The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-02-23
THE RIVER

nIoh16ua D6ltgaIe III COuSEGSS, MaTtil
Maginnls, has many friends in Chicago, and
occasionally stops here on his way to and
from Washington. The foreman of the
Tribune office worked with Martin when he
used to stick type in Red Wing, Mimi, and
one Of the proof-readers on the same paper
stood shoulder to shoulder with him in the
LIST Minnesota regiment, Of which Mr.. Ma
ginnis was Major at the time it was mustered
out.-Ms5er.
Messrs. Larkin 6 Flynn, who have been
developing the "Uncle Mike lode in the Bar
ker, were robbed Of every tool and implement
they had, consisting Of picks, shovels, drills,
powder, fuse, caps and other things. The
robbery was committed during the night
while the men were away. There is a feel
ing in the camp that if they get their hands
on the offenders they would suffer q punish
ment Of not less than tar and feathers, and
perhaps something worse. Such petty and
contemplate stealing of a mans working
resources, is more reprehensible than a rob-
berry OF money, for it does them no good and
puts the gentlemen to a loss out of all pro-
portion to the value of the goods taken, by
stopping their operations.
A horse belonging to McDevitt s. Wright,
of the Benton Stables, fell into an uncovered
well, in the rear of the new Episcopal church
building, OF Bond street, Tuesday, but for
t%unately was rescued from its unpleasant pre-
dicament without serious injury to the ami
NAL, owing to the fact that the water in the
well was frozen over solid enough to hold it
up. Had it been summer time, Messrs. Nc
Dewitt 6 Wright would doubtless now be out
the price of the horse, which was one of the
finest animals ia their stables. Too much
censure cannot be given this practice of leay-
ing wells and other dangerous places uncov-
cred or unprotected in any way, particularly
in isolated places like this one, where an ac-
cident is not likely to be discovered until too
late for a rescue. Ia the night time a human
being mighthave fallen into this well and been
drowned before being able to attract attention
and assistance from some of the very few
who have occasion to pass that way. We
hope the trustees will take immediate steps to
prevent a recurrence Of the accident of yes
terday, or something more serious.
Here is what the YeNoustone Journal has
to say of Major Ilges, formerly command
ant of this post, and an officer and q gentle
man remembered yet by our citizens with the
deepest feeling of respect and esteem: 1.-THE
material Of which Maj. Ilges is made, who is
now il pursuit Of Sitting Bull, is shown by
an incident related inthe following paragraph
taken from the Black Hills Daily Times:
major llges, formerly the commander at
Fort Benton, NJ. T., seems to be the coming
Indian fighter on our northwestern border
since the departure Of Gen. Miles. Ilges, who
is a young Prussian OF noble lineage, is 8
man in every way calculated to make his
mark in this particular warfare. He is brave,
impetuous and dashing. The writer made q
voyage with the Major in 1874, from Yank-
ton to Benton. at Fort Buford the steamer
left him while he was visiting his brother
officers at that post, and he struck out alone
overland, against the protestations Of the Of
fcers there, to head off the boat. They
warned him Of the hostile character of the
Indians in that region, but with the remark
that he had been sent to the frontier TO fight
the reds and one time was just as good as an
other to begin his work, he left on foot, over
taking the boat after a long chase
-.1 -
The HusbUndna0n this week contains q
half-column editorial on the prospects Of
Journalistic success IN Montana for the next
few years, in which it prophesies several
newspaper failures within the year. It bases
its prediction on the assertion that there are
already too many papers in the Territory,
and also upon the supposition that all the
new enterprises of this character start with
out capital behind them. 1t may be possible
that there are enough newspapers in the Ter
ritory now for the present limited population
to support, but we do not think there are yet
too many, and it is scarcely probable that
others will be started without what could be
considered sufficient inducement and encour-
agement from the community in which they
purpose locating. But friend Sutherlin gives
one reason to suspect the true inWardness OF
his Argument from his " words: "NoW,
we cannot see how any new journalistic en-
terprise is to succeed except at the expense Of
some Of the present publications. Y = So
far as we are concerned we shall cheerfully
welcome all that may come, the field is free
and priority Of occupancy counts for naught.
Journals stand upon merit alone, and rise or
fall according to the public verdict. This is
fair and just and weighed in the balance and