Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-05-20
RECORD BREAKING STORM
SWEEPS OVER THE State
Snow Fall in Lewistown Was More Than Two Feet
Though No Severe Losses Reported - Mois-
ture nuch Needed - Loss of Lambs
and Calves Almost Total i'm Teton.

SonsiueIius tue tline VI year, ohe vi
the worst storms in the history of
Lewistown and vicinity. visited this
section Sunday, Monday and Tues
day. Preparation for the storm began
Saturday afternoon and evening. and
old-timers predicted that there was
going to be a blow" pretty quickly.
The storm proper started in Lewis
town about A o'clock Sunday morning,
first with a light, cold rain, which
soon turned into wet snow. All
day Sunday the showing continued,
the fierce northwest wind making it
doubly disagreeable. Sunday night
saw no cessation of the snow and
wind and Monday morning there were
several inches of snow on the ground
and it was still falling heavily. Sew
eral stock men who happened to be
in this city expressed grave fears
and telephoned about the country for
reports from outside places, but moth
ing definite could be heard that day
Monday night was one of the worst
ever experienced here. The wind
blew a gale, drifting the fast falling
snow and carrying destruction to all
vegetation not adequately covered or
protected. Tuesday morning the
snow was drifted, in some places to
a depth of three and four feet. The
showing continued until noon, grad
ually stacking up towards evening
and ceasing altogether about five
o'clock.
The situation looked worse than
ever to the stock men and the pre-
diction was made that from 25 to so
per cent. of the lambs would be lost.
In the afternoon the Argus telephon-
ed to all of the principal points in the
county and the reports were far less
discouraging than it was thought they
could be.
In Maiden snow was three feet deep
in the street and the coach was I'M
able to leave there, but stock in the
vicinity had Jared tolerably well, no
great losses having been reported.
In Kendall there were two feet Of
snow and locomotlon was seriously
impeded, otherwise no particular
damage was done.
The report from Armells states that
though there will be considerable
loss in that section from the storm,
the good resulting from the moisture
will about counteract the effect of the
storm.
j. d. Waite received a message
from his sheep foreman at Deerfield
stating that out of seven bands the
loss of lambs had been $50 for Mon
day and Tuesday night. Counting
the losses which necessarily resulted
Tuesday and last night, the loss will
not be more than 500 lambs, which
Mr.. Waite considers pretty lucky.
In Utica. at the time of hearing
yesterday, Waite & Elliott's loss
amounted to about 25 lambs to the
band.
From Garneill comparatively small
losses are reported. They had little
snow in that section and the foreman
of Len Lewis big outfit says that
their losses from the storm were but
nominal.
II. p. Imislund, of Grass Range, 40
miles east Of this city, states that
there were about two inches Of snow
in that section, but they had consid-
erable rain and the stock men are
jubilant at the breaking of the drouth,
which has prevailed down that way
all spring and practically all winter.
The losses from the storm will not
exceed 20 per cent. and likely a re-
count of the losses will show that
they are not so large as that. Most
of the losses reported were of stock.
which were SO weak from lack OF
feed and water as to be unable to
withstand the cold wind which accom-
panied the train. On eastward to-
ward the river little or no snow fell
and the losses from the cold rain will
be small.
Generally speaking, the storm will
not do nearly the damage in this
county that was feared Tuesday night.
A loss of 20 per cent. is a high esti-
mate, and the good which will result
Tn the stock men before the summer