The weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1883, 1883-04-18
MAMMOTH Hot SPRINGS, WYo.,
April 4th, 1883. I

Mr.. EDITOR The song of "Cinnabar
Water" like most songs, is based upon
geographical fact and a social event. The
fact rests upon legendary natural cata-
clysm, and the event is, and was, almost
a fatal tragedy. The legend Of Cinnabar
mountain is that during some great con-
vulsion Of volcanic origin, when the earth
reeled and staggered Ikea drunken man.
The devil found himself upon the top of
a high mountain where he sat grinning
with fendish joy to see hell turned up
and earth under. That the indignant
Great Spirit gave the mountain kick
that sent the exultant fend bowling and
cursing down the mountain side, leaving
an immense scar from top to bottom. A
blood red stain is pointed out to indicate
the exact course of the famous Devils
Slide on Cinnabar mountain.
DEFENDING the Yellowstone Valley the
peak of Cinnabar mountain can be seen
from the foot of Mount Evarts, many
miles distant and for miles of you can
see the slide with its wonderful tints of
yellow and vermillion forming one of
the most beautiful mountain scenes in
tho whole valley. OF the tragedy the
readers of the CHRONICLE are already IN
formed.
David Kennedy, under the influence
Of drink, shot his friend and boon COM
panion, James Armstrong. One ball was
aimed at his head and lodged in the CELL
ing. Another pierced his side near the
heart, lodging under the scapula. A
third entered the pelvic bone, seemingly
without having fractured any portion of
it. It was fortunate misfortune, and
the causes of such misfortunes are appar-
ent and remarkable. Either the demand
for intoxicating drink must be diminish
ed by the active combined moral agen-
cies of literature, the pulpit and the
press, or the supply must be cut off by
political agency aimed at the suppression
of it's manufacture and sale. Hitherto I
have favored only that Of moral and reli-
gious efforts as being most consistent
with maus dignity and personal liberty.
There may come a time, when many
who now belong to the moral force party
may deem it their duty to join the poll
teal prohibitionists. A few more such
tragedies as that which occurred here in
consequence of strong drink would drive
me into that party. But foresee many
evils that would grow out of political in
tervention in matters of purely moral
and social nature. There are many gen.
erous kind-hearted men engaged in the
traffic just as there were many good kings
and indulgent masters among slave-hold-
ers, but progress required the abolition
of monarchy and slavery, and the welfare
of human society requires that other
sources of human suffering should be
dried up.
As between the buyer and the seller
there is poverty on the one hand and
profit on the other, and deep moral de-
graduation for both. The press is called
upon to hold up the minor in which is
oftenest seen the distorted face of hui
mainly. coarse, sensual, cruel and beast
like. Good actions of an allustic nature
are seldom reported. We forget the
kind, courteous and human treatment
which is by far most common, because it
is unconciously accepted as your due, just
as we bask in the sunshine and luxuriate
in the fresh air. But we remember and
even exaggerate the course insult, the
selfish jostle and the malicious blow.
1t Is with pleasure that l report some
redeeming features in the Kennedy Arm
strong affray. When Armstrong lay
pierced and bleeding from two balls fired
! in hot blood and with the hell-brewed
Cinnnabar water seething in his brain
Kennedy showed the utmost sorrow and
contrition. He watched over him al
night with tender assiduity. He turned
ever all the money he had, and told me
| that he would go on and work and turn
the entire proceeds of his labor over to
nav the physicians bill. All this il
Trustworthy and humane. and should
this reach his eye, I could add but one
act more desirable, and that is that he
| Law aside at once and forever the deadly
weapon, the carrying Of which is ever Z
temptation to enter the bloody arena
and assume the prerogrative of being
legislator, judge and executioner in hi
own case, functions which belong to so
ciety only.