Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-06-03
WILL HAVE A
RECORD CROP
A Prosperous Outlook for Grass In
Valley county-Reeent Rains
Beneficial to Ranches.
SOME EFFECTS OF THE STORM
Sage Hens, Prairie Dogs and Jack
Rabbits Killed-Stoek Losses
viii Not be Heavy.

II. II. Nelson returned yesterday
morning from Valley county, where
he had spent a few days in looking
after his live stock interests. He re-
ports an unusually great rainfall In
that part of the state. and a great
hay crOp seems assured.
Il rode over the prairie for rs miles
yesterday" he said, lin one Of the
heaviest rain storms | ever saw. |
had a heavy canvas coat and rubber
laprobe. but | got wet; a jacket OF
steel would not have turned that rain.
II came down so fast that a man
would be soaked before he could turn
up his coat collar. and on top Of the
hills. where II is almost level, the wa
ter stood in pools, having come down
faster than it could run of.
They have had great rains in that
vicinity almost continuously for the
last ten days. Around Malta, the rain
seemed to have been accompanied by
high winds, for the grass was beaten
down, but from Saco to Glasgow the
rain, while as heavy, came generally,
and the country does not have that
beaten appearance.
II saw what ] had never seen be-
fore-sage hens, prairie dogs, small
birds and even jack rabbits, all killed
by the rains. The people there say
there was no hail, and | presume that
the animals were chilled to death by
the long exposure to the cold rains.
There was not much snow In that
county. and | could not learn of any
serious losses of live stock. II seems
that there should be a great crop of
hay through all that section. The
grass was late in starting to grow,
but It is coming fast now, and with
anything like an ordinary season, the
crop should be greater than that OF
last year, which was a record-break.
err"
When Mr.. Nelson left Malta. at
noon, all was In readiness for the
first shearing Of the season, at Ketch.
ans plant. The start there was To
be made on w. X. Spencer's band OF
$500. T. C.. Powers band Of 1900
will be next, and this one plant will
shear. in all, 8 5000 head, while two
other plants there will shear 100000
head or r
Friday night the residents on the
flats heard a laundering of hoofs
which made them think of kingdom
come. says the Malta Enterprise. Rain
and darkness prevented their seeing
much, but the trembling OF the earth
the locking of horns and a great cho
rus of believing informed them of the
presence of a stray herd OF cattle.
Saturday morning there were 1,50'
head in the fields OF Messrs. Clark
Kenyon, Stevens and Dubois. The,
had drifted with the storm from tn,
vicinity of Dodson, breaking d0wI
fences in their stampede. leaving theiI
dead along the trail. A party of horse
men drove them on to the range dur
ing the day. Monday a roundup party
with camping outfit went to Cotto
wood to sort and drive them to theil
Owl feldS.
DIR. Clay started for w. r. Specneris
on Sun Prairie. Friday afternoon. tc
prescribe for Mrs. Spencer. The dis
lance is about so miles. with no house
between Spencer's and Malta. Wher
he got well onto the prairie he en-
countered a stretch of miles under one
to two feet of water, which barred his
progress. He camped or the prairie
all night. Daylight convinced hin
he could not proceed. He came bach
home and started out early agar
Sunday morning. A daughter wa.
added to w. RS possessions.
Sam Dodge couldn't make his re
turn trip to Phillips with the mail
owing TO high creeks. He got Their,
fiDally.-Helena Record.