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Horses, Guns, F ood and Even Tobacco Gone, 'Twas a Blue Day When Pioneer Found Gold By GLENDOLIN DAMON WAGNER In the history of Montana we read the terse sUtement: "To WU Uam Pairweather is accredited the discovery of gold in Alder's gulch." Bat hack of that sUtement is a volume of dramatic incidents. Had it not been for a band of looting Crows, and one man's desperate need of tohaoco. the ore deposits in the richest gulch in the world— Alder gulch—might have lain nn dist orbed foe many years. There might have been no Nevada City nor Virginia City. The entire col orful story of the building op of western Montana would have been written differently. In the spring of 1863 a group of pros pectors including Louis Simmons, Wil liam Pairweather, George Orr, Thomas Cover, Barney Hughes and Henry Ed ger set out from the thriving mining town of Bannack in search of new S d fields. And they were traveling t for they were in a hurry to over take another party of prospectors under the leadership of James Stuart who was skirting the Yellowstone river. Today on rocks .along the banks of the Yellowstone near the mouth of Stink ing Water creek the Inscriptions carved by Stuart and his men on that trip 70 years ago are still legible. But when Palrweather's party arrived at Stinking Water they were disappointed to find only the dead ashes of a camp, fire. They hastened on until they reached the upper Yellowstone and there, to their dismay, they were at tacked by a band. of pillaging Crows who stole from the whites everything of value—horses, guns, provisions—and then, in a spirit of rare generosity, left behind their own lame, half starved and worn out horses. Moreover the Crows made it very plain that the whites were to return at once to Ban nack, that if they continued their journey it would be at the peril of capture and death. A Gloomy Day In his Journal Pairweather writes ried about their own safety and they were concerned over the welfare of the prospectors under Stuart who would be certain sooner or later to meet up with the marauding Crows. They were dis couraged and they were hungry. The Indians had appropriated their food, their tobacco and most of their am munition. They Inched .along on lame, sore backed horses and cursed their fate and the Crows. About one day's travel up the Madison they stopped to camp and rest their exhausted ponies, While the other men were making camp, William Pairweather went out to tend the horses. His roving glance—! the trained glance of the bom pros pector—chanced to fall upon ,an out cropping of rock. But the story of the discovery of gold that led to the open tag up of Alder gulch is best told by Henry Edger to his journal, dated May ! 26, 1863. He writes: 2263 POUNDS was the INCREASE from the first cutting- of ALFALFA on the farm of Frank Rugeman, Manhattan, after using ANACONDA PHOSPHATE "SOILBILDER" ■■s-.-,-: ■ : ■ « ! -- Msnnnfcntâ (Courtesy Montana State Experiment Station) FALL APPLICATION SPECIALLY RECOMMENDED FOR SALE BY LEADING DEALERS ANACONDA COPPER MINING CO. ANACONDA. MONT. SAPPHIRE FLOU M ■> ms. V ... 'é'Ü ■M fi. ]odX' -f. i • mm IV Sapphire Is the floor •• Pi i) Just tike yours. It is ■ milled from the 'ÿmm# world's prise bard , i wheat to furnish the ^ : fondamental energy ? / the diet. M ■ Eat picniy »* bread i and boy Sapphire for , better LaH«» results • * T-*r. / t / % ; v<5 |p Hi **«aa.«w M jpg m ■Mà iâi m : Nevada City As It Looks Today . UHK ■j-i % ! ! j i j ! I ! v; \ V X; Saw" W- . - ■ in in i iiw j ■ I I Î I Nevada City Sprang Up Almost Overnight as a Result of the Stampede of Prospectors from Bannack to Alder Gulch. Today the Once Thriving Mining <■*»■> H " D *" , ' d *• b « "•*"•*•* : m I ■i ■ V. iff* "Off again; horse pretty lame and Bill — William Pairweather — leading him out of the timber; fine, grassy hills and lots of quartz; some antelope in sight; down a long ridge to a creek ,and camp. It was Bill's and my turn to guard camp and look after the horses. We washed and doctored Bill's horse's leg. Bill went across to a bar to find a place to stake the horses, When he came back he said : 'There is a piece of rimrock sticking out of the bar over there. Get the tools and let's prospect.' Bill got the pick and shovel and I the p.an and we went over. Bill dug the dirt and filled the pan, 'Now go,' he said, 'and wash that pan and see if you can find enough to buy some {tobacco when we get to town.' I had the pan more than half full and had seen some gold as I ran the sand !,around when Bill sang out: T have i found a scad.' It was a nice piece of j I gold. My dirt panned out about $2.40 ' 1 in a few minutes. Pretty good for to ; bacco money! We went and got another ! pan and BUI panned that and got more ; than I had. I got the third and panned | that—best of the three: th.at is good ! enough to sleep on. We came to camp, dried and weighed our gold, altogether there was $12.30. When the boys came back into camp they began to growl ! about the horses not being taken care of and to give Bill and me fits. I told him the horses could go to the devil, or the Indians, and showed them our Rivalry Over Girl Turned Plummer's Closest Henchman Into Feared Enemy A This is a sketch of Bannack, the roaring gold camp in which Mon tana was cradled, when it was at its best in 1862. It is from the pen of N. P. Langford, famous writer of pioneer days. It tells of the duel between Henry Plummer, miners' sheriff and bandit chieftain, and bis lieutenant. Jack Cleveland. Cleveland and Plummer, fleeing from the outraged miners of Idaho, found refuge on a government on Sun river. There both cumbed to the charms of a young woman. Plummer was accepted by her and married her, and Cleveland swore he would have revenge by killing his successful rival and erst while friend. They met in a Ban nack saloon and Plummer, who was the surest shot in the west, killed him. Langford's narrative follows: It is charitable to believe that Henry Plummer came to Bannack Intending to reform, ,and live an honest life. His deportment Justified that opinion. His criminal career was known only to two or three persons as criminal as himself. If he could have been relieved of the fear of exposure and of the necessity associating with his old comrades In crime, it is not improbable that his triumphed. He possessed great executive ability, a power over men that was remarkable, a fine person, polished address, and prescient knowledge of his fellows—all of which were mellowed by the ad vantages of a good early education. With all the concerns of a mining camp experience had made him familiar, and for some weeks after his arrival In Ban nack he was oftener applied to for counsel and advice than any other resident. Cool and dispassionate, he evinced mi these occasions a analysis that seldom failed < tlon. He speedily became a general favorite. One can better Imagine than describe the mixed nature of those farm sne better nature would have )wer of convie feelings, which, fired with ambitious designs and virtuous purposes, beheld the way of their fulfillment darkened by a retrospect ity. So true is it the last to admit to themselves the magnitude of their offenses, that even Plummer, stained with the guilt of re peated murders and seductions, a very monster of Iniquity, believed that his restoration to the pursuits And honors of virtuous association could be estab lished but far a possible exposure by some of his guilty partners. He knew their watchful eyes were upon him; that they were ready to follow him as leader or crush him as a traitor. of unparalleled atroc that the worst men are Cleveland His Enemy dread d. This Of no one was be in greater than his sworn enemy, Clevelan man, who made no secret of his own guilty purposes, had frequently uttered threats against the life of Plummer, and never lost an opportunity publicly to denounce him. Their feud was ir reconcilable. Cleveland had Incurred suspicion as the murderer of a young man by the name of George Evans, and was regarded generally as a des perado erf the vilest character It was no credit to Plummer that he came in his com previous yet unrevealed. A few days after the disappearance of Evans, a number of citizens were seated in conversation around the fire to a saloon kept by Mr. Goodrich. Among the number were Plummer. Jeff Perkins and Augustus Moore Sud denly the door was violently opened and Cleveland entered- With an air of assumed .authority he proclalrned him self "chief," adding with *n oath that he knew all the sowsndrcla from the "other side" and tetgWWl to with some of them, Tfee which the words rgw»kw cape the no«» of Wmmm land upon the taetaot to Bannack. But their connection was as npany « criminal t even threat did not es ; but Cleve ted Perkin» I pan. Well, we Uaked over the find and I roasted venison till late and sought the brush and spread our robes and a more Joyous lot of men never went more contentedly to bed than we. Diary of the Strike "May 27: Up before the sun"; horses all right; soon the frying pan was on the fire. Sweeney was off with the pan and Barney telling him to 'take it alsy.' He beat both Bill and me. He had 15.30. All day long we planned turn about, 10 pans at a time, and it was good dirt, too. Rodgers said: 'God is good.' "May 28: We staked our claims this morning—100 feet each. Then we had to think up a name. The boys said to me; 'You name the gulch.' I looked across the creek. There was a fringe of alders, growing creek, nice and green, so I wrote the name: 'Alder.' "May 20: Starting for Bannack. Away we go and have no cares. Up the Ban nack trail and down to the town, the raggedest lot that was ever seen and the happiest. Friends on every side. Bob Dempsey grabbed our horses and cared for them. Prank Ruff got us to his cabin. Salt Lake eggs, ham, potatoes, everything. Such a supper ! Too tired and too glad. Such is life west.' We have been feasted and cared for like princesses." And so, because the Crows turned a prospecting party from its course anti because two weary, disheartened, hun gry men wanted enough money to buy tobacco with when they reached Ban nack, Alder gulch was discovered. Some writers credit the Stuarts with the first discovery. An error due probably to the fact that James Stuart headed the prospecting party starting out from Bannack. Granville Stuart writes: was on a fork of Al Granite creek; and if r ty had not Alder gulch EE alone in the 'far This prospect der gulch called j Pairweather and his discovered the mines it is certain that they would b,ave been ffaea wr ed by 'J""® t ni t ffirssr STS ^ ac ^' was of miners, Naturally the news which the ragged, tired, Jubilant men brought in to Ban nack started ,% stampede. Soon the gulch was crowded with men and the air teemed with the sound of pick and shovel. But If Stuart and his men did not share In the actual glory of dls Stampede Starts covery they did share in the wealth, for William Pairweather, Henry Edger and the others, in hurriedly staking out their first 100-foot claims, did not forget their friends. Edger writes in his journal: M r ■ H... . ÏM fl'äaj % ■ m ? : m •v'f t, V N. P. LANGFORD Pam oos Writer of Pioneer Days in with having violated a promise to pay some money which the latter owed him in the lower country. Perkins assured him It had been paid. "If It was," said Cleveland, "it is all right," but as If to signify his distrust of Perkin's statement, be commenced handling his pistol and reiterating the charges. To prevent Cleveland from carrying into execution his apparent design of shoot ing Perkins, Plummer fixed his eyes sternly upon him and In a calm tone told him to behave himself, that Per kins had paid the debt and be ought to be satisfied. Shoots Cleveland Quiet was restored for the moment and Perkins slipped off, intending to return with his pistols and shoot Cleve land on sight. Here the difficulty would have ended had not Cleveland, in a manner, with epithet, de not fear any of Pilled with rage. Plummer sprang to his feet, drew his pistol, and ex claiming, "I am tired of this," followed up the expression with a couple of rapid shots, the last of which struck Cleveland below the belt. He fell on his knees Grasping wildly for his pistol, he appealed to Plummer not to shoot him while he was down. "No," said Plummer, whose blood was now up: "get up." Cleveland staggered to hi» feet, only to receive two more shots, the second of which entered below the eye. He fell to the floor and Plummer, «faythïng his tasted, turned to leave the door he was met by defiant and threatening mingled profanity and dared that he did them. the saloon. At George Ives and Charley Beeves, who, with pistol In hand, were coming to part in the fray. Each seizing an arm, they escorted Plummer down the street, meanwhile suggesting with great sä j"K«Ä1r'S; quarrel upon the public. MOVE OFFICES Th« plans ane riaht of wav 'B'rialoiiaof the state highway commission last week j moved their office* Into the new bulldlna near the state eapttol. The two cBvisions previonslv had oeewSed the state senate j .h.«,!» and several committee rooms. : SHANNON FILES BOND Rar X. Shannon of Tbompeoo Falh. state | treasure?-eieet, has filed his mandatory bond for saw «00 With the *?et**t* ef etoih w parater" to aartrrain« the dull«» «rf W* ettu* dhaunon, who Is state senator at r. PTofcahly wta ****** « not*! IK* latter part eS the month. "M.ay 28: We staked 12 claims for our friends and named the bars Couer, Pairweather and Rodgers,' where the discoveries were made." As a result of the stamped mining towns sprang up, the i mous and longest lived being City and Virginia City. Today Nevada e several most fa Nevada r ;„, iSp gi yi - . sM ït ' HENRY EDGAR Member of a group of prospectors who in 1863 set oat from Bananck in search of new gold fields. City numbers but two dilapidated buildings and is pointed out to tour ists as marking the spot where one of the notorious road agents was hanged in 1864—the same George Ives who had been one of the prospecting party under James Stuart and for whom one of the 12 claims bad been staked. Virginia City, also built In Alder gulch, is often referred to as the cradle of Montana history. Embracing, during the years of 1864 and 1865 a population of 10,000, m . : m ipy w. , u . y ■ v ■ • A G-B Refrigerator is a year 'rommd money »aver —ask your neighbor 1 As a matter of fret, your saving« in winter, through buying foods In larger quantities and on ''bar gain days," are even great er than in summer because food prices are higher. Know the convenience of a G-B NOW! Avoid markedngon bad weather days—be ready for the holiday season—and save from $25 to $50 between^ nowand spring. 8 SOLD ON CONVENIENT PAY MENT PLAN— IF DESIRED General Electric Supply Corp. DISTRIBUTORS, BUTTS. MONTANA BBS ; ; Always Demand The Genuine BUCKING BRONCO ROUNDUP COAL IT SAVES YOU MONEY IT GIVES YOU SATISFACTION IT'S HIGH HEAT FOR LOW TEMPERATURES THERE IS A SIZE FOR EVERY TYPE OF STOVE OR FURNACE TO STOKER OWNERS: The new BUCKING BRONCO Roundttp Dustle *» Oil-Treated screenings are now on the market. ASK FOR BUCKING BRONCO ROUNDUP COAL Look lor Bucking Bronco Trademark Scatter Tag® it has witnessed the ebb and flow of prosperity. Its streets have resounded to the tramp of miners' booted feet. Pour-horse stage coaches with their precious cargoes of gold ora have dashed through. Its citizens have quaked in mute terror under the lawless iron hands of such men as Long John, Prank Parrish, Georg« Ives and Plum mer. They have known the relief of se curity after such men a» X. Beidler Colonel Sanders, Thomas Baume and John A. Creighton took the law into their own hands. How very capable and courageous they were I« proved by a row of 13 graves on a hill overlooking Virginia City, marked by wooden slabs and bearing the terse Inscription; "Hanged, lii " g Gulch Often Worked Three Um» since Pairweather and Henry Edger panned dirt In the hope of finding enough gold dust to buy tobacco. Aider Gulch has been worked, each time yielding a fortune. Then came a dormant longer make a period. living panning. ch was worn out. It had served its Men could no The gul day. Or booming! sagged into lethargy. Then, two year» ago, a monstrous electric dredge was put Into the gulch to work over the tailings where, more than 70 years* Pairweather and excitement, knelt panned dust that yielded $2.40. And again Alder gulch is contributing to the world's wealth. so they .all thought and the mining town of Virginia City x Edger, beside aflame a stream and Edgar Preparing for Next Year'« Cricket» A group of Carbon county farmers in the vicinity of Edgar is already lay ing plans for more effective Mormon cricket control for 1937. Recognizing the need for prompt action when the cricket menace appears, the group has formed to keep in touch with farmers and county commissioners In the ef fort to obtain funds and timely aid in controlling cricket infestation. Heading the group are W. D. Wilson of Edgar, and E. E. Hansen, secretary. group hopes ciaUons formed 1 country so that be taken against the crickets next sum mer. The to see similar gaso ta other parts of the organized action can Indigestion Is often due to eye strain.