The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1935-11-08

Joined. After Vhe long Journey filled
with hardships and thrilling en-
counters with Indians, the party To-
Gated in Gallatin valley, where Ted's
first duty was herding cattle while
the older men built their homes.
Young Ted grew to manhood in the
west and experienced many danger
Gus and exciting adventures.
ing of a match might be just enough
to start them into a maddened rush.
One dark. rainy night the cattle
stampeded. The boys rushed out Of
and trousers and started firing their
guns into the air in an effort to keep
the frantic beasts milling. All the men
were horseback except Ted and the
cook, whose horses had broken away
during the excitement. Suddenly the
herd started running toward the horse
less members of the party. The two
men ran as fast as they could ahead
of the herd. shouting for help as they
ran. One of the horsemen heard their
cries and headed the herd off just as
the running men thought they could
feel the hot breath Of the cattle on the
back of their necks.
The herd was finally quoted and
the cowboys went back to camp just as
dawn broke. One of their number,
Charlie Graham. was missing. Although
the men were tired and hungry, they
again mounted their horses and start
ed a search for their comrade. A short
time afterward they found him n
conscious and bleeding from wounds
received when a maddened bull charged
him. In spite of all their efforts to
save him. Charlie died the following
day.
One day the cook told Ted that they
had no meat. Feeling in an adventur-
Gus mood. Ted decided to go hunting
alone-something even an Indian sell
dom did.
After an hours ride from camp, Ted
sighted a lone buffalo-a two-year old.
He decided not to try to rope it. but
to shoot at it with the n cartridge
in his rifle. Lying flat on his stomach,
the youth fired. The bullet found its
mark. The wounded animal sighted his
puny assailant and lungod toward him,
but stumbled and fell dead just as he
Upon reaching camp with his game,
Ted related his experience to his CON-
rades with a detachable note of pride
in his voice. In return he received Sc
we're reprimand for having risked his
life by shooting a buffalo with only
one cartridge in his gun. Had his shot
succeeded only in w%ounding the beast,
he would have been quickly trampled
to death by the enraged animal. How
ever their seedlings were quoted by
the cooks significant Come and get
it" and a big buffalo feast was thor
oughly enjoyed by the hungry men.
put in large s~tockyards preparatory to
loading them on the train bound for
Omaha. The wild cattle were quite I'M
willing to board the train so the task
of loading turned out to be extremely
arduous. The animals were restless and
we're believing as loudly as possible.
The voices and lungs Of the men re-
ceived some very good tests when they
tried to make themselves heard above
this constant competition.
However, above the voices of all the
men and eve of the believing cattle
could be heard the husky words of al
big colored man giving unauthorized
orders to Ted,s men. Ted lost no time
in informing the dark mar that he
was boss of those men and would give
all orders necessary. Presently the ne
gro again started supervising the load
ing operations. Ted was walking around
the top of the ~stockvard fence carrying
a pike pole which he used to help urge
the cattle into the cars. When he had
listened to all the talk from the self
appointed boss he could bear he Jumped
from the fence and pole in hand. made
n run at the dark fellow. An exciting
foot race ensued: the black boy in the
lead and Ted not far behind. rapidly
striking blows at the negro with the
pike pole and the end of the pole each
time striking the ground with bounding
force. All work was stopped as Ted's
friends laughingly cheered him On. but
the dark feet moved too fast for tho
white man. Ted returned to his work
a good loser.
The cattle were soon loaded and tn
train ready to pull out. Just as thu
train started. the tired but happy group
of cowboys. riding in the caboose. saw
the exhausted negro arrive with the
sheriff. Obviously the offended negro
intent upon seeing his assailant
forced to spend the night in Jail and
be hanged for attempted murder tn"
newt day. All the satisfaction he re-
ceived was a CHEEKY wave from the
jolly cattlemen as the train steamed
away from the yards.
The Montana boys delivered the cat
tie in Omaha and Immediately started
toward home. Two young men. John
Stoddard and Fred Sumner. returned
with them. They got their horses at
Cheyenne and rode horseback to Boze-
man, arriving just before Christmas.
The venture had taken six months and
the boys were glad to be home again.
In the spring of 1886. the Thorpe fam
lily moved to Dillon, Beaverhead county.
The old ranch on the Gallatin river
and $50 head Of horses were left for
Ted to care for.
Ted's sister, Ada Hamilton, came from
Canada to keep house for him and to
teach school. Ada was one of the first
in the county to take an active interest
in schools and a appointed first
county superintendent of schools. At
the time of her stay at the Thorpe
ranch she taught at Dry creek, COM
ing home Friday evenings and going
back Monday mornings. She taught
grammar at Bozeman during the time
she was county superintendent.
~ 49, .A-