The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1904-03-26

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lives in the Painted Woods neigh.
borhood brought into Washburn q
fine specimen of a Bob cat which
he had found dead in the woods
after a severe fight with it's mate.
1t is supposed that the cat, driven
to desperation by hunger, had en-
gagged in the fight which had cost
the animal its life. These animals
used to be quite plentiful in this
county along the river, but during
the later years they seem to have
disappeared. The specimen secured
by Mr.. Merry was a fine one and
was quite large.
Many encouraging reports from
around different sections Of the
county have been received the.past
week to the effect that a large crop
will be planted this year-larger in
fact, than in former years. Farmers
believe that this is the year Of a
bumper crop and that the prices
will be much better for the pro-
ducts Of the farm and range. The
seed time is near at hand and we
are informed that the ground will
have plenty of moisture-more then
in former years. A large acreage
will be soon to fax and corn, which
has become a recognized crop, will
come in for its usual large acreage,
while wheat and other small grain
the usual acreage will be planted,
In the storm of Sunday, which
was one of the worst that we have
had this winter in parts of the
county. Rev. Peterson, who had
preaching appointments out in the
Turtle Lake district, informs US
that out in that section the storm
vas most severe and that he was
not able to fill his appointments to
preach. Reports from different
sections of the county are the
same regarding the storm, While
the wind blew quite hard here the
forenoon but by IL O'Clock water
from the fast melting snow was
running down through the streets.
It vas rather a peculiar incident,
with a blizzard raging all around,
and the people of Washburn con-
graduating themselves that the
snow was disappearing so fast. 1t
must be that we live in a favored
section.
The prisoner, who escaped from
Jail last Friday evening was cap.
tured fourteen miles south of Man
dan Sunday and is now confined in
the Bismarck Jail. Graham is a
large, well built man and one who
would not hesitate to commit a
more serious crime to escape from
his present surroundings. His
manner of escape was about the
same as that Of Smith, by pulling
out one of the iron bars in the win
dow at the northwest corner of the
Jail, and escape was then easy. The
Jail is not a secure one and the
Sheriff has always used more than
ordinary precautions to prevent es.
cape of prisoners confined to his
care. The Jail is a poorly arranged
affair, there being but one room on
the ground floor, with q row of cells
on the south side which are used
to confine the prisoners during
night and during the day time the
prisoners are let out in the main
corridor for recreation. In the
main corridor there are three win
dews on the north and all that
keeps the prisoners from escaping
through these windows is some
iron bars fastened on the outside.
The Jail isa poorly arranged affair
and the county should see to it
that a more modern building is fur
nished for the safe keeping of the
prisoners confined in The county.
No blame rests on Sheriff Gradin
as he has taken all the precaution
necessary to prevent escapes.
We almost forgot to tell the joke
on the young man residing here in
Washburn and who was interested
in the way the rotary snow pillow
performed it's work in the heavy
cuts along the railroad line. Tt
was one Of those. bright days in
February, after one of the heavy
storms, and this section of the state
had been cut off from the outside
world, that word had been received
that a rotary snow pillow had been
secured by the railroad company
to raise the blockade. Along about
noon smoke from the pillow could be
seen in thu distance and came near
and nearer until within five miles
Of Washburn and the young man
became so anxious to see the huge
that he hitched up his
team and accompanied by two
Of our young ladies', started out to
see the pillow work. In the mean
time the pillow had broken down and
had started on it's return trip to
Wilton, and the young man still
keeping his eye on the smoke (?),
lrove on notnoticing that the pillow
vas going the other way, but he