROPHETS SAY so
Uncle Sans Predictions Verified by Scar
Face Billy-How These Oracles
Are Thus Able to Foretell
the Future

Unless all signs fail, the coming Win
ter will be one of exceptional mildness,
says the Chicago Chronicle. Not only
are the conditions such as to inspire the
rangers and sheepherders with hope
that the things of last winter will have
no place in the economy of nature this
winter, but the glad tidings have swept
from the eastern slope of the Rockies to
the Atlantic seaboard. The prophets
who foretell by reason of second sight
are unit that the mild, springlike win
ter will spread itself like blanket all
over the states. From 'Scarface Billy
Of Deadwood to Uncle Sammy Mills,
prophet of Honey Creek township, Vigo
county, Indiana, the same style of pre-
dictions comes in. 1t is sure to be an.
open winter.
Uncle Sans unattached army of
weather prophets is hard at work. Hi
force of accredited weather observers
is also at work trying to tell just what
may be looked for in this matter of
what the winter will bring forth In
case of the former time is no element
in the scope of their predictions, but
with the latter all is limited to, say,
two days at this season. The scientific
observers say they should be consid-
cred eminent in their line if they can
give a man the right thing to steer by
for As hours before it happens. Such
babyish limitations are scorned by
those who know things by signs ap-
proved for many years by themselves
and their predecessors.
People Don't Know What to Do.
Now these extensive predictions ex-
tensive in the territory they cover
are so persistent that city people ac-
customed to relying on the official
charts given out by the tower man who
runs the interlocking weather switch
for the upper lake region are in some
doubt just what to do. Does ordinary
prudence enjoin the purchase of
heavy overcOat, or can one depend up
on the outpourings of Scar Face?"
That is very serious matter, especially
when taken in conjunction with the
prediction of Uncle Sammy Mills that
nobody need worry this winter about
the number of tons of coal he should
lay in. In order to discover whether
or not the tower man is ready to re-
flute or back up the sayings of the wise
men visit was made to the clouds
above the Auditorium. There it was
learned that no official observer is rude
enough to give out prediction which
will stand for more than two days.
1t is just this way remarked the
chief observer: 1--WE take our orders
tists-we admit this--we feel that as
matter of discipline it would be in bad
taste for any station observer to give
out a prediction to cover more time
than suggested in the most recent gen
eral order. We take. the public into
our confidence in all that we do, SO I
might be confidential and tsay that
some of US can fix the weather. for a
goodish spell. But Professor Moore
does not hold this opinion, SO We of
course, do not extraordinarily. Re
garding the position of the department
on this burning question I will quote
to you from the chiefs best prediction.
He says
I" 1T is the dream of the meteorological
that some day he will be able to accu-
rately forecast the weather weeks and
months in advance. But SO far this
liked only in dream. What a wonder
ful conservation of human energy
would result were it possible to tell a
farmer when the great wheat and corn
belts would have abundant rain dur
ing the next growing season. or when
drouths would parch the vegetation.
He Cautions tho Public.
" At the present time l know no sci
entific man who essays to make long
ldiiSt weather ana WOULD
especially caution the public against
the imposture of charlatans and astro-
loglsts who simply prey upon the cred
ulity of the people. 1 believe
it impossible for anyone to-day to make
forecast based upon any principles
OF physical or upon any empirical rule
in meteorology for a greater period
than one or two days in winter or two
or three days in summer, and there are
times in winter when the movements
or air conditions are so rapid that it
is extremely difficult to forecast even
for the space of one day
Now, that is what Professor Moore
says, and, of course, it goes in this sta
ton. Hence when you ask if we are
to have mild, open winter I simply
fall back on that official statement and
remark that I'm blest if l know"
But this same Scar Face Billy is
an oracle of fame in the parts he lives
IN. He derives his name from brief
argument he had years ago with a
rival prophet concerning the impend-
ency of a blizzard out in the Black,
Hills. Billy-he was plain Billy then
argued with his guns while his rival
used a bowie. In the eagerness of the
argument the opponent tattooed Billy's
countenance in right Indian fashion,
While Billy rendered him like a sieve.
Billy won the argument, but at the ex.
pense of what little natural beauty he
had had. He fingered for weeks and
months on the hair line of the big di-
vide but finally stopped at the peak
of the ridge. He got well, in other
words, and from that day to this his
predictions are not controverted.
From Cowboy to Prophet.
Prior to this encounter the Scar
Face" had been hard-working and
ard-drinking cowboy. He rustled for