The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1935-12-13

black horse prancing into camp at
PompeyS Pillar, that died Is minutes
after reaching camp. We never did find
out what caused his sudden death.
We were joined at Pompey's Pillar
by the johnson brothers, who were
trailing $50 horses to market. We found
them agreeable pals on the trail. They
were from Lewiston, Idaho. We caught
up with the KIT cattle outfit driving
5000 two-year-old steers from their
Panhandle, Texas, ranch to their Mon
tana ranch north Of Glendive. These
cattle were of the long-horn, long-leg-
ged Texas breed, and as fast on the
trail as horses.
One night we all camped together on
a little creek in the north extension of
the bad lands. The next morning we
found one of. the steers hanging in the
forks of a tree. Evidently it had been
scratching its head in the forks, and
got its long horns crosswise, and fast.
When we got to it the wolves had strip
ped the bones to the shoulders.
The Johnsons and we swan our
horses across the Missouri river at Fort
Buford. We sold several horses to the
scouts and Indian police at the fort,
and here is where I did some riding for
both outfits. The Indians agreed to
pay ME So a head to ride the horses
they bought. Once I rode 10 in one day
and one the next! .
The johnson brothers left us at Bu-
ford and went north, while we went
east. From here we found some mar
ket for the horses. We followed the
Dakota, and there found demand
among the farmers for horses. 1t was
rare, now. for us to find a corral to
work in. although the stock was much
tanner by this time, it was hard to
work the stock in the open fields. At
ToWner, N. D., we sold several horses
which were required to be halter brok-
en- and driven in harness ono before
delivery. In handling a wild one I
the "rairy" hitch on him. A young mar
stepped up and said he had worked
on a stock ranch in Montana, and Of
fered to get on my saddle horse and
hold the wild by the horn of the
saddle while I placed the halter-break-
ing hitch on him.
1 accepted his assistance, and let the
fellow try his hand. While I was ar
ranging my rope on the horse, he made
a lunge to II side and turned the
saddle horse over on top CT the lar
Fortunately, the man was more scared
than hurt, but the accident spoiled one
eastern bronze buster, and he refused to
try it over again. I finally subdued the
colt, and worked over several head that
day.
At Grand Forks I had more trouble.
We had t. so through the city to cross
the bridge over the Red river. Here
part of the herd stampeded and ran
through several backwards, tearing
down clothes-lines and scattering the
clothes on them. Most of the stock
had crossed the bridge, and while I was
gathering up the scattered ones the
chief of police started to gather me.
By the time he found me I had the
rest of the stock crossing the bridge.
He held me up and asked my name.
I noticed that he smiled when I said
my name was Wilkins, and he asked:
Are you any relation to Bill Wilkins?"
I answered. "A brother, Is ALL" He
told me his name was Dick McFadden.
you may have some damaged clothes
to pay for" he said. Its too bad you
weren't across the bridge or the Min
nesota SIDE" and gave me the wink.
Before he had time to say another word
I vas across and outside his jurisdic-
ton. The McFadden family and Will
kins families were adjoining neighbors