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

comparative peace by this time. Their
lives still were not without hair-raisinp
experiences with the Indians. In one
instance, Ted again came into the lime
light as he had some years previous
Ted was doing some buying at a store
IN Hamilton, operated by q man named
John Potter. There were several peo-
pie in the store at the time, among
whom were Mark Leadbeeter and
Charles Anceny who is now an estab-
llShed stockman in Gallatin valley,
Ihere were also some Indians. One Of
the redskins nudged close to Ted and
drew a knife, the back of which he
drew across Ted's throat as a gesture
OF unfr1endliness. Ted quickly seized
the Indian by the back of the neck and
threw him across the counter. Before
he could attack his assailant, Mark
Leadbeeter held Ted back while the
Indians left the store, regarding the
white occupants of the place sullenly
and menacingly. Still angry, Ted
mounted his horse and with Charles
Anceny rode to the Indian camp and
drove the reds out of the valley. In a
few days. accounts of the incident ap-
peared n several valley newspapers
and the actions of the white men were
by no means commended.
The Hamilton's were blessed by the
birth OF a baby boy in December, 1883.
Ted first saw his son six weeks later
when he met his wife and baby and
his sister-in-law at the Livingston rail-
road station prior to taking them to
their new home on Shields river.
The party rested at Livingston over
night before beginning the sled trip
ONE The sno was so deep and soft
that the sled sank down until the bot
tom Of the sled box dragged in the
white blanket of snow crystals. The
deep snow made travelling slow and
tiresome. but at DOR of the third day
the little party arrived at their des-
tination and the hardships of the jour-
nCy were quickly forgotten as their
hearts began to fill with great hopes
for the future.
In the spring all the ranchmen within
a radius Of several miles participated
in a roundup of all the horses they
could find on the range. The half-wild
they were identified by their brands
and separated accordingly. Each own
err then branded the new colts.
A real rodeo then followed at which
the best riders broke horses to ride.
The process of breaking. although dam
gerous. provided boundless entertain
ment for an enthusiastic crowd of spec
tators. The horse to be ridden wa
roped. thrown to the ground and sad
died while being held down by cow
boys. After a blindfold was placed over
his eyes the horse vas allowed to get
to his feet. The rider then mounted
generally with difficulty-and got set
in the saddle. At a signal from him,
the blind va removed, the horse re-
leased and the show was on. The horse
would pause for a moment, wild-eyed
and trembling, then would real up and
start bucking for all he was worth in
an effort to dislodge the cowboy from
his back. After a few minutes of Wig
orous bucking he would run away into
the hills. snorting and bucking up his
heels. Sometimes the animal would
leave his rider dazed and shaken on
the ground where he first started buck
ing, more nearly broken than he. An
other man on a trained horse would
follow the wild horse and bring him
back. Most of the animals, after hav-