The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-06-27
ALDERMAN THoRsoN NEARLY
SEES THE ANGELS.
WAY TO WATER WAS LONG
veracious Travelling MANS contribu-
ton to Drought stories-New Word
E%nrichens English Language.
ON Wednesdays Daily Gazette.

from Wednesdays Daily Gazette.
7 Alderman Thorson and Oleus Mel
son are congratulating themselves and
one another today that they are still
alive, instead of being cold, clammy
corpses, awaiting the last ministra-
ton of friends. y
Yesterday afternoon they visited
Mi. Nelson's ranch, about five miles
up the valley, and, were overtaken
by a storm. They sought shelter for
themselves and team, and while en-
gagged in putting the latter into the
barn had an experience which they
do not a r to repeat and which for
a few minutes caused them to be
somewhat uncertain as to whether
they were still alive o. had passed be-
yond the veil. They had driven into
the yard and both had gotten out of
the wagon. Mr.. Nelson was in the act
of closing the gate, when a vivid
flash of lightning almost blinded
them, and Mr.. Thorson felt himself
grow dizzy and almost fell to the
ground. Mr.. Nelson, who still had
hold of the gate, found himself un-
able to- let go and began to execute
an impromptu danse du ventre and
his gyrations were such that not
withstanding the latter's partially daz-
ed condition, the alderman could not
refrain from laughing and wonder
ing if "Ole" had already caught on
to the latest in celestial terpsichorean
diversion. A flock of geese nearby
also, received a share of the lightning,
which seemed to be running amuck
and several of them were keeled over.
In a few moments both men and fowls
had recovered and apparently were
lone the worse for their close touch
with infinity.
Some were townsmen and a few
others were strangers and they were
seated in one of the hotels spinning
yarns. Finally the conversation drift
ed onto the subject of droughts and
several told some ""tall ones" con-
corning their experiences in various
parts of the arid regions. After about
all who cared to- contribute had been
heard, a drummer" related n that
ended the session.
"A few years ago." he said, II was
driving across one of the counties in
North Dakota, on my way to a small
town, when l met a man hauling
water. Where do you get the water
1 asked him.
"Dcwn the road about eight miles,
he replied.
"'You don't mean to say that you
haul water eight miles for your fam
lily and stock l asked.
That's just what l mean, strang-
err" was the reply. =.
well, why in the blazes don't you
dig a well?' l asked him.
Because it's just as fur one way
as it's mother, stranger and the man
drove on"
A new, but expressive word has
been coined and promises to soon be-
come as popular as some of the other
additions to the language made in
recent years. A travelling man from
the west is responsible for it's intro
duction in these parts. He but re-
Gently visited British Columbia and
found that all of the big fish came
les have combined and in telling
about it said they had been "Mor-
~ganeered," his way of designating a
merger. The salmon trust is. not a
big one, though, for the man said it
had a capital of only $4,000, 900. The
principal idea is said to be the saving
of the by-products, which heretofore
have been allowed to go to waste.
The real product, in his opinion will
consist Of the usual chunk of fish
chucked into a can of grease.