The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1926-11-05

Charlie, show MI. and Mrs. Ashby what
you can do He took a piece of black wax
from his pocket and made a little horse
which we kept for years"
At Helena, Miller Outfitted for the trek
overland to his ranch, and, after a two
weeks sOjOurn in the Capital city, they
started out for the Basin country. In re-
counting this trip to a frined a few years
ago, Mr.. Russell said:
Quits His First Montana Job
w did not stay over two weeks in Hell
ena and bought a four horse team and wa
gOn. The leaders were brown saddle
horses were not the best but a fellow could
ride them. We started for the Judith B8-
sin via Diamond, White Sulphur Springs
and Judith Gap. Jack Waite and Pike had
sheep and my first job in Montana was
herding them. ] wasn't much of a success.
You see, it was like this. l didn't think the
boys had money enough to keep me sup
plied-as 1 could lose the ID things
me. Then Pike and l had a row about a
saddle horse and / found that there was
a lob herding horses at the stage station,
so l quit. Before l could put in my apph-
cation, however, Pike dOuble-crOssed me
by seeing the party first and telling them
that l was no good. Part Of it was true,
for l will confess now that I was a bum
sheep herder."
When young Russell severed his bust
ness connection with Pike Miller he had
two horses, a black mare and an Indian
pinto pony. This latter horse was none
other than Monte, the famous pinto that
lived with Russell for lmOst thirty years,
and which he purchased from the Blaekfeet
when he and Miller and gone to the reser-
walton on a h~Orse-buying trip. This was
though, all that the boy owned outside OF
a few blankets. He had no money and nc
provisions, but he feariessly started Out
to make his own way in his new world.
At that time the Judith Basin was far
from the railroad and one of the least civ.
~ g. AHnnR
were opening up the camp OF Maiden aAC
there were a few cattle outfits beginning
to operate in what is now Fergus county
Where the city of LewistoWn now STANDS
was only a trading pOst-Reed's Fort GOlS
had been struck the year before in YOg'
Gulch and a lively camp was coming int
existence at the head Of YOgO creek, whicl
forms the North fork of the Judith river
Russell, who possessed a proud n indie
pendent spirit, took his two horses and hi
one pair Of blankets and travelled a shor
distance up the Judith river, where. b
struck camp.
1t was late in the afternoon when he no
lticed in the distance a hOrseman, with tW
or three pack horses. The stranger wa
riding down the road along the river banl
1 and presently came to the spot where Tn
youth had spread his blankets Russo
made no advances to become ~aequainteC
= but after unsaddling his riding horse an
n unpacking the others, the stranger Wake
! over and surveyed the Onesome-lOokln
chap who was sitting smoking a cigarett
4 Russell Finds q Friend
"Hello, Kid" said the stranger, where
your grub and camp OUTFIT
4 Haven't got any," replied Russell.
& Ibid you eat at nOOn?" inquired q
\ man, who wore buckskin breaches and
1 1Ow-crOwned wide-brimmed felt hat; Wa
' rather short Of stature, but POWERFUL
a built; and had black hair and a blaC
Y mOustache.
"NO,' replied Russell.
''WeIl," said the stranger, you'd be
n come over and eat with me. Elk meatn {
/, pretty good on an empty belly. NIL new