Distinctly Montana Magazine

67 w w w. d i s t i n c t l y m o n t a n a . c o m some little lady around, so he couldn't possibly have been up in the hills, clubbing sheep. During this time, the men who attacked sheep herds felt certain they would be protected by the largely pro-cattle powers that be. The tide finally turned in 1909, when seven men attacked a sheep herd near Spring Creek, in Wyoming. That night, campers on the other side of the river reported hearing gunfire through the night. The next morning they found one shepherd, a man named Allemande, shot through the neck and chest next to his wagon. Another two men's bodies lay in the burnt wagon, charred be- yond recognition but eventually identified as other shepherds. It seems that the raiding party had advanced on the wagon and fired into it, killing or wounding two of the men bad enough that they couldn't or didn't try to get out, even as they set fire to the wagon. The wounded Allemande had managed, despite a gun- shot wound, to get out of the wagon with his hands raised. He expected, or at least hoped for mercy. "It's a hell of a night to come out with your hands up," one of the men said, and shot Allemande down. The only shepherds spared by the raiding party were relatives of cattlemen. The kill- ers, sure of their immunity, rode off and bragged about it. But this was one killing too many. The men responsible were convicted—a first in the history of the sheep wars. 406.994.2251 | 600 W Kagy Blvd | museumoftherockies.org May 24, 2024 – January 5, 2025 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Included with membership/admission LEAD SPONSOR: Chris McCloud and Stephanie Dickson Charitable Fund SIGNATURE SPONSOR: Sheehy Family Foundation – Richard and Denise Sheehy Immerse yourself in the origins of legendary beings worldwide, unveiling a mesmerizing showcase of imaginative models, captivating paintings, and rich cultural artifacts. From the mythical Creatures of Water to the majestic Dragons, each section promises a breathtaking adventure. Encounter awe- inspiring, larger-than-life models like the 17-foot dragon and 10-foot unicorn. Mythic Creatures is organized by the American Museum of Natural History, New York (amnh.org) in collaboration with The Field Museum, Chicago; Canadian Museum of History, Gatineau; Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney; and Fernbank Museum of Natural History, Atlanta For more information please scan the QR Code or go to museumoftherockies.org/creatures SUSTAINING SPONSORS: Wellness WORx / Walk-In Chiropractic Hohbach Family Foundation Cole and Abbi Robertson CONTRIBUTING SPONSOR: In Loving Memory of Liam Prorock Dragons, Unicorns, & Mermaids: Mythic Creatures THE ONLY SHEPHERDS SPARED BY THE RAIDING PARTY WERE RELATIVES OF CATTLEMEN. THE KILLERS, SURE OF THEIR IMMUNITY, RODE OFF AND BRAGGED ABOUT IT. MONTANA HISTORICAL SOCIETY

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