The Bozeman courier., November 27, 1925, Page PAGE FOURTEEN, Image 14

About The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954

Image provided by: Montana Historical Society; Helena, MT

                
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The Fortune That Was Lost in Sun
River; It's Disappearance a Mystery
- . . .■■Mill- . r>1
HERE are many mysteries in
connection with the early days
of Montana which have never
been solved but one of the most puz
zling of these was the strange disap
pearance of 1100,000 worth of cur
rency which, early in '70s was lost
in the freshet of Sun River,
In recent years there has been but
ene man who could talk freely on
the matter. He could tell a good
deal of the event, and as far as is
konwn he was the last man who ever
admitted seeing the specie. This man,
John King, was in his time, one of
the picturesque characters of the lit
tle town of Utica, Fergus county, and
he spent many years in that part of
the west which is now called Mon
tana.
T
Mining
Supplies
Station Pumps
Sinking Pumps
Electric Hoists
Repuano Gelatine Powder
Drills
Compressors
Sirocco Ventilating Fans
Anything and Everything
You May Need for Mining
I
Mail Orders Solicited
A. C. M.
HARDWARE
HOUSE
Butte
Montana
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Perfect Results
each time you bake
For we test this fleuret the mill
hy baking with it first ourselves
NuLTS
here, at last, la a flour that a l way s
In your oven I
We prove it beforehand, ha the
can. By baking h fin
any of It to enter yonr
And we honestly Wirr« k k the
flour you can find. Besan sstti
protein Montana wWat. And
know, la famous as a
We hope you w9) try a task
satisfaction and delight k wfl i
can be sure oiumfsrvtijgtsd
ROYAL MILLING COMPANY
GREAT PAULS. MONTANA
• • •
W
yon hake. For
r
way amiBcr
tW highest
as you
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1 strength and eaeigv.
efltex Fiona. Portae
of
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give von. Per than yeu
mks.Osdera seek lent ay.
REX
FLOUR
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Omr
Ayes
'REXaMNCr
St
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Tested et the mM for emferm kekhtg
u t n —mat v«3— h ymm
in the early days, preceding the
dlscovery of gold in Montana's val
leys and along the many mountain
streams, he was a trapper in the era
ploy of the Hudson's Bay company,
and ho lived with the Indians- He
was a hunter and trapper perforce, a
shrewd dealer with the different In
dian tribes, and a valued employe
of his company. For years King fol
lowed this occupation, and when
most of the beaver and other small
fur-bearing animals were either
trapped or driven out of the country
he became a buffalo hunter. Then,
when the buffalo began to disappear
from the plains, he turned "mule
skinner" on the Fort Benton road,
This occupation he followed until
the advent of the railroad.
When the "iron horse" lowered
the curtain on Missouri river steam
boat traffic, King tried stage driving
for a while, but this profession soon
became curtailed in its activities, and
in the later years of his life, he was
content with the odd jobs which his
hand and mind were able to locate
and which his physical man was able
to preform. He was, in spite of all,
friends and always evincing the spirit
he learned on the plains of helping
his needy neighbor. He was scrup
ulously honest, and of this trait in
his character, the following little
narrative deals.
Long Time Between Pay Days
It was in the '70s, at the time
when the government maintained
troops at the various military posts
of Montana, including Fort Benton,
Fort Shaw, Fort Peck, Fort Belknap
and others, in the northern part of
the state.
King was freighting that summer,
driving a 10-horse team, and carry
ing supplies between Forts Benton
and Shaw. None of the troops in
Northern Montana had been paid in
several months, and a "kick" long
and loud went up from the officers
and the enlisted men. This general
complaint proved of some avail, and
after the unwinding of considerable
red tape it was decided to send near
ly 1100,000 in cash to Fort Shaw.
This was sent by mail and was to be
distributed from Fort Shaw to the
several posts of Northern Montana.
The money reached Helena safely
and from that point it was placed
on a coach which would eventually
take it to its destination—provided
everything as planned "carried out.
How Money Was Lost
It so happened, In this particular
case, though, that even the elements
seemed to have conspired to keep the
money from the soldiers. When the
coach reached Sun River Crossing, a
spring freshet had filled the river
from bank to bank. The driver who
was an old timer at the business,
went on the theory that the United
States mail must go through at all
hazard, and he promptly forced the
horses Into the swollen stream.
About midway of the channel a deep
hole was encountered, the coach was
capsized and soon the driver and his
passengers were swimming for their
lives. All got ashore safely but the
horses were drowned and all of the
mail, including the registered pouch
containing the currency was lost.
Although a determined effort was
made to recover the currency. It was
not found. Nearly every soldier
from Fort Shaw patrolled the banks
for many days, but in vain. It was
reported to Washington as being ir
99
, . ,
retrievably lost by the postal offlc
ials of Northern Montana. That, for
the time being, at least, seemed to
be the end of the matter. It was
the general opinion that the pouch
had been carried down stream,
that It had become sodden and sank
to the muddy bottom of Sun River,
Some evinced the belief that it was
carried down to the Missouri. These
theories, though, proved wrong.
Some months later while King was
on one of his monthly trips, he
camped one night on Sun river some
distance below the regular crossing,
and while prospecting about the
banks of the stream, he noticed
something lodged in the willows on
the opposite side of the stream, that
resembled ft piece of tanned leathDr.
In those days, leather strings were al
ways handy to have in one's posses
sion, and King saw an opportunity
to replenish his scanty stock.
out more ado, he removed his cloth
ing and floundered through the wa
ter, soon reaching the pouch.
He examined It carefully for a few
minutes, and found that it was
locked and quite evidently filled with
er and he did not care much about
the nature of the contents. Conse
quently he returned with his find to
the other side of the river and don
ned his clothing. Then he secured
his knife and in less time than it
takes to tell it, he had ripped the
pouch from top to bottom. It was
deed a surprise to the oldtimer when
his rash act revealed package after
package of greenbacks, many of the
bills being of very large denomina
tion.
b
Take without Fear as Told
Unless you see the "Bayer cross"
on package or on tablets yon are not
getting the genuine Bayer Aspirin
proved safe hy millions and pre
scribed by physicians over twenty
five years for
BAYER ASPIRIN
PROVED SAFE
in "Bayer" Package
/%.
baver
the
Colds
Neuritis
Toothaehu
Neuralgia
Each unbroken "Bayer" package
contains proven directions. Handy
boxes of twelve tablets cost few cents.
Druggists also sell bottles of 24 and
1 * 0 .
Headache
Lumbago
Rheumatism
Pain, Pain
For a few minutes King was petri
fied with astonishment, which
followed by fear. He realized It was
a serious offense to maltreat a United
States mail hag, and for a while the
vision of a yawning pqpitentiary
(haunted him. There was a fortune
before his very eyes but he dared not
to touch a cent of it for fear of ser
ious trouble. For a time he studied
.his predicament, and finally his na
tural honesty asserted itself. With
out even trying to count the pack
ages to ascertain the value of his
find, he closed his knife, and, gather
mg up the pouch, made his way to
River Crossing,
At the stage station there, he era
ployed another driver to take his
freight outfit to its destination He
borrowed a saddle horse and lost
no time in covering the distance to
Helena. Here he told his story to
those whom he believed to be In
thority- Whether or not his tale
reached the proper parties, was nov
er learned, as King did not know
hust to whom he should unfold the
tale of his great find.
was
au
With the understanding that he
pfga to bo held blameless in the mat
ter of slitting open the registered
mail pouch. King was Induced to de
gcribe minutely the location of this
With-(cache. Then ho was advised to flee
j across the line into Canada and re
main there until the special agent
of the postal department, who had
(the matter of the missing pouch in
charge, would have an opportunity
to investigate the matter and square
things He at once sold his
freighting outfit fbr what he could
get for it and went to Canada. It is
supposed that the men to whom King
imparted his information, found the
money; but, it is stated that there
is nothing on record in Washington
to show that it was returned to the
In-{government,
It is supposed that King's story !
was not imparted to the proper au
thorities, and that the parties who
had thus procured the location of
the cache, went on the theory that
the money had been reported as ir
retrievably lost to the department.
It would have been folly, they
evidently thought, to bring to light
a matter which had become so nearly
forgotten, so, it is stated, the money
went into private circulation, and not
into the coffers of the government
postoffice treasury.
King was safe in Canada, held by
l^u^.aU t"
told his story, realizing his ignor
ance of the law at that time, were
confident he would not return for a
long time. They further, doubtless,
felt that few would believe the al
most impossible story of his finding
the money on the river bank and
then caching and abandoning it.
It was many months before the
soldiers of Northern Montana's
posts drew their long delayed pay.
The postal authorities made an in
vestigation, and then the war de
! partment took a hand in the matter.
It was finally determined that the
money was forever lost and a second
appropriation was made from the war
department and the men were paid.
This time, the pay roll was accom
panied by a regular army paymaster,
and the funds were securely stored
in a steel safe, and guarded by a file
of soldiers from the time they left
the government depositary until the
cash was in the hands of the troop
ers at the forts.
| King, obsessed with the idea that
he had violated the postal laws and
was a fugitive from justice, remained
in Canada for more than a year. He
then returned to his old haunts and
took up his life where he had left It
off. He was laughed at by those
cronies to whom he told his story.
It was not long, though, until he
learned that the money had not been
returned to the government.
-O
ACCEPTS CUSTER
MEMORIAL WORK
GENERAL GOD FRET O F NE W
JERSET WILL ACT ON THE
MONTANA BOARD
Association Formed at Billings' to
Further Observance of Semi-Cen
tennial Celebration of Battle of
Little Big Horn.
General Edward 8. Godfrey, of
Cookstown, N. J., national com
mander of the Legion of Honor, an
organization of Medal of Honor
and Distinguished Service cross re
cipients, has accepted the national
chairmanship of the National Cus
ter Memorial association, organ
ized to further observance of the
semi-centennial celebration of the
Battle of the little Big Horn at
Custer battlefield next June.
General Godfrey, a distinguished
Indian fighter who served in the
series of engagements on the Little
Horn which terminated in the massa
cre of Custer and 265 officers and
men, notified Secretary J. A. Shoe
maker of Billings of his acseptance
Tuesday. The names, of a score of
famous veterans of Indian wars
closely associated with Custer and
of authors and writers who have
made a study of Indian wars, were
suggested by General Godfrey for
membership on the national com
mittee.
<y
The highest ambition of a China
man is to have a fine coffin and a
fine funeral.
Send for
FREE
Sample of
SANDE'S HAND LOTION
«ha skin."
fntr mtl r nö*»w mih 4ry er IrH
altar sharing. Ml
»7 all Srasstats.
(just fill out and men this ceopea)
CHAPPLU DBDO CO. ;
Billing«, Montana.
Without obligation on my part,
B | so send me, pontage prepaid, a
»ample bottle •TSando's Haad
Lotion.
Name .
Address
Iron Sulphate Not
Successful in War
On Dandelion Pest
The use of iron sulphate to erad
icate the dandelion In Great Falls,
has failed, according to Park Sup
erintendent Prank Riemer. In the
last two years several barrels of
the solution have been used. It
kills off the dandelion tops, but
did not put the roots out of com
mission.
Many methods for eradiation of
the dandelion have been tried in
Great Falls, but no successful one
has been found, Mr. Riemer stated.
He suggested that during the coming
year, large quantities of clover seed
be planted and the grass in the parks
allowed to grow until some time in
June. By then, he thinks, the grass
and clover seed will smother out the
dandelions. At the old Rowles hay
ranch on the Sun River road this
plan has been tried successfully.
-o
iCuticura Soap for the Complexion.
Nothing better than Cuticura Soat
daily and Ointment now and hea at
needed to make the complexion clear,
scalp clean and hands soft and white
Add to this the fascinating, fragrant
Cuticura Talcum and you have the
Cuticura Toilet Trio.—Adv.
More
Rawhides
bb
Is the name of Charles H. Russell's new book, a limited
number of which will be off the press on DECEMBER 10.
Ton enjoyed "Rawhide Rawlins Stories", Mr. Rnssell's first
nd your friends enjoyed it and still prize it highly.
Ton will uot want to miss the opportunity of securing your
copy of "More Rawhides.
The new book contains abont 12 stories all written by Mr.
Russell and filled with his natural western hnmor. More
than 25 of Mr. Russell's pen drawings, executed especially
for this work, and each one suitable for framing, illnstrate
the book.
«
book
99
1 The Real Montana Christmas
F. Gift to Friends Back East —
There could bo no more appropriate Christmas Gift sugges
tion. Tour friends back East will appreciate this real Mon
tana token—a moment© of the World's greatest Fainter of
Beenes from the Old West.
■ Reservation Must be Made at Once to
\ Insure Deliveries from First Edition —
' But a limited number of these books will be placed on the
f market for the Christmas trade. The first two editions of
Rawhide Rawlins Stories" were bought np faster than the
publishers were able to print and bind them, and several edi
tions have already been printed and sold. PROMPT ACTION
will be necessary to insure delivery of copies from this first
edition of "MORE RAWHIDES.
Price hy mail Prepaid to any address , $1.10,
Special Prices to Dealers ]
tt
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V
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■
CHARLES
M.
f RUSSELL
f Montana's
f Cowboy
£ Artist and
f Author
*
of
• Rawhide
' Rawlins
' Stories.
The binding being need on "More Rawhides" is both durable and
attractive, and is adorned with an original drawing by the artist.
(Fill ont this coupon, mail it now and your copy will be reserved)
*
MONTANA NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION
GREAT FALLS, MONTANA.
Enclosed find $ 1.10 (check, express or P. O. money order),
for which send me one copy of "MORE RAWHIDES.
»•
NAME
ADDRESS ..
——
>
CITY..
STATE
Don't Let That Cold
Turn Into "Fin
w
That cold may turn into "Pin,
Grippe or, even worse, Pneumonia,
unless you take care of it at once.
Rub Musterole on the congested
parts and see how quickly it brings
relief.
Musterole, made from pure oil of
mustard, camphor, menthol and eth
er simple ingredients, is a counter
irritant which stimulates circulation
and helps break up the cold.
As effective as the messy old mus
tard plaster; does the work without
blister.
Rub It on with your flnger-Uws
You will feel a warm tingle as it en
ters the pores, then a cooling sensa
tion that b* ings welcome relief.
Jars and Tabes
» f
■#
»
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i
4
Better than a mustard plaster
>
Chinese history dates back to 2 «8 7
B. C., when the people were made up
into clans or tribes and were ruled
by a sovereign.