Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1942-06-19

head county many years ago. when
there was scarcely = fence there, and
ut . time when one was found II was
around . garden patch. or was corral
for the handling Of livestock. There
were then no railroads In Montana
and the wagon roads were little better
than new trails.
As Is always the case in a new min
ing country, there were not enough
claims for the thousands Of miners
who nocked to Grasshopper and Alder
gulches, and later to Last Chance
gulch. Many. Of course, were disap-
pointed either at not being able to
locate a claim. or at having located
Improbable diggings. Consequently
many of the newcomers were forced
to turn their back on prospecting and
started tilling the sol-an occupation
many of them had at one time fol-
lowed at their eastern homes.
In this manner much of the neces-
stiles of life was furnished to the
thousands Of hungry miners who were
wrestling millions in placer from Mon
tanas gulches. In a short time after
the discovery of gold, ranching on a
large and small scale was flourishing
in Beaverhead county. Much of this
part of the state is still the location
of large and profitable sheep and cattle
outfits.
Nate Woods, Early Day Rancher
Among the first ranchers to settle
in Beaverhead county was Nate Woods,
who had secured very favorable To-
cation not far from where the city
of Dillon now stands. Like many an
other old-timer. he had brought across
the plains with him, all of his pos
sessions, and it was but short time
until he was comfortably and perma-
nently located. His livestock included
a half-dozen yoke Of COWS that had
helped to draw him and his belongings
across the prairies from the states. On
those days the family cow was ex-
pected to work just as industriously as
her sturdy brother.
More than one family was carried
across the plains, the mother and
babies riding in a slowly jolting wagon,
while the father walked beside the
"bossies" encouraging them along with
words and short jabs from prod-pole
as they hiked Montana ward. Once at
their destination, the "bossies" were
turned to Craze and rest, ultimately to
fatten up and form the nucleus of
dairy or beef herd. Nate Woods had
one of these diaries at his Beaverhead
home. His ranch was well equipped for
the manufacture and care of his butter
which sold at the rate of 81 pound
in Bannack and Virginia City.
Louey, the breed, was familiar
character in that part Of the country.
Just where he came from. no one ever
knew but he dropped In on the ranch
men of the Beaverhead IN the early
days and announced that he had car
ried his blankets into those parts TO
remain permanently. He was not rich
in these possessions, an old condemned
army blanket full Of holes and a
gunnysack being the total of his bed
equipment. He did, however, have a
good saddle and other kindred para
phernalia always so dear to the heart
Of the old-time cowpuncher.
Louey divided his time between the
ranches of southern Montana and the
mining camps along Grasshopper creek.
At times he was horse herder for the
men who ran herds, and he also looked
after the dairy herds Of some of the
Beaverhead dairymen. Occasionally,
when times were little hard, he would
"pick potatoes" for few days; but.
his greatest accomplishment Is said
to have been gathering up stray stock,
and he made pretty good money out
of this business. 1t soon developed that
Louey was not contenting himself with
the finding of strays, but he had de-
veloped the nefarious habit OF running
stock away from the ranches and hold
ing them until reward was offered
before returning them, with story of
NJ
Bannack Indians. He carried this prac-
tice to an extreme, and finally the
ranchers became suspicious. He was
shot at several times narrowly escap-
ing death.
Coarse Work
Finally his methods Of operation be-
came so coarse that he dared not to
show up at the ranches, and even the
townspeople would not tolerate his
presence He was forced to procure
living after some fashion. He was
cursed with thirst for liquor and
love for the card table. Both OF these
practices cost money. He realized that
to steal horse and try to sell 1t was
almost certain death for horse owners
generally hanged the horsethief when
the latter was apprehendeO. The own
els VI III C1looS ooyo 6SAASA"AJ
acted first and asked questions after
wards. Consequently, being adjudged a
natural thief, it was supposed that he
turned cattle thief, and he is said to
have made a number Of raids on the
cattle ranches which were then in
creasing in numbers rapidly. His plan
was evidently to steal Beaverhead
cattle and sell them to the butchers
of Virginia City, and on his return
trip, steal few COWS on the Madison
and sell these. in turn, to the butchers
of Bannack. He prospered in this prac-
tice for a time, for branding then had
not become a common practice in Mon
tana.
He followed this practice unmolested
for several months, for he possessed
the ability of keeping his operations
so well hidden that the ranch owners
suspected nothing. Finally. at roundup
time, when the cattle were being gath
cred in for the roundup, almost every
rancher of the Beaverhead found that
he had contributed two or more beef
cattle to help someone make easy
,,.a,ov A. a Nonforonce hold during