The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-26
CHASE AFTER A HORSE THIEF
Montana Stock inspectors Adventure
AlOng the Canadian Border.
From the Anaconda Standard.

From the Anaconda Standard.
John W. Collins. stock inspector. Sheriff
Gibson Of Jefferson county and Sheriff kadell
OF Madison county arrived in Butte yesterday
from an exciting chase after q horse thief
in Canada They had thrilling adventure.
but were forced to come back without their
man. fellow named Bert Smith. who for
years lived and prospered near the junction
Of Jefferson, Madison and Gallatin counties.
Several warrants were sworn out for Smith,
and the officers have been trying to locate
him for q month or six weeks. Some days ago
they ascertained that he had located on
ranch in Canada, about fifty miles north Of
the boundary on Willow Creek. at the foot Of
Cypress Mountain. With that information
In their possession Sheriffs Kadell and Gibson
and Inspector Collins started out last Monday
to get the alleged horse thief. Reaching the
Canadian line they were required to engage
the services Of guide and mounted police
man. When they reached a point on Sage
Creek, about fifteen miles from Smiths new
ranch, they accidentally came upon q horse
with pack tied In the brush. About that
time the guide left the party and went to Z
ranch Of . man named Bob Lawrence about
two miles away. Lawrence himself soon
appeared, and the officers learned that the
pack horse belonged to their man Smith
When the three officers came within about
500 yards Of the ran oh house man on horse
back shot out of the coulee In which the house
was built and went at full speed away from
the officers. He had q good start before
Collins recognized the man as Smith. The
horses ridden by Collins and Kadell were al
ready faded. but Collins started after the
fleeing Smith.
After running short distance. the inspeo-
tors horse got stuck In an alksli coulee and
he was compelled to dismount. He saw
that the horse thief was getting away. and he
unlimbered his rifle. dropped on one knee
and began sending bullets after Smith. While
Collins was shooting at Smith the latter's
wife, unknown to Collins at the time. was
standing In the doorway Of her cabin with
Winchester ready to drop Collins should no
succeed in bringing Smith down. The latter.
however. seemed to bear a charmed life. for
none OF the bullets from Collins's rifetouohed
him. The inspector got his horse In action
again and renewed the chase. following the
horse thief for fully twelve miles. The
mounted policeman. who was on q fresh horse,
did not seem inclined to make hard race,
and he begged Collins not to shoot. inform
ing him that 1t was against the laws Of Canada
to kill a horse thief.
The inspector offered the policeman 500
II he would head Smith OF and bring him
within rife shot. but the Canadian oficer
did not want to make 500 that way. Collins
finally got within about 900 yards Of Smith,
when his horse again gave out and stopped
short. Theri6e was again brought into ac-
ton, and on the second shot the horse OF
Smith suddenly turned half about and dashed
down ravine into the timbers and brush
That was tho last I saw Of Smith. said
Collins yesterday. but he will never bother
that portion Of Canada again. and will never
venture back into Montana. There is Q re-
ward OF $500 for him In Canada. and there
-Srs snumSey' Of wayrantc here ter .hin,. .,,,...
Collins returned to the Smith ranch with
Sheriff Kadell, where they examined q mum.
Der Of horses and recognized several that had
been stolen and At least nine hesd on which
however. gould not take the animals. and
they. came back empty handed.
That man Collins 10 getting too fresh"
said Mrs. Smith to Sheriff Kaden while the
latter vas waiting for the return Of Collins
hulband would have dropped him, and she
hooked a. II she meant II, end the Winchester
- int0ntiofA