The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1936-09-11

desperately whenever opposed. When
Roberts beef herd got within 100 miles
of the agency he was sent ahead with
a meSSage-the impression being that
the Indians had passed some days be-
fore. This proved to be a mistake n
when within 60 miles of the agency Sim
fell into the hands of the saVages and
badly had not the troops put in an
appearance in force that day, and the
Indians surrendered. Sim was released,
delivered his message, and some days
later the beef herd came through.
Sim had concluded by this time that
he had had enough of Texas, would
try his fortunes in Montana, and pro-
ceeded north with only. a pack horse.
He Travelled hundreds of miles without
seeing a human being and finally
settled near the mouth of the Clark's
Fork of the Yellowstone where he
built a cabin. Shortly after he went to
Beaverhead county and when he re-
turned entered the employ of the Mon:
tana Cattle Co., then, as now, n OF
the largest in the state, as foreman
and manager.
Roundup Brings Tragedy
while rounding up a herd of cattle
this company had purchased in the
Shields river region, a misadventure
befell Sim which probably made him
better known throughout the state
than anything else in his career. Some
time before, Sims elder brother, W. B:
Roberts, had come to Montana and
had also been employed by the Mon
tana Cattle Co., and had been sent
with Sim on the Shields river mission.
The cattle had been rounded up and
all was in readiness to start home
when the grub supply was found to
be low, and Sim and his brother start
ed for BoZeman with a wagon n
four-horse team for more. They reached
the town at night and before going
to supper stepped into a saloon for an
appetizer. Here they met Joe Keeny
whom w. B. Roberts had met before in
the National park. Keeny was invited
to join the Roberts brothers at the
bar and accepted as did several others.
One man. however. declined the invi-
tation and called the elder Roberts a
name which even in these compare
lively prosy times means fight. Roberts
had a siX-Shooter in his belt and said
to the stranger: Are you armed?'
NO! I don't need to be armed to
lick you"
well, if you're looking for a fight
I guess you can get one" said Roberts.
With those words he unfastened his
cartridge belt and was in the act of
handing it to Joe Keeny when the
SUI d1lSeT Sll uCh HILL. 1eoOC1C Y An
hack and knocked his opponent down:
He regained his feet and was knocked
down again. He quit then and having
washed the blood from his face left the
saloon, saying that no man could
draw blood on him and live. When he
had left it developed that the stranger
was none other than Joe Keeny's
brother. When apprised OF this fact
the elder Roberts expressed his regret,
but as Joe Keeny seemed not inclined
to make his brothers quarrel his own
the matter Was dropped and the con-
VITALITY continued.
"a crowd had gathered in the saloon
in the meantime, enabling the man who
had been thrashed a few minutes be-
fore to enter comparatively unnotlced.
He made his way to the bar where the
Roberts brothers and others were
standing and was in the act OF draw
ing a revolver when Sim first saw him.
Divining his attentions. Sim drew at
the same instant and would have got
the first shot had not his arm been
knocked aside by Jim Latta, who was
standing near. Before Sim could shoot,
Keeny had pressed his revolver against
the elder Roberts side and pressed the
trigger. Almost at the same instant
Sims revolver rang out and the shot
struck Keeny in the shoulder. It was
followed instantly by, another shot from
the same gun, which struck keeny
just above the ear, flooring him.
1.-The elder Roberts had been shot IN
the heart. but with astonishing vital
ity he managed to draw his gun and
sent four bullets into the neck of the