The Bozeman courier., 1927-12-09

Erratic weather. changeable and dis
agreeable, which has marked the open
ing of the present winter, falls far short
of the weather of the winters OF 1851
81 and 1SS6-87, but gives rise to
thought as to whether the weather Will
be repetition of those years, 1t was
stated by City Treasurer w. p. Wren,
of Great Falls, a resident of Montana
since 1878.
The last summer, according to City
Treasurer Wren, was what might be
termed a 'summerless summer" and was
characterized by torrential rains in the
south and eastern states, cyclones, hur-
ricanes and disasters.
'In the winter of 188O-81," said Mr.
Wren, 81 was living at Fort Benton.
consider the winter that year much worse
than that in 1867 although the loss
to cattlemen and sheepmen was much
worse during the latter winter for the
reason there were more cattle ana sheep
in Montana at that time.
1.-The snow and cold weather started
early in November, 1880, and practically
no change was noted until February,
1881. On Nov. II the Shonkin river
south Of Fort Benton, froze over solid
and by Nov. "a the Missouri river was
frozen over at Fort Benton, although this
river was frozen entirely and closed on
Nov. 18 between Buford and Bismarck.
! "On Nov. "a, the thermometer at Ben
ton read 80 degrees below zero. Early in
December a chinook appeared, lasting
for a few days, but taking of little
snow. During the latter part Of Decem-
Der the signal service thermometer reg
istered SO degrees below, while the gov
ernment thermometer at Fort AsSinni-
boine registered 65 below, For perioc
Of 80 days the thermometer registered ar
average from 80 to As degrees below.
Fuel Exhausted
-, rrTTacAfnr1 Df fire
in Fort Benton became serious. Wagon
pulled by from IL to IA mules anc
horses were sent to the Castner Goa
mines near Belt for coal, but owing tt
the deep snow and severe weather the,
could not return. What little wood wa
on hand sold for $25 a cord and brusl
cut from the river bottoms brought BIZ
} prices. Murphy, Mel & Company at tina
time tore down fences around its proper
} ty to secure fuel to keep goods from
freezing. A quantity Of musty smoke'
; bacon was cut into slabs and used 70
: fuel.
"One reason that this winter is YER
vivid in my mind is that I was out in
e a good part Of the time. On one occasion
had to make trip to Sun River an
when I left Fort Benton the thermOm
eter was as degrees below zero. Bef0r
leaving I purchased a heavy buffalo Goa
: at Herbert Nathan's store, and also Sc
Cucu q ScdlcAAA SssPs q bAS WAAC 4Ca1Ac
D belt, buffalo shoes, leggings and over
. shoes.
E 'I reached Sun River and on my re
t turn met a Jerky coach about or
Q / o'clock in the morning. 1t was still
= degrees below zero. The coach had bU
Y single passenger and so secured a rid
d We drove down to the sun River station
where horses were changed, and ha
p breakfast with Ed Reinicke. At 8 in th
morning we started for Benton and wei
c. due there that night, but instead Of al
irving anywhere near on schedule tin
IS the first night we found ourselves on ii
2. prairie about where Frozen hill is, mort
{, of Great Falls.
c, THE snow was 30 deep all over u
t county that It was impossible to hold Il
& road, the driver following telegraph lin
e and poles running between Fort Bentc
t. and Fort Shaw. We finally struck u