The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1934-02-09
AT least 5000 antelope were then

At least 5000 antelope were then
ranging the Centennial valley. One
could see antelope at any time of day
and as rode about the widely scat
tered punches of cattle antelope were
never far distant. Fol meat we de-
pended on the antelope, as it is better
than elk or deer, but occasionally some
one would kill a deer or an elk for a
change; these animals were on either
side Of the valley in considerable num-
bers. On the night Jim and I reached
camp the other boys were talking OF
one antelope which all had been try
ing to kill ever since they had come in
to the valley. This animal had one
regular prong but the other was de-
formed so that it resembled a bulls
horn somewhat. It wa my luck on the
next day to kill hat antelope, and I
still have his head, which is the largest
I have ever seen. The same day on the
northerly side of the river Charley Met
eel killed the largest blacktail deer any
of us had ever seen, This deer had
"antlers like a sage brush" The head
shows 19 prongs, and there are 38 points
over an inch long. This trophy has
been exhibited at the Worlds fair
1899, the Louisiana Purchase EXPOSE
ton 5000, at our State fair and else
where, always winning first prize.
Riding herd was not at all difficult.
The only irksome part of the work
was to stay in camp to keep a band of
Indians in the valley from stealing
everything, while the other boys were
away. We had lots of fun, plenty OF
bad horses to ride (none of which l
rode), and many thrilling exhibitions in
the morning. We also had tremendous
appetites. There were nine Of us, and
one evening Ben Hatfield with four
others came in and camped nearby
We ate a hearty supper aud went over
to the Hatfield camp, distant probably
a hundred feet, to spend the evening.
After we had been there about an hour
someone-it probably was Ben, though
doubtless he will deny it-suggested
that he was hungry. One of u boys
, said that the kid-referring to me-had
killed a fat doe the day before, and he
thought some of that would taste
: pretty good if roasted over the fire.
u The suggestion met with unanimous
approval. The doe, which was hang
ing from a quaking asp, was skinned,
? and parts of the loin were cut away,
, roasted over the fire, and eaten. The
: flavor of the fire with a little salt added
) rendered the meat delicious. AS the
Z evening drew on, the eating continued
{ until the carcass was stripped of meat.
The group ate that entire antelope ex-
cept the bones, after dinnerl
+ When it came time to brand, Jim Will
}, liams and I with the running gears OF
the wagon hauled sufficient timber tc
e build a large corral in which the nine
: Of us !>canGed between four and five
hundred calves for the different own
ers. This task completed, I returned tc
2 the home ranch with the wagon, kill
} ing a fat antelope on the way.
: : The range did not look good in late
:. September, 1886, although no n an
) ticipated that the most disastrous win
: ter in the history of cattle raising ir
!. Montana wa about to ensue. During
. that winter, in parts of Montana great
= herds of cattle were wiped out entirely
It was in the early part of 1887 that
y Charley Russell sent the famous mes
S sage to Stadler and kaufman, his en-
e ployers in Helena, THE Last of Five
S Thousand" The winter, which com
menced early, was severe from the
I start; the n was deep; and there
was little chance for cattle upon the
n range. In our valley the fodder in thu
fields was soon exhausted, and the hay.
. stacks rapidly melted away.
When February LIST arrived, Captain
Williams foresaw that unless there wa:
- a break in the weather, most Of the cat
tie would starve to death. The uppel
fields were practically barren, and tht
. cattle were placed in the lower field
which adjoins the Fuller Springs prop
- erty. He went there on foot, a distance
= of a mile and a half, every day to tn
spect the starving brutes, often con
tinuing to the saloon at Fuller Springs
e where he sought to drown his sorrow
When he arrived at home, tired and dis
e couraged, and with liquor on his breath
his condition was not commented OF
" with favor.
About the middle of the month h
|. went to Virginia City, where he talket
with Henry Filing, the banker, bu
" there was no use in doing that. Ha.
= was not to be bought even if the firm
credit would have been deemed suf
:. ficient for an additional loan. Whethe
Captain Williams then had in his min,
the idea Of ending it all ne one vii
ever know, but he purchased an ounc
bottle of laudanum. He returned to tn
y ranch, where conditions were dali
a growing worse.
a On February Goth it started to snoy
y heavily, and continued the next day
On that day, the 21st, he went to tn
lower field, where the cattle were hump
ed up with their heads to the GROUND
- starving to death. The sno was fall
L ing heavily. HI rounded a. dense CHM