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About The Sanders County Independent-Ledger (Thompson Falls, Mont.) 1918-1959 | View This Issue
The Sanders County Independent-Ledger (Thompson Falls, Mont.), 26 Sept. 1918, located at <http://montananewspapers.org/lccn/sn86075282/1918-09-26/ed-1/seq-5/>, image provided by MONTANA NEWSPAPERS, Montana Historical Society, Helena, Montana.
• SANDERS COUNTY INDiPENDENT-LEDGER RECRUIT FIFO IR GREAT FALLS HOW MUCH FAME AND A SMALL OORTUNE SERVICE'S \ATHABASCA DICK\ CAME TO JOHN hVi 6 ONTOSH ON ONE DAY Several weeks ago when a burly lumber jack appeared before the Uni- ted States army recruiting officer at Great Falls, and enlisted in the in- fantry, the officer who examined the man and completed the details of his enlistment little thought that the husky specimen of humanity, who bore the brand of the out-of-doors in his looks and all his movements, had been read about over the wide world in a poem by Robert W. Service in the volume entitled, \Rhymes of a Roll- ing Stone.\ The applicant for enlistment, how- ever, was the \Athabasca Dick\ of whom Service wrote, although his real name is Lyle Darling. That is the name under which he enlisted. Darling is at Camp Dodge at present and occupied a bed in the base hospi- tal there, getting treatment for an in- jured hip. People who visit I im list- en with interest to his stories of tra- vel in the far north. Seven years ago Darling was en- gaged by Service to guide him on a trek up the Mackenzie river. The poet did not tell the guide he was seeking material for a new book. To- gether they canoed 400 miles, travel- ing the Mackenzie, Peace and Atha- basca rivers. \Whenever we'd stop to camp with Indians or white men,\ says Darling, \Service would always quietly sit back and take in everything that was said or done, but he never made any notes. I had no idea he was a writer until we parted at Edmonton. There he told me he'd been getting material for a new book, and when the book was published he sent me a copy, with a note that there was a poem in it that might interest me.\ The poem referred describes an adventure in which there figured Darling, then \Athabasca Dick,\ and a well known half-breed of the region known as \Jackpoto Jim.\ Darling, through the publicity given to him by Service, might be known as the thirst- iest man in the north. He does not deny it. The poem which Service wiote about Darling follows: ATHABASCA DICK , When the boys come out from Lac Labiche in the lure of the early Spring, To take the pay of the Hudson Bay, as their fathers did before. They're all aglee for the jamboree, and they make the Landing ring With a whoop and a whirl, and a \Grab your girl,\ and a rip and a skip • and a roar, For the spree of Spring is a sacred thing, and the boys must ,have their fun; Packer and tracker and half-breed Cree, from the boat to the bar they leap; And then when the long flotilla goes, and the last of their pay is done, The boys from the banks of Lac Labiche swing to the heavy sweep. And oh, how they sigh! and their throats are dry, and sorry are they and sick; Yet there's none so cursed with a lime -kiln thirst as that Athabasca Dick. He was long and slim and lean of limb, but strong as a stripling bear; And by the right of skill and might be guided the Long Brigade. All water -wise were his laughing eyes, and he steered with a careless care, And he shunned the shock of the foam and rock, till they came to the Big Cascade. And here they must make the long portage, and the boys sweat in the BUB; And they heft and pack, and they haul and track, and each must do his trick; But their thoughts are far in the Landing bar, where the founts of nectar run: And no man thinks of such gorgeous drinks as that Athabasca Nick. 'Twas the close of day and his long boat lay just over the Big Cascade, When there came to him one Jackpot Jim, with a wild light in his eye; And he softly laughed, and he led Dick aft, all eager, yet half afraid, And snugly stowed in his coat he showed a pilfered flask of \rye.\ And in haste he slipped, or in fear he tripped, but — Dick in warning roared— And there rang a yell, and it befell that Jim was overboard. Oh, I heard a splash, and quick as a flash I knew he could not swim. I saw him whirl in the river swirl, and thresh his arms about. In a queer, strained way I heard Dick say: \I'm going after him,\ Throw off his coat, leap down the boat—and then I gave a shout: \Boys grab him quick; You're crazy, Dick! Far better one than two! \Hell man- You know you've got no show! It's sure and certain death _ _ _ \ And there we hung, and there we clung, with beef and brawn and thew, And sinews cracked and joints were racked, and panting came our breath; And there we swayed and there we prayed, till strength and hope were spent— Then Dick, he threw us 'off like rats, and after Jim he went. With mighty urge amid the surge of river -rage he leapt, And gripped his Mate and desperate be fought to gain the shore; With teeth agleam he bucked the stream, yet swift and sure he swept To meet the mighty cataract that wane all a -roar. And there we stood like carven wood, our faces sickly white, And watched him as he beat the foam alai inch by inch be lost; And nearer, nearer drew the fall, and fiercer grew the fight, Till on the very cascade crest a last farewell he tossed. Then down and down and down they plunged into that pit of dread; And mad we tore along the shore to claim our bitter dead. And in that hell of frenzied foam, that crashed and fumed and boiled, Two little bodies bubbled up, and they were heedless then; And oh, they lay like senseless clay; and bitter hard we toiled, Yet never, never gleam of hope, and we were weary men. And moments mounted into hours, and black was our despair; And faint were we, and we were fain to give them up as dead, When suddenly I thrilled with hope: \Back boys! and give them air; \I feel the flutter of his heart _ _ \ And, as the word I said. Dick gave a sigh, and gazed around, and saw our breathless band; And saw the sky's blue floor above, all strewn with golden fleece; And saw his comrade Jackpot Jim, and touched him with his hand: And then there came into his eye a look of perfect peace. And there, at his very feet, the thwarted river raved. I heard him murmur low and deep: \Thank God! the whiskey's saved.\ There are not many men in Mon- tana who know that John H. McIn- tosh, the well known Butte sport writer and student of industrial prob- lems, is one of the star athletes of the northwest, or that he started his successful career in Montana by win- ning, in one day, the middleweight championship of the ,ptate, a gruel- ling boxing contest in which he put his man out, and a purse which gave him a substantial start in life. In 1902 McIntosh was sporting edi- tor of the old Butte Inter -Mountain, a daily paper that is now the Butte Evening Post. He had just graduat - ed from a southern college, where his people hoped he would study for the ministry, but the red blood in his veins was too much for parental au- thority, and instead of taking theolo- gical honors on his graduation, he won first place in an inter -collegiate boxing contest, and went to Butte to carve out his fortune. That year the people of Dillon ppb- posed to hold a sport toarnament on July 4. The chairman in charge of this entertainment wrote to the sporting editor of the Inter -Mountain, asking him to arrange for a crack wrestler to meet Milly Adams, then middleweight champion catch -as - catch can wrestler of Montana. It was stipulated that the man who was sent to Dillon should be the best that was obtainable, and worth the purse of $250 and the title that would go with it. McIntosh knew just the man who would fill the bill. It was him- self. So he took a train to Dillon on the night of the 3d, arrived in time to get three hours sleep, and vanquished his man after one hour and 32 minutes of wrestling. This made him champion middleweight wrestler of the state. Now for the Boxing Championship A great crowd witnessed the con- test. W. A. Jones, since prominent DI business and political circles of Bea- verhead county, refereed the wrest- ling. He was anxious to do some- thing to entertain the crowd of visi- tors, and told McIntosh he would see that a nurse of $1,000 was hung up for a boxing contest, and asked him if he would issue a challenge to box any middleweight in the crowd. In giving utterance to this challenge to the assembled 5,000 cowboys and sheepherders McIntosh made his first speech in Montana, a habit that has since grown on him. The only man in the crowd who was willing to box was a big black- smith, former heavyweight champion pugilist of Idaho. He was altogether too big for the middleweight sport writer, and it was suggested that the match be boxed for points, with slug- ging eliminated, and the winner o points to be awarded the purse. This was agreed upon. In the meantime County Attorney Robinson served no- tice on the fighters that he would enforce the law and that in the event of a knockout, would arrest all con- cerned. This arrangement was per- fectly agreeable to McIntosh, who was of the opinion that if anyone was knocked out it would not be the big blacksmith * The Slugging Blacksmith For two rounds the work was fast, McIntosh easily outpointing his heav- ier and slower opponent. During the last half of the second round, the blacksmith, chagrined at the smaller man's cleverness and the lead he was piling up, started slugging, and tried his best to land a knockout punch that would end the match in his favor. In the minute rest between the second and third round, Chief of Police Stone, who was in McIntosh's corner, urged his charge to meet the blacksmith slugger at his own game. \Everyone in the house knows the big man is trying to double cross you and put you out,\ said Stone, \and I think you can beat him. Go in and slug.\ McIntosh did as advised. The story of the finish of the fight is best told by McIntosh's own description of the last two rounds, as he narrated it to a friend in Butte the next day: \I was about all in from loss of sleep the preceding night and the gruelling wrestling match of the BS- ternoon, but I figured the advice of my friend to be good, as it was doubt- ful if physical endurance could keep me up until the finish of the match, shifting my attack from the stomach to his head, I willingly took the blow he was about to deliver, on the side of my head, and then drove my right in a half swing and half upper cut for his jaw. As I did so he partly lower- ed his head and the padde„d fist, in- ; stead of connecting with his jaw, landed just over the right eye -brow. There must have been steam to it, , born of desperation as the blow was, • John If. McIntosh of Butte, who won a championship wrestling contest, a gruelling boxing match, and a fat purse, all in one day. and I had about an even chance to out -fight him and beat him to a knockout. When Fame Flickered \The third round I tore into him and we stood toe -to -toe and slugged for all that was in us. He kept play- ing for my head and face while all he time I was shooting short -arm jolts to his stomach. He carried some extra weight and as I sent in the solar-plexus blows I felt him wince and heard him grunt in dis- tress. That round ended after an age, it seemed to me and I could scarcely summon strength to walk to my corner and sink in my chair. I asked my seconds to lift me out when the gong for the fourth round should ring as I actually did not have enough reserve left to do it. They called my attention to the heavyweight's breathing across the ring, and sure enough he was in worse fix than I was. That gave me fresh hope and to the utter surprise of the big fellow I hopped out of my chair at the start of the fourth round and stood wait- ing for him to get up. Of course, I feigned this \pep but the psycholo- gical effect was fine and the black- smith rose with heavy heart. I met him in his own corner. We swapped vicious wallops for about 30 seconds of that round. Then I realized the utter impossibility of my finishing the round. Absolute physical ex- haustion was at hand. The limit of physical effort had been reached. \With all the courage and all the energy I could muster I put what was left in me in a final blow. Suddenly for the scalp of the heavyweight was cut the entire length of the eye -brow. The skin sagged, almost covering the e, and his face was immersed with his own blood. He threw up his hands, his seconds threw in the sponge and I was declared the win- ner. Won a Stake \I sank to the floor as the result of my own strenuous efforts, but was lifted on the shoulders of the crowd and carried through the streets. Hav- ing been the smaller man in both the wrestling and boxing Matches, they made a sort of hero of me. Out of the more than $1,250 I earned that day in Dillon I spent a neat sum in treating the crowd in the different thirst emporiums of the Beaverhead metropolis. For several years fol- lowing that event Dillon offered me opportunity on each 'Fourth of July to defend my title of middleweight wrestling champion of Montana, and I always accepted the invitation. No matter what my newspaper duties were I kept in condition and though I wrestled in those days only as a side amusement, I never lost a match.\ In after years the services of Mr. McIntosh, as a referee of champion- ship boxing matches and other sport events. were in keen demand and al- though he has officiated as referee in ntore than 100 major events, he de - flares he enjoyed the sport program of July 4, 1902, in Dillon, and in which he himself participated, more than any of the long list he has wit- nessed. LANGFORD PEEL, NOTED GUN -FIGHTER OF THE WEST, MET HOS IFIINOSH ON HELENA The old cemetery at Helena con- tains many graves in which are bur- ied eharacters of interest to students of Montana history. Beneath mounds almost obliterated by time and the action of the elements are laid at rest men with strange histories. One grave there recalls to the few remain- ing pioneers of those days the career of Langford Peel, the noted Nevada gun fighter, who died with his boots on one day in 1867 after a life filled with thrills. The plain slab over his remains contains the followiug in- scription, which today is hardry leg- ible: \Sacred to the memory of Lang- ford Peel, born in Liverpool; Died July 23, 1867, Aged 36 Years. In Life Beloved by His Friends, and Respected by His Enemies. Ven- geance Is Mine, Saith the Lord. I Know that My Redeemer Liveth. Er- ected by a Friend.\ The friend who erected the stone above Peel's grave added the Biblical quotations in the belief, first, that Peel was killed unfairly and that the Lord would avenge his death; second. that the man was living who would redeem Peel's name from whatever obloquy might attach to it because of his having died with his boots on. He felt that the two scriptural quo- . FARMERS---MONEYI 1 he l..,a.nt Farm Mortnnge Bonk In tbo Northwood handle loan. on Improved foram on, where in M•ntome,..-pgo re d tape. IA )6 NS MONET) PROMPT I A The Banking Corporation Montana 4 11.11n-oommoamlalifIllinaillann-..mranko- tations adequately expressed what he had in mind. Story of Peel Peel was not always a bad man by reputation and character, and even after he began to be known as a gun- fighter of note, he was given credit even by his enemies for being as scrupulous in living up to a certain code of honor in his affairs as he was fearless and reckless. The story of Langford Peel, so far as the west knew him, dates back to the terrible winter of 1856, when the fringe of whites living along the western frontier in Kansas and Mis- souri suffered from lack of provisions and from the severe cold that set- tled over the country and held it in a grip of ice for many months with- out respite. Peel was a citizen of Leavenworth at the time, and moved by compassion by the sufferings of those around him he contributed gen- erously to the relief of those who were in want. Among other who shared liberal- ly of his boynty were two men, Con- ley and RuFker, whom he found in a state of destitution in a cabin. lie took them into his own house, kept them during the winter and gave them a \grub -stake\ in the spring. Then misfortune overtook Peel and he went \broke\ in a business ven- ture. The year 1868 found him in Salt Lake City, completely out of luck. As if to mark the curious turns of the wheel of fortune, Conley and Rucker, whom he had befriended, were also there, and each now was engaged in a profitable business and well-to-do. ()onley Is Ungrateful Peel was a tall, handsome man of fine physique -an outstanding fig- ure in any company. The proprietor of the Salt Lake house, where he was rooming, took occasion to make in- quiries about Ohm and was told that he had won a reputation for kind- ness and generosity at Leavenworth during the bitter winter of two years before, but that now he was down on his luck. The hotel man, whose name was Robinson, remarked to his clerk that he liked Peel's appearance and would let him have what money he needed, but he did not go to him and offer him help directly, fearing to offend him. After he had been there a day or two, Peel one day walked into the gambling house connected with the Salt Lake hotel and saw Conley seat- ed in the \lookout seat,\ watching a game of faro. \Dave said Peel, \I wish you'd let me have $25.\ \I'll not do it,\ replied Conley, without looking up. \Why?\ inquired Peel \I've got no money to loan,\ re- plied Conley, shortly. \I don't consider it a loan.\ said Peel, approanhing Conley and looking squarely at him. Conley made no mOve to comply and continued to watch the game. Robinson, the hotel keeper, who was seated by the faro table cash drawer, drew it out and seized e t handful of gold, which he handed to Peel. \Here Mr. Peel,\ he said, \I'll loan you as much as you want. You're entirely welcome to it.\ Peel Kills Rucker Peel turned and fixed a look of gratitude on Robinson. \Sir he said \you're a stranger to me. We never spoke together before, but I will gratefully accept your kindness, and thank you. I'll repay you as soon as I can.\ Conley's face grew red and swollen with anger as he watched the pro- ceeding, and he uttered some sneer- ing remark. Peel, flying into an un- controllable rage, seized the \case keeper,\ used for markira the game, and hurled it at Conley's head. The weapon missed its mark and Conley ran out of the place. Peel was in desperate need of funds. He took the money which Robinson had given to him and went to a gambling house on Commercial street which was conducted by Ruck- er. Approaching a faro game he placed the gold on a card. Rucker saw him do so and quickly walked over to the game, shoving Peel's money aside roughly. \I don't want any of your game,\ he exclaimed. Peel turned and saw Conley leaving the place. It was evident that he had been talking to Rucker about him. Smarting under the insult convey- ed by Rocker's words—for the re- fusal to permit him to bet marked Peel by inference as a crooked play- er — Peel seized a chair to strike Rucker. The latter fled through the rear door and entered a store adjoin- ing, run by a man known as Miller. Peel saw Bucker enter the store and followed him. Rucker ran up a stair- way, Peel did fiat follow, but sat down in a chair at the hack of the store. After a time he arose and started to walk out. As he passed the foot of the stairway. Rucker. who was waiting for hlm in the shadow with a revolver in his hand, stuck the weapon against Peel's side, but before MONTANA SCHOOLS NEED SHAKING UP 1,500 CHILDREN , IN THE STATE WERE UNABLE TO GO TO SCHOOL LAST YEAR Unequal Valuation of Districts, Poor- ly Paid Teachers, Shortness of the School Term Are Some of Things That Need Revising, Says State De- partment. Many people who attended the Montana state fair at Helena were greatly interested in a display of post- ers prepared by Miss May Trumper, state superintendent of publicc in- struction, which was assembled to show that Montana's school system needs a shaking up. The startling announcement was made that 1,5,00 children in Montana were without school privileges during the past year. Chouteau county had 103 children who were unable to attend schools be- cause there were no schools near enough to them. One poster showed a comparison of wealthy and poor districts in the state. One district has a valuation assessed at $1,174,863 and has 76 children in the district to attend school; another district has only one thirty-fifth as much money, $36,543, with 32 children to attend. This makes $15,722 per child in the weal- thy district and $1,142 per child in the poor district. This is a plea for the county unit system which will equalize the assessed valuation and give each child the same chance. Urge Unit System Still another plea for the county unit system and but one county board k ... v of directors, instead of numerous dis- trict boards, was made by a chart showing the 600 teachers of the city of Butte are under the jurisdiction of but seven school board members, while Fergus county, as a typical county, has only 200 rural teachers, controlled and supervised by 600 school board members. The' money used for school pur- poses stands as a poor example of ef- ficiency. For every dollar paid out for school purposes, ten are paid out for criminals and courts: $70,000,000 is spent annually for high school work and $500,000,000 annually for elementary school work. Four times this total amount or $2,243,000,000 Is spent annually for liquor and $1,- 200,000,000 or more than twice the amount is spent for tobacco, cigars and cigarettes, according to the post- ers. Teachers' Salaries Low Another poster compared the sal- • aries of teachers with those of other people. The average salary of the city school teacher for a year is $900 and for a rural teacher $640 per year. In comparison with this a teamster gets $5 per day or $1,500 per year, a truck driver gets $6 per day or $1,800 per year, while clerks get an average salary of $960 per year. The poster declares that teach- ers' salaries must be raised if desir- able teachers are to be retained in the profession. To remedy these flagrant evils in the present school system the state department suggests that the schools be open all the year, that teachers supervise the agricultural work of the students during the summer, that the county unit system be adopted for the counties, that higher salaries be paid the teachers and that more school taxes be levied. These are also the recommendations of the committee on education of the national associa- tion to cover war needs. he could fire, Peel, who was like chain lightning on the draw, had his forty-five out. They fired together and both fell. Each emptied his wea- pon as they lay on the floor. Peel was wounded in the face, thigh and shoulder. Rucker was hit by every bullet Peel fired and was mortally wounded. He died in a few minutes. Peel Turns Gunfighter Peel was cared for by Robinson un- til he could travel, and then started for California on horseback. After his arrival there Rocker's death seemed to weigh heavily on his mind and his downward career was rapid. He associated only with gamblers and roughs, and appeared to be ambitious to be recognized as their chief. He was a dead shot and it took a bold man to dispute the title with him. The score of notches on his gun grew in number rapidly. Ile soon went to Nevada and to Carson City. where his shooting exploits and their bloody character form a chapter in the early history of the place. It used to be told of Peel that he scorned all advantage of an adver- sary and under the bitterest provoca- tion would not attack a man until satisfied that he was armed. Always silent and sinister, he was known and feared throughout the west. Once in Virginia City, Nevada, a man known as Muchacho was killed in a row over a crooked prize fight between two celebrities of the ring, Toni Daly and Billy Maguire. Mu- chaco was a friend of Peel, and the latter' heard a certain Dick Paddock boast that he killed listuchaco. Peel at once challenged Paddock to fight. Both men stepped out from the sa- loon. took their positions and began In fire. Peel wounded Paddock three times, escaping unharmed himself, and the battle closed without fatal consequences. \El Dorado Johnny\ had ambitions to get a name by kill- ing Peel and he decided to take up Paddock's quarrel. Meeting Peel on the street he half -drew his pistol, , saying, \Peel. rn chief.\ - \You're a liar, ' rejoined Peel, and with a jerk his gun was in action and his man fell dead. Peel was tried and acquitted. Only once did Peel submit to ar- rest. That was just after he had boasted that \no man who ever pack- ed a star could arrest me.\ A peace- able, law-abiding man, Pat Lannan, had been made town marshal and happened to be present when Peel committed some infraction of what passed for law at Carson City. Lan- nan at once approached him and said: \Peel. I know you have boasted that no man can arrest you. Nevertheless it is my duty to try.\ \I'll take that back, Lannan,\ re- plied Peel. \You can arrest me, for you're no fighting man. You're a gentleman,\ and with a bow he hand- ed his pistol to Lannan.\ In 1867 Peel left Nevada for Mon- tana with one John Bull as a part- ner. They had some difficulty on the way, but on reaching Salt Lake became reconciled and continued on their way to Helena. where Bull ar- rived some weeks in advance of Peel. When Peel arrived. Bull had gone to examine some mines on Indian creek. Returning soon after he gave such a favorable account of the properties that Peel went there at once. He re- turned in a week thoroughly die.. gusted and very angry at Bull, whom he accused of misrepresentation and falsehood. At a meeting of the men in Hurley & Chase's saloon they clashed and Peel started to draw his pistol, the but of which was covered with notches. \I'm not heeled.\ said Bull. \Go heel yourself,\ said Peel, slap- ping Bull in the face. Bull started, saying as he went, \Peel ril come back. sure.\ \When you come,\ replied Peel, \come fighting.\ Bull armed himself. Returning to the saloon, he met Peel coming out. Bull shot Peel three times before he could draw his revolver. Each shot took effect, one in the neck, one in the face and one in the breast. Peel fell and died without speaking. It was the general opinion that he had been the victim of unfair play. Bull was tried, and his conviction on a charge of murder failed by disagree- ment of the jury, which stood nine for acquittal and three for conviction: tie left the country soon after. An lee -breaking ateatnes built In Sweden for use in Russia has cut its way through ice fields 30 feet thick while using but one-half its power.
