davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-10-08
FOSTER'S FATE.
VIM. Foster tColored), a Former Citizen of
Fort Benton, Killed lat the End
of the &. p. r. Track.

The following from the Calgary Her
aid of September Oath will be of interest
to our readers, the murdered man hay
ing formerly been resident of thal
place:
VIM. Foster, formerly barber in this
town, was murdered at the End OF
Track, was the brief intelligence receiv-
ed here on Sunday last. From particu-
lars we have since learned, it appears
Foster vas in the habit of moving for
ward with the G.. P. r. men. On
Friday last his outfit was being carried
to the front on a train which was in
charge Of Finn. In unloading the eff
fects d barber's chair was broken which
aroused Foster to almost an uncontrol-
liable degree. After the matter had
subsided, Foster called Finn into his
tent, and commenced to abuse him
shamefully. Finn retaliated. Foster
then rushed at Finn with a razor. Finn
receded until cornefed when he drew
of which took effect. Foster died the
next day. The victim was of morose
disposition, and regarded as dangerous
man. 1t is said that he shot man in
Montana, and that this was the fourth
time he was known to haye drawn
razor, in one case cutting man serious
ly in the abdomen.
Finn has been engaged on the G. P.
r. construction some two Or three years,
and at the time OF the shooting was
foreman of the iron car. He is repres
ented as being q quiet and inoffensive
man. and favorite with the work
men, who believe the act was done in
selfdefence. Finn was arrested yester-
day at Eldon, by Const. Davidson and
Gould, to whom he stated he was then
on his way to Calgary to give himself
into the hands of the police. He was
brought to Calgary, but will be sent
back to British Columbia, as north
west magistrates have no jurisdiction in
the matter
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-10-08
Blaine and Logan.

CINCINNATI, October 2.-During the
whole day the admirers of Blaine and
Logan have kept the Burnet House and
neighborhood as noisy and crowded as
the national convention hall. Upon
Blaine's return from drive he had the
usual difficulty in getting to his room,
and when he did get there he was not
allowed to remain there, for the people
outside were provided with q brass band
and kept up constant stream Of martial
music and cheering until Blaine and
Logan were forced to show themselves
on the hotel balcony. They bowed and
spoke few words of thanks, and then
retired amid the cheers of the crowd.
Logan afterwards left the hotel to visit
the exposition, and again there was
uDroarious cheering.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-10-08
The Dupuyer Greek Ditch.

A company of wealthy gentlemen
few months ago formed a copartnership
for the purpose of taking ditch out OF
Dupuyer creek to reclaim the splendid
land in that section. It is taken out
about five miles below Julian Burd's
store and extends for distance of more
than five miles to the Dry Fork. The
ditch is ten feet in width on the bottom,
sixteen feet at the top, and three feet in
depth, capable of carrying 10000 inches
of water and sufficient to irrigate $4,000
or 80 900 acres of land between the Du-
puyer and Dry Fork. It will make the
Dry Fork running stream from where
the ditch enters it to its mouth at the
Marias. The ditch is nearly completed
and will benefit hundreds of settlers
who will commence to flock into that
section as soon as it is known the land
is not an arid waste, but splendid farm
ing land.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-10-08
THE LITTLE ROCKIES.
n,,,inq Out the "Yaller Stuff" by
the Pound.
r, Excitement, and Plenty Of Good
Ground Left.
[Miner.l

The following letter, under date of
contender Goth, written by William
macdonald to Thomas Edwards, from
+bn Little Rockies, has been handed to
10 and as it may contain some informa-
ton in regard to that section which
NAV be of interest to the readers of the
Miner, we publish it:
GAS you remember, left Living
ston on the 23d of August to take
in, these diggings. | expected to be
fooled again, as [ was in the Cmur
d,Alenes, but remembering the old
adage, Nothing venture : nothing
win I concluded to try il, SO when [
arrived at Benton, | bought an old pony,
some grub and tools and started for the
new HI Dorado. When [ got to the
diggings, which are on the Milk riv-
er side of the range, | went around
among the claims to see how they were
manning out and to get acquainted with
the boys. Ed Fitch and Harry O'Neil
are here. Ed. has the second claim
above discovery and is doing sDlendidly.
There are about 80 or 100 men in here at
present. Most of them are old timers
and are going to stay this winter. An
other man and myself have got two
claims adjoining one another and have
taken out so far $685. with an old rocker.
For the last couple of weeks we have
been busy making sluice boxes, and by
the time you get this letter we will be
taking out the golden stuff by the
pound, you bet. [ think these are by
far the best dfggings [ have seen
for the past ten years. You can
get color anywhere. but it is only in
the gulches that it pays. / have panned
out from five to ninety cents a pan.
Some of the boys have done better, but
! think the average is about Is cents a
pan. Those who have not their boxes
ready and who are working systematic
ally are making from $500 to $1,000 a
day. So you can see it isn't SO alfred
rich, but it knocks the daylights out of
swinging hammer all day for $3.50.
Ifyou think of coming out here would
advise you to come now. Don't wait
llspring. There is plenty of ground
left yet, but people keep struggling in,
andit won't take many months for the
best ground to be taken up. [ under
stand there is not much excitement on
the outside about this place, and [ am
glad of it, because / have got as good a
thing as [ want. None of the boys are
anxious to sell, and besides, they don't
want everybody to come, like they did
to the Ceur d'Alenes."
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-10-08
-U-%<1
The Double-headed Convention.

Some misapprehension seems to exist
among many people relative to the status
olthe two democratic conventions held
recently in Fort Benton. We have
seen, and believe it to be correct, the
following list which shows for itself the
complexion of both conventions
The following did not show up in the
convention Belt creek, l.; Claggett,
Z; Highwood, 2; Shonkin, 2; Willow
ho9Iuhds, / Willow creek, ! total 8.
The lower house was composed Of
delegates as follows: Fort Benton, -;
Rocky Point, 2; Pend d'Oreille, il;
MUDDY, !; Fort Conrad. 2; Great Falls,
4; r; Sun River, 81 Birch creek, /: Sand
Coulee, L; Choteau, 1;-total 26.
In the upper house there were dele
gates ia from Benton, from Arrow creek,
hlat coulee |, Valleaux /, Highwood ]
ana Marias 4-total 12.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-10-08
More Gold in Choteau County.

A RIVER PRESS reporter interviewed
gentleman well known in this vicinity
and from him obtained the following in
formation relative to further gold dis
coveries in Choteau county: An old
miner and prospector who had just re-
turned from the vicinity Of Chief noun
tain and the st. Mary's river, brought
back with him splendid prospect of
gold (about ten cents) taken from one
pan of dirt on the surface. His investi-
cations were not thorough enough to
warrant him in saying that the gold
was in paying quantities, but from the
superficial work done he felt warranted
in returning with lumber and a COM
plete mining outfit, prepared to sluice
and see what there was in his new dig
gings. 1t has long been suspected that
gold existed in that locality, but from
all that we can learn nothing in the way
of prospecting thoroughly has ever been
done. The locality is close to the boun-
Diary line and possibly on the Indian
reservation, and is easy of access. 1t is
not improbable that we shall hear good
reports from that section before winter
sets in. The gentleman who furnished
ILLS W tOW II tHC
prospect before mentioned, which is a
fine quality of coarse gold. He further
stated that good quartz had been found
in the same locality, specimens of which
he brought with him. We have heard
Of quartz being found on or near Koote-
mai lake several years ago. At that time
it was said to be very rich. In this
connection iJ will be we'll to add that he
further informed our reporter that the
quartz in the Sweet Grass hills is very
rich, he having taken surface groupings
from the east butte assaying fifteen
dollars to the ton. In the Sweet Grass
hills there is every indication Of gold,
and it would cause no surprise if good
diggings were. found there.
A party of prospectors this fall found
good colors on Milk river away from the
mountains, and also on the north fork
of Two Medicine creek. We still have
| faith in the great mineral resources Of
that portion of the Rocky mountains
which forms our western boundary
north Of Birch creek.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-10-08
Canadian Pacific Branches.

Ed. Kelly, Sam'l Spencer, David Au-
chard and Eph Donahue, who returned
from Maple creek few days ago, report
seeing land surveyors who were plating
the country from the line to Maple
creek. They also heard that railroad
surveyors were at work on the linesfrom
Medicine Hat to the Coal Banks. 1t
was reported that they were to survey to
the line. This, however, was not def
nite We are of opinion that in view of
real benefits to be derived from a rail-
road to Montana, the Canadian Pacific
company will, during the coming sum-
mer, build the road to Fort Benton,
as cont amplated in their charter. This
will give them a control of merchandise
and cattle shipments to and from Mon
tana. This company is displaying great
enterprise, and when their lines and
connections in contemplation are COM
pleted it will be one of the most perfect
railroad systems on the continent. 1t
will offer to northern Montana an easy
outlet to the commercial centers of the
country and bring us in close proximity
to the depots of trade. Northern Mon
tana is second to no section OF the north
west in its natural resources and with
the advent of the Canadian Pacific and
other railroads which are looking to-.
wards this section, an era OF prosperity
will commence, the immense reserva-
ton north of us will be filled with cattle
and sheep. the fertile valley of Milk
river and it's tributaries will be teeming
with life, and Cnoteau county, an en-
pire in itself, may, before another decade
shall have passed, take rank as the fore
most county of Montana. 1e
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-10-08
Fort Benton Montana. Wednesday, October 3, 1854
7inscheil; Waterman & McIntire for


Winschell; Waterman & McIntire for
plaintiffs.
3S3. D G Browne VS. Houston & Nc
Kay; Donnelly for plaintiff.
3S4. G Baker & Co VS. Houston &
Mckay; Buck & Hunt for plaintiffs.
1856 David G Browne VS. Sam L Hous-
ton; J j Donnelly for plaintiff, M J
Leaning for defendant.
387. G A Morrill, & Co VS. w FL Bur-
CESS ct al; Buck & Hunt for plaintiff,
Waterman & McIntire for defendants.
3ss. Mary Hart VS. Daniel Hart; Buck
& Hunt for plaintiff, Waterman & Me-
Intire for defendant.
3se. Mary Pepin VS. Clifford Pepin ;
Buck & Hunt for plaintiff.
800. Fiske & Burghardt VS. Burton
Bros; Buck & Hunt for plaintiffs.
391.-Thos A Cummings VS. Choteau
County Commissioners; Waterman &
McIntire for plaintiff.
392. John G Maclay VS. Choteau Coun-
ty Commissioners; Waterman & McIn-
tire for plaintiff.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-10-08
Sand Coulee Coal Company.

The Engineering and Mining Journal
contains the following, which will be of
interest to many of our readers: "The
Sand Coulee Coal company has been
organized in Minneapolis, Mimi, with
a capital stock of $75O,00o. This COM
pany owns $500 acres Of coal land, situ-
ated about Eight miles from Great Falls
city, on the Missouri river, north from
Helena one hundred miles, a section OF
country noted for every element OF pros
perity. This land is drained by streams
Of water from the Missouri, ana COM
prises an elevated plain five thousand
feet above the surrounding country"
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-10-08
A Political Necessity.

Mrs. Col. Yerger, of Austin avenue,
recently hired colored girl named Ma
tilda Snowfall, but she was only in the
house few days when she was caught
stealing money.
'sYou are nice one,' said Mrs. YER
ger Indignantly; ''you ought to be
ashamed of yourself. You hardly get
in the house before you begin to steal
money!
II knows hit amt right ter begin SO
so soon,'' was the reyly. IT was gwinter
wait week or so before tuck sumfin,
but de gemman who am payin' me ten
tions am runnin' for office on de reform
ticket, and he says he has to hab money
for de campain 'spenses, no matter whar
ii comes from. .''-Arkansas Traveller.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-10-08

gravel, and even in the bed of the
stream, than he saw anywhere in the
Little Rockies, except on bedrock. In
his opinion there are rich diggings on
Eagle creek. and if he can form party
OF seven or eight to thoroughly pros
pect the gulch he will return and do the
work this fall. Eagle creek is but fifty
five miles from this city, and when
miner of so much experience and good
Judgment as Mr.. Okerman says the
gulch is paying one, the RIVER PRESS
is ready to bank on it. We hope the
party will be organized and the gulch
opened this fall.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-10-08
Pointers From the Post.
Fort AssINABoINE, Oct. 5, 1888

Fort AssINABoINE, Oct. 5, 1884.
Editors of the River Press:
Thos O'Hanlon, of Fort Belknap, has
loaded 5000 pounds of bacon here for
his new store in the Little Rockies.
The companies have gotten in all
their vegetables for the winter, and will
have more than they will require. The
crop is a wonderful one, the vegetables
being marvels in size and beauty. Po-
tatoes have been found that weigh five
pounds and three ounces; heads of cab
bage, Is pounds; turnips two feet III cir
cumference; onions fourteen inches in
circumference carrots twenty inches in
length and ten in circumference-and
all other varieties in proportion. Say
the Milk river region is not productive,
will you?
The first snow of the season fell here
October Sd.
But few Of the fortune hunters in the
Little Rockies have returned. M.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-10-08
Grand Lodge A. r. & A. M.

The Grand Lodge of Montana, A. F..
& A. NJ, which closed its annual session
at Bozeman on the I'd, elected the fol-
lowing officers;
r. w. G. M-Samuel w. Langhorn,
of BOZeman.
r. w. D. G. Mos. A. Hyde, of
Butte.
r. w. S. G.. VIII. Jordan, of Fish
creek.
r. w. J. G. Was. w. Hathaway,
of Helena.
G. Treas. Henry M. Parchen. of
Helen.
q. ec.-Cornelins Hedges, Of Helena.
The next session of the Grand Lodge
will be held in Helena, commencing
Wednesday, October 7, 1885.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-10-08
Gold on Eagle Creek.

In 1878, the time of the first Bears
raw gold excitement, Gus Okerman
camped day on Eagle creek, where he
lound some good prospects. The stam-
pede, however, was to the other side Of
'he mountains, and he went on with
the others.
On his way back from the Little
hockies, the other day, he again stopped
on Eagle creek to do little prospecting,
With most satisfactory results. He says
Ae got much better prospects in the
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-10-08
From Great Fails.

We learn that the wing dam, which
has been for several weeks in course of
construction, is about completed. The
foundation for the new Touring mill is
nearly finished, when the carpenter
work will be commenced at once. The
brick hotel Of Carter &. Walker is rapid
ly approaching completion, and when
finished will present fine appearance
The mail service between Sun River
and Great Falls is now IN complete
working order, and is proving great
convenience to the residents of the town
and surrounding country
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-10-08
Fast Time.

Cyrus w. Field recently made the
trip from Winnipeg to Minneapolis
over the Manitoba road on special
train. The run from st. Vincent to.
Minneapolis, distance of $50 miles,
was made in eight hours and forty min
utes. The entire trip from Winnipeg
was made in ten hours and fifty minutes
loss of time in passing the
custom house. E#.N AaIs
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-10-08
Hymeneal.

They are having quite marriage
boom at Kibbey. On Sunday, Septem-
Der 28th, Justice Larkin tied the Cor
dian knot for two happy couples, viz !:
John G. Lilly, of Clendenin, to Miss
Katie HEM, Of Sand Coulee; and Hen
ry Johnstone, of Mountain Meadow
ranch, to Miss Jennie Smith, OF Kib-
bey. The RIVER PRESS extends double
congratulations.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-10-08
Letter List.

The following is a list of letters re-
naming in the Fort Benton post office
for the week ending October 4, 1884:
Allan & Co James Lacy Jno
Beyears Ell Mcarew VIM
Black Geo w Miller G. Il
Bristol Chas Ottawa Geo
ColWell Warner Potts Louise
Charlie Boniface Reeder t
Davies G. r Rice w III
Dunkin ] Romsa Paul t
Falkner Geo Rush Chas
Fey Justus Rash r Ell
Fulton Chas M Schulz Alfred 2
Glynn Jno Scherer w "A
Harnois Jno 9 Seigling G
Hamilton Capt HC Smith Andrew
Homier Henry Wyatt Hart w
Persons calling for any of the above
letters will please say "Advertised.n
M. A. FLANAGAN. p. M.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-03-06

THE NEW YORK Herald says southern
want of acquaintance with republican prin-
ciples impedes much desirable legislation"
Such acquaintance as the South has with
republican principles it has obtained from
republicans and their allies in the South,
such as Malone, Chalmers and Cash; from
r publican newspapers, from the proceed
ngs Of the legislatures Of Northern States,
and from the utterances Of prominent re-
publscans in and out Of Congress. Those
certainly were the most reliable sources of
information upon the subject, and if the
acquaintance derived from such sources has
impeded legislation, but little harm has been
done
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-03-06
LETTER FROM RICHMOND.

Especial Correspondence OF the Alexandria GAZETTE
RICHMOND, Va, March 5, 1SS4.-Indi.
cations are now that the legislature will be
in session until the end Of the month at least.
1t looks in that way now since the democra-
tic caucus tonight resolved that the extra
session is necessary. This means that the
bill TO establish a lunatic asylum in the
Southwest will be gotten through. Senator
Newberry is in charge of the measure Since
the Southwest wants it, the opinion is that
the wishes of such good and solid section
Of the State shall be considered Many
measures are far behind and cannot be pass
ed now unless further time be gained.
The leading topic Of conversation here to-
day has been the card of Mr. John s. Wise
in which he attempts to reply to the insult
given him by Captain Page McCarty in the
Campaign last week. Mr.. Wise has alieni-
ated the few friends who formerly stood up
for him. The letter is universally con.
demned The people of Richmond have in
times past seen and heard great deal of
Mr.. Wise's pugnacious exhibitions. They
have not forgotten that scarcely more
than year ago be slapped old Mr..
Massey in the face because the latter
contradicted him in his testimony.
When he, young and powerful man, was
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-03-06

rebuked for striking man who was
preacher and between sixty and seventy
years of age, he gave as his excuse that he
would strike man a hundred years old
who charged him with falsehood. Now
Captain McCarty charged MIN and brand
ed him as one who told falsehood and he
retorts by saying he don't believe in duel
ling. It is certain that he did not attempt
to slap Captain McCarty who is not seventy
wears old. Now Mr.. Wise's friends remem-
Der these things and they have owned up
to-day that the young mans actions are IN
consistent. Captain McCarty and Mr.. Wise
are very unlike. Wise is noisy and over
bearing. McCarty is the quiet gentleman
under all circumstances. His voice is sell
dom raised above uniform pitch A more
uniformly courteous gentleman is rarely
met and therefore Mr.. Wise's twaddle in
tended for the Northern eye causes only
ridicule here where Captain Mccarthy has
been known ard honored from childhood.
What can be said of Captain Mccarthy Is
that be is true Virginian. He has boldly
taken up the cause of Virginia and resented
any ahropt to his State as personal atlront.
While Mr.. Wise's career here for the past
ten years has been one constant greedy strug-
gle for office, Captain McCarty has adhered
to his profession, and pursued it in a digni-
fed way. happen to know that as soon
as the democratic victory was achieved
Captain McCarty was waited on aud asked
to accept the nomination for Secretary OF
the Commonwealth or anything else he
wanted. The recognition of his unseIiish
services in the cause of Virginia was spon-
taneous. He, however, promptly and en-
phaticaly refused any office. Under no
condition would be allow his name to be
used in such o connection. The situation,
however, can be summed up briefly. Ma
hone & Co. attempted TO run The Malone
party on the bulldozipg platform. Page
McCarty came TO his native State. lie
stood out against such men, and the party
which attempted to overawe all who differ
Ell with it, 1t struck snag and has seen the
prudence of falling back. He has shut them
all up. The ferocous fire eater is 10 more.
The Malone party is like the month OF
March-it came i'll like lion and went out
like lamb. STRoSGBow.
Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-03-06

If the city shall insist upon retaining her
lot. and the State acquire the other, then
the two buildings might be made each the
compliment of the other The Capitol
grounds, with their trees and walks might
be extended to Broad street from Ninth to
Eleventh, and Capitol street closed to bust.
ness, might be converted into parade and
walk parallel with the parade and walk
now on the square, and thus conduce great
" to the beauty of the grounds and The
convenience Of the multitudes, which on
state and festive occasions cannot now lind
standing room.
There is only one other place which can
be obtained to wit the lots upon which
the ST. Claire and the Virginia House now
stand. But that site is unsuitable. 1t runs
1870 feet on Grace street and is 163 feet on
Ninth, a space which would be contracted
by some fifteen feet of alley way, necessarl-
" left open on its two interior sides, which
is not enough for the size of the building or
for light or proper ventilation. 1t would
fit awkwardly as an appendage to the pub
lie square aud spoil its proportion On that
side. 1t can be had for about SAC, 900, as we
hear, but would be dear to the State at any
price as site for public building of the
character which seems to be contemplated
Ly the joint resolution.
The probable cost Of a suitable building
must depend upon the materials used and
the style and completeness OF the structure.
If Of brick aud of a style that would match
he City Hall of Richmond, it would proba-
uly cost somewhat less than if built of gran
lite or other stone, which some may think
more suitable for an edifce intended for
occupancy by the State. Estimating rough
ly, as we are compelled to do, it may be
said that the cost of a three-story building,
such ms we presume the resolution contem.
plates will be for the building SlS0,0O0 for
the grounds $50 ,000-total, $260,000.