The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-09-12
ATTENDANCE CONTINUES TO
GROW EACH DAY.
MOI, on The PROGRAMME
Yesterdays Visitors Entertained BY
an Impromptu But Highly Anus
ing Feature.
IrDm Thursdays Daily Gazette.

Xr0m Thursdays Daily Gazette.
/Yesterday afternoon the attend
ance at the fair was much larger than
the day before, and everything seem
ed tc be better in proportion. About
l,50O people viewed the races and
there was not a vacant seat in the
grand stand. Every available space
along the fence of the track was TAX
en- up with people in, carriages,
wagons and busses and on horse
back. The wind, which had almost
spoiled, the races Tuesday, was not
so bad, there being only cool, In
vigorating breeze until the races
were almost over. when the dust fill.
6Xthe air again ssssa
~ distinctly western feature yester-
day afternoon was the roping and ty-
ing down of some Texas steers. The
steers were enclosed at the west end
OF the grounds in pen and were let
onto the track one at a time by about
a score Of cowboys and Indians. who
were competing in the contest. AS
each steer was turned loose, cow
boy or Indian chosen from the party
would pursue him and would try to
rope and tie him down. The Indians
made failure of the attempt, their
horses being poorly trained for the
business, Even after they would get
their ropes on the steers. and had
thrown them, they would be unable to
tie the animals down, as theirshorses
would not do their share and !seep
the ropes taut so as to enable the
riders to dismount and tie the steers
feet. The cowboys, too, seemed to
have an ''off day." Their horses be-
haved better than those of the In
dians, but the men appeared nervous
before the large crowd. Men, who
on the range would have a steer roped
and tied down in minute, made sew
eral fruitless attempts to capture an
animal and would generally finish by
allowing the steer to jump the fence
and escape.
An incident not on the programme
furnished more amusement and ex-
citement for the crowd than any Of
the "events.' A gaunt red and white
Texas steer that had eluded the riata
and leaped the barrier surrounding
the paddock like an Irish steeplechas-
er, made a further break for free
dom andf broke out of the grounds.
He then made for the bluffs north of
the city, and was making rapid time
in his effort to- reach free range. The
committee offered him as prize to
the Indians should they capture him.
Half a dozen young bucks set off
in the chase and followed the fugi-
tive among the rocks where most
riders would have deemed the route
inaccessible, and the chase was in
sight of the spectators for over a
mile. Texas cattle after a season
on tue Montana ranges become as
fleet as deer, and this animal was
evidently 'desirous of breaking all rec
ords.5 He was finally captured, how
ever, and driven to the Grow camp,
where he was converted into beef
without delay and quickly consumed.
Visitors should not overlook the
poultry exhibits which will be found
around Floral hall, on the west side
Frank Meyer is the superintendent
of the exhibits and is always glad to
show visitors around and explain the
particular merits of the various fowls.
On the right side of the building the
first thing to attract the observers
attention is fine display of ducks
and geese, which are shown in COM
modious cages. Next will be seen
cages containing turkeys of different
varieties. "A pair of pea fowls and a
pair of their young make a pleasant
diversion from the commoner vari-
eties Of fowls. Amcng the differt
varieties of chickens are Brown Leg
horns, Buff Leghorns, Plymouth
Rock. Bantam, Antilusian, Buff
Cochin. etc. Two kind of Guinea
fowls are also shown.
Saddle for Smith.