The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-09
An Experience in the Early Days
of the State.
he DIDN'T BUY THE HORSE
The Police Raid a Game OF Stud Poker
in Bozeman-Two Actors Were
Caught in the Drag
Net.

busters TO get pilgrim on the back
of an unbroken horse, or worse still,
one that has been ridden a few times
and just knows enough to buck right
good and hard. This was the case more
especially when the West was younger
than it is now. and when the ranges
were covered with herds of cattle and
punches Of horses that roamed as suit
ed their own sweet will where now the
rancher sows his grain and reaps boun-
teous harvests every year. The days Of
the large herds of cattle and horses are
rapidly waning and it will not be very
many years before the cowpuncher and
horse wrangler will be relegated to the
rear ranks.
In the sos there were two brothers by
the name of Travers. the elder of whom
was called "Chit" and the other Wal
ter These two men owned large bands
of horses and dealt in and traded stock
all over the West. At one time they
carried on their operations in Denver.
Colo, and later in Virginia City and
other places in Montana.
One day, soon after his arrival In this
country, in the year 1868, Rev. George
Comfort, the well-known pioneer Meth
this morning for a. trip through the
Southern states and other places), re-
ceived a call from Chit Travers. The
Rev. Mr.. Comfort came to the door of
his log cabin parsonage in Helena and
greeted his visitor with a Good morn
ing, brother; what can l do for your"
Chit replied: Elder hear you want
to buy nice saddle pony. / have one
here that l think will just suit you. He
is young and tough and will carry you
untfl-well, parson, he's darn tough"
The reverend gentleman put on his hat
and went out to inspect the animal. He
found two or three of Chit's chums out
side, one of whom was holding a dark
brown 4-year-old gelding who was pos
sessed of wicked looking eye. This
horse had probably been ridden a couple
or three times and was in good bucking
condition. Mr.. Comfort said he did not
think he wanted the horse, as he did
not seem to have a grave enough de-
meanor for clerical mount. The boys,
however. insisted he was perfectly gem
tie and his looks belied his actions, and
wanted the minister to get on and take
ride to try his gaits. After much talk
and a great deal of persuasion the rev.
erend gentleman at last consented to
get into the saddle. With couple of
the boys holding the animal the preach
er mounted, but scarcely had he couch
ed the saddle before the boys jumped
back and the horse jumped up. With
one foot out of the stirrup and the
other in, the worthy parson, like John
Gilpin, went down the street, holding
on to everything in sight and looking
for soft spot to light. The broncho
bucked and bucked and bucked. said
the worthy man, and it seemed to me
the only thing i could do was to stay
with him. i felt like the man Who was
told he mustn't fall off, and who an
swered that he had all he could do to
hold on without thinking of anything
else The horse finally bucked himself
tired and stopped for breath. This was
an opportunity to be grasped without
delay and the worthy gentleman climb
ed down with avidity. The boys then
came up and congratulated him upon
his good craftsmanship, and "Chit" told
him when he got tired of preaching and
needed little recreation to come to his
place and he would give him job of
breaking, but he could not prevail upon
Mr. Comfort to buy the horse, for evil
IDENTIFY he wasn't a godly horse, but
seemed possessed of the devil. Neither
has the reverend gentleman during all
the years of his sojourn in Montana be-
come SO much in need of a change as to
accept 'Chit's" invitation, so graciously
extended.
On Monday night, or rather Tuesday
morning, Policemen Jack Robinson and
w. Sipes made little raid on the back
room of the Bozeman hotel bar and
caught four men engaged in a quiet
little game of stud poker A young
man from the country had come to
town and 1t appears he was anxious to
get into a little game himself. He saw
these men playing and asked to be al
lowed to join them, but they refused.
He then went out and saw the police
men and the gang was taken in. The
victims We're two travelling men and
two show men of Hoyt's Midnight
Bell' company. who gave their names
as A. B. Stewart, Jack Rowland, A.
=. Steele and John R. Yate. They were
taken before Judge Mcpherson, after
having spent a few hours in the city
bastile and were put under $50 bonds
for their appearance. 1t is stated that
they all left town to-day and also
left their bonds, or rather cash, which
has sWelled the treasury of Gallatin
county some $780, and it is doubtful
question whether they will return for
the. trial next Monday or not. 1t was
quite amusing to see these four gentle
, men in spotless white shirts and ties
lining up in the city Jail and taking
their medicine like little men, though
hot under the self-same collars. Two
of the Midnight Bell troupe were
bailed out by the united efforts of the
manager and the other members of the
company and the two travelling men,
one of whom is travelling for well
known Chicago firm, put up their own
stuff. The county attorney, w. r. (,
Stewart Judge A. D. Mcpherson and
several others lost great deal of sleep,
the poker players their money and a
bottle of whiskey. and the proprietor
of the Bozeman bar his temper, lot
of chips and table.
1t is a common saying that the wheels
of justice are SLOW" A gentleman by the
name of Max Braunner can tell a diff
ferent story. A week ago last Satur-
day he borrowed" for the time be-
ing, hat, coat and other apparel from
a man at Chestnut. That evening the
officers of the law apprehended the said
Max In Livingston and on Saturday of
last week he was sentenced to three
months In the county jail for petit lar
ceny. Braunner evidently believes in
the old Jewish law of IAN eye for an
eye and tooth for tooth" He told
the sheriff some one had stolen a lot of
Iii.