History of Southern Montana - Chapters 24-29



CHAPTER XXIV.
CHARLES BEEHRER.
 
"I was born in Stuttgart, Germany, on the 4th day of December, 1836, and 
came to America, where I landed in New York City in the spring of 1855. I 
went at once to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where I remained but a short time, as 
I got the gold fever, and went to Colorado, where I worked in the mines 
for two seasons, in Galena Gulch, in the southern part of the Territory. 
In the fall of 1862, I made arrangements with some of the young men to go 
to Idaho. There was no Montana in those days; so I bought a pair of mules, 
but the Indians got so bad that they burned the stage stations and made it 
such a serious matter that I told my partner, whose name was Myers, that I 
was willing to go if he would leave his wife in a safe place. She would 
not listen to such an arrangement, so I sold my mules and made up my mind 
to stay a little longer in Colorado. We had intended to go to Idaho and 
make beer, as I had learned two trades, brewing and coopering. 

That summer I met two Texas men, and they wanted me to go down to Arizona 
with them. They claimed that the Indians had stolen 800,000 sheep and 
large herds of cattle, which we could get, if we could only secure men 
enough who were willing to take a chance. If we could only get this stuff 
into Colorado, we would sell and divide the money. Of course, you know 
this would look pretty good to any young person who was willing to take a 
chance, because taking this stuff away from Indians could not be 
considered wrong. I did not really tell them that I would go, but that I 
might see them in Denver. All I had was a good revol- ver and rifle. I had 
neither horse nor money. They told me I did not need money. 

One of these Texas men had a brother who lived down on the Platte river, 
twenty miles below Denver. So when I got there, this man, who was an 
honest fellow, said to his brother, "You had better not take this boy in 
your gang," and he turned to me and said, "You had better not go. You 
don't know what kind of men they are." He told me they were highway 
robbers. I replied that l did not believe it, and that I would go and see 
the camp. So I went over to the camp about seven or eight miles, and I 
walked down and counted the horses. There were 48 men in camp besides 
myself and two were out some place, and there were only 46 saddle horses. 
So I said, "Boys, I can't go with you." And they wanted to know why, and I 
said, "There are only 46 horses and there are fifty of us altogether." 
They replied that that was all right; that they could pick up horses 
enough at the first ranch they came to, and that I should go. I told them 
no. Then they threatened to kill me, and told me I had to go. I repeated 
that I would not go, and that if I had done anything for which they 
thought I should be killed, to go ahead, as I would not go with them. I 
went to these men from Texas and had a long talk. They told me if I would 
make a solemn promise not to tell, they would let me go. I remember that 
there were men in that bunch that I saw afterwards, in Montana. Dr. Glick 
was one of them, and also John Wagner and Jack Gallagher. I came back by 
the ranch of the man who had told me not to go, and he was surprised to 
see me. He asked me what was the matter, and I told him they did not have 
horses enough, so I decided not to go. He remarked that I was a most 
fortunate young fellow to escape alive from that bunch. 

I saw Dr. Glick, John Wagner, Jack Gallagher, John Heffner and Wilfert, 
among others, again in Montana. It was on account of finding such men as 
Wagner and Gallagher in the outfit that caused me to take but little stock 
in them, and was one reason why I did not go. 

Shortly after I left there, they captured a government train that was 
loaded with supplies for Fort Collins. An assistant wagon boss brought the 
news to Denver, and Capt. Weis went out with a Company of cavalry, and 
brought them to Denver and put the whole gang in jail, but they had some 
friends who let them out, and they scattered -- many of them coming to 
Montana. 

Fifty years ago they did not make much beer in the summer time, so a 
friend of mine, who had a butcher shop, gave me a job. 

Although I never did like the saloon business, I made up my mind to buy a 
place close to where I could get a high-class lot of trade, such as the 
officers, etc. The first night I opened my place, I noticed that quite a 
lot of hobos, such as you find in all mining camps, came in. I call them 
all up probably ten or fifteen of them, and said: "Boys, I want to make a 
few remarks to you; come up and take another drink with me, and promise 
never to come in my saloon again; if you do, you will put me to the 
trouble of leading you out." And I did have to lead a few out. I had a 
nice place, as far as saloons go. I stayed there until spring, then I sold 
out and came to Montana, and never went into the saloon business again. 

I landed at Yankee Flat, near Bannack, the 17th day of May, 1963, and soon 
after Alder Gulch was discovered, I went to that place and opened a 
brewery. I was the first man to brew beer, with hops, in Montana. Of 
course, there was a man by the name of Manheim that had made some beer out 
of wheat, with Utah sorghum and the tops of spruce pine. And Tom Smith had 
used oats, sorghum and sage brush; but I used hops. I had thirty-five 
pounds with me when I came, and bought sixteen pounds of wild hops from a 
fellow from Bitter Root, and gave him $8.00 per pound for it. 

I was called "Charlie the Brewer." I had beer ready for the 4th of July, 
and as I had agreed to deliver some to a party in Virginia City, I looked 
for my mules and could not see them, and as I needed money pretty bad, I 
put 22 gallons on my back, and carried it all the way to Virginia City -- 
two miles -- never setting it down; 196 pounds, and I got my money, 
$88.00, in gold for it I probably became identified with the Vigilantes, 
on account of Capt. James Williams, who overtook, me at the foot of the 
Big Bear River Hill, about forty miles east of Soda Springs. He came from 
Fort Bridger. He had been in the regular army, where he was a sergeant. He 
became captain of the Vigilantes. 

Mr. Beehrer says that he remembers well the trial of George Ives, but 
thinks that Historians are wrong as to the date -- Decem- ber 21st -- as 
he said it was December 24th, as he wrote a letter to his father on that 
date. 

He said that he never saw a person who was as fearless as Col. Sanders was 
at that trial. That he stood there and defied the toughs to do their 
worst, and in language that was not soothing, either in choice of words or 
manner of expression. After Sanders had made his remarkable speech, "that 
they hang George Ives by the neck until he was dead," Judge Bryam, who was 
a neighbor, got upon a butcher wagon, and made a, speech, and proposed all 
those in favor of Ives being hung say, "Aye," and those who were opposed 
say "No." 

"You see, it seemed to me so foolish, I told the boys to run the wagon 
down the street." The Judge was an old man, and could not get out until 
they stopped; he came back and said, "Charley, why did you have the boys 
run the wagon down the street?" and I said, "Why didn't you make a 
sensible speech?" Then I told him to say, "All those in favor of turning 
Ives loose, walk across the street, and those in favor of hanging, stay 
here." And he said, "What is that for'!" and I told him it was done so we 
could tell what the results were. We could tell then who the good men 
were, and who were the bad ones. The result was that there were about 
twenty to one in favor of the good men. 

Before Ives was hung, we were all talking about it, as we are doing now. 
Col. Sanders was present, so was Maj. Baggs. I said, "It is getting late, 
and it is time now to do our duty." So we led Ives up to this place of 
execution, and Robert Hereford was the man to place the rope around Ives' 
neck. 

There had been about twenty-five men from different places in the gulch, 
that had formed a committee in the Lott Brothers' store, and had taken an 
oath to do their duty. This was before the arrest of Ives for killing 
Tbalt, and it was their men that made the arrest. [Note: Beehrer and Judge 
Lott are both mistaken in this. That oath was signed on December 23rd when 
they got ready to go to Deer Lodge.] So it was no trouble for Col. Sanders 
to get enough men together to form a Vigilante committee, after Ives was 
hung. They called a meeting, and called for volunteers. Williams kept a 
horse ranch about ten miles from Nevada. We started that evening for his 
place, and between eleven and twelve o'clock, there came a most awful snow 
storm, so we were compelled to camp out. The next day we got things 
together, and started on the trip to Deer Lodge, twenty-eight of us, 
besides Long John, who was taken along to identify the highwaymen -- he 
had turned state's evidence. The majority of the men that were along went 
by their given names, and no one could tell who they were. There was Joe 
Dido, Elk Morse, from Summit, Charles Brown (Dutch Charley), Louis Hooker 
and Luther Seboldt, who was a highly educated German gentleman. I did know 
a good many of them by their given names. Nobody knew me, except by my 
given name. 

Our first camp was made at the crossing of the Big Hole, about where the 
Pennington Bridge is now, about eight miles from Twin Bridges, and then, 
on account of the snow being so deep on the McCarty Mountain, we went up 
the river and made our second camp about one mile below where Melrose is 
now, and next morning we were informed by Long John that the road agents 
had a camp up near where Glendale afterwards was built. They had a horse 
camp there. So we all separated and went in different directions to find 
the road agents' camp. I went toward Glendale, and from a big hill I saw a 
man going across the bench from McCarty Springs, over to Camp Creek. (He 
had learned in Virginia that we had started out.) I left the mountain and 
came down to camp as quick as I could, and found Capt. Williams, and I 
said, "Jim, I am afraid we are too late." I then asked him if he saw a 
fellow about a mile above, going on a good lope. I told him I thought the 
fellow was a messenger, going to warn the fellows. 

Question: bow long did it take you to make that trip! 

Answer: It was awful cold weather, and as I told you this morning, all we 
had to eat was fat bacon and flap-jacks. When we got down to Warm Springs, 
in the Deer Lodge Valley, we made camp, and an Indian came up with two 
jack rabbits and a deer. Williams turned to me and said: "Charley, we are 
awful meat hungry, and you are the only one who has any money." Of course, 
I could not speak Indian, but I could make signs, and I told him to open 
his hand, and I gave him some gold. Of course, the Indian wanted more, but 
I knew how to trade with Indians, and told him to take that for his game, 
or put the gold back in my hand. He smiled at me, and made signs a few 
moments, and finally told me to take them. As we had not had any fresh 
meat for five or six days, we took the skin right off, and went to 
cooking. Rome of the boys were so hungry that they did not cook their meat 
enough. Charlie Brown, Hooker, Seboldt and myself. fried ours perfectly 
done. All the other were taken sick. 

When we arrived at Deer Lodge, the boys were feeling too bad to camp out. 
Two Greasers kept a hotel. I told Jim that I did not know whether I had 
money enough to take us to the hotel, but that I would go and see. The 
Greasers spoke fairly good English, and I went and told them that we had 
29 men and 82 horses and mules, and I thought very likely we would stay 
two days, and asked them how much they would charge to keep us. That is, 
to sleep in the house. Of course, we had our own beds. We wanted them to 
keep our horses and mules, and feed them on hay, but that we would attend 
to them ourselves. They told us they would take $180.00 for two days. I 
thought, that the men being Greasers, they would take better care of us if 
they were paid in advance, and I did pay in advance on that account. Then 
I went over to Dance and Stuarts, and asked what they would take for nine 
buffalo robes, as they were mighty good to sleep on. Dance told me he 
would take $2.25 apiece for them. I bought them, and asked if he had 
anything better. "Oh, yes, if you can stand the price." He then told me he 
had six bales. He opened all of them and I selected three more and paid 
him $27.00 for them, or $9.00 each. 

Deer Lodge at that time probably did not have more than 100 people. It was 
a trading post, and practically everyone was a Canadian. It was John 
Grant's ranch then. John Grant afterwards sold to Con Kohrs. I was well 
acquainted with "Johnnie" Grant. 

We found when we got to Deer Lodge that most of the highwaymen had gone. 
We got Tex -- I never knew his name -- a man by the name of Irwin, and 
Frank Parish. 

As we had paid for our accommodations for two days, we were compelled to 
stay. I remember a peculiar incident of that time. We had gone into a 
saloon to play a game of euchre, to pass away the time. While we were 
sitting there, a big fine looking man came in and stood by the bar. I did 
not pay any more attention to him, and while playing my hand, he 
disappeared. I heard the sound as if some one was doing something with a 
revolver. I handed my hand to another of the boys, and looking over the 
bar, I saw that man down on his knees. He had a revolver in his hand, 
which he was loading, and two more were on the floor beside him. He met my 
gaze with a very savage one, but neither of us said a word. I told the 
Captain about him, and said that I believed that man was a bad one, and 
ought to be hung. 

In 1870, I was in San Francisco, and got on a street car, and the only 
person there was this man of Deer Lodge, splendidly dressed. We exchanged 
looks, and again made no remarks. I told "Sport" Sullivan, a man whom I 
had known in St. Louis, about it, and he said that man was a captain of 
all the burglars in New York, Chicago and Frisco, and I would be just as 
apt to meet him one place as another. In 1877, when I was coming back from 
Europe, I met that same man in New York, and he knew me. 

Bill Palmer, Louis Hooker and myself started back to Virginia City with 
Tex, Irwin and Frank Parish. Soon after we arrived there, williams came 
back and ordered those men turned loose -- all of these men were set free, 
and Tex had sense enough to leave the Country. As to Parish, Charlie Brown 
and I captured him a little way below Virginia City, and he was hung with 
Boone Helm, Club-Foot George, and the others, which was about five days 
after we got back. Williams did not fetch anyone in; he hung them wherever 
he found them. 

There were two men who were the most active in helping to rid this country 
of the tough element. X. Beidler has had his praise, but Charley Brown 
(Dutch Charley), never received at the hands of the writer, or historians, 
his dues. 

Charley Brown, that was not his real name, was a highly educated German 
gentleman -- in fact was a nobleman. He was at one time a page at the 
Bavarian Court, and was one of the four boys that rode the horses when the 
Queen took a ride. She had eight Shetland ponies, and four boys rode them, 
and cared for them. None, but those of noble birth, could become a 
courtier. 

He was about six feet one inch, and weighed 220 pounds, and was a nice 
looking man when young. He was the man who put the rope around Slade's 
neck. He was also the man who led the ball with Mrs. Slade, about three 
weeks after, at Adelphia Hall, at Nevada. This was after Mrs. Slade had 
said that she would cut the heart out of the man who had placed the rope 
around her husband's neck. (Some Richard III in this Act.) 

The day that Slade was hung I happened to be in Virginia, and Captain 
Williams was talking with Slade, and took him into Pfouts & Russell's 
store, and tried to get him to be decent. After they had made up their 
minds to hang him, Captain Williams asked me when I was going down -- 
meaning, of course, to Nevada. I told him I would go in a few minutes. He 
told me to go, and he would stay there, and for me to bring all the boys I 
could. Of course, I knew everybody. I had to go down to Junction anyway, 
on account of business. I asked Capt. Williams when he wanted me to come 
up. I told him I was sure the boys would not leave their work until noon. 
He said, "You bring them up as soon as you can, after dinner." Of course, 
everyone had a rifle or shotgun. If Slade had only acted a little decent, 
we would have turned him loose, but when the Sheriff came up, and went to 
him with a summons, he took it and tore it up, and said he would kill 
every Vigilante in the Gulch. When we had the gallows up, I looked for 
Mrs. Slade to come, as some one had gone for her. We were down in the 
gulch, and on the hills around us were what we called the minute men -- 
men who sympathized with the highwaymen. If Mrs. Slade should come, she 
could have had those men against us, and many would be killed. All at once 
I saw her coming down a steep hill just as fast as her horse could run. I 
stood by the gallows and said to the Captain, "Captain, do you see her 
comings? Then I pointed to Mrs. Slade, and told them not to waste any more 
time. Charley Brown got up then and put the rope around his neck. I never 
saw a man beg so in all my life. He told us to cut his arms off above the 
elbows, his legs above the knees, and made all kinds of promises that 
could be imagined. He could not help but see me there, and because we had 
always been good friends, he said: "Charlie, can't you do something for 
me" I said: "Slade, I am sorry to say I cannot." Mrs. Slade was coming 
from their ranch home, which was a stone building about four miles from 
Virginia City, on the road to Madison Valley. 

I recall one little incident that happened the same day the five men were 
hanged. I was in Nick Kessler's saloon, in Virginia City, and a lot of 
these men, in fact, nearly all of them, were standing at the bar, cursing 
the Vigilantes, and Kessler told me he wanted to speak to me, and called 
me to one side. Before he could say anything, something was said by some 
of those fellows that made me mad, and I turned and told them that we had 
hanged five that day, and when it became necessary to hang any more, if 
they did not have any timber, I would furnish the timber and rope also. 
One of them replied: "Yes, Charlie, we know you, and you would be glad to 
hang the last one of us." Kessler told me that he would not have said what 
I did for all the gold in the mountains, because his life would not be 
worth anything after that. That they would get him sure. 

I will tell you why I had an advantage over most of the old timers. My 
business brought me in contact with all of those men, so I was associated 
more with them than the others, and can remember them better. Then, of 
course, when we formed the committee, the miners could not leave their 
work. They could do a little, but they had no money, and they felt it was 
necessary for them to work. I was of a different disposition, and was 
willing to take a chance. I want you to understand me right. I never was a 
bully, but I wished to see justice done, and they could not scare me. 
Nobody could scare Charley Brown, either. Hc had a little cabin just below 
the brewery, and he came up and asked me if I was going to the ball. I 
told him that I would probably go down and look on a little while. Charley 
never did care for good clothes; so when he told me that he was going to 
lead the ball with Mrs. Slade, I said: "How dare you? You are not dressed 
fit to go to a ball." He said: "I will be the best dressed man in that 
ball room." I asked him how he made that out, and he said: "I will go down 
and make Lewis go to bed, and I will take his clothes." Lewis was a man 
about Charley's size, who had just bought the store of the Lott Brothers. 
He was probably the best dressed man in Nevada. Charley went down and 
persuaded him to go to bed, and in that way Charley became the best 
dressed man at the ball, and actually led the grand march with Mrs. Slade. 

Charley was one of the healthiest men, and one of the toughest men I ever 
saw. Nothing could tire him. He was in the habit of taking a bath every 
night before he went to bed, in cold water. I had tried to get him to come 
up and live with me, because I was afraid that some of the band would kill 
him. These minute men, as we called them, came down one night, and I 
noticed they stopped -- and I looked out, it was moonlight -- and saw them 
in front of Charley's cabin. He was taking a bath when the minute men 
knocked at the door. He said: "Come in." and four or five rushed in, and 
found him standing ready for his bath, with a gun in each hand. And he 
said: "Gentlemen, what can I do for you?" That outfit was down to get him, 
but Charley Brown never allowed anyone to take him by surprise. 

Charley Brown died in Alaska, where he was sent by the United States 
government, as an expert veterinarian, to examine into the cause of 
disease among the reindeer. He has a son, and one or two daughhtcrs living 
in Miles City. 

Soon After the Port Neuf Canyon Robbery. 

Charlie Brown came into my room in my brewery, which was afterward the 
Kessler, and told me he wanted "Dime," a fine thoroughbred mare. I believe 
she was as nice a mare as ever came to Montana. He took the mare and rode 
to Blackfoot. I did not see him for a little while, until I had returned 
to Nevada, - when he came in and said: "Hello, Charlie." I said: "Where's 
Dime!" "Oh, she is all right," he said. I had four guns hanging on the 
wall, and he picked out the best one, and said: "I want this gun, and your 
best revolver." I asked him if some other would not do as well, and he 
said, "No, this is what I want. Is it loaded?" I said: "Yes." "Well, give 
me $50.00 also." "Is that all you want!" I asked indignantly. His reply 
was yes. I asked him what he was going to do, and he said that he was 
going to Denver after Williams, the man that drove the coach in the Port 
Neuf robbery. This man Williams had driven my team from Denver to 
Virginia, and had come to me and told me that he was going on the road. 
Brown did not return to Montana for several months. When he came back, he 
reported that he had caught Williams and hung him to a cottonwood, about 
five miles from Denver. 

Charlie Brown was a most peculiar man. He would not work at anything hard. 
He was a splendid horseman, and drove the band wagon for Dan Rice's Circus 
when he was east. There were 48 horses hitched to this wagon, and Charlie 
was in his glory on the box. 



CHAPTER XXV.
INCIDENTS IN BEEHRER'S LIFE. --FLOUR RIOT. -- AN INCIDENT WITH SKINNER. -- 
TWO MEN HANG A MAN. -- HOW THE YOUNG MAN GOT FREE.

"The leader was a Bavarian baker, with a red shirt and carrying a red. 
flag. I had 1,000 sacks of barley. This barley was put up in flour sacks. 
I had 260 of Utah flour that I held at $25.00 per sack, but had sold 250 
to Denny and Rockfellow, at $27.50, and 20 sacks of St. Louis flour at 
$28.00 per sack, and had probably 8 or 9 sacks, a day or two before the 
riot broke out, but had told my friends to come and get some -- so the day 
of the riot I only had one sack. They came and examined my barley sacks, 
and at last went away satisfied. A few days after the riot, I was 
successful in obtaining four loaves of bread of the bakers in Nevada for 
$16.00. The reason for this was, that I had gone to Frank Tenny and Louis 
Koch, the bakers, and told them that there was to be a flour riot, and 
that they had better take their extra supply and put it in a dry well, out 
behind their place, and cover it over with cord wood, as they had a large 
supply of that on hand. They took my advice, and hid their flour. Bakers 
were allowed ten sacks. I told them that I would sell their surplus to the 
boarding houses down the gulch, but not for more than $70.00 per sack, and 
as flour was selling for from $100 to $150 per hundred, I did not consider 
I was robbing anyone. I used to buy all the whiskey barrels, so people did 
not mistrust me when I took a barrel any place, so I would put a sack of 
flour in a barrel and make my delivery in that way. In that way I disposed 
of between 50 and 60 sacks for them. My work kept me pretty busy, and 
every night except Saturday, I would go to bed, between 9:00 and 9:30. On 
Saturday bills were paid, and I felt that as 14 saloon men and four hurdy 
houses were patrons of mine, I must spend some of my money with them. I 
would go the rounds of the saloons, and probably treat the boys, and of a 
night would buy probably 50 dance tickets, at $1.00 each. Then I would 
give them to the boys. I never danced once in any of those houses. I was 
in Little Doe's place one night, and had treated the boys and was ready to 
leave, when a blacksmith called "Dump" (I never knew any other name for 
him) said: "Charlie, set them up again." "I would but I am afraid I would 
get a little too much." "Will you set them up, if I will?" he asked. "I 
guess you seem to think you are the only man with money. I will show you 
that I have some, too." And he took a big gold sack and scattered gold all 
over the floor. You must remember, we had dirt floors in most of the 
saloons. I had three friends who were poor, and as Little Doc was a pretty 
generous fellow, I said: "Doc, can't you let my friends come down and make 
the clean-up, and you give them half they gets" He said, "Sure," and those 
fellows took a hoe and a gold pan and cleaned up between $900 and $1,
000.00. When I saw "Dump" do that, I said: "Dump, you will either die in 
the gutter, or on a manure pile." And he did die on a manure pile, back of 
Bill Owsley's livery stable in Butte, not many years after. 

Women in those houses did not drink anything but light drinks, as it was 
no part of their business to become intoxicated. 

There was a fellow in camp -- a neighbor of mine, who was very poor. He 
had a wife and two children. I had given him wood, also something to eat. 
Had later let him take a team with which to haul wood. He came to my place 
one evening and said that he was in trouble, and wanted me to help him; 
said that the dance house was trying to take his wife away. I went up to 
the hall with him and he said: "Jane, I don't want you to leave me." She 
replied that he could not make a living for her, and the children, and 
that she could, by dancing, support herself and them. Seeing that she no 
longer cared for her husband a fellow who was called a lawyer, got up and 
made a speech, and divorced them, right out on the street. A Mormon girl 
came up, and put her arm around his neck, and said, "Don't cry; I am ready 
to marry you right now." 

An Incident With Skinner. 

"Cyrus Skinner was running a saloon in Virginia City, and requested credit 
from me, as he said he was a poor man, who had a wife to support. There 
came a time when he owed me about $400.00, so one day I went into his 
place of business, and he said: 'Charlie, you are just in time. I have got 
plenty of money today.' We weighed out the dust into my sack, when four or 
five gamblers that were playing cards behind me began to shoot at one 
another. Cyrus got all the gold in my sack, and you bet I did not take 
time to tie it. I put it in my pocket and left the house. Wishing to pay 
some bills a few days after, I went into John Creighton's st,ore, and 
turned out the dust. (This Creighton weas the man who built the first 
telegraph line into Montana from Salt Lake.) John said: 'Charlie, where 
did you get this bogus dust?' I told him that that was good, clean dust; 
that I had been paid by Cyrus Skinner. He soon put some acid on it, and 
showed me my mistake. We soon learned that a Canadian -- I will not tell 
his name -- had been circulating this stuff. He was banished, but came 
back, and was a good citizen afterwards." 

Two Men Hang a Man. 

This is a remarkable story. It needs no embellishment from the pen of any 
man to make it of peculiar interest. 

"If I remember, it was sometime in March, 1864, that Charlie Brown came to 
me and said that he wanted me to make one of a party of eight, that was to 
go to Deer Lodge, Hell Gate, etc., for highwaymen. I do not remember all 
the names, but Charlie Brown, Louis Hooker, J. X. Beidler, and a young man 
about twenty, named Ike, was along. This young fellow, though a boy, was 
one of the bravest men I ever saw. When we arrived at the mouth of Rock 
Creek, near Hell Gate, Charley Brown said: 'It will not do for us all to 
go together; Charlie the Brewer, and I, will go up Rock Creek to the 
cabin, we have been told may be the rendezvous of the robbers. If we find 
too many of them, we will come back and overtake you.' We left the party, 
as they were to go straight down the river. (I never suffered so much in 
my life with the cold. He showed me his hands; all the fingpers, over 
fifty years afterwards, showed signs of the fearful cold of that night, as 
they had no gloves.) 

"It was about five miles up Rock Creek to the cabin. We had to pass 
through deep snow, but it was soft and we did not make any noise. We soon 
saw that there was a light in the cabin. Charley said to me, 'We will 
advance; if you see me fall on my knees, you do the same.' I said: 'I will 
have to thaw out my hands before I can do anything.' So I began to rub 
them with snow, and soon had the frost out. We soon got to the cabin, and 
looking in the window, we saw that there was probably but one man in it. 
Charley told me to open the door, and that he would rush in and cover the 
fellow. He always carried two elk skin strings, with which to tie a man if 
need be. We found that there was only one man, and he was in bed asleep. 
Charley soon had him covered and tied. The fellow said, 'I have been 
expecting you fellows for some time, and have not been able to sleep, and 
I just did go to sleep when you came.' I asked Charley in German what we 
should do, and he said, we will hang him. I was sent out doors to see if 
one of the roof logs was sticking out far enough for our purpose. I found 
one that was, and we led the fellow out and hung him. As the cabin was 
nice and comfortable, we barricaded the door and piled into bed and slept 
for several hours, with the fellow hanging on one end of the house. 

We left, and started to overtake the rest of the party, but found that 
they had done their work and were coming back." 

(Mr. Beehrer did not know the name of the man. I can find no account of it 
in history, but I do know Mr. B. well enough to believe his story.-- The 
Author.) 

How the Young Man Got Free. 

Mr. Beehrer said: "We did not always hang men." 

"It was generally supposed that the Vigilantes would hang any wrong doer. 
Captain Williams called me to come down to Adelphia Hall one afternoon, as 
there was a matter to be taken into consideration. It seems that a young 
boy, not yet twenty-one, had had a brother killed on the plains, by a 
party whom he had followed to Virginia City, with the expectation that he 
would be brought to judgment. Ballanger (the same man who afterwards took 
up the Warm Springs in Deer Lodge Valley), was keeping a hotel. The beds 
in those days were bunks, built in tiers, one above another, three high. 
This young man was placed in one, and directly above him there was a miner 
sleeping, who had his buckskin sack so placed that the young fellow saw 
it, cut the string, and extracted the gold dust -- something over $200.00. 
This money seemed to change his disposition. Forgetting the quest of his 
brother's murderers -- he poured his money over the gambling table. In 
doing this, he exposed a nugget that was part of the dust. This nugget has 
been seen by two or three people, so they could identify it. This led to 
the young fellow's arrest. When I arrived at the hall, they explained the 
matter to me, and asked my opinion, as to whether he should be hung or 
banished. My reply was: 'Never banish a person. If he is not good enough 
to live with us, we had better hang him, never turn him loose on anyone 
else.' I also told him that I did not believe that we should hang him; 
that we should take into consideration his youth, and try to do something 
for him, to find him a job and have him report to someone each night and 
morning, until he had secured enough money to pay the man whom lie had 
robbed, then turn him loose. I said, 'Let him report to Judge Lott.' The 
Judge objected to this. Someone wanted to know who would give him a job. I 
told him that I would see to that. So I took the boy into a room by 
himself and explained the matter to him -- that he was to get a job, 
report twice each day to me, and all extra money would be given to Judge 
Lott until he had paid his debt -- then he would be turned free. So I 
tool- him down and put him to work with John Wagner. 

I want to say that he paid his debt, and the last day he made his report 
to me, he cried with gratitude. John Wagner and Everson had a claim on 
German Flat. This John Wagner was a very fine man. It was to him that I 
wrote the letter that 'Dutch' John got, in robbing the mail, and that 
caused me to be called onto the carpet by Col. Sanders, for an interview 
with the Vigilance Committee, to explain why John had the letter, if I 
knew."



CHAPTER XXVI.
GEORGE LOVELL.
 
George Lovell, who claimed to have been the Captain of the Miners' Guard 
at the trial of George Ives, says that Wm. Clark (not the Senator) was 
God's avenger in beginning to bring the road agents to trial, as De Vault 
was his friend and he was bound to see that justice was done. Lovell says 
that Hon. Chas. Bagg opened the first day, but was not much of a lawyer. 
He took the testimony of Long John for the people the first thing. He 
further says: "On the following morning there appeared on the scene a 
young man by the name of Wilbur F. Sanders, who volunteered his services 
for the prosecution." The counsel for the defendant soon found that they 
had a man to deal with who understood law. The evening that Sanders 
arrived in Virginia from Bannack the friends of the murderers immediately 
sought him out and tried to engage him for the defense, offering him any 
amount he might suggest. He declined and said he would act for the people. 
They threatened him bodily harm, and he replied: 

"You have not got money enough to buy me, nor guns enough to intimidate 
me." 

Lovell says: "We also found, to the great surprise of many honorable men, 
that Henry Plummer, who was the Sheriff of Beaverhead County, was also 
Chief and Captain of this band of robbers." 

The news struck consternation to the souls of all. We then saw that we had 
indeed a work to do. Plummer was well liked. He was a man of fine personal 
appearance, and possessing education and address sufficient to give him a 
welcome in the best society. He had been selected by a large majority to 
that high responsible office. 

He was at the time the chief executive officer of what is now the 
Territory of Montana. 

Thus you see it was no idle play for us to determine on his arrest and 
execution, but there were men found equal to the occasion. Among them was 
found one to stand prominently by the course of justice, survive or fall. 
That man was W. F. Sanders, slim and slight in form, but inspired by a 
courage and determination to do his duty, that the severe storm of one of 
Montana's most terrible days did not daunt; he mounted his horse and rode 
seventy miles to again assist in bringing the great and popular chief to 
justice. 

Fourth of July, 1864. 

The people of Virginia had decided to celebrate and had raised enough 
money with which to buy a flag pole. On the morning of the Fourth the pole 
was ready and the ropes were run through the pulley blocks and ready to be 
manned. The framer of the pole was there and ready to give the word of 
command. If I am not mistaken it was Col. Knox, late Probate Judge of 
Silver Bow County. The grounds were filled with men with threatening looks 
and dark and scowling appearance. They had assembled there to prevent the 
pole from going up. The Union men who had assembled seemed to dread the 
muttered threats of those rebels. It seemed doubtful whether we would 
succeed or not. There was seen a slight form to spring upon a box and tell 
the boys to grab the ropes and raise the pole, that the glorious old flag 
might again proudly wave over us. He said to the men: "There is nothing to 
fear from these scowling wretches; as for me, I have ceased to fear men 
who have run fifteen hundred miles to get out of danger!" 

He had spoken but a few moments in this strong, energetic manner when 
crowds rushed to the ropes and everyone seemed willing to take a hand. 
They were fired by the enthusiasm which was so largely possessed by the 
speaker. They seemed like men electrified into new life. Those threatening 
men slowly filed away. There was no further interference with the raising 
of the flag. That speaker was Wilbur F. Sanders. Without his efforts the 
flag would not have been raised that day. He on that occasion, as on many 
others, carried his life in his hand, and braved the element of derision 
and dissension as he had against the strong organized band of robbers. He 
was on the side of justice, liberty and truth.



CHAPTER XXVII.
INCIDENTS. -- A TRIP TO THE STATES. -- VIGILANTE OATH. -- ORGANIZATION OF 
FIRST COURT. -- ROAD AGENT LIST BY PROF. GARVER OF STATE NORMAL SCHOOL. -- 
A BULL FIGHT.

First newspaper was the Post, published on the 27th day of August, 1864, 
by John Buchanan at Virginia City. After the publication of the second 
number Daniel W. Tilton and Benjamin R. Dittes bought it and continued its 
publication until the winter of 1867-68, when Mr. Dittes purchased Mr. 
Tilton's interest and moved it to Helena. 

The Vigilantes of Montana was published as a serial in the Montana Post, 
the first chapter appearing August 26th, 1865. Conclusion March 14th, 
1866. 

Telegraph line between Virginia City and Salt Lake completed November 2, 
1866, by Edward Creighton and John A., his brother. First telegram sent by 
Gov. Green Clay Smith to President Johnson. 

The number of letters advertised at the Virginia City post office on 
August 23, 1865, was 676. 

Capital removed from Bannack to Virginia City, February 1, 1865. 

First municipal election in Virginia City, February 6, 1865. First 
stampede that took place in Montana was July 20th, from Gold Creek to 
Boulder. 

Last Chance. 

Last Chance was discovered by Jno. Cowan and party, July 21, 1864. 

Montana City. 

Montana City or Prickly Pear was discovered Wednesday, August 18, by 
Hurlbut. 

Dimsdale began to teach school, one of the first in the Territory, August 
22, 1864. 

First publication Montana Post, Friday, August 21, 1864. 

Woodmansee's Train, September 8th, [1862] from Salt Lake to Bannack, the 
first one to Bannack. 

Fisk's first expedition, reached Gold Creek September 26, 1862. His first 
and second reached Benton on September 6th, 1862, and September 6th, 1863. 

First election took place October 31, 1863, Madison, Beaverhead, Jefferson 
and Gallatin Counties. All in Idaho. 

First church in Territory dedicated at Virginia City on Saturday, November 
6, 1864. 

Masonic Hall, October 8, 1867. Helena people claim that Masonic Hall was 
completed November 11, 1866. 

First theater in Territory opened Friday, December 10, 1864. 

Elk Morse shot by Wm. Herron December 4, 1867, on the Gallatin. 

First term of U. S. District Court in Territory December 5, 1864. 

First Territorial Legislature convened in Bannack, December 12, 1864. 

In 1869 there were but 38 post offices in Montana. Most of them only 
received mail tri-weekly. 

The number of placer mines in 1869 was 120 and the total length was 452 
8/4 miles. 

From Montana Post. (First Issue August 27th, 1864.) 

We find the following Official Directory:
Governor -- Hon. Sidney Edgerton, Bannack.
Secretary -- H. P. Forsey.
Chief Justice -- H. b. Hosmer.
Associate Justice -- Ami Giddings.
Associate Justice -- h. B. Williston.
Attorney General -- E. B. Nealy, Virginia City.
Marshal -- C. J. Buck.
Surveyor General -- M. Boyd.


County Officers, Madison County. 

County Commissioners -- Jas. Fergus, Samuel W. Stanley, Fred PE. Root.
Probate Judge -- Thos. C. Jones.
Sheriff -- Robt. C. Knox.
Treasurer -- N. J. Davis.
Recorder -- R. M. Hagaman. 

City Council, Virginia City. 

E. K. Woodbury, Ram Schwab, James Gibson, N. Ford Marshall, Jerry Nolan.
First Mayor of Virginia City, Paris 8. Pfouts.


Montana Financial Relations. 

Receipts from U. S. Internal Revenue Office for four years ending
November 1st, 1868                     $409,968.34
Receipts for postal service, 1867           306.12
Total Reciepts                         $410,269.46 
Expenses of Territory for four years
  at $35,498.50                        $142,000.00
Balance in favor of Territory          $268,275.46 
Bonded debt                            $ 58,850.00 
Warrants, regular and Outstanding      $ 32,712.82 
Total Territorial Indebtedness         $ 91,562.32


A Trip to the States. 

By J. Allen Hosmer, only a young boy. This was written, typeset and 
printed by him. 

It is a little book, 82 pages of reading matter, and twelve pages of 
distances on the Missouri River. The book is 4x5 inches and is the second 
book printed in Montana; copyright 1866; printed 1867. Young Hosmer was, 
in 1896, an attorney in San Francisco, a son of Judge H. L. Hosmer, Chief 
Justice of Montana when this book was printed. (The book was presented to 
the Historical Society by James H. Mills.) He was also the man who 
prosecuted Durant for the murder of Blanch Lamont in San Francisco. 

Actually the First Meeting of Alder Gulch on the Road From Bannack. 

The Agreement Between the Citizens and the Discoverers of Alder. 

Whereas, certain parties, respectively, named Henry Edgar, Wm. 
Fairweather, Harry Rodger, T. W. Cover, Wm. Sweeney and Barney Hughes have 
for several months been engaged in prospecting for their own benefit and 
for the benefit of the public in general, and, 

Whereas, said parties after the completion of much time and money have 
discovered what they consider fair gold diggings and on the strength of 
this discovery have respectively taken for themselves two claims each, one 
by pre-emption and one by discovery; therefore, be it resolved, 

1st. That we do cheerfully recognize the right of the parties above named 
to hold for themselves two claims as before set forth. 

2nd. That in addition to the recognition of the right in the first 
resolution expressed we bind ourselves to support the parties above named 
in holding their claims purchased by their arduous exertions as 
prospectors and public benefactors.
H. P. A. SMITH.
WM. L. FOSTER.
J. M. WOOD.
JOHN CALLANAN. 

Vigilante Oath. 

We, the undersigned, uniting ourselves in a party for the purpose of 
arresting thieves and murderers and recovering stolen property, do pledge 
ourselves upon our sacred honor, each to all others, and solemnly swear 
that we will reveal no secrets, violate no laws of right and not desert 
each other or our standards of justice, so help me God, as witness our 
hand and seals this 23rd day of December, A. D. 1863. 

James Williams, Joseph Hinkley, J. S. Daddow, C. F. Keves, Charles Brown 
(Dutch Charlie), E(lk) Morse, J. H. Balch, W. C. Maxwell, Nelson Kellock, 
S. J. Ross, Chas. Beehrer, Thomas Baume, Wm. H. Brown, Sr., Jno. Brown, 
Jr., Enoch Hodson, Hans J. Holst, Hoofen,* Alex Gillon, Jr., Wm. Clark, 
John Triff, A. D. Smith, W. Palmer, L. Seebold, M. S. Warder.
*[Note: Can't make out this name as it is so poorly written.] 

(John Lott was supposed to have been the man who drew up the oath. He 
never signed it.) 

These must have been the men who went to Deer Lodge. 

Organization of First Court. 

In December, 1864, nineteen men met in the dining room of the Planters 
House in Virginia City and organized a court there. Nineteen men admitted 
to the bar. Judge Pemberton is the last survivor of this Court. H. P. A. 
Smith was the first lawyer to come to Montana. He died with consumption. 
Senator Sanders wrote of him that he was generous to a fault, and never 
turned a person alway empty-handed. He was none too particular as to how 
he received his money. 

First Court organized was by Judge Hosmer, Monday, Decem- ber,5, 1864. 

The Court ordered that the attorneys who are to practice in this Court 
shall take the oath of allegiance, required by law and prepared by the 
clerk, and the following attorneys did so, viz: 

W. F. Sanders, 6. 6. Bissell, R. R. Parrott, R. Ii. Robertson, J. G. 
Spratt, Chas. S. Bagg, L. W. Barton, A. F. Mayhew, E. B. Nealley, W. M. 
Stafford, Thos. Thoroughman, John C. Turb, Wm. Chumasero, H. Burns, J. A. 
Johnston, W. Y. Pemberton, J. Cook, Edward Sheffield, Alex Davis, Wm. Ii. 
McMath, W. J. McCormick, G. W. Stapleton, Sam Word. 

Signed by Hez. L. Hosmer, Judge First Judicial District of Montana. 

These attorneys were all admitted on motion of Col. Sanders. 

ROAD AGENTS. 

List by Prof, Garver of State Normal School. 

George Ives, died December 21, 1863, Nevada City, Madison County.
Erastus (Red) Yager, died January 4, 1864, Stinkingwater Valley, Madison 
County.
G. W. Brown, died January 4, 1864,,Stinkingwater Valley, Madison County.
Henry Plummer, died,January 10, 1864, Bannack, Beaverhead County.
Ned Ray, died January 10, 1864, Bannack, Beaverhead County.
Buck Stinson, died January 10, 1864, Bannack, Beaverhead County.
John Wagner (or Wagoner) (Dutch John), died January 11, 1864, Bannack, 
Beaverhead County.
Joe Pizanthia, died January 11, 1864, Bannack, Beaverhead County.
Geo. Lane (Club-Foot George), died January 14, 1864, Virginia City, 
Madison County.
Frank Parish, died January 14, 1864, Virginia City, Madison County.
Haze Lyons, died January 14, 1864, Virginia City, Madison County.
Jack Gallagher, died January 14, 1864, Virginia City, Madison County.
Boone Helm, died January 14, 1864, Virginia City, Madison County.
Steve Marshland, died January 16, 1864, Clarke's Big Hole ranch, 
Beaverhead County.
William Bunton, died January 19, 1864, Deer Lodge Valley, Powell County.
Cyrus Skinner, died January 25, 1864, Hell Cate, Missoula County.
Alexander Carter, died January 25, 1864, Hell Gate, Missoula County.
John Cooper, died January 25, 1864, Hell Gate, Missoula County.
Robert Zachary, died January 25, 1864, Hell Gate, Missoula County.
George Shears, died January 24, 1864, Frenchtown, Missoula County.
Wm. Graves (Whiskey Bill), died January 26, 1864, Fort Owens, Ravalli 
County.
William Hunter, died February 8, 1864, Gallatin Valley, Gal- latin County.
J. A. Slade, died 1864, Virginia City, Madison County.
James Brady, died early summer, 1864, Nevada, Madison County.
Jem Kelly, died July, 1864, Portneuf, Idaho.
John Dolan, died September 17, 1864, Nevada, Madison County.
*R. C. Rawley (Reighly), died at Bannack, Madison County.
* [Note: Hanged on the Plummer scaffold in Hangman's Gulch at Bannack, 
photograph was taken of his body on the scaffold -- the only one of the 
kind taken.]
John Keene (Rob Black), died 1865, Helena, Lewis and Clark County.
Jake Silvie (Jacob Seachriest), died 1865, Diamond City, Broadwater County.
John Morgan, died 1865, near Virginia City, Madison County.
John Jackson ( John Jones), died 1865, near Virginia City, Madison County.
James Daniel, died 1865, Helena, Lewis and Clark County.


A Bull Fight. 

From James H. Morley's diary we get the following: 

September 25th, 1864, "A Bull Fight" in corral back of Virginia Hotel, 
with a large crowd in attendance. No fight in the bulls, being old stags 
who have hauled goods over the plains, but the betters-up got their $2.00 
a head from a large crowd of fools. 

This continues to be a great country.



CHAPTER XXVIII.
LETTER FROM JEFF DURLEY TO J. X. BEIDLER.

Office of the
CIRCUIT CLERK AND RECORDER
Putnam County
Hennepin, Ill., December 15th, 1889.

Jno. X. Beidler, Esq., Helena, Montana. 

Dear Old Friend: -- I had not known positively where to find you until 
lately I read an interview with you by a correspondent of the Chicago 
Tribune, and located you at Helena. Dear X it brings up old and pleasant 
recollections to know that you are still in the land of the living, do you 
recollect the first time we ever met at or near Twin Lakes, when you had 
your Burros packed for Washington Gulch, a Small party of us Struck there 
on our way to that Gulch, and you must remember Jones his wife and 
children, that when we left the Gulch we Camped at Some Haystaks two miles 
out and we had forgotten Something and two of the Boys went back to the 
Gulch for it and Zones gave them the last two dollars to buy a bottle of 
Whiskey and that you and I and Jones and his wife Slept in a pole Cabin 
without anything to stop the cracks, and that we had arranged for the boys 
to fill the bottle with water and place it near his head and that waked me 
up just before daylight to See Jones take his drink and we Kept a Sharp 
lookout under the buffalos we were under when Jones raised up and looked. 
Cautiously around. and then reached for his bottle uncorked it and turned 
up to take a square drink of whiskey and how he Spluttered. as though he 
was poisoned. 

And you must have a vivid recollection. of the trials and tribulations we 
had digging through Snowbanks and hunting grass under the Snow for the 
animals, and I know you have not forgotten, the time we went into Camp and 
Cleared away 4 feet of Snow to build our fire and thaw out a place for us 
to sleep and that we had to put up poles to keep the jacks out of the 
fire, and that the old Georgian that was with us had mixed his last batch 
of flour to bake by the nice coals we would have in the morning, and that 
during the night the jacks discovered the old man's dough broke the poles 
down we had erected. and grabbed the dough and when we waked up and old 
jinney had her teeth fastened in the dough and that old man was hanging on 
to the other and yelling at the top of his voice "Here's to you" it was a 
ground Hog Case, I would give ten dollars for a true picture of that 
Scene, you have not forgotten how we divided the last bread we had with 
the animals the morning we Started across the Range and how we had to 
unpack and dig the animals out of the Snow when they steppecl off the 
trail, and how we went into Camp at 8 o'clock that evening, without 
anything to eat for ourselves or animals, and that a relief party Struck 
us that night at midnight with flour bacon and hay for the animals and how 
we staid up the balance of the night and fried dough and bacon and filled 
up and that two days afterward we arrived at the promised Land being Twin 
Lakes Colorado where we lived on Mountain Sheep and Speckled Trout It 
still holds good your old saying that we have lived and loved together, I 
am still living at Hennepin and the raging Illinois River that runs almost 
a mile an hour, I am not rich but have plenty to eat and wear for Self and 
family. Since we last met I have had many ups and downs raised two 
Companys and Served one and a half years in the army and if I say it 
myself I never had a man in my Companies but what would go miles to do me 
a favor. Oh, how I would like to see you and have a good old-fashioned 
talk with you if you should conclude to come East don't fail to Come and 
see me. Is Dr. Glick still at Helena. The Dr. was kind to me when I got 
hurt near Bannack on Grasshopper Creek. Remember me to him. If you know of 
a good mine that is out an owner let me know and I will run out and look 
at it. I have been Clerk of the Circuit Court for the past 13 years and 
have 8 years of the last term I was elected for to serve yet. Now X do not 
fail to write me when you receive this Hoping you are a good Republican 
and that you will send 2 good Republican Senators from the State of 
Montana I remain as ever your friend and may God bless you. 

JEFF DURLEY. 



CHAPTER XXIX.
THE MEN OF BANNACK AND VIRGINIA. 

The first prospectors did not expect to found a state. They had no thought 
of casting their lots in a place so far removed from all that would make 
life endurable. Their idea was that only a little effort was required to 
rob nature of her treasures. Ii they could find the rich deposits of 
Virgin gold they would soon have plenty, and could return and take up 
their burdens where they had laid them down. 

A man would be a fool to contemplate an existence in a place so far 
removed from all that could make life pleasant. But there was an 
attraction that held them like a lode stone, and they began to like the 
Siren, that had wound her arms about them, until each embrace was 
considered the kindly pressure of truest affection. The ozone that filled 
their lungs carried with it an intoxicant. The rippling streams sang them 
to sleep, as sweetly and pleasantly as though they had been rocked at a 
mother's knee, and were lulled to repose by the sweetest music that man 
has ever known. And their visions were filled with the kaleidoscopic views 
of endless mountain peaks, that held out an invitation couched in no 
uncertain language, for them to explore their fastnesses, and find the 
Treasure that nature had locked so closely, in crevice bound in granite. 

The rich soil that would yield so abundantly, without much coaxing; the 
native grasses that were to furnish pasture -- winter and summer -- for 
untold thousands of stock; rivers that would produce the ransom of kings, 
and cause the wheels of many factories to turn, were themselves so 
alluring that they became more attractive to thousands than the homes of 
their childhood days. So, many stayed. They found that the early idea of a 
home in the states could not wean them from their new love. And the men 
and women that walked the streets of Bannack and Virginia, have built a 
commonwealth of which we are mighty proud. The gambler and highwaymen had 
their day, and were kings by the right of their perfidious daring. These 
very men caused imperishable names to go down in the story of our state 
till its grandest peaks shall have disintegrated and formed farms for 
millions not yet born. They walked the streets of Bannack, and the echo of 
their falling footsteps can yet be heard by those who will listen 
attentively to the story of their deeds. Governors trod those streets; men 
who were to tread the halls in our national capital, and others who were 
to have monuments dedicated to their memories by their later admirers, 
were at home in the little log cabins, that sat beside the Grasshopper, or 
on the grass-covered hills of Virginia. And women, too, were there. They 
had dared for love, the traverse of the dreary plains, and had, for love, 
fearlessly encountered the mountain storm. Those women! Do you know what 
those women were? They were heroines! They were good women -- they were 
the mothers of men who have since helped to make this no small part of a 
country we all should love. 

Let us see who some of the men and women were. Sidney Edgerton, our first 
Governor; Samuel Hauser, also a Governor; Wilbur F. Sanders, the first U. 
S. Senator; W. A. Clark, the great- est of mining men, and also a Senator; 
Samuel McLean, who was to first represent us as a delegate in Congress; 
Green Clay Smith, another Governor, and General Francis Meagher, to whom a 
loving people erectecl the first statue in the grounds of our capital, 
and, in fact, the first in Montana. 

Judge Byam, Lott Brothers, Judge Pemberton, J. X. Beidler, A. K. McClure, 
Wash. Stapleton, W. W. De Lacey, Billy Clagget, Con Kohrs, A. M. Esler, O. 
D. Farlin, W. h. Farlin, William Roe, Martin Barrett, Joe Shineberger, 
Smith Ball, Capt. Jim Williams, Charlie Brown, Charlie Beehrer, N. P. 
Langford, Prof. Dimsdale, the Stuart Brothers, Jim Bozeman, the 
discoverers of Alder and Last Chance; Dr. Leavitt, Dr. Glick, Dr. Steele, 
Dr. Sick, Judge Hosmer, Cavanaugh, A. F. Graeter, John F. Bishop, Jas. 
Fersler, John C. Innes (who still has a place in Bannack), James Fergus, 
Jesse Armitage; we can't go on, because it would be a list too long to 
record. With many of those men we find their wives and children. Such 
names as Mrs. W. F. Sanders, Miss Lucia L. Darling (who taught the first 
school in Bannack), Mrs. Annette Stanley, Mrs. A. J. Smith, Mrs. G. D. 
French, Mrs. Wadams, Mrs. Armitage, Mrs. Fergus; only a few of those brave 
women who bore so much toward making our abodes so pleasant. Not many of 
them now walk the streets of these almost deserted cities. 

Bannack, the cradle of our state, is a quaint little place, that lives 
only in the history she has made. The daring gamblers -- the highwaymen -- 
no longer roam the streets, and turn the nights into day. No more is there 
a busy crowd, ready to stampede to new gold fields, because those newer 
fields kept them from coming back. What other town in all the world could 
claim such citizens? 

Virginia! How great was Virginia! She sat a queen beside a golden stream, 
whose gathered, glittering sands, have helped to string the tuneful wires 
that bridge oceans, and changed long days to moments. Her gathered wealth 
built many a palace, and caused the lines of polished steel to wend their 
way across a continent. Great spires point heavenward, and floating 
palaces sweep swiftly on the deep -- because of you, Virginia! 

And when the book-worm sits in shady bowers, his pleasure came through 
you. But you, too, live in your past. The thousands that roamed your 
streets are gone. The crumbling shacks that once were happy homes, will 
not reveal the names of those who once dwelt there. No more the music 
stirs the busy feet in Hurdy Hall. No more the gun-shot wounds the daring 
chief. No more shall voices, of the makers of your destiny, reverberate 
among your templed hills. For many sleep the sleep you, too, must take -- 
the sleep of death. But down the stream of Alder from Summit, to its 
mouth, piles and piles of earth-denuded stones will bear witness to your 
greatness, and will be your monument for ages yet to come.