The Republican journal., 1902-12-11
A BELFAST BOY IN MONTANA.

periences of a former Belfast boy OH
ranch in Montana. Early in September,
on a raw, windy day, l arrived in the
town of Big Timber, Montana. 1t has
population of about 800 and is situated
in the south central part of the State
near a spur of the Rockies called Crazy
mountains. The most notable thing l
saw during my brief visit here was the
number Of stones scattered all over the
ground and ranging in size from that of
a base ball to a bushel basket. They
were perfectly smooth and nearly round.
! spoke of its being windy on my arriv-
al. but have since been informed that
it was very mild during my stay; that
there are days when the smaller sized
stones are blown from place to place
and pedestrians in crossing the street
are obliged to 60 on hands and knees.
sometimes have thought that perhaps
that position might not be altogether
due to the wind, but it certainly is a
breezy town. After a short wait, an
hour or two, at Big Timber, l started
for the ranch, II miles away and in due
season arrived i'll good condition. The
ranch Where | am stopping is situated
on small river, or as they say here
''crick, known as the SWeetgrass. The
name is derived, Lam told, from
species of grass growing along it's banks
which has a peculiarly sweet flavor. 1t
is very pleasant stream. The water
is clear and cold and entirely free from
atkah. 1t abounds in trout, and | have
enjoyed tie catching of several fine
strings since my arrival. They are of
the spotted, mountain variety, and the
average length is about 10 inches, al
though numbers are caught 90 inches in
length and weighing as high as lbs.
The country around is very broken,
being a series of hills, gullies and
benches OF table lands These for the
most part are covered with a short
curly grass, which looks dry and worth
less TO the inexperienced, but which is
very nutritious and satisfying for stock,
pa)tjcU arly sheep. The hillsides are
p8lticu arly adapted for winter range.
as the SNOW remains on but a short
time, owing to the warmth of the sun
and the chinook winds which blow from
the Pacific ocean. The principal crop
here is alfalfa, raised entirely by irliga-
ton, and which is becoming each year
more Of a factor Ill raising stock. as the
country is taken up and range is becom
ing scarce.
The crops raised here are about the
same as III Maine, with the exception
of corn and fruit Corn can not be
raised on account of the early frosts.
and the soil does not seem to be adapted
for the raising Of fruits The climate
is decidedly healthful, although there
are very sudden and pronounced changes
i'll temperature, the mercury often reg
istering change of 80 degrees in TWEEN
ty-fOur hours, and the writer has seen
the thermometer showing the mercury
t't L'p VpSl III ele sun DIT D. ILL.,, ana
that night ice formed on the shallow
water Of the creek. Yet one feels light
and springy, and when one wakes in the
morning instead of that heavy, tired
feeling, they are rested and wide awake.
and feel like moving about at once.
While the work at times is quite hard
there are amusing incidents continually
happening, particularly to ''Pilgrim,"
or 'Ienderfoot, as q newcomer to the
country is called. One of the writer's
earlier experiences of this kind was
with what is known as a prickly pear
This is cactus which grows wild
throughout this section. l. has pear
shaped body and grows in clusters
ranging in size from one to three feet
in diameter, They are covered with a
horn-hke spur about as large and as
sharp as a needle, and from one-half to
one and one-half inches i'll length. These
Will penetrate ordinary shoe leather as
easily as a needle does cloth. The
morning after | came here was walk
ing over the range with friend, and
knowing nothing of the nature of the
plant carelessly planted my foot right
in the midst of a bed of them | at
once sat down and proceeded with the
drawing | did not say much, but
thought very similar to what certain
former resident of Belfast is said to
have thought when his wife afflicted
him with the pressboard. CHANGING up
at my friend | noticed broad smile on
his face and came to the conclusion
that he was enjoying the affair, if |
was not. | am not able to state the
number Of spills | extracted, but am
satisfied that with another experience
of this sort shall be thoroughly fitted
to open dental parlors. There is a story
told of an absent-minded party whom
we will call Mrs. S., Who while camping
out with party Of friends, was telling
a very interesting anecdote During
the telling she became somewhat ex-
cited and arose from where she was
sitting to emphasize some OF the parts