The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1884-09-13
OUR HELENA LETTER.

Remarks by Pemberton, Sanders
special Correspondence of the M,srp
HELENA, Sept. 10, 1884.
inc first long-talked of uniting
looking to the organization of a P;o,
neers' Association took place TO-DAY
q county court house. Fully 3oo
oid-timers were in attendance. AZ
Rr'zzied q band of veterans for the
most part as ever c~ongregated under
one roof. They came from all narts
OF the Territory, from Glendiye to
Mlssoula, from Benton to Virginia.
one II them, that grand old patri-
arch, James Fergus, of Meapber.
came 2O miles in a wagon to attend
the meeting. Helena contributed
more members than any other town.
Butte was represented by about a
dozen men of the fifty who were en-.
titled to membership. The proceed
ings were opened by MI. Hauser,
who nominated Mr.. Fergus for tenn
porary chairman. AS the venerable
gentleman took the chair he was
greeted by a storm of applause, and
after acknowledging the honor made
the foil )wing appropriate address:
GENTLEMEN: Twenty-Five years
ago to-day l crossed the place where
Helena now stands in company with
David Bentley. With the exception
OF some agency buildings on Sun
River, and two or three half breed
cabins where Deer Lodge now stands
there was not q house between Ben
ton and the Bannack mines. The
only denizens here were a large band
Of antelope. A few months later I
crossed It again with George Beatty,
now present. He was trying to con-
vince me there was q hill somewhere
Il have been trying to find it ever
since-but I don't think it is
in Montana. We had what my
Christian friends call sheep and goats,
but we killed the goats, and that ac-
counts for the fact that US old-timers
are all good people, or I would not
have come over 20 miles by
private conveyance to look into your
kindly faces. We are from the
North and the South, from the East
and the West, we are Yankees and
Southerners, Union and Secesh,
Federal and Confederate, but the
friction of intercourse has rubbed off
the rough corners. Now we are all
Montanians, and I am happy to
meet you. Although unused to pre-
side owe deliberate bodies, I would
rather occupy this position than be
President Of the United States.
Again l thank you.
AT the conclusion of Mr.. Fergus
remarks Col. Delacy and DR.. c. F.
Mussigbrod were elected vice-presi-
dents. Major Potter of GallAtin,
secretary, and g. w. Irwin of Silver
Bow, assistant secretary.
Col. Sanders, who seemed to be one
of the leading spirits of the meeting,
then made a speech about the object
of the convention and offered
suggestions as to the prelimlnaries of
the organization.
Mr.. s. T. Hauser called for Col.
Pemberton, who advanced and
delivered a most eloquent extem~
pore Grafton. Twenty years ago
he had come to the Territory
on q train of which he was engineer, |
brakeman and conductors bull
train and had travelled over the very
hill pow tunneled by the Northern
Pacific railroad. He paid a glowing
tribute to the pioneers who had
come to the Territory while a wilder
ness and conquered it, and enlarged
enthusiastically on the agricultural,
stock raising and mineral resources
of this now growing and prosperous
region. Colonel Pemberton was ex-
ceedingly happy and was frequently
interrupted by applause.
Colonel Sanders followed in a
characteristic address full of reminis-
cences aptly told, and which engaged
the rapt attention of the audience for
fully an hour. 1t was eloquent,
original and s~ingular]y appropriate.
Colonel Delacy and Judge Chume-
sero followed in we'll chosen remarks
wildly recalling early scenes in Vir-
ginia City.
Upon motion, a committee on Con-
stitution and Bylaws was appointed,
consisting of Fergus, DeLscy, Mus
sigbrod, Potter, Sanders, Pemberton,
Chumasero, Johnston, Tocle ana
Jos. Browne.
Upon motion of Col. Sanders, the
following resolution was adopted:
Resolred. That all the people that
were within the limits OF Montana
on or before May 70, 1864, ana an
nersOns who had then lett Chelr loI-
mer homes and were on the'r way W
what Is now the Territory or MoHs
tana. be entitled to membership VI
this association.
The signatures of all those in al,
tendance were then obtained, ana
after the adoption of a motion mak
ing elig' BILE all ladies who were re>'-
dents Of the Territory on the 26th OF
Nav. or were en- route to Montana
IN that day, the meeting ~adJourned
till 10 o'clock Thursday morning.
3.
ra,+,no on the Old Camp Ground