The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-11-09


Office at Helena, Montana has produced
precious metals to the value of $4,90O,00O
during the fiscal year ending June 30th, 1881.
AT that time our Territory ranked fifth
among the States and Territories as pro-
ducer Of gold and silver. 1t will not be but
q wear or two until Montana will take first
rank.
The supply Of pure water at Butte is not
very great, and the Miner calls on some en-
terprising man or company to sink an arte-
sian we'll. But the worst phase OF the
drinking question in Butte is that the whisky
is no better than the water. II the grade OF
the latter article could be improved by bor-
ing into the bowels of the earth there would
be no scarcity Of capital to carry on the en-
terprise.
James Orton, one of Ell. F. Galen's sheep
herders, deserted his herd few weeks
since, stealing his masters fine herd
horse, sheep-dog and everything else he
could make away with. The sheep were
left to the mercy of the wolves for two
weeks before the rascals desertion Of his
post was learned. He was doubtless horse
thief in the guise of sheep herder, and has
gone to join his partners, perhaps on the
Yellowstone.
On Monday morning last the stage driver
on the Bismarck line reported the killing OF
Patrick Farrell, railroader, by compan-
ion whose name is unknown, at Plummer's
ranch, about twenty miles from this city.
Mr.. Plummer was in the city at the time
and Immediately left for his ranch, The cir
cumstances are meagrely CLEANED as follows:
The parties were in dispute about some tri-
fling matter when the assassin shot, the ball
Immediately causing death. The murderer
ran towards the river, which is about one
hundred yards distant, Weere be was follow
ed by number of hunters who fred several
shots at him after he got into the water.
When about the middle he was seen to sink
and as he did not again appear On the sur
face, it is supposed that he was shot or
drowned in the fast running stream.-Yel.
l0lostoze Journal.
It seems that e. J. Keeney, who was on
the Miles City coach at the time Of its rob-
berg, as reported II last week. RIVER PRESS,
was himself a fugitive from justice. The
Bozeman Courier tells the story as follows:
1T appears that pending the election to
decide upon the county seat Of Wood River
County, Ilaho, heavy bets, agregating from
$4,000 to So, 900, were made by the gambling
fraternity on the result, the entire stakes
| being placed in a box, which was placed IN q
store for safe keeping. Upon this being done,
| it is said Keeney went, demanded and obs
| tained the box by the persuasive argument
| of loaded shotgun. Another story is that
! Keeney had the custody Of a pool-box, con-
tanning considerable amount of money
which he pocketed and coolly walked Oft
with, and on leaving be sold some mines be-
| longing to Mr.. Thomas, formerly Of BIZ :
| man, for two thousand dollars, which he also,
got away with. He.then took the coach for
Montana, and by somo means avoided the
| officers of the law who were promptly on.
track" The officers are now on his trail
and will doubtless soon over haul him. DE
is said to be.a desperate character.
The Herald reports that batch Of confed-
crate bonds to the amount Of 5000, 900 was
recovered in that city last week, and taken by
stranger postIhaste to the East, where there
! is now demand for them at from fifteen to
twenty dollars thousand. The bonds were
taken from an old trunk that had been stored
in q Helena warehouse, and were the prop
erty Of Archie Guide Talbot, 8 young man
who came to Montana IN 1877. Talbot
'sbatched" q year or two near Blue Cloud
Gulch, about four miles from Helena. Dur
ing his residence here he papered the inside
of his cabin with one thousand dollar bonds,
of the issue Of 1854 He also distributed O
relics, having brought with him about 3d.
10000 Of this Valueless paper, Talbot de-
parted for the States in 1869, leaving his
his trunk containing the Bonds in a Helena
warehouse, from which they were recently
taken and conveyed to market. Value is
given to those bonds now from the fact that
there are several millions Of dollars to the
credit Of the Southern Confederacy III the
Bank Of England, and some parties are
making an effort to secure possession Of the
1 same.
a----@arsHa aszssaaA~~-~@~-
4 "A Real Curiosity.
The first railroad excursion bill ever seen
/ in Benton put In an appearance this wael1