davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Fort Peck press., 1935-10-31

artificial and widespread use of the
smut the group felt that Roadway could
be made in the campaign to control the
grass. 1t was suggested that investiga-
tlonal work on cheat grass shutting be
carried on.
F. B. Linfield, dean of agriculture
and director of the agricultural expert
ment station, who presided at the meet
ing, said the college is working out
plans to investigate the life history of
the plant and its distribution over the
state. Tests are planned, he said,
through which it is hoped to delay the
spread OF the grass into noninfested
areas.
Needles developed by cheat grass.
committee members said, become lodged
in the mouth or throat cells of the
animals and form growths.
Those attending the session, in addi-
ton to MI. Linfield and DR.. Gardiner,
were w. H. Hoover of Great Falls,
president of the North Montana Here
ford association; Murray E. Stebbins,
secretary of the Montana Woolgrowers
association; E. F. Gait, stockman and
vice president of the First National
at Great Falls; Charles Anceney
and t. B.. Story, Gallatin county stock
men; A. H. Post and L. P. Reitz, agron-
Of the experiment station; Sam
Sloan, extension agronomist, and H. c..
l~tretsven, extension dairy specialist.
The Fort Peck press., 1935-10-31
CHEAT GRASS Is
DAMAGING RANGE
AGGRESSIVE CAMPAIGN is BEING
PLANNED TO COMBAT GRASS IN
FORESTS AND ON RANGES
MONTANA STATE COLLEGE)

MONTANA STATE COLLEGE)
Plans for waging an aggressive
campaign against "cheat" grass, a
pest that threatens to take Montana
range land and is adding to the fire
hazard on range land and national
forests, were outlined at a recent
meeting of a committee representing
Montana cattle and sheep men and
officials of Montana State college.
The problem, which was brought to
the attention of Secretary of Agri-
culture Wallace on his recent trip
through the state, will be presented
to officials of the United States de-
partment of agriculture, it was de-
cided at the meeting. Assistance of
the government will be asked in
combating the menace.
DR.. H. G. Gardiner of Anaconda, well
known Montana sheepman, told the
group that Downy bronze grass, or cheat
grass, is spreading at an alarming rate.
In the opinion of stockmen, the pest
is taking the range lands irrespective
of methods of grazing. Large patches
of the grass are now found in the ma
tional forests and along railroads and
highways. An instance was cited at
the meeting where 10000 acres of range
land was burned out this year due pri-
marily to this grass.
The committee suggested that the
smut control method be developed. The
grass. it was said, may be controlled
With a smut it develops and through
The Fort Peck press., 1935-10-31
.CLENDENIN PUT
ARKER ON MAP
DISTRICT SUFFERED DISADVAN-
TAGE OF BEING FAR FROM RE-
DUCTION WORKS
(By GRACE STONE COATES,

10y Gf0ACE SIONE COAlES)
Not much work was done in the
Barker mining district for a year
after the first big discovery claims
were staked. 1t was quartz district,
and hard to develop. To the faith of
a few men, capitalists or those able
to interest capital, the ultimate de-
velOpment of the camp was due.
Among these men was Col. George
CIendenin, Jr. In 1880, when things
locked d~iscOuraging for the new camp,
the colonel not only announced his
faith in the Barker mines, but went
east to Chicago and Boston and sue
ceeded in enlisting capital from those
cities. He organized the Clendenin
Mining and Smelling company, and
bought out the interests Of "Buck"
Barker, with Hughes of the
discovery claim. The company built
a smeIter, and the Colonel devoted
much time to the development of the
district
The Barker district suffered the dis
advantage of being far from any re-
duction works, or any other camp. So,
until a mill was built for the reduction
of it's ores, everything was at a stand
still. Before the end of 1881, 200 tons
of ore had been crushed and roasted,
and by the middle of January, 1882,
a blast furnace was in operation.
The Clendenin Mining and Smelling
company secured the services of N. A.
Ross, who supervised the building of
the Smelter, and its operation. The
Smelter was ready for operation in
record time-four months, after it was
financed. 1t was nc simple matter of
ordering materials and having them
delivered or the ground. Ross put up
a sawmill to cut his own timber; burn
ed his own bricks; made roads for haul
supplies; put up the necessary
buildings for housing his men; and did
the thousand things that an alert man
can see to do. He did his work right,
and when the belts were set and the
wheels began turning, there was no
need to stop operations for repairs or
'emodeling machinery. The mill had a
capacity of 10 tons a day, and it was
designed for expansion to double that
as soon as the second roast
ng furnace was completed.
1t took several bull trains to load out
he bullion when the smelter was rum
full blast. MI. Ross estimated
he bullion at $3.50 a ton. AS soon as
me smelter was RUNNING, there was
ak of starting others. BY the end of
881 there were 300 to 400 persons in
he camp, and prospects of double that
opulation the following summer.
But the camp was too far from q
to compete with the camps
Don to ship direct, needing no crack
f a mule SINNERS or bullWhacker's
ash. Barker, older than Neihart, yield
d precedence to that camp. In ten
ears there was not much to be said of
'arker except that the ore was there,
nd sometime things would come right
)r its development.
The Fort Peck press., 1935-10-31
9TH CAVALRY ON
CANNON CREEK
JOHN BURKMAN WAS MEMBER OF
CLUSTERS COMPANY; DID NOT
TAKE PART IN BATTLE

(By GLENDOLIN DAMON WAGNER
John Burkman, nicknamed by
General Custer, "OId Nutriment,"
died a few years ago in Billings, by
his own hands, to rid the world, he
said, of some rubbish. There had
been a time, however, so years ago,
when John deemed himself, not rub
bish, not only dog-tender for Gus
ter, but his friend as well.
They quarreled and made up the
h~ot-tempered officer and his irate
humble, loyal soldier-servant, shared
dangers and hardships, speaking
a last word of farewell the morning
of the 25th of June, 1876, when Custer
rode away, broad-rimmed hat Hopping,
red tie fluttering, to his death, while
Burkman perforce remained with Nc
Dougal and the pack train. Bitter
sweet memories of the past, when he
and the general were young, tinged
Johns last days. Mrs. Custer says of
him: "Burkman lived in a world by
himself, with little in common with his
comrades. Nothing moved him to a
His horizon encompaSSed some dogs,
horses, Miss Libby" and a fiery,
young officer. Apart from
Custer and his family John counted
two friends, to whom he remained loyal
in memory long after their death-the
carpenter and the blacksmith of the
Seventh cavalry.
During the time the Seventh under
camped at Fort Lincoln in South
The Fort Peck press., 1935-10-31

to bear them up to Custer hill and place
them besides their comrades. For days
he labored, constructing a wagon box,
draping it with the American flag and
trying, unsucceSSfully, to find a guidOn
of the Seventh for it, since the vehicle
which was to carry troopers of the
Seventh to their last resting place must
be seemly in appearance.
His task completed, he drove the Is
miles to Horse Thief Cache on Can
non creek and gazed about, ~bewildered,
disheartened. Things had changed
since that exciting day almost 80 years
ago. Calamity James dugout was
empty. There we're human bones a.
plenty to bring back memories of the
battle. But nothing to tell John which
might once have been the two men he
called his friends, the blacksmith and
the carpenter. And SO, in his empty,
rattling, flag-drapped wagon, old John
made the weary return journey to Bill
lngs, defeated.
Others, however, accomplished what
John in all his loving fealty, failed to
do. Jimmie Yearns, who still farms
On Cannon creek, and who, as a boy
of IA, helped bury the dead on Custer
hill, received a commission from Wash
ington to remove the bodies of troopers
of the Seventh from Sturgis battlefield
and inter them, with military honors,
on Clusters hill.
Nameless, white marble slabs, inscrib-
ed, merely: "a Soldier OF The Seventh
Cavalry marks their graves on the
sunny slope beside comrades who met
death three years earlier.
John was deeply gratified. No where
else, he believed, could there be rest for
q Seventh cavalry soldier save on
tragic Custer hill. Today there is still
another white marble slab added to
the long rows, and inscribed: John
He too has joined his
comrades who more than half a CEN
Jury ago, laughing, joking, haunting
John because he must stay with the
pack train, rode gayly away, down into
he valley of the Little Big Horn, and
over the ridge where hordes of Sioux
md Cheyenne awaited them.
The Fort Peck press., 1935-10-31

thaw them. They lived on meat,
straight.
If they thought they were out of
Indian territory they were mistaken.
Following a bear, one day, Cochran
ran into a war party of 40. He had
his repeating rifle with him, a Henry
rifle that had cost him $3.50 and in this
case meant his life to him. Six In
dians jumped him, and he made for a
coulee. He got behind a tree, and
watched Indians to the number of 40
wait for him to shoot. They weren't
yet familiar with a repeating rifle, and
as soon as he had fired they rushed
him. He kept on shooting until they
took for cover. Men at the fort heard
the shooting and came to Cochran's
rescue.
They shook the Indians off and got
to the wolfers' camp, but dared not
light a fire or betray their where
abOuts. There were Indians every
where. Food was getting scarce. They
put their guns and powder on a log
and swan the Musselshell; but still In
dians were all around them. One of
the men, Armstrong, was shot and died
that day. They stayed with him to the
end. After six days without food or
fire, they made their way back to Fort
Peck. AS a souvenir of that encounter /
he carried an ugly arrow wound in the
back of his neck. His buckskin shirt
saved his life, but he began to wonder
whether the life of a wolfer was worth
He quit wolfing, and drifted
down the river to Fort Union and
farther, though his life in Montana
vas by no means over.
The Fort Peck press., 1935-10-31

Dakota, John and the two were bunl
mates. They sometimes went FISHING
or hunting together. He shared will
them whatever condolences his tact.
turnity might permit. The three were
together during the last march from
Fort Lincoln up the Rosebud to the
Little Big Horn, and they shared the
nerve torturing, three-day vigil on Reno
hill, surrounded by Indians, wondering
where Custer was, why Custer didn't
come to their relief.
the Seventh under General Sturgis at
tackled the rear guard of Chief Joseph's
force, and the memorable Sturgis battle
enSued. That Was at Cannon creek,
about 18 miles from Billings, on a level
spot beneath the butte known as Horse
Thief Cache, where Calamity Jane
dwelt for a time in her dugout, with two
of the horse thieves, O'Neil and Fallon,
for neighbors. 1t is said that after
the battle Calamity Jane, wild woman
of the West, who could be both harsh
and tender, rough and mild, rode all
the way to Livingston with the wound
ed and nursed them back to health.
1t is said, also, that just before the
battle, a scout, crouching p%rudently be-
hind a rock, saw a long procession of
oodOCly, UIOWll-ohllll1CQ WdlIlOlS WtllO-
ing its solemn way down Cannon
creek, led by Chief Joseph. Each
warrior was wearing, besides the Gus
tomary ~breechclOth and mOccasinS, a
tall, stiff, black hat, doubtless flaunt-
ing those shining silk hats with more
dignity than would the intended own
ers.
1t appears that Chief Joseph, on his
way to meet Gen. Sturgis, had held up
and robbed a stage coach, rifling the
mail bags but disdained the loot save
the magnificent opera hats.
Many of the Seventh were wounded
in that hotly contested fight which was
to decide for all time the fate of the
les, the regimental blacksmith and the
carpenter, were killed. The dead,
as was the cas- on Custer hill, were
buried along the flat and on
he side of the butte, in shallow graves.
Many years passed and, in the rush
It civilizations progress, the graves of
hose who had given their lives to
make the West safe for that civilization,
we're forgotten by all, possibly except
John. He had taken up residence in
Billings, living in a, little shack, earn
ng his bread doing odd jobs on other
lawns, borrowing from the
the UnrlllS, Cne adventures, Cne
that tempered his desolated
~xistence. Not until the spring of 1906
rought heavy rains and Willful Can
.on creek, on a rampage, changed its
curse, did it's rushing torrent, gouging
ut of earth once stained with blood
f palefaces and red, reveal the grue-
remains Of what had once been
len-forgotten men, soldiers of the t
eventh who had fallen under the rain
f Chief Joseph's bullets. |
John was an old nan now. When t
ews of the dissertation of the graves
f his friends came to him he decided E
The Fort Peck press., 1935-10-31

Graca Stona Co,tas eT, ana neaQeQ north
His party had starteC
for Gold creek, but word reached then
OF the big strike at Bannack, and there
they went. Cochran reached Ban.
mack in October, 1862.
The promising claims at Bannack
GraSShopper diggings, had been staked
SO he followed the Virginia CITY STAN
pede. He was shut out at Alder gulch
but located pay dirt in Bevins guIch
In August he knew he had a fortune.
Nineteen years old, and on his way to
riches. That season he cleaned up $780,
600.
1t IS young men who know what
money is for. Cochran spent his $780,
O00 that winter. And having made his
fortune and consumed it, he went to
work at what offered itself-Wolfer.
scout, freighter, messenger.
In 1866, he went to work for the
Northwest Fur Trading company. He
was at home along the Missouri, for
river life was an old story to him. He
helped build Fort Hawley, a fort on the
north side of the Missouri somewhat
east of Carroll, and the next year was
employed at Fort Peck. His first hos
tile encounter with Indians occurred at
Fort Peck. A party OF the boys had
gone out after buffalo. The Indians
heard the shooting and ambushed them.
The hunters made a tough stand, held
the Indians off until dark, and man
aged to get through, and back to Fort
Peck; but Cochran carried a bullet in
his leg. 1t didn't make him love In
dams.
This was a period when the Indians
still held the forlorn hope of holding
their age-old hunting grounds against
the entertainments of cattlemen and
settlers. If they made an example of
the whites they caught, it would dis
courage others from intruding, they
thought. Every day was a day of adj
venture. The stories Cochran had
heard on the deck of his fathers "Pem- ,
oina" were coming true. At morning
It was a toSsup whether the men would
alive by night; at night, a question
whether the sun would find them alive.
next day. W~oodchoppers were busy
supplying the river boats with fuel, and
he Indians were busy cleaning up the
,hoppers. One young chap was missed.
They found his body not far from the
'ort. his head split open. Two men
hay disappeared. The naked
,ody of n was found, scalped; but no
race of the other could be found.
Will Ille IeCKleSS, WaSCeIul Killing OF
'uffalo to clear the plains for white
cattle, c~arcasses were left where
hey fell, and wolves came in numbers.
Voting was a profitable occupation-
f the Indians didn't find victims in
tead of the wolfers. In 1867, Cochran
vent with two companions to Tiger
'uttes, for wolves. They found wolves
4 plenty; SO many that they hired men
D skin the ~carcasses. AS cold weather
anne on, they piled the bodies in great
lcks, where they froze. They skinned
hat they could before freezing, and
1T the rest until warn weather would !
The Fort Peck press., 1935-10-31
Income Tax Dodgers
Must Remit Double

Notices to all who have not filed
state income tax returns for 1884 are
being sent out by the state board of
equalization, it was announced by John
j. Walsh, supervisor of the income tax
department.
Unless these delinquent returns are
made to the board soon, the law pro-
vides that the amount due shall be
doubled. Already there is a penalty of
So, the minimum, on returns not filed,
under the law.
The Fort Peck press., 1935-10-31
Neu Drink Named
for Gin eddinqs

They're dishing out a new drink over
the bars-pardon us, we mean soda
fountains-of Butte these days. It's
potent, and a growing favorite of the
members of the younger set whose ro-
names have been somewhat blighted
since Dan Cupid left Montana July l.
The new ~cOncotion is named after
the muddled health" marriage law.
They call it the gin fizzle.
The Fort Peck press., 1935-10-31

wits, and the fearless
use OF his fists; and
her these were not
enough, a keen eye and
a steady finger on the
trigger. This raining
stood a man in good
stead if tales of the
golden West lured him
from the river. For
Billie Cochran the I'M
known West won over
the known glamor of a
Mississippi river boat.
In 1862, he crossed the
plains to Salt Lake
over the old Bridger
trail. He heard of gold
strikes on Salmon riv-
The Fort Peck press., 1935-10-31

The state beer control board has re-
ceived letters from several eastern Mon
tana communities inquiring if there is
any law which prohibits beer parlors
being established within 1000 feet of
churches. The board has replied that
there is no such restriction.
The Fort Peck press., 1935-10-31
BILLIE COCHRAN.
INDIAN FIGHTER
CLEANED UP $4,000 ONE SEASON
IN BEVINS GULCH; BECAME
WOLFER AND TRAPPER
(By GRACE STONE COATES)

Up and down the Mississippi river
between st. Louis and st. Paul piled
Captain Cochran's steamboat, the
"Pembina," and on the deck, with all
the privileges of the captains son,
played and worked and listened
young Billie Cochran. What he
heard was talk of a wonderful cOun-
try to the west, where there was gold
for the mining, and excitement and
adventure "a hours a day.
The river life was a rough one, and it
,ook stamina for a man to last in it,
1t trained a lad to the quick use of his
The Fort Peck press., 1935-10-31

An appropriation of $845, 900 has
been set aside for the purchase of new
planes for the air corps reserve in
1886.
The Fort Peck press., 1935-10-31

At least 80 huge tWin-motored trans
port planes Of American construction
are operating on European airlines.
Smyrna times., 1935-08-29
STATE CAPITAL
NEWS BUDGET
Personal Items and Social
Mention About Dover Folks
and Their DOings
PARTIES OF THE WEEK

Dover, Aug. 29.-Word has been
received from Mr.. and Mrs. John
Dinquid. of Baltimore, of the birth
of a son, Sunday, August IL. Mrs.
Dinquid will be remembered as
Miss Myrla Powell, a former mem
ber of the Dover public school fac
ulty.
! Mrs. Alexander M. Daily is i'm
proving following a major opera
ton, performed Tuesday at the
Kent General Hospital.
Mr.. and Mrs. John B. Smithe-
man and son Edward, have been
occupying a cottage at kits Ham
mock.
Judge and Mrs. Earl D. Wiley
are on a motor trip to various
points in Canada until after Labor
Day.
/ Mrs. M Hayes Wilson has been
spending several days at Westmin-
ster, Md, with her mother, Mrs.
/ Denton S. Gehr. She went for the
funeral of her young niece, the
daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. King
Gehr.
Miss Dorothea Wharton of Phil
adelphia, has been the guest of Mr..
and Mrs. Lyle T. Maybee last
week. On Wednesday evening, Mrs
Cecil del. Harbordt was hostess at
dinner in her honor.
MISS Betty Gooden. daughter of
Mr.. and Mrs. G.. Leslie Gooden
spent last week at kits Ham
mock with Mrs. c. Burton Sypherd
and daughter, Edith Sypherd.
Miss Nellie Cooper has returned
to her home in Philadelphia follow
ing visit with Mrs. Margaret
/ Peterson.
Mrs. w. Oakman Hay, Jr., and
small daughter, Mary Hughes Hay,
who have been with her parents,
Mr.. and Mrs. James H. Hughes for
several weeks, returned Monday, to
their home in New York City, ac-
companied by Mr.. Hay, who joined
! them over the week-ends.
Mrs. Charles M. Wharton has re-
turned from Pigeon Cove, Mass.
where she has been spending the
past month.
Miss Bertha Smithers of Smyrna
and Baltimore, has been visiting
Miss Dora Wilds.
Miss Laura Shorb of Wilmington
who spends the week-ends with her
parents, MIR. and Mrs. Charles c.
Shorb, will entertain at a buffet
supper this evening at her home on
North State street.
Miss Jean Salmons, daughter of
Mrs. Esther Salmons has been the
Smyrna times., 1935-08-29

Hilyard.
Mr.. and Mrs. Irwin Murray OF
Chester, Pa, spent Sunday with
Mr.. and Mrs. John Numbers.
Miss Nellie Cooper, of Philadel-
phia; Miss Alice Taylor and Mrs
Margaret Peterson, Dover, spen:
last Wednesday with Mrs. Edward
Hughes and family.
Mr.. and Mrs. John Titus ano
granddaughter Mary Ellen, of Will
mington, spent Sunday with Mrs
Addie G. Arthurs and family.
Mrs. Bessie Ely and daughter
Jane Lee, of Bryn Mawr, Pa, have
been visiting Miss Emily Arthurs
and family. Miss Emily Arthurs
has returned from a visit with
Jane Lee.
The Ladies Aid Society will
meet with Mrs. Laura Downes or
Wednesday evening. September 4
The Home Missionary Society
met with Mrs. John Jacobs last
Thursday evening.
Mr.. S. G. Walker and Mr.. Mil.
bourne Wiley motored to Whining
ton on Tuesday.
Mrs. Elizabeth Hughes spent last
Thursday with Mrs. Jennie Taylor
and Miss Alice Taylor.
Smyrna times., 1935-08-29
LIVE TAYLORS
BRIDGE ITEMS
Items of Community Interest
Cleaned From Around
ThOroughfare Neck
NEWS AND PERSONALS

Taylor's Bridge, Aug. 29.-Miss
Maggie Warner spent last week
with her aunt and uncle, Mr.. and
Mrs. Leo Bason.
Mr.. and Mrs. G. Arthur CHM
spent Thursday at White Crystal
Beach.
Mr.. Samuel Keiser of Philadel-
phia, spent the weekend with Mr..
and Mrs. Wilson Keiser.
Mr.. and Mrs. William McShay
and fanny, and Mr.. James McEvoy
of Philadelphia, are visiting Mr..
and Mrs. Walker Warner.
Mr.. and Mrs. Robert Davidson
are receiving congratulations on
the birth of a daughter on Friday.
The baby has been named Shirley
Ann,
Mr.. and Mrs Rosenberg and son
of Baltimore, Md. are visiting her
sister, Mrs. Eugene Deakyne and
Mr.. Deakyne.
Mr.. and Mrs. Carence johnson
and family, spent Sunday at Toll
chester, Md.
Mr.. and Mrs. Wilson Keiser and
Mr.. Samuel Keiser of Philadelphia,
spent last Sunday with Mr.. and
Mrs. Harry Keiser.
Mr.. and Mrs. Walter Wearm of
Aberdeen, Nd, spent Sunday with
Mr.. and Mrs. ]. E. Latta.
| Misses Jeanette and Virginia
Latta of Marshallton, spent sever
a days last week with their grand
parents, Mr.. and Mrs. j. E. Latta
and aunt and uncle Mr.. and Mrs.
Clarence Johnson.
Russell Gardner of Smyrna, spent
several days last week with Jack
/ Dukes.
I Mr.. and Mrs. Delbert Steller and
sons and Mr.. and Mrs. Lee David
spent Sunday with their parents,
Mr.. and Mrs. William r. Alfree
near Middletown.
\ Mr.. Frank David of Wilmington
spent everal days last week with
his wife and parents, Mr.. and Mrs.
Elmer David.
/ Mr. and Mrs. Milton Latta of
Marshallton, pent Sunday with her
sister, Mrs. William Reynolds and
Mr.. Reynolds.
/ Mr.. and Mrs. John B. Alfree and
daughter and Mr. Winfred Lee of
Philadelphia, spent Saturday with
Mr.. and Mrs. Delbert Steller.
( Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Jamison,
Miss Mae Thompson, and MrDavid
of Leipsic, were Sunday visitors
with Mr. and Mrs. r. 3. Davidson
and family.
/ Mr.. and Mrs. Leslie McClain and
son, spent Sunday with Mr.. and
Mrs. Eugene Shockley
Mr.. Robert Davidson Jr., spent
Monday in Trenton, N. ].
Smyrna times., 1935-08-29

platform at the ice plant, where he
was working, and fracturing his
foot, is slowly improving. Johns
many friends wish him a. speedy
recovery and hope to see him out
soon.
Mr.. and Mrs. G. c. Nicholas and
son, left on Tuesday for their home
in North West, Virginia, after
spending some time with Mrs. Will
liam Shepherd.
Mr.. Thomas Allaband has re-
turned home after spending last
week at Niagara Falls, N. Y.
Rev. George Clayton of Balti-
more, Md, is spending several days
ith his brother, Mr.. Thomas Flu
harty.