davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The river press., 1884-02-20
Affairs at Maiden.

The following extract from letter
written from Maiden to the Helena In
dependent indicates deplorable state
of..afairs at that camp:
There has been enacted here what
might be termed dastardly outrage.
Meade, Eaton, and a few more of ST.
Paul's capitalists have thrown forty or
fifty miners and laborers out to starve,
by closing the company boarding house.
These men have from two to four
months pay due. BY false statements
and manufactured lies Meade has kept
them here until mid-Winter, then turn
ed them out, with no money, scarcely
any clothes, and no possibileway of OBJ
tanning food. Some have gone to Fort
Maginnis, and are being cared for by
the military. Captain McAdams il try
ing to get permission to issue the men
rations until the weather will permit
them to walk out Of camp.
The river press., 1884-02-20
Fort Benton Montana. Wednesday, February 20, 1884

must have either mines or good stock
ranges tributary to it. The fact is we'll
known that the agricultural resources Of
Montana are limited, and the great pros
p. rity Of the territory depends upon its
mines and stock interests. Fort Ben
ton, from its position, is more likely to
be the central point of the territory than
any town on the line Of a railroad This
is not said for self glorification, but the
tact is patent and cannot be controvert
ed. The stock ranges of Choteau county
are unsurpassed, and it's mineral re-
sources and Of the country tributary
rank with the first in Montana.
We have river communication with
the east which tends to cheaper freights,
and are not dependent on one road but
several. The Sioux City and Pacific,
Illinois Central, Chicago and st. Paul,
Minneapolis and Omaha, at Sioux City
Chicago, Milwaukee and ST. Paul at
Tankton, Running Water, and Cham
berlain; Chicago and Northwestern at
Pierre. These facts fix rates of freight,
and make the Missouri river by far the
cheapest route for at least seven months
in the year, and will tend to still lower
them to other points in Montana as soon
as the projected road from Helena is
completed.
AS has been before stated, the stock
ranges are almost unbounded, so we can
say with entire confidence that Fort
Benton comes as near being "the future
great" of Montana as any town we
know of.
The river press., 1884-02-20
1.-THE Future Great -

Every town in Montana through
which railroad passes claims the dis
tinction of being the future great city
of the territory Even before the rail-
road reached certain localities canvas
towns were already springing up, and
each and every one of them was to be
the future great metropolis The rail-
road passed through, and after short
season of activity and rush these towns
became only way stations, business
slackened up and dullness became the
order of the day. On what these places
based their claims to particular distinc-
ton no one knows. Billings, Living
ston, Bozeman, and many others will
no doubt be good towns, but 1T is fair to
presume that at present they are at a
stand still, the activity which charac-
terized them while the railroad was in
process of construction is not seen, while
greater industries than they at present
possess will be required 20 galvanize
and make them the great towns which
their local prophets predicted.
IN years to come town i'll Montana
The river press., 1884-02-20
Secretary of War, and Prominently
Mentioned as the Republican
Nominee for the Presidency.

Robert Todd Lincoln, secretary OF
war, is the oldest and only surviving
son of Abraham Lincoln, and was born
at Springfield Illinois, August 13, 1843.
He received a good education in the
common schools of that city, but con
cluded his preparatory course at Exeter,
n. III. He entered Harvard College,
from which he graduated, in 1854.
AFTER his graduation he received a com
mission as captain and saw consider
able service in the field but because of
his youth he was kept close com panion
to his father Ut IT, ,.A.te .1ouse the
greater part Of the time.
+ After the exciting scenrs Of his fathers
ASSASSINATION he settled III Chicago,
where be studied law, ana was in Il few
years admitted to the bar. He then
began the practice OF his profession in
thai city, and secured the management
Of several large estates and many east
ern insurance companies, who loaned
large sums OF money on Chicago real
estate. In attending TO these trusts Mr.
Lincoln developed superior executive
ability. He married the only dlug hter
of EXSecretary james Harlan.
During the Chicago convention Mr..
Lincoln was an ardent advocate of the
nomination Of General Grant, and pre-
sided at the immense Grant meeting
held III Chicago a few days before the
nomination for the presidency was
made. Before that period his only ac-
tive efforts in politics had been as a
mes11ber of a citizens committee formed
in Chicago to effect a reformation and
purlIlcation in local political affairs.
President Garfield's selection of Mr.
Lincoln for secretary of war was due
to determination to honor the name of
our great war president, and SO salts
factory was his administration Of the
war department during President Gar
fields incumbency, that President Ar
thur retained Mr.. Lincoln in the cab
met, and now finds him prominently
mentioned as Il presidential candidate.
Mr.. Lincoln disclaims sany ambition
for further political preferment, but his
modest unassuming manner ONLY in
duces his admirers to more earnestly ad-
vance his claims.
Secretary Lincoln is one of the most
popular officials that the war depart
ment has ever been utder, and IA social
and political circles, regardless of his
party affiliations, he is universal fav-
Orite. lu form and feature Mr. Lincoln
has no resemblance whatever to his
illnstrio0s father, bat in executive abil-
ity and an intuitive comprehension of
public affairs be has certainly Inherited
the sterling characteristics Of Abraham
Lincola.
The river press., 1884-02-20
A Bad State Of Affairs at the R7ackfoot
Agency.
BLACKFo0r AGENCY. Feb. i

BLAcKFo0T AGENCY, Feb. IA.
Editors River Pres:
We see in last weeks RIWKR PRESS
that the new agent would be a welcome
guest, or in other words his coming
would be WELCOME neWs.o We would
say that little fenr would be the most
w elcome commodity we know of. We
have now eighty head Of beef cattle and
Torty-fve sacks of -four Next Satur-
days issue will clear out the -four, and
then to issue double rations of beef will
give us meat for four weeks
The condition of these Indians is de-
plorabae; there are between fifteen hum
dred and two thousand of them accord
ing to the last count Who is to blame
for letting these poor Indians he in such
condition at this time Of yeaf is not
for us to say, but dit certainly seems that
six months ago this state OF things
might have been foreseen.
The new agent coming will be placed
in very embarrassing position indeed
we doubt if he will care to take the
heavy hulden upon himself The In
dians will. think he comes from the
great father, and will bring plenty OF
flour with him.
The annuity goods were here about
I'VE VEGAS ucioIe IHey were ulSITlOuIed,
when the time for giving them out was
settled great many refused to come for
their share, but some were ultimately
compelled by the cold to come in; even
now there are about thirty who refuse
to come. We trust that the present dark
cloud will soon be driven from oyer
these people, and that future good man
agement will insure them at least half
enongh to eat. There will be, we hope,
more than eighty acres of land planted
this year, SO as to supply us with vege-
tables. The greater part of last years
d frosted condition, SO that there won't
be many for planting III the spring
part Of them are quite rotten, and the
The river press., 1884-02-20
THE RESERVATION.
Is There a "Job" in Connection with
it's Reduction,
By Which Fort Benton is to be Left Out in
Cheerless Cold /?

The opinion has been formed by a
GOOD many, based upon what was said
bv Col. Broadwater during his visit
here a few days ago, that first class
"job" has been put up in the matter OF
opening the reservation, and which is
TO work as much as possible to- the det-
riment Of Fort Benton.
The plan is briefly to give the Indians
for their new reservation that part OF
the present reservation between Milk
river and the summit Of the Little
Rocky mountains, from Fort Belknap
down to a point near the mouth of Little
Rocky creek-including the very por-
ton that ii is desired to have opened to
settlement, because it is the best part of
the reservation-while the country north
of Milk river will be opened to settle
ment. Another part of the neat pro-
gramme is to maintain intact the present
misshapen military reservation SO that
il and the new Indian reservation
will form barrier between Fort Benton
and the released lands north of Milk
river. The lonesome prairie" north OF
the Marias and the bad lands between
the mountains and the Missouri river
will be opened for the special delectation
of Fort Benton, while the great mineral
belt will virtually continue in the pos
session of the Indians. -
It is a brilliant scheme, and among
other things includes the starting of an
other town down the river-abOut the
mouth of Milk river-which is at once
to become the metropolis OF the upper
Missouri. leaving Fort Benton entirely
in the lurch, as it will have as tributary
country the opened portion Of the re-
serve north Of Milk river, which is te
be completely shut out from trade IN
this section.
If the project is carried out as suggest
ed, Fort Benton would derive but little
benefit from the opening or the reserva-
ton, and there is danger that it will be
done in that very way. Lit would be to
the interest of some parties to have it
done so, and as Major Maginnis has no
more tavors to ask of Choteau county,
his Glove" for the poor Indians may
prompt him to give them the proposed
garden SPOT.
But, of course, it is not to the interest
of the Indians to be left there, when,
lower down the river, just as good lands
are to be had, and where they would be
in a measure off to themselves, and not
entirely surrounded by white men,
as would be the case in the proposed
new reservation. Besides, it would be
only few years at best until the en-
croachments of the whites would render
it necessary to remove Mr.. Lo again.
Our citizens should not stand idly by
and see this plan carried into execution,
not at least without making few re-
marks to Mr.. Maginnis, who, if he is
possessed of any gratitude, should con-
slider himself under lasting obligations
to- Fort Benton and Choteau county,,
which have never failed him in any
emergency. The wishes of this COM
munity should be set forth~in letter or
petition to our delegate; Or, better still,
delegation sent to Washington to re-
present Fort Benton on the reservation
subject. This action should be taken at
The river press., 1884-02-20

Parties are at work this winter getting
out stone for large stone building To be
erected at the new town near Sun River
Ieayings.
The river press., 1884-02-20

Book and Job Printing a specially at.
the RIVER Press office.
, 1884-04-09

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, 1884-04-09
THREE norED cAvALRYMEN
spsnd n Hair Hour Tpzether In social
49, Intereourse.


At uieading hotel the other evening thTes
of the most distinguished cavalry officers Of
tho late war met and took n social drink.
They were Generals, Alfred B. Pleasonton,
William II. Averill and ThdmaS> l. Rossar.
Thu latter Is an ex= Confederate and Is worth
probably half a million dollars The other
two were on tho other sid and are both poor.
They are now here asking 10 be put on
the retired list. None of them have seen SER
vice dnce the war. Averill and Pleasonton
resigned soon after peace was declared, and
Rosser's term Of service expired when he was
captured near Richmond shortly after the
surrender of Lee and Johnston.
Tho meeting betweenth three was rather
an interesting one. II is not often that three
such dashing cavalry commanders OF a war
that closed nearly twonty years ngo come
together now in social intercourse. All held
the rank OF major general and all fought
mnny important engagements, and all were
brave and skillful soldiers, and all, / believe,
were seriously wounded Rosser carries
about with him nine scars-one sabre-cut
over the right eye, one bayonet-gash on the
forehead, a shot in the foot, ono in the knee,
one in the left arm, one in the left hip and
others OF less importance. Averill was shot
through the thigh, which has made him n
confirmed sufferer from rheumatism, and he
got a ~scalp-Nound that every now and then
N1Af VIZ "a . akAANA VI
neuralgia All of them graduated at West
Point. UTE -hi.Ahl $40 ~ h. llU eIseg q
P~iansonton Is tho eldest of tho three. There
is no installing the education md training
he a They are shown in every look and
motion. Though not lnrge nor tall, hs is SO
erect and precise lie would be taken. any
where for a soldier and a commander. The
general tells me he has lost some OF his faith
in his blue glnss theory, but believes It will
yet DO adopted by the scientific world. He is
n years old and has always been a sort OF
bookworm, though he hold soma sort OF a
command in a Pennsylvania militia at one
time during the war. Averill looks almost
as old as Pleasontou, having suffered a good
deal from his wounds. He is u heavy, chunky
looking man, with a soldierly nlustache. and
goes about very unpretentiously. His mill
tary record is very familiar to everybody.
Averin and Rosser are now very fond Of
each other, and it is n feast to hear them tell
stories Of the war from their respective points
of view. liil ~ " $50. ~ tt.
Rosser has a really romantic history. He
is a misunderstanding man, to begin with it
Over six feet tall, and OF giant-like frame, he
towers over all the ordinary run OF men. He
probably weights 275 pounds, and there y
not a bit OF waste flesh about him all solid
bone and muscle. His money has been made
in railroading in the northwest
Fortune takes strange turns, and here is
one of them. What n welcome thing a
weeks salary OF Averill or Pleasonton would
have been to Rosser In 1865. To-day they
are knocking at the door OF congress, asking
to DO given the retired list pay of about
5000 a year, while Rosser is n prospective
millionaire
, 1884-04-09

lDOsJon ttefuld.I
There is the livelicst kind Of a struggle In
progress at the state house over an attempt
to legalize the manufacture of water gas
the coal-gns companies being the chief OPP
ponentS. At the hearing representatives of
the Boston Gas Light company claimed that
water gas had caused the death of sixty
seven persons in New York within four years.
Mr., Malcolm S. Greenough, of the same
company, and president OF tho New England
Society Of Gas Engineers, speaking of the
physical dangers of the gas, said to-
day, under oath, that he had gone to the
surgeons at the head of two or three hoe
pitfalls, and they said that their attention had
recently been called to the difference In the
effects OF the two gases. One doctor said
that he had pulled through his last patients,
who had become blood-poisoned from gas,
by a now method. He had bled tho patients,
then oxygenized the blood. and purified it in
the air, filling up the veins sometimes with
salt and water, so that the action Of. the
heart would continue, and afterward put the
purified blood back again. The patients
camo out all right.
, 1884-04-09

A European journal relates that a few
months since worsmen employed upon some
constructions on the bank of the river
Dneiper. in central Russia, employed the
electric light to enable them to prosecute
their laborsa at night Tho brilliant rays OF
light attracted so many millions Of nocturnal
moths, beetles and other insects that from
time to time it was necessary to stop work
and set all hands TO destroying the clouds OF
winged victims that frequently completely
obscured tho light. This suggested the idea
OF employing tho ~elec1rio light to destroy
nocturnal insects prejudioial to agriculture.
and experiments in that direction arc to DO
tried next spring. Not only TO insects, but
fish, the light proved fatally attractive. It's
rays, directed 20 tho surface Of the water,
drew together vast quantities OF all the
fishes found In the Dneiper, and when within
the charmed field OF illumination they lay
crowded together In. masses, seemingly
blinded and supplied. Tho workmep, I'M
proving the opportunity, made a notable
Little Joker is the best smoking
tobaccoS
, 1884-04-09

THE d~eclination of the Russian mission
by Mr.. Sargent is certainly to that gentle
mans credit, as it indicates. a spirit OF
true independence, while, ut the same
time, it relieves him of any suspicion of
venality. Whilst filling the German mis- >
sion he may have been a little too blunt
and honest for our state department S
idea Of diplomacy, especially as viewed
through Secretary .Frelinghuysen' 5
smoked glasses. However, the Anor.-
can people and their congress, in the
main, endorse Mr.. SARGENT course. and
when he returns to this side Of the ocean
he'll unquestionably receive an ovation.
1t would seem as though Mr.. ~Frelinghuy-
sen had caused Dir Sargent to belplaced
"a a false position at Berlin, A goat
ssandal attaches 10 the whole Altar, and,
IKE the big SNOWFALL, the more il is roiltd
the more ii gathers.
, 1884-04-09

THE 1853 electoral votes from the
south will prove to be solid for the
Democracy. and all indications from
New York and Ohio tend to indicate
that the votes OF those important com.
monwealths will be in the same direc-
tion. Really, sunshine is taking the
place OF cloud for the Democracy;
and, this time it will be the Republic
cans who are going to get swallowed
up-in the Hood
, 1884-04-09

~ @fSF 80 JUN
Every window in Montreal is double. The
true windows are set inside the embrasures.
The winter windows, each in. one sash, ft
outside even with the exterior Of the walls
This keeps the cold out pretty eRectually,
but stoves in the room are not deemed suf-
fcient. You frequently find them in the
balls as well. The beds are hillocks OF warm
material. The humblest house has its double
windows, and the same is true of the great
buildings. The cathedrals, The postoflce,
city hall, and splendid banks, churches,
club houses. and halls, all are doubly
glazed. One pane In each extra window
swings upon hinges, to permit ventila-
ton. Every here and there the stranger
sees q pair of snowshoes crossed and
resting on end between these double
sashes. Snowshoes are pretty things. They
are the shape Of a spoon, with the bowl fat
tened and the broad end of the handle cut OIL.
The frame Is of white wood and tho bowl Of
the spoon Is covered with an ornamental net
work OF deer gut. Shoes for sport are loss
than a foot wide; those used by surveyors
are two feet wide. The wider they are the
less they sink into loose snow. Snowshoes
cost from $3.50 to $3.50 per pair. They are
made by the Indians. Even now in the back
country the mails are delivered on them and
village life depends upon them. The shoes
are not put In the city windows for display or
ornament, or, as many suppose, to show that
a isnowshoer lives within. They ore put
there to keep cool in order that the gut net
work shall not sag or slack.
Everything goes on runners. II a stranger
to Canadian life will simply imagine every.
thing in the New York streets gliding about
on runners-the big express wagons. the
mail wagons, the hacks, the phntons, the
little package hand-carts, the baby carriages,
and the heaises, all rid OF wheels and s~lippinR
, 1884-04-09

lNuleukO IltIhlu
The evidence seemed overwhelming against
Edward johnson, a colored man on trial for
burglary in Batavia. Ohio. His trial had
lasted four days. and the audience In court
thought him sure to DO convicted. He asked
permission to speak, and talked for forv-hvs
minutes. He fairly tore to pieces the states
networks Of evidence, plunged most OF the
jurors in tears, amazed the cour5 captivated
the audience, and made a speech which the
Cincinnati papers say has no parallel in rule
eloquence since the days of Chief Red Jacket.
He wns acquitted.
, 1884-04-09

IsDIcSTSoNs prevail in Germany
that Pence bismarck will have o to
retire from the premiership of Ger
many. Few tears will be shed over
his absence from state affairs. For a
long time past, he has been neither
useful nor ornamental.
, 1884-04-09

The kindly interest evinced in the
success of the Industrial Exposition, at
Denver, by the Stockeruwers convention
of Wyoming will be appreciated and
reciprocated by the people of Colorado.
The resolutions passed were as timely as
they are appropriate.
, 1884-04-09

The Democracy of the nation ispur-
suing the even tenor Of its ways look
ing neither to the right nor to the left,
The M%unchausen sto ries frequently
started about its internal dissentions
Ivy Interested and ~rascally radicals,
have no effect except to excite a pas
sing smile of righteous contempt.
, 1884-04-09

INDICATIONS arc strong that the
great Blaine boom will soon be knocked
sky-hlgh through being bursted into
s~mithereens by sope other enterprising
Republican presidential candidate who
can gather more gasto initiate his big
balloon.
, 1884-04-09
MAIL LETTINGS.
Notice to Contractors.


PosToFFIcE DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON, d.. c., march,, 1884
Proposals will be received at the con
tract Office of this department until 3
p. m. of May 3, 1884, for carrying the
mails of the United States upon the
routes, and according to the schedule of
arrival and departure specified by the de
partment, in the Territory of Wyoming,
from July |, 1884, to June 80, 1886.
Lists of routes with schedules of arrivals
and departures, instructions to bidders,
with forms for contracts and bonds, and
all other Necessary information will be fur
nished upon application to the Second
Assistant Postmaster General.
@' W Q. GRESHAM,
Postmaster-G General.
, 1884-04-09

THE copious extracts of political
opinion frequently made from the coll
umns of the LEADER in the eastern
press would seem to Indicate that peo.
pie abroad justly regard the Democracy
of Wyoming as a power in the land
which deserves respect and recognition.
, 1884-04-09

The recent extension of the Union
Pacific rails into the rich mining sec
lions OF Colorado would seem to be a
terrible thorn in the side of the Rio
Grande road which has enough internal
dissentions to discomfort it without
looking abroad for trouble.
, 1884-04-09

THE Union Pacific road has been the
great developer Of the west, and this,
as much TO Colorado rs to any other
section, despite the assertions to the
contrary by those who have been over
z~salously whooping -upthe baby road y
The Denver Il Rio Grande
, 1884-04-09

THE Denver daily papers of yesterday
devote considerable space to the proceed
ings of the Wyoming StockgrowersJ CON
v~ention. This is Indicative of both enter-
prise and a friendly spirit.
, 1884-04-09

Tue Republican State Central commit
tee of Colorado will meet tomorrow to
select six delegates TO 60 10 the conyen-
ton at Chicago. Six to one all of the six
will be for Blaine or bust; and bust
it'll bel