The weekly Butte record., 1867-11-23
M..t... Correspondence.
HEIKxA.N NoxrAxA 7. Nor.

HELENA, MONTANA T.. Nov. .. 1867.
! FRIEND CRosErrR: In accordance with my
I promise to you. send you few items of in'elh-
gence in relation to matters and things in this
| gold-feld of the North And first-foliowing the
iIlastrious example Of modern newspaper cores
pondents.-a word upon that very important and
interesting subject. the weather: Ii is very cold
here at present. and there is 6ne show for
plenty OF il. Now, for
Ny business is Of such nature that have had
no time to visit the mines, and consequently know
little or nothing, personally. with regard to them;
but those who profess to be well acquainted with
the subject are extremely Mandatory both of their
richness and extent. They assert that within twen
ty.iye miles of this city there are at least ffty
millions remaining in the plscers for every bali
million that has been taken QUITO say nothing OF
the incompatible wealth locked up in the many but
partially developed quartz lodes that the country
around US commprises this very day more wealth
n gold placers than any other region of the sam e
extent known to man that there is one in our
nds, who has worked perseveringly ipracticing Or
dinary frugality-either for wages on his ow n
property IL pIUSPcStcu ~ o'4-ooe eo-N"y nHS
more to show for his exertions than ninety out
of every hundred who have been equally industri-
Gus in the fields of manual labor outside of Monta
ns-addng as corollary, that it is the poor
mans proven land of promise and finally, that
Montana's day Of evanescent grandeur-of short
lived importance. consequent upon the first devel-
opment Of wealth-has nearly passed away, and
that she is now entering career Of more solid and
permanent prosperity. All these encomiums may
be just and deserved. but. as in most other such
cases, should be taken, think with some grains Of
allowance-cum grano sails.
DANGLING IN THE AIR
gentleman, recently arrived from Gallatin
Valley reports that a considerable number Of hors
es having been stolen from the valley it was dis
covered that party of eleven men had them in
the Yellowstone valley. not far distant from the
old volunteer camp Twenty-Five Yard creek. A
party of thirty five men formed in Bozeman,
and started out in the evening to capture them
The next evening they returned to Bozeman with
the horses and gave them up to the owne-s-some
of them being the property Of the regulars encamp
ed there. and the balance belonging to various
ranches Iu answer to inquiries respecting the
eleven men who had stolen them, the only response
was that they had gone to the States" They
surprised them in camp at daylight in the morn
ing with the stolen horses in their possession.-
The men who composed the capturing party were
of the right stripe and the answer to the question
what does ne to the States" mean? can be
readily surmised.
TIE KOoTENAI MASSACRE.
You probably remember the account of the mas
sacre of three white men and the wounding of one
other by seven Indians kootenais) in the Mootenai
mines. some weeks since. From letter addressed
to Father Zanzna by one of the Fathers of the Pen
d'Oreille Mission learn that the Kootenai miners
had captured five of them, hung three. and retained
the other two as prisoners The two others are off
on hunt after buffalo, but it is said they will be
punished as soon as they return. From this infer
that the chiefs have given them up for punishment.
MILITARY.
Lieut.. J. c. Chance, Post Quartermaster at Fort !
Ellis near Bozeman, recently visited this city. He
reports three companies, comprising two hundred
and thirty one men. now in camp. The quarters |
are being rapidly constructed, and the camp will
soon be in good order for winter. 1t is expected
that the strength of the command will be increased
to at least three hundred and fifty men early next
season. He also reports that Major Clinton. late
Commandant of Fort Clarke at the mouth of the
Judith has been ordered before the retiring board
at Philadelphia.
THE PUTNEY-LEHIGH AFFRAY.
You undoubtedly noticed in the Virginia (Nev.) /
Enterprise an account of an affray between Col |
Putnev and Harry Lehigh. The former was well !
known in Montana, and | send you the following
particulars of the afflir given in private letter
received by gentleman of this city. dated Belmont,
Oct 18th An afray oteurred here on last Mon
day night resulting in the killing of Harry Lehigh
and the serious, if not fatal wounding of Col. Put
ney 1t appears there had been i'll feeling between
the parties for some time. On the nj ght Of the
affray. Lehigh being pretty full, tackled the Col,
find abused him terribly,--at the same time draw
ing his six shooter. The Col. said he was not
"heeled' Lehigh said, go and heel yourself.
then, and you, when you come back, come
lighting The Col. replied ''All right I'll come"
After the Col. closed his game, he buckled on his
pistol and started down town. He stepped into
Dan Mcrgan's where Lehigh was standing at the
bar. Lehgh said Here you are, you -. Are
you ready to fght:' Putney replied, al am
Then turn loose replied Lehgh when both drew
and commenced shootlng-the first shots being so
nearly simultaneous that il is difficult to tell who
fred first. Putney had five shots in his pistol four
Of which he fired. hitting Lehigh three times The
first shot struck him in the forehead over the left
eye but glanced. The second struck rib over
the heart and glanced-neither doing much injury.
The third and fatal shot entered just below the
heart. passing entirely through his body. Lehgh
had six shots. He fired three.-the last entering
Putneys shoulder and stopping the fight. Putney
was COOL and Lehighs courage was unquestion-
able. After Putney shot, be walked out of
the house. Lehgh followed, iuquiring which way
he went. and fell insensible on the street. dying in
ten minutes after. 1t was desperate fight. Col.
Putney has the sympathy of the entire community,
his character for quiet unobtrusiveness being we'll
established His wound, at first considered slight.
has turned out to be quite serious and it may prove
fatal if Inflammation take place. He is very quiet
about it, and displays excellent nerve.
Yours respectfully. P.
THOMAS BOYCE,