Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1929-01-31

ure state to Police station in Smoky
City; Is Looking for Long Lost Sister
President-elcct Herbert Hoover and
Col. Charles a. Lindbergh are not the
only American messengers of good VIII.
The names of Billy MOorecraft of Ana
conda, and his canine companion. Mag
| gle, are now entitled to mention in
! the same category. At the present time
both are sojourning in Pittsburgh, Pa,
where they are guests of the Steel city's
constabulary.
Bill and Maggie are well known char
acters in the vale of the big stack, ana
for that matter in Butte n several
other western Montana communities.
When Bill read in the paper OF the real
import Of Colonel Lindbergh's trip to
Europe, ne apparently decided it would
not be amiss if he and Maggie, as rep
resentatives of Anaconda, pay a similar
| call to the realm of industry and manu-
facture in Pennsylvania. While the SUB
1ect is one of conjecture, 1t is also pos
sible that Bits actions may have influ-
enced P~resident-elect Hoover in making
his trip to South America,
Travellers Well Received
However, that is neither here nor there.
The fact remains that Bill and Maggie
reached Pittsburgh the early part OF last
week, and Immediately made their pres
ence known by applying for lodging at
the Forty-third street police station. The
police appeared overwhelmed on being
able to enact the role Of hosts to such
distinguished company, and Immediately
assigned them quarters, gave a banquet
in their honor, presented Bill With a
purse, and then to make certain that the
world might know of who was in their
midst, called in a reporter and camera
NAN Tho fn11nuinn dow tho pittch1trrh
papers carried a two column cut OF Bill
and his pal, and an account OF then
journey.
1t was this account that set at rest
the fears OF Anaconda peace officers as
to the whereabouts and safety of the
two old cronies. Neither had applied for
accommodations at the Anaconda Jail this
winter, and SO far as Chief Cullen can
remember it is the first time in more
than a quarter-century that such a thing
has happened.
The picture appearing in the Pitts
burgh papers carries the following cap
ton: William Moorecraft and his canine
pal, Maggie, registered contentment as
they faced the camera man last night
in the Forty third street police station.
Bill had sandwiches and coffee. Maggie
had roast beef. Bill came here from
Montana to seek a long lost sister, he old
police when he applied for lodging for
two"
Under the double column headline of
Man hikes from Montana to find his
sister here" the paper prints the fol-
lowing accoun Of BiI's journey:
"Bill and Maggie didn't mind the cold
last night. They ate their fill and slept
coundly in the Forty-third street police
station. 1t would be hard to say whether
Maggie, the part Russian wolfhound, or
her master, William Moorecraft, 70-odd,
a former southside millworker and since
1883 a smelter plant employee at n
conda. Mont, was the more appreciative
OF Pittsburgh police hospitality.
Probably Bill had the edge on his
canin pal, having been assured OF new
help in his hitherto fruitless search for
his long lost sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Nc
Combs. wife Of John McCombs, last heard
OF by Bill more than five years ago. She
then lived in Westmoreland county,
somewhere in the vicinity of Parnassus,
Puckety creek or New Kensington.
TO Desk Sergeant Raymond Miller,
who took the odd pair in for the night
and took up a collection among the po-
licemen about the station to provide the
ono guests with food and coffee, Bill
confided the story of his hike-without
asking for or accepting a single ride, he
said-from Anaconda to Pittsburgh.
Last May, Bill said, he and Maggie
started out alone.
II had $500 when l started. said Bill.
but It's all gone now We stopped at
hotels sometimes and when we felt like
1t we built a fire and camped along the
road. II / could just find Sister Lizzie,
| know she would be glad to see us. She'd
be sure to like Maggie. That's a mighty
line dog, mister, and as good n pal as an
old fellow ike me ever had"