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About The Choteau Montanan (Choteau, Mont.) 1913-1925 | View This Issue
The Choteau Montanan (Choteau, Mont.), 09 Feb. 1923, located at <http://montananewspapers.org/lccn/sn85053031/1923-02-09/ed-1/seq-2/>, image provided by MONTANA NEWSPAPERS, Montana Historical Society, Helena, Montana.
THE OHOTEAU MONTANAN. NAME SILVER BOW SOON A MEMORY AFTER 62 YEARS OP EXISTENCE MAY BECOME CITY AND COUNTY OP BUTTE If Comity and City Merger Goes Into Effect; How tlio County Was Christened; Butte First Known as Camp of Silver Bow. Only a memory may soon be the status of the name “ County of Silver Bow,” which for 42 years has been indicative of the home of the “ rich est hill in the world,” if the Montana legislature passes a bill now before it providing for the merger of the city of Butte and Silver Bow county. Changing conditions and modern legislation often shatter hallowed traditions that are priceless herit ages. The pioneers of Silver Bow county— and all others In this com munity, for that matter— cherish the name of Silver Bow. But the movement which has al ready gained considerable headway and which bids fair to become a law in the merging of the city and county governments will obliterate the name of “ Silver Bow” as it applies to the county. It is proposed in the meas ure to call the district the “ City and County of Butte.” Already the measure has been introduced in the upper and lower houses of the state assembly and if the bill passes and is then ratified by a vote of the county residents the name \Silver Bow’* as applied to the county passes as a victim of governmental progress. Origin of Name While many are the legends told of the origin of the name, both history and tradition are united on the gen erally accepted version. The name was first applied to the creek that rises east of Butte and which also bears the distinction of having its origin further east than any of the thousands of streams whose waters eventually reach the Pacific. It was back in the days of 1864, so the pioneers state, that the creek was named. According to Freeman’s “ Brief History of Butte, the World’s Greatest Mining Camp,” it came about in this way: “ In the summer of 1864 four pros pectors— Budd Parker, P. Allison and Joseph and James Elser— unmindful of the rich discoveries the previous year in Alder gulch, at Virginia City, left that camp and pushed on across the main range of the Rockies strik ing alluring placers along the banks of Silver Bow creek. It is worthy of notice that Silver Bow ranks with Helena, or as was more familiarly known, Last Chance gulch, in point of discovery, as one of the pioneer mining settlements of the state, al though never at any time so rich in placer deposits. Bannack was easily the pioneer of them all, followed oloBely by Virginia City, they being located in 1862 and 1863, respective ly. “ The paint selected by these pros pectors is upon a bend of the stream which forms a perfect figure of a gracefully curved, Indian bow, and, from the mountain peaks which sur rounded the valley, the glistening waters of the Silver Bow, etched in a shimmering Bheet upon a dark ground of furzy grass, form a strik ing feature of the landscape. Thus was born the name of Silver Bow, which name was given to both village and creek.” History of County Word was passed from prospector to prospector that gold and silver had been found along tlio creek and in a short time the camp of Silver Bow grew. The stampede brought the stoics of the mountains from all sec tions. The footsteps of civilization were heard. Prospecting waB extend ed along the creek in either direc tion from Silver Bow. Two years later the entire creek channel to Butte was worked by a company of four or more men to every 200-foot claim. The men lived mostly in tents or brush shanties adjoining their claims. They worked six days out of the week and on the seventh went to camp where gambling flourished and the merchants made their cleanups. Some of the dance houses panned out more than the richest placer. Wages were $6 and $7 a day. What is now Silver Bow county re mained a part of Deer Lodge county until the spring of 1SS1. Silver Bow was the first Beat of justice of Deer Lodge county. It enjoyed that dis tinction for only a short time, liow ever, for it is recorded that the coun W H E N Q U A N Î R L L ’ S D E ! S T E ID E ® UP TfHIE SOURI RIVER T O O L D 'F O R T BENTON ON I DOSSO®!. OF R E V E i S E I ! ® P E A T ! In the old steamboating days on the Missouri river there were seen some strange-looking craft plying be tween the outposts of civilization in Iowa and Missouri and the head of navigation at Fort Benton, the gate way to the enchanted lands of gold that lay in the mountains beyond. Queer old river boats from many a far inland stream found their way to the Mississippi and then up the Mis souri, carrying adventurers from the ends of the earth, lured to thp gold camps by the chances offered all com ers for a quick fortune. As word of the discovery of yellow metal in the Montana mountains spread, the mot ley procession of gold seekers began toward the new frontier,' and a queer assemblage they made, cast together by chance. Every boat load of passengers that came up the Missouri had its assort ment of types and characters. There was the honest youth from the farm, whose frank and open face and guile less demeanor bespoke his inexper ience of the ways of the world. There was the middle-aged man, broken, perhaps by a series of misfortunes, setting his face westward with a grim determination to stake all on a last gamble with fate in the mountain gulches. Then there were to be found in every company the type of men who lived by their wits— keen eyed, usually somewhat quiet and reserved in manner, men whose business it was to know human nature and to profit by their knowledge. These were the gamblers, who were legion in the west in those days. Besides these there were the out-and-out bad men whose philosophy of life was to get gold with the least effort, but to get it by fair means or foul. It was this type that made up the desperate band of road agents who terrorized the camps and the trails of Montana un til a few determined men Invoked the hemp and the gallows to check their career of murder and pillage. Strange Boat Crew Of all the companies of adventurers who made the trip to the gold camps of Montana by river, there probably was no more oddly assorted crew than that aboard the southern river steam er Richmond, which docked at Fort Benton, July 28, 1867, after a trip that had its start on the Red River of Louisiana. Manned by a band of desperadoes who were as black-heart ed pirates as ever sailed the Spanish main and walked their victims from a plank, the mission of the Richmond was not to carry passengers and sup plies to the gold camps of Montana. The men on board had a more sinis ter purpose. It was ono of ic-vengo and death. The story is a strange one and would take the pen of a Twain or a Stsphenson to do it justice. The beginning of the romance of the steamer Richmond came in reality at the end of the civil war, when, with the south defeated, Quantrell’s guerillas— desperate fighters and the dread of the northern border— split up into small groups. Some of them disbanded and others sought further adventure in other lands under for eign flags. One of these bands of Quantrell’s men, headed by a notor ious character known as Farmer Peale, headed south into Mexico to take service under the banner of Maximilian, who had proclaimed him self emperor of Mexico and sought to conquer the country. But before Peale and his men of the Quantrell band had a chance to see active ser* ty seat was removed to Deer Lodge by no other warrant than physical force. In the spring of ’ 81 a separate or ganization was created with an area of lesB than 800 square miles and with Butte as the county seat. Des pite the fact that it was the smallest in size in the state, Silver Bow county soon took the lead in assessed valu ation. In the fall of 1864 the old town of Butte was located in Town gulch and the name of the isolated mound just north of the original townsite given it. But while the name of the county may pass, the name itself will live. The waters from Silver Bow creek will still make heir way westward to ward the Pacific, the little town of Silver Bow, though but a relic of for mer prosperity, still remains. As time passes legends will be trumped up from the twilight of tradition on the origin of the mellowed and dreamy name of \Silver Bow.” SAY “ BAYER” when you buy Aspirin Unless 7 ou see the name “ Bayer1 «3 package or on tablets you are not getting the genuine Bayer product preserfbed by physicians over twenty- two y e a n and proved safe by mil- 2*323 for colds, headache, toothache, «waefes, neuralgia, lumbago, rbeu- uiatlsm, neuritis, and for pain in gen eral. Accept only \Bayer” packag« which contains proper directions Handy boxes of twelve tablets cos: few cents. Druggists also sell hot ties of 24 and 100. Aspirin is tbf trade mark of Bayer Manufacture of Monoacetlcaoldester of Salicylicacid vice, Maximilian's reign came to a sudden end with his execution, and his army was left adrift and in a pre carious condition. Return to States Peale and his fellow soldiers of fortune returned to the United States, landing in Texas, where they soon be came involved in lawless depreda tions and robberies that made them outlaws and put a price on their heads. Soon strife arose among them and it 1 b alleged that Fafmer Peale, as their leader, double-crossed the rest and made off with money that should have been divided among the band. Worse than that, they claimed that before deserting them he con spired to have his followers captured by the federal and state authorities, hoping in this manner to end all chance of future trouble with them. But his plans went amiss and all managed to evade the law and ef fect their escape. Peale was a noted gunman, des perate and absolutely fearless, but in these qualities the men in, his band were mostly his equals, and when they found that they had been be trayed by Peale, they took an oath that they would follow him so long as one man of them survived, and that his life should be the forfeit of his treachery. Before many •weeks had passed, word reached them that Peale had gone to Montana. At once they de cided to follow him, and the plan of action decided upon was character istic of these desperate adventurers. On the Red River, which flows from Texas down through Louisiana, they found a sizeable, light draft steamer, the Richmond. This they seized one night at its moorings, and getting up steam, started down the river to ward the gulf of Mexico. Negro fire men and deck hands were impressed into service, and as they proceeded down stream they made their craft pay its way by carrying passengers and freight from town to town. In the course of time they reached the gulf and then retraced their way up the Mississippi, headed for the Mon tana gold camps. Montana Pioneer a Passenger The last man alive in Montana who knew the story of the Richmond and its crew was the late H. J. Wackerlin, whose death occurred within the last year. For half a century Mr. Wack erlin was a merchant of old Fort Benton. In the summer of 1867, young Wackerlin, then a youth of 17, was living with his parents at St. Joe, Missouri. Almost daily he had seen the boats going and coming betwepn St. Louis and Fort Benton, and he had met and talked with many fron tiersmen who had wonderful stories to tell of the Rocky mountains and the wealth they contained. Being a boy of spirit, his imagination was fired by these stories and he deter mined to seek his fortune in the far west. He saved his money toward the purchase of passage up the river. One day a river steamer docked at the wharf at St. Joe, westward bound, and young Wackerlin Btrolled down to the river to look it over. The men who came ashore looked different from the ordinary river men and attracted his interest. He got into conversation with the captain, who gave his name as Miller, and to him the boy confided his ambition to reach Montana. Captain Miller of fered to take him as a passenger, and a bargain was struck for passage to Fort Benton for 5130. The next day they cast off and the boat continued on its way up the Missouri. Wackerlin a Crack Shot At first the boy had no idea of the character of the men who composed the crew of the Richmond. He found on board passengers who, like him self, had engaged passage to Fort Benton, and some of these became life-long friends. One was the late Peter Valiton of Deer Lodge, for half a century a leading merchant of Powell county, and next to Wackerlin was the last surviving passenger of the Richmond. Young Wackerlin was a crack shot with a rifle, and his marksmanship won the admiration of Captain Miller and his crew of desperadoes. The liking they took to him on this ac count served to make his stay aboard the steamer far pleasanter than it might otherwise have been. As he became acquainted with tho men of the Richmond, ho gradually learned their history. At almost every landing on the river where they stopped, they went ashore for a de bauch, but hard drinkers and desper ate characters as they were, they never treated Wackerlin other than in the most friendly and considerate manner, nor did they insist on his joining them in their revels. They were a strange, picturesque crew, with rough humor to temper the evil in their natures. In liquor they wore brutal and quarrelsome, and once they drove all of their negro deck hands overboard after much abuse. Some Rough Humor After the loss of their deck hands, the crew reached a small town where a band of traveling minstrels were giving a performance for the enter tainment of the populace of a little river settlement. Captain Miller, who was a good deal of a humorist, and was possessed of a suave and per suasive manner, induced the min strels to take passage on the Rich mond for a town higher up the river, but after tho boat had cast loose the actors found themselves impressed in to service in the capacity of deck hands, which enforced labor they per formed for the rest of the trip. At night they entertained the guerillas and passengers with music and reci tations. At Mandan, N.D., there was a big Indian oouncil, several tribes having gathered for a pow-wow with the mil itary authorities, and the Richmond tied up there while the crew and pas sengers went ashore to take in the proceedings. Thereafter, when in his cups, Captain Miller would regale the people on the steamer with a realis tic impersonation of an Indian chief addressing the council. But the Quantrell men never forgot the main purpose of the expedition, and as they neared Montana their hoped-for revenge on Farmer Peale was uppermost in their minds. Among themselves they discussed the treatment Peale should receive at their hands when they had captured him, and how he should be put to death. Arrived at the mouth of the Judith river, they tied up the boat and sent one of the band ahead to Fort.Benton to learn if Peale was there, and if not, where he had gone. In a week’s time the messenger returned to re port that word had been received at Benton to the effect that Peale had been killed in a gambling house fight at Helena a few days previous to the arrival of the messenger at Benton. A council of the Quantrell men was held and they determined to go ahead with the boat and con firm the report of Peale’s killing. Ar rived at Fort Benton they had ver bal confirmation of the report, and they then entered upon a wild de bauch, broke up some of the gambling games and terrorized the town for several days. Before starting down the river they pushed on to Helena to make absolutely certain that Peale was dead and buried. Having done so, they returned to Benton, took their steamer and set out down the river. By the time they had arrived at Sioux City the federal authorities were on their trail. They abandoned the Richmond and struck out over land for Idaho. There they lived for a time the life of road agents and outlaws, some of their number being killed. Some of them went to Chey enne and opened a gambling house. Captain Miller finally went to Quan- trell’s ranch in Texas, where he later died of tuberculosis. ----------------- o ----------------- Ware Tapeworm in Jackrabbits “ Blisters” on jackrabbits are caus ed by tapewdrms, and the use of the animals for human food is not to be recommended, according to A. E. Oman of Bozeman, biological survey assistant, in charge of the work of controlling the ravages of gophers, magpies and rabbits throughout the state. \Jackrabbits are more than usual ly plentiful this year and many who hunt them are taking them for food,” said Mr. Oman. “ Upon close examination many of the jacks are found to be covered with ‘blisters.’ These the hunter throws away, thinking that he has safeguarded himself, but in reality all he has done is discard those with the worst symptoms of the affliction, sufficient to show on the surface. “Many of the animals which pass this cursory examination and are the i used for food are literally loaded with the eggs of the tapeworm. TI e worm lays the eggs in between tie layers of muscular tissue of the ani mal, and these nests of eggs are not visible unless the muscles are to^n apart. [ \A jackrabbit which looks' to tie all right after being skinned, and which shows no symptoms after being dressed, may be full of the eggs in reality.\ Relieve It with D r - K I N G S NEW DISCOVERY — IhcJòmUy cough syrup .«oM vafissæ* High Sclisol Addition To Shelby, Montana ROBERTS & RADIGAI GUARDIAN FINANCE CO. SHELBY, MONTANA SHELBY, MONTANA Owners ' Fiscal Agents Shelby’s Fastest Selling Residence Addition BEAUTIFULLY LOCATED for building real homes, attractively platted with generously sized lots, and convenient to schools, the business district and railway sta tions; The HIGH SCHOOL Addi tion appeals particularly to the man who wants to build and own his own home. MODESTLY PRICED, it offers to the investor a wonderful chance to double his money' in a short time. To the man with means, it offers an opportunity for the con struction of a number of homes, for sale or rental purposes. The desirable location of the HIGH SCHOOL ADDITION insures a ready sale for the completed' homes, and places a high value on them for rental purposes. SHELBY, THE CITY OF A- THOUSAND OPPORTUNITIES, located at the doorway to the Shelby-Kevin-Sunburst oil field, where 37 producing wells are now pouring out about 2,000 barrels of oil and ten million feet of gas daily — where 500 more wells are to be drilled during 1923 — where the big oil well supply houses and wholesale firms are establishing their distributing plants — where^ the 207,000 acre Toole County Irrigation project comes to an apex — where an immense supply of na tural gas insures the establish ment of numbers of factories — where two transcontinental rail ways meet— where the best in formed people state that 5,000 people will live by the end of the year— SHELBY offers you tha chance of a life time for a real investment— with an assurance of substantial profits— in the fastest- growing, most progressive city in. the northwest. DON’T LET US PERSUADE YOU— JUST READ THIS OVER AGAIN AND USE YOUR COMMON HORSE-SENSE. THEN— SEND US YOUR PERST PAYMENT TO D A Y - RIGHT NOW! i r L o t s f r o m $ 1 0 0 t o $250 TERMS:— One-third Cash, one-third in 30 days, ono-third in 60 days. Remittances may be made to either the owners or fiscal agents. ROBERTS AND RADIGAN, Owners SHELBY, MONTANA City Property— Oil and Farm Lands— Royalties—Leases— Oil Properties. Bought, Sold, and Developed— Business Opportunities H. B. LAKE & CO. Brokers GRAIN--STOCKS-BONDS Local Securities Bought & Sold 234-236 Ford Bldg., Great Falls, Montana BACK-TRAILING ON THE OLD FRONTIERS A Neu) Book with Fourteen Full Page Illustrations by C h a r l e s M . R u s s e l l Fourteen stories of outstanding interest from western frontier history are included in this volume. They have been selected from the series of stories illustrated by Mr. Russell, entitled, Back-Trailing on the Old Frontiers, which have been running during the past year in some of the Montana newspapers. 1 C O N T E N T S The Discovery of the Rocky Mountains. The Story of Old Fort Benton. Amazing Adventures of Hugh Glass. The Texas Trail. Tragedies of Men Who Made World’s Greatest Gold Strikes. i ' Last Indian Battle in Montana. The Wagon-Box Fight Annihilation of Fetterman’s Command. Battles of the Crow Tribe. Three Musketeers of the Missouri. Kit Carson. Alexander Harvey, Bad Man. •The Pony Express. Story of Yellowstone Kelly. Price , $ 1 M Order Now From Your Book Dealer Or fill out the coupon and mail it with $1.10 (to cover postage). Stamps will not be accepted. Dealers: W r ite Us CHEELY-RABAN SYNDICATE. GREAT FALLS, MONTANA. Enclosed find 51.10 (cash, express or postal order, or check), for which please send me one copy of BACK-TRAILING ON THE- OLD FRONTIERS. NAME Street Address City . State iwìi
