Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1935-12-07

black horse prancing into camp al
POmpey's Pillar, that died is minutes
! after reaching camp We never did find
out what caused his sudden death.
We were joined at Pompeys 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 al camped together on
little creek in the north extension of
the bad lands. The next morning we
found one OF the steers hanging in the
forks Of tree. Evidently It had been
scratching its head In the forks, and
got its long horns cr0SSwise, 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
Bu1ord. We sold several horses to the
scouts and Indian police at the fort,
and here is where did some riding for
both outfits. The Indians agreed to
pay me 50 head to ride the horses
they bought. Once 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
Great Northern railroad into North
Dakota, and there found demand
among the farmers for horses. It 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
T0wner, N. D., we sold several horses
which were required to be halter brok-
en- and driven in harness once before
delivery. In handling a wild one /
found IL hard to hold him while put
the ''rairy" hitch on him. A young man
stepped up and said he had worked
on q stock ranch in Montana, and Of
fered to get on my saddle horse and
hold the wild one BY the horn Of the
saddle while I placed the halter-brea
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 Iunge to one side and turned the
saddle horse over on top Of the man.
Fortunately, the man was more scared
than hurt, bat the accident spoiled one
eastern bronze buster. and he refused to
try 1t over again. finally subdued the
colt, and worked over several head that
day.
At Grand Forks I had more trouble.
We had to 60 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 was
gathering up the scattered ones the
chief OF police started to gather me-
BY the time he found me had the
rest Of the stock crossing the bridge.
he held me up and asked my name.
II noticed that he smiled when said
my name was wilkins, and he asked
are you any relation to Bill Wilkins2"
I answered. "A hr0ther, is an. He
told me his name was Dick AdcFadden.
'sYou may have some damaged clothes
ID nay for" he said. TITS too bad you
weren't ACROSS the bridge on the MIN
fsesc&a side, and gave me the wink.
Before ae had time 20 say another word
4 wma mcroSs and outside his iurisdic-
Saom. The AcFaddan family and VIII
ksKa families were adjoining neighboEs