The Fort Peck press., 1937-05-20

brated July H4-H0.
The old COW town Of Malta
one time headquarters for the
Circle Diamond, the Circle c, the
Long X, the Square, the DIS and
other early day cattle Outfits-is
preparing to bring back the old
days this summer when the fiftieth
anniversary of the construction Of
the Great Northern railway through
what is now the town is to be cele-
brated in connection with the fifth
annual rodeo, July 24-25.
A few of the old timers will be on
hand to help with the festivities and
lend color to the background Nels Pc
terson who worked with the track lay
ing gang incidentally the crew made a
record by laying eight and half miles
of rails in one day through Malta) will
be present.
Charley Stuart, son of Granville
Stuart, who now lives on the Missouri
river and who claims the distinction
of being the oldest coWpuncher in point
of service in the state, will recall the
cattle ruStling days and the activities
of the vigilantes in stamping out that
particular form of crime in northern
Montana. Stuart rode the range con-
tinuously for more than 40 years
Ted Afford, whose mode of travel
is still by pack horse, and who was an
old friend of Theodore Roosevelt, will
represent the sourdoughs. Jack DWyer
of Wolf Point, also an early-day friend
and hunting companion of the one
time president, is expected to attend.
John Servant on Hand
John Servant, early day manager of
the Circle Diamond and Jake Meyers
of the old Circle G outfit, will be here.
Friday Russell, Dude" Taylor and
Arley Seeley, all of whom spent their
youth in the saddle; Harry Sosner, one
time sheriff of old Valley county when
that political division was spread all
over the northeastern part of the state;
L. G. Edwards, one of the first station
agents for the railroad who came to
Malta in 1896; Henry Hedges and Herm
Robinson, who came into northern
Montana in 1891 to establish their
ranches because the country south OF
the Missouri river was becoming too
crowded-will all be on hand.
Louis Goslin will represent the days
of the stage coach travel between NAL
ia and the gold mining camps in the
Little Rockies. The coach that made
the last trip between zortman and
Landusky and Malta and which closed
a vivid chapter in the history of this
part of the state, will have prominent
place on the program. MIR. Goslln mas
city of Malta and it will be placed
permanently in the city park on Front
street as a marker in the towns
history.
Joe Hartman, who drove a 16-horse
freight outfit over the Zortman trail
for many years will attend Mike
O'Neil, who was practically a witness
to the holdup of the Great Northern
train by the kid" Curry gang, will |
take part in the celebration. Art Cava-
naugh, early day business man, Tom
and Bill Mayberry, who were raised IN
the saddle and generation of men
and women who were born in the days
when Malta was the heart of the
roughest, toughest cow country in the
west, will take an active interest IN
the dOings.
Author Will Attend
Frank B. Linderman once dedicated
a book. 1.-THE Passing Frontier" to the
good town of Malta and the camps IN
the Little Rockies where the old west
in making it's last stand and Malta
is going to live up to that dedication
for the two days and forget II 1t can
the coming of the dryland farmers, the
years of drouth and graSshopperS ana
grassless ranges and low priced cattie.
Joe Henderson, manager OF the rodeO,
and a committee named to work with
him will have some of the best riders
in the west to take part in the sports
program which will have all the fea-
lures of a pioneer fete. There will be
bronc riding, wild COW milking, wild
horse races trick riding and roping,
steer riding and bulldogging.
But many of the old timers who
helped build that early day Malta will