Sun River sun. [volume] (Sun River, Mont.) 1884-1885, 1884-07-10
AMONG THE ROCKIES
a TALK WITH ONE OF THE
PIONEERS OF MONTANA
TERRITORY.
The Capital City, Helena, as She Was
In the Days Of the visiIantes
Signs Of Possible Return
'tf- Of Former Days.

it worthy Of the ID ieer of 1862 into
the charms and romance which sur
rounded the old timer in the days OF
stage coaching and placer digging.
Says the correspondence: t:-------.-..-......-
While lettering on the steps recent
ly, the sound Of strange bells attruct-
cd my attention, and upon looking up
/ bcbcld what was to me very novel
sight IN overland freight outfit. As
l looked ut the curiosity / foolishly
wished that l had come to this place
in its days Of stage coacfcs. freight
wagons, Indians, miners, etc. (only Il
remnant of each now remains) so en-
thusiastic was I over the three huge
wagons. joined together and propcll-
ed by four spals Of mules. Tho dri-
ver rode the left wheel mule, and
guided the other seven with II line
fastened to The left lead mule, which
also wore the bells, mounted on Il
standard Just above the humcs of the
harness. The poor beasts looked
worn and jaded-- their only inspira-
ton being long black-snake whip,
administered by their rough and bur
ly master.
This little reminder Of early days in
u mining country caused me to in
euire for some "old-timer' who would
willingly give me II few items Of in
tercst concerning the times Of fifteen
or twenty year year ago, l was refer
red to Uncle Johnny, Il kind little old
gentleman well known to everyone in
Helena. / Immediately repaired to
his cabin on West Main street; but
expecting to find him in his garden ut
work, l entered from behind the cab
in on Clorc street. Finding no one
in the garden, l entered cautiously to
the open back door of the cabin. The
first little room l entered was filled
with gart ca tools and boxes Of differ.
ont sorts.
He raises canary birds to sell and
insisted On showing them TO me be-
fore beginning an interview us l had
told him the object of my call. ]
deeply synpathized with the little
cupiives. Their surroundings was
enough to make them insane. Not Il
green thing in sight, not u flower, not
even child to be seen; not n sweet
voice to be heard; cold, damp air, di-
luted with little sunshine through n
very dirty window, surrounded them.
One bird lately purchased OF Denver
school mat t,r showed disgust and re-
bellion in his eye, while most Of the
others looked perfect picture Of de-
spair; and yet the old man feels that
he takes very tender care Of his little
charges.
After locking at the birds the old
gentleman laid his hat carefully on III
old chest, and motioned towards his
couch rs TO apologetically remarked
that he did not have chair in his
cabin but l could sit on the bed
"What We I'D you really like Il
know" asled Uncle Johnny. "Any
thing romantic about yourself or tn.
early settlement of Helena replied
"Wcll," he began, II came here about
twenty years ago. There was but ,
few cabins here then. The first ont
was built by Mr.. Gutter, on the cor
ner of West Main and the street bear
ing name. 1t stands there yet, but j;
changed in appearance by weather
boarding. l ran II job wagon when
first came to Helena, and made quit
q little fortune which WIS nearly al
consumed by fire, but l kept on q
work and saved six thousand, when {
second fire took everything but th'
clothes ] had on. Though by cconi
MIXING and managing pretty wei
what real estate 1 had left, ] was en
ablcd to make another start. l no,
have this cabin and some other prop
elty, and as healthy rs l ever was il
my lifc and happy. | expect to di
here, and il ! do, | am going back I
New York to be buried not long Til
| so for | am seyenty-seyon now
Anxious for something little NOR
sensational I intcrrogated him fin
thcr. 'Do you remembcrmuch ahou
vigilantcs"
"Wcro thcro many men hung her
in those days"
"Oh yos!' he said enthusiastically y
II will toll you. As | said before,
ran job wagon aud it was my busi
to bury those who were hung.
got twenty-five dollars Il man. Their
was large tree out i'll Dry Gulcl
which was the gallows III those days
but which has since been cut down
We put the poor fellows in pine box
es and dropped them in prospec
holes on the side Of the bluff in Dr.
gulch, Just outside the city. l thin
/ buried nine in all. However, som
Of tho authorities shy there wcr
twelve. The last one that was huns
/ got fifty dollars for burrying. The
called him ''trcnchy.' II was q slic
gambler and shot u man i'll cold blood
Tho vigilantes let Frcnchy hang fo
two days. They wore bound to max
Il severe example of him. This unfor
tunnte fellow came from the east am
had a friend here who could not be
licye the true character of Ircnchy
for he had known him in the States t.
be Il far different fpnn from what III
,,isgraceful death would ina!cnte."
"Aycn sometimes change after com
ING into u ffcw country do they not /!
l interrupted.
"Indeed they do" said the old MAJ
thoughtfully. "Yo1 would not bs
lieye what some men do when the
get into n mining country. Ii ma
has moan streak in his nature it j
pretty sure to be developed under tn