The Philipsburg mail. [volume], October 10, 1895, Image 2

About The Philipsburg mail. [volume] (Philipsburg, Mont.) 1887-current

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SEEKERS FOR GOLD.
A QUEER COLONY DISCOVERED
IN MISSOURI.
Delving in the Earth for the Preclous
Metal-Fanatical in Their Views
ec(eiving a Newspaper Correspondent
"*)on't Like Strangers.
(Special Correspondence.)
HAT SECTION OF
Jackson county,
Missouri, designat
ed as "Sni hills" is
the home of a pe
culiar people. They
are of unusual and
erratic belief in
things temporal
and things spiritu
al, and it is a fact
that "Sni hills" is
the synonym of all that is both un
usual, sensational and fanatical. Why
this should be is to some a mystery.
In years gone by, so tradition says,
the hills of Sni were the home of the
desperate moonshiner. There, hidden
from the sight of man within the nar
row confines of the forest and dense
undergrowth along the banks of Sni
.reek. they were safe from all intrud
ers. Now the moonshiner is gone and
the crazed gold seeker has takeri his
place. These gold seekers are fanatical
mnd peculiar in their lives and actions.
T'he writer made a visit to their den,
If such it may be called, and found
them to be almost savage, and un
A SENTINEL.
L'oubtcdly crazed by their desire to
locate the precious metal.
The little band who are thus wasting
life and energy in their search for un
limited wealth were less than a dozen
years ago well-to-do farmers, who
owned farms in the valleys beyond the
"hills," where corn and wheat grow as
it can only grow in Jackson county.
Now they dig and dig, and by day and
sometimes by night search for that
pure, precious metal, the desire for
which drives man mad when once the
fever is on him.
At times these men have claimed that
gold had been found. Primitive smel
ters have been erected and there would
be great excitement, but quietude would
soon follow. Still they continue to dig
and starve. These men have organized
into a self-protection society called
"The Holiness Baud." The object of
this organization is three-fold, self pro
tection, secrecy and to hold the land
from probable purchasers. Almost
starved and scantily clothed, they labor
on, their watchword being, Gold! Gold!!
Gold!!!
The nearest town to Sni hills is Oak
Grove. But a mile from the hills is
Sni mills, with a store and postoffice
and an old-fashioned water mill that
has furnished flour and meal since the
early '20s. The citizens of Oak Grove
became excited over the reports of gold
in the hills three years ago, and, if
wiser counsel had not prevailed, the
capitalists of that town would have
bought all the available land near the
hills.
When the writer, accompanied by a
guide from Oak Grove, visited the hills,
fully three hours were spent in find
ing the location of the "Holiness Gold
Seekers." A path leading down to the
creek was found, and we started on
foot, single file, to search for those who
were still digging for wealth after years
of disappointment. The dense forest
and thick undergrowth served to make
midday as dark as dusk, and suddenly
BRAUN.
as we turned in the path a ringing
thallenge came to us:
"What for you hunting, stranger?"
were the words uttered in a peculiar
pierclng tone from some unknown per
'onage.
Striken dumb, we looked in all direc
tions, but failed to locate a living soul.
Suddenly we heard the click of a mus
ket trigger and we saw advancing
toward us from behind a huge bowlder
- deformed dwarf carrying in an atti- a
tude of war an old army musket. We
lost no time in explaining our mission
and trying to make peace. He was the
sentinel of the Holiness society, and
objected to our going any further. After
some parley, in which a plug of to
bacco cut an important part, he con
cluded that we were not dangerous and
allowed us to pass him after we swore
by the sun and stars that we did not
want to buy any of that lonely, dark,
rocky hillside.
Continuing down the steep hillside
we suddenly came to a tumble-down
shanty. Apparently there was no liv
ing soul in the vicinity, but when we
started to enter another of that watch
ful Holiness society made his appear
ance with another cocked musket. To
him again we made protestations of
friendship, but he would not allow us
to pass. Blowing a shrill whistle, he
invited us to sit down on a fallen log,
and we complied with alacrity. In a
few moments we heard movements in
the underbrush and four men came in
sight.
They were of the most peculiar and
striking appearance. Clothed in old
worn garments, almost in rags, they
seemed to belong to some unknown
race. It could easily be seen that the
brain was turned. We were not sur
prised at their fanatical action. They
inquired our business, and when in
formed that the writer wanted to tell
the world of their wonderful find of
gold it seemed as if the very devil had
been turned loose. They swore and
raved. One who is known as D. W.
Lundy cried:
"We don't want any newspaper men
here. We don't want to sell our land.
We want to be alone."
Things looked squally for a few mo
ments, but after a consultation they de
cided to treat us differently. We were
told that if we would consent to being
blindfolded we would be taken to the
"diggings" and shown the precious
gold ore. Our eyes were blinded and
f.r several minutes we were led by our
captors through a dense undergrowth.
At length we came to a halt and the
bandages were removed. We were on
the banks of the creek. Gathered about
us were a number of scantily clothed
and apparently half-starved men.
Along the banks of the creek were deep
holes, some as deep as forty feet. A
log cabin stood on the edge of the
woods. In this they lived and slept.
There were nine men besides the sen
try who had challenged us at the
hut.
From the holes they were digging
what seemed to be a soft soapstone.
This they claimed was gold ore, and
they also claimed to have samples of
gold which was the result of smelting
this soapstone. We were taken down
the creek some distance to the smelter,
where a man more intelligent than the
others was engaged in producing the
pure, precious gold. His name was W.
L. Braun, and he claimed to be a prac
tical miner. He said he was from Cali
fornia and had cast his lot among this
people. Braun had a small box filled
It
d
it
e LUNDY.
e with little chunks of brassy looking
d metal, which he claimed to be the re
sult of smelting the soapstone. Under
e a shelter close by was at least two
e tons of the ore awaiting to be operated
e on by Braun. Charcoal was used for
fuel and a portion of the Holiness so
a ciety spent their time burning this
charcoal to be used in the smelter,
while others worked at day labor on
farms in the vicinity to earn money to
e purchase crucibles. Braun was.s being
n fed and clothed by these poor, half
o starved wretches and was undoubtedly
in some manner working them. It was
,t found on investigation that one of the
e "society" was working for a farmer
and giving his wages to pay Braun.
The noon hour was now far past and
the "Holiness' people invited the
writer to join them in their noon-day
meal. We retired to the creek's bank,
where under a rude shelter we were
seated and after an invocation for the
divine blessing cars of corn, roasted,
were passed around. Water from the
ereek was at hand to aid in the mas
tication. Roasted corn! Men living for
years in one of the richest counties in
Missouri and subsisting on the food fed
to cattle! The visitors were hungry,
but a few grains of that uninviting
food drove away their appetites. The
crazed gold hunters ate greedily, as if
delighted. Braun afterwards said that
roast corn had been their only food for
two years. The sight was one not to
be forgotten.
The midday meal over, it was decid
ed to make a 'special run for the bene
fit of the visitors. A chunk of so-called
ore weighing eight pounds was placed
in a crucible and then in the furnace.
There It remained for three hours, with
Messrs. Lundy and Braun keeping
watch. It was tCen taken out and a
piece of brassy looking metal weighing
three ounces was removed. Then they
had a time of rejoicing. "More gold"
was the cry and off the demented un
fortunates went to their trenches to dig
more ore.
The man who lives on the rock never
has to lose any sleep in bad weather.
WOMAN AND HOME.
UP TO DATE READING FOR
DAMES AND DAMSELS.
The Mirror of Fashion--Some of the
Latest Stylea for the Season-Some
Useful lints for the Household-Cur
rent Notes of the Modes.
ASHION is not of
ten kind to the pov
erty stricken ones
in her domain, but
this season she has
made a decided
move in our favor
by smiling upon the
old-fashioned al
paca gowns. For
this material means
much to us. It has
that soft, shimmer
ing effect sought after these days
and is very serviceable, also, since it
does not crush or wear rough. In fact,
it is an ideal material for one who must
look well to the wherewith she will be
clothed. If you wish a charming gown
get one of white alpaca, with perfectly
plain skirt and tight-fitting waist.
Have it made with a plain stock collar.
Have made also a jacket as shown in
illustration,of blue serge. The jacket
is shorter than those worn last year
and is godeted below the waist line. It
has peculiar square revers-the upper
ones of white alpaca-which are slashed
and edged with braid. The hat worn
with this costume is of rough blue
straw. Into the trimmings is intro
duced that combination of blue and
green which is so fashionable. If, how
ever, you wish to wear the gown on a
dressy indoor occasion you may cross
the bodice with a Marie Antoinette fichu
of some delicately colored chiffon or you
may wear a broad sailor collar and
with it a front of soft, lacey material,
and so on. Given such a good founda
'A I
'I __ -
/1.
~IK t
* "
______ ~ AUTUMN GOWNS.
tion, it is unnecessary for me to tell
the ingenious American girl what she
may do with her gown.
Mohair's the Stlff.
Mohair reigns, but there are many
kinds and the sort that glares with a
stove-blacking brilliancy and folds in a
crackly way is the mohair you must not
get. The right kind has a heavy weave
and a sof, silk-like luster; it takes the
present organ-pipe folds as gracefully
as silk does, and it outwears a silk three
times, and always looks well. No mat
ter how many other dresses one has,
one of this stuff in black will not be
amiss. Make the skirt full, just clear
ing the ground, and absolutely plain.
Let the bodice fit perfectly, a single
box-plait being applied front and back,
that in the back fitting closely to the
9 form, the front one loosened a little.
Have a wide belt that fastens at the
side with a big cut jet button, a corre
sponding button being on the other
side, and a collar of the same design
apparently fastening at each side under
a big cut jet button, and let a pair of
silk-lined tabs or straps, finished With
a point and a jet button, hang loosely
from either side front of the belt. Cor
responding tabs should hang from the
collar in the bust line. Then let the
sleeves be finished at the wrists with
bands fastening under jet buttons. Such
a dress will serve in any place. Added
dressiness can come by setting four
buttons down the front box-plait. Wear
a large, black rough straw hat trimmed
with a pair of knots of white mull and
two upright cock's feathers, white
gloves, with black stitching, and carry
a white silk parasol. A really faultless
,rig for ordinary street wear will result.
5Mohair, by the way, is surprisingly cool,
land sheds dust as a duck's back sheds 4
water. The accompanying illustration
presents another model for the employ
ment of mohair; the godets of its skirt
being esecially adapted to this fabric
because of their unusual depth. The.
bloused wals~t has jacket pieces of em
broidered batiste let in at' the side
seams, and straps of the same extend
across the shoulders in back and front
as far as the waist line, where they
meet an embroidered belt. There are a
great many acceptable models for this
material, and its present popularity is
so great that the danger of going wrong
is lessened.
Helpful in Make-Overs.
There is shown below a handsome In
door dress of pink crepon figured with
pale and dark blue. Here the godet
skirt has unusual trimming, four wide
bands of ribbon ending in four-looped
bows upon its sides and front. This
ribbon matches the dark blue of the
dress goods' figure, and making the
front pair of bands shorter than the
side ones is essential to the effect, un-.
important as it may seem at first
thought. The blouse overhangs the
belt in front, and at the top there is a
tiny plastron of blue satin with draped
collar to match. A huge butterfly bow
of the dress goods is placed in front
and is tied with dark blue. The later
color, too, appears in sleeves and belt.
Double skirts are occasionally seen, and
though often so ungraceful as to be un
desirable, the one whose description fol
lows is an exception because it adapts
'itself so well to the remodeling of a
gown to whose front breadth some dis
figuring accident has befallen. Only its
front is double, an apron piece a little
shorter than the skirt being set on over
the front breadth. Its joining with the
skirt proper is made as nearly invisible
as possible to well over the hips. Then
the apron piece is allowed to swing free
of the skirt. Its edge is bound with a
bright braid from the place where the
attachment to the skirt stops, a line
of the same braid is carried down the
side seam of the skirt, and the edge of
the apron part is attached to this side
seam by three or four drooping straps
of braid. The apron piece may be of
material contrasting with the rest of
the skirt, and the injured part of the
original skirt is thus concealed. An
adaption of the design meets the diffi
culty of a skirt with the back badly
frayed at the foot by the droop a skirt
will have there even when the front
may be all right. A short length of
skirt material contrasting with the
skirt will combine and make a new ef
fect according to this model. Make a
full back and attach it to the front of
the old skirt. The scant residue of the
second material will make the short
apron front, which will fall over the
good front of the first skirt.
I)ecrees of Dame Fashion.
Panama hate, with a plain velvet
band are very much worn.
For home wear or more dressy oc
casions the gowns are all extremely
light this season.
Ribbons are used still in the greatest
profusion, and are measured by the
mile instead of the yard.
The ruffled skirts have caught the
popular taste just now, and several of
the new models show them.
An English straw hat is trimmed with
kilted ribbon of black and white, fas
tened on with a rhinestone buckle.
A very odd skirt, circular in shape, is
laid in inch tucks, encircling the figure
from waist to hem. It is more strange
than graceful.
The pinks ,purples and mauves, so
much used of late, are a little out now,
and light blue and lime-blossom green
have taken their place.
Pretty combs and pins add greatly
to the beauty of the hair, and never
before was there such a wealth of tbhee
oranments displayed. y , ..
NOW Y0t7 CAN LAUGH.'
CA OHOICE COLLECTION OF 'RIB
e TICKLERS.
d Echoes From the Dens of Our Most
.t Humorous Pencil' Pushers-The
Funny Man Extracts Fun From
a Everyday Incidents.
"Is your sister at home, Johnny?"
"No, sir. She hasn't returned from
the academy yet."
"What academy?"
"Why, haven't you heard that she's
an instructress at the bic ele school-
teaches the women to ride and sells
them bloomers and things?"
"Well, are your father and mother
in? "
"No, sir. They're out on the park on
their tandem tricycle."
"Your brother, Bob, is traveling,
isn't he?'
"Yep. He's with one of the big rac
ing teams. I tell you, he's a cracker
jack! Wifs a bushel of diamonds and
gold cups every week!"
"And where are the twins?"
"They've got Rover, our dog, out in.
the barn, and are teaching him to ride
the new quadricycle, which has just
been invented for household pets."
"And how does it happen that you
are not riding a wheel, too?"
"Sprained my ankle in training for
the road race."-Buffalo Express.
Forgetfulness.
"Cabby, drivesh me home."
"What's the ad ress?"
"If I couldsh 'member thatsh, I'd
w~alk.-Judy."
Is Dr. Higginspiker In?
The,curtain had risen on the third
act, and the momentary hush that
preceded the resumption of the per
formance on the stage was broken by
a stentorian voice from the rear of the
auditorium:
"Is Dr. Higginspiker in the house?"
A tall, heavily whiskered man occu
pying a front seat rose up.
"If Dr. Higginspiker is in the house,"
resumed the stentorian voice, "he told
me I was to come here and call him
out at 10 o'clock."
Whereupon Dr. Higginspiker, look
ing very red, picked up his hat and
cane and walked down the aisle amid
loud and enthusiastic applause.--Chi.
cago Tribune.
Home Again.
-
Mrs. Farmer Greene-Land sakes,
Hiram! whatever happened ter yer in
N' York?
Farmer Greene-Bunco man. Fust
I hit him with my umberel an' broke
thet; then I swatted him with my grip
an' smashed thet; then I took a fall
outen him an' ripped my coat an'
tored my pants; then I hit him with
my fist on ther jaw an' broke my
wrist; then I fastened my false teeth
in his neck an' spoilt them; then I
kicked him jes' ez hard ez I could, an'
he hed a gold brick in his coat-tail
pocket, an' I broke four toes-thet's
all.
Mrs. Farmer Greene-An' wuz th'
bunco man kilt dead?
Farmer Greene-He wuzn't even
hurted; an' nex' time he kin take me
jes' ez I am, without one plea.-Judge.
Why Papa Wept.
"Augh-Waugh-"
It was the baby. He had repeated
the remark sixty times in the last
hour.
Mr. Newleigh's hair, such as it was,
stood on end.
"Gwow ahwb wowbdgwowflwaugh!'
added the baby, while people living
across the street got up and closed
their windows.
Mr. Newleigh ground his teeth. "To
think," he groaned, burying his face
in the pillows, "that I should grow up
to become the father of a union sta. I
tion train crier."-Rockland (Me.) 1
Tribune. t
German Pensions.
Germans wish to have the pensions
of the wounded and widows of the
war of 1870 increased. A general's I
widow now receives $30 a year and a a
private's $40.
what is worse, by the treaty of peace
with France, Germany having agreed
t*,pay the pensions of French soldiers
living in Alsace-Lorraine on the scale
in force in France before the war,
pays to a French general's widow
$1,000 and to a private's or non-com.
missioned officer's from $60 to $100.
Gave Himself Away.
Miss Psalter (at divine service, whis
pering)-It's so gocd of Mr. Nicefello
to go to the assistance of that old gen
tleman who fainted; and do you notice
how deftly he makes, his way in and
out of the pews without incomtmoding
anybody?
Mrs. Psalter-He is entirely too
graceful about it. He must havefhad
a good deal of practice going out be
tween the acts at theaters.--New York
Weekly.
Why Some Strikes Fail.
Friend-How's business now, old
boy? Bad as ever?
Manufacturer - N-o; doing better
than we were.
"Glad to hear that. You told me
some weeks ago that your mills were
running at a loss."
"No loss now; not a cent."
"Prices gone up?"
"No; men are on a strike."-New
York Weekly.
New Kind 'of Lozenge.
Mrs. Briggson-Harold,mother called
in at your office yesterday, and, seeing
some cough lozenges on your desk,
took several. To-day she is suffering
dreadfully, and she thinks you meant
to poison her.
Mr. Briggson (the architect)-Cough
lozenges! Great Scott! That was a
box of samples of our little mosaic
tilings for hotels and office floors.
Good Company.
A Refreshing Statement.
"Classmates," remarked the valedic
torian, solemnly, "we shall find this
world a cold world."
Like all valedictorians, he was vis
ionary.
Even as he spoke the world had
reached ninety-six in the shade, and
a man with a hectic flush and a melt
ed collar sat in the weather bureau
and predicted a hot wave.-Detroit
Tribune.
His Excuse.
"What! supper not ready yet!" ex
claimed the emancipated woman, as
she threw off her overcoat after a
long day's business.
"l'm very sorry, dear," replied her
husband; "but there was a bargain
sale at Chintz & Chally's this after
noon, and there was such a cro"d of
men there I found it difficult to get
what I wanted, and that delayed me."
1 Good Poker Hands; ox Foollnj:g tahe
Talent.
Mr. Thompson Streete (in a furious,
low whisper).-Dog-gone cur luck!
Mr. Blades (in a hoarse whisper)
Whad's up?
Mr. Thompson Streete-Our game
am up. Gaze on dem paws dat's cov
erin' up our marked kyards.--.udge.
Two Points of View.
Mrs. Hardhead (glancing over let
ters)-This young man who applies for
a situation has the stamp on crooked,
and it's upside down. Doesn't that in
dicate he is crazy, careless and per
haps cranky?
Mr. Hardhead (an old business man).
-No, my dear; it indicates that he is
a hustler who wastes no time on tri
fles.-New York Weekly.
Out of Practice.
"It seems to me," said the manager,.
"that you do that part of receiving
the money from the chief villain in a
most awkward manner."
"Mebbe I do," admitted the actor;
"it has been so long since I had any
chance to rehearse with the real stuff.'"
-Cincinnati Tribune.
A Defence.
New Suburban Resident-When you
sold me these lots you said nothing
about that swamp. You did not tell
me my whole family would have ma
laria!
Real Estate Agent-My dear sir,
would you have me try to make any
man dissatisfied with his home?-Life.
A Thoughtful Youth.
Mamma-Robbie, why didn't you
speak to Mrs. Bangle when, you met
het just now?
Robbie-You said I must always
think before I speak, and I couldn't
think of anything to think.
A N oleon of Economists.
I.
Parson Youngman-Cud yo' info'm
me whad am de cheapes' legitimate
way fo' me to raise young chicks, Mis*
tah Sage?
Deacon Sag--Sartin, sartin, pahson.
Fust yo' borrers a settin' hen; den yo'
borrors a settin' ob aigs. Set de hen.
until she dun hatches yo' chicks. Keep,
her till she lays anudder settin'; den
return de he'n an' de settin' ob alga,
an' dere yo' am-nobody out an' ebery.
body satisfied.-Judge.