For your consideration is an Original Turkey Track Bill Photograph, 1905, attributed to renown photographer Frank Fiske. Provenance: From the John Kleinschmidt collection which was on loan to the C.M. Russell Museum from 1987 to 1993 and included in the "The Cowboy West: 100 Years of Photography 1992-1993 exhibit. In the annals of western North Dakota history there is one character that most typified the cowboy image, William Molash, better known as Turkey Track Bill. The photograph was taken after the Blizzard of May 1905. Fiske, primarily active among the Lakota Sioux on Standing Rock Indian Reservation in North and South Dakota, was a friend of the legend and most likely was the photographer. Of Turkey Track Fiske once said, "...there never was a more picturesque cowboy than this same Turkey Track..." The photograph shows Turkey Track standing on a snow covered field between two horses that are lying on the ground. While moving cattle during a spring round up at the Fallon Ranch south of Bismarck North Dakota, he and the crew sought dry shelter in a barn when strong winds accompanied a heavy rain storm. The men left their horses outside unaware of the impending disaster. The temperatures plummeted and the rainstorm became a blizzard, dropping between 4 inches and 4 feet of snow. The next day, the horses were found to have frozen to death. In an era without the warnings of modern weather forecasting, the storm caught western North Dakota by surprise. This photograph captures a legend of the American Wild West Frontier dealing with the stark realities of living in that same Wild West Frontier. The photograph is amazingly well preserved condition for its age, image is clear and slightly faded, age tanning. Backing mount board has information written on and attached on reverse identifying photograph and Kleinschmidt collection information. Photograph is labeled in ink, "Turkey Track Bill at Fallon Ranch Round-up Blizzard May 4, 1905". Bottom right corner of board is chipped. Photograph measures 3.625"W x 4.625"L, board measures 4.75"W x 6.625"L.