davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-08-13
Failure OF the Panama Canal.

Y The San Francisco Chronicle prints
an interview with Theodore FL. Grow
ney, of that city, an engineer, just re-
turned from a two years stay on the
Panama isthmus, where he was em-
ployed in excavating between Colon
and Rio Grande. He has been over
every foot of the proposed canal route,
and according to his detailed statement,
the Panama canal, under its presant
management, is not likely to be COM
pleted, as the expense will exceed the
estimate at least eight times. Growney
says the money expended Wrongfully,
stupidity, fraudGlently, and wasted in
patronage, is something appalling. Con-
tractors have Jared badly. OF the eleven
original foreign contractors not one re-
mains, and of the four American con-
tractors two have failed. Costly mis-
takes have been made, routes being
changed as often as obstacles were
found, and the only semblance SO far to
canal is ditch two miles long at
Colon. Recently a party Of German
engineers went over the route Of the
proposed canal. Their opinion was that
the canal would never be finished.
Rear Admiral Sehufeldt corroborates
the account given by GroWney.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-08-13
About Horse Thieves.

Mrs. J. G. Sarter returned a few days
ago from ten days trip into Madison
county, looking after her stolen horses.
She learned that thirty head OF them
were stolen at the same time the horses
were stolen in Jefferson county FROM
Keating aud others, and by the Same
party or thieves. She recovered one
horse, which was found in the posses
sion of John Eumundson at the time the
thieves were captured by the sheriff and
posse Of Madison county. The band OF
thieves when they started numbered
eight persons mounted on horseback,
anu after the fight with John Heating
and his party near Henry's Lake, they
separated. Edmundson, Murphy and
others, who were captured, going to-
wards Idaho, while the others crossed
National Park and went north into the
British possessions. When last, heard
of they were in the Cypress mountains.
Mrs. Sarter found the horse she recover
ed in the possession of ex-Judge Con-
ger, who had received it as part pay for
defending John Edmundson in court.
Edmundson claims that he was inno-
cent, and that the horses We're his own
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-08-13
Fort Benton Montana. Wednesday, August 13, 1884.
McDev,tt,s bill for board of prisoners,
~, and Harris & Lewis, hire of team,
ST. We're allowed


| McDevitt's bill for board of prisoners.
Sll, and Harris & Lewis, hire of team
S4, were allowed.
Inc treasurer's report was examined.
proved correct and placed on file. Tt
SHOWS the following balances in the diff
1erent funds: General. S246,75; fire,
S2a69; road, $910.58; police, $267.O9.
The bill OF the RIVER PRESS Publish
Ing company for printing ordinances.
Was referred to the printing committee,
found correct, and the amount, Sl65, or
dered paid from the general fund.
The committee on streets and alleys
asked for time to report.
The following bills were presented
and ordered paid: E. Billideaux, labor,
Sl2; Symons, labor and team, $50 :;
Bourassa q DesChamps, hauling. etc.,
$1,000
The city marshal was authorized to
purchase saw, hatchet and lamp for
engine house.
On motion it was ordered that no per-
sons other than those who desire to
work out road tax should be employed
III making cross walks and work on
streets, except man with team to haul
gravel.
On motion it was determined that the
city ordinances should only be distrib-
uted as follows: One copy to each mem
ber Of the city council and other officers,
and one to each law firm and newspa-
per; any citizen requiring a copy shall
pay 81 therefor, the proceeds to go to
the contingent fund.
The council then adjourned. =
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-08-13
BLOODSHED All BARKER.
Peter J.. McDermott Puts Four Balls into
w. M. Murane, Killing Him
Almost Instantly.

Deputy Sheriff Monahan arrived from
Barker Monday morning bringing the
news OF the murder Of w. Nj. Murane
by Peter j. McDermott. The trouble
between the two men grew out OF IL ru
mored Intimacy belWeea Murane and
McDermott's wife. The matter, how
ever, Was supposed TO have been AMIGA
bly, arranged, and McDermott invited
Murane and his sister, Mrs. Hodson,
and her husband, to spend last Friday
evening at his house. Shortly after
their arrival McDerlnott went out and
brought Ill john Thompson. AS he en-
tered the door he walked deliberately
up to Murane, drew his revolver, and
fired four shots, all four taking effect in
Murane's neck and breast. He then
turned TO Murane's sister and remarke ed:
II brought you here to see this.n Muir
ane tell 10 the floor, called to Mrs. Hod-
sou, and said: He did not give me
much show for my life.p He asked her
to kiss him and pray for him, and died
in her arms. At the firing of the first
shot Mrs. McDermott lett the room.
After the shooting McDermott left the
house and escaped, and has not been
captured. 1t Was supposed that some
thing OF the kind would take place no.
Wlthstandlng the apparent healing of
the breach between the two men. Muir
ane evidently was totally disarmed by
the friendiiness of McDermott The
means taken to bring the affair to it's
termination were despicable.
Coroner Larkin empanneled Jury,
consisting of Messrs. Burghardt, Rice,
Lilly, Irvine, Gauthier and Thompson.
After hearing all of the testimony they
brought in Il verdict that Murane came
to his death from d pistol wound at the
hands of McDermott.
Both men are we'll known and have
been much esteemed at Barker. Muir
ane was young man, about "a years of
age, and had an excellent reputation.
The friends of McDermott say he would
never have done the deed if he had not
sufficient grounds to satisfy him of his
Wife's infidelity. He had been for some
time at the Cmur d 'Alenes, and the sto-
ries regarding his wife were told to him
on his return. He called council of
his friends to investigate the charges
and examined witnesses, but nothing
definite was proven. He was probably
convinced that the stories had some
which prompted the rash
act.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-08-13
Negroes Seldom Commit Suicide,

Pittsburg Dispatch: Apropos Of the
suicide boom, a Louisville gentleman
calls attention to the fact that negroes
never, or at least hardly ever, take their
own lives. Althougha great many OF
them are hard up from the day of their
birth to the day of their death, they
seldom become melancholy, and it is
only among courtesans that suicides oc-
cur. Notwithstanding their complaints
of hard times, the gin me-a-nickel ex-
preston on their countenances and a
generally hungry appearance, they hang
on to life with the tenacity Of Q mud
turtle. They are not prompted to do SO
through hope of being struck by political
lightning or rich relative dying, but
hang on simply for the fun they will
have. The highest we advance in civil
ization the less we seem to value our OPP
portunities for fun, and give our minds
wholly to serious and mighty matters.
AS the jovial and convivial elements Of
our natures die out they are replaced by
melancholy and ennui, and the tenden-
cies of which are to death.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-08-13
Fort Macleod Items.

From Jack Lee, the driver of the Fort
Macleod stage, our reporter cleaned the
following:
Thos. Purcell is in the guard house at
Fort Macleod awaiting the arrival of
Col. Macleod before having his trial.
The colonel was expected last Wednes-
day.
Stock AMI crops never looked finer
than at present. Dave Akers, at Fort
Hamilton, has a splendid garden, and
boasts of new potatoes weighing a
pound.
John Heitzer, well known in Mon
tana, is IN Jail for selling whisky.
Rufus Payne is making money at
blacksnithing, and is kept constantly
employed.
Jack reports cloud burst at Sand
coulee, about four miles from the Rocky
spring, on the Goth Of last month, which
washed the road out for long distance.
No other damage was done. The vol
ume of water which fell was immense.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-08-13
Theodore Roosevelt, who has been

Theodore Roosevelt, who has been
interviewed on cowboys, said: The
cowboys are much misrepresentedc class
of people. It is the popular impression
when one goes among them, that he
must be prepared to shoot, but this IS a
false idea. haye taken part with them
in rounding up" have eaten, slept,
hunted and herded cattle with them,
and never had any difficulty with this
class of men. If you choose to enter the
rum shops or go on drinking sprees
with them, it is as easy to get into diff
Guilty out there, as it would be in New
York or anywhere else. But if a man
minds his own business, and at the same
time shows that he is fully prepared and
able to assert his own rights, if he is
neither a bully nor coward, and keeps
out of places in which he has no busi-
ness to be, he will get along as well as
on Fifth avenue. / have found them a
most brave and hospitable set Of men.
There is no use in trying to be overbear-
ing with them, for they won't stand the
least assumption Of superiority. Yet
there are many places in our cities where
I should feel less safe than among the
widest cowboy places in the west.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-08-13
Silver City, N. w. IT,

A new mining company has been
formed here. 1t is called 1.-The Pioneer
Mining Company Of Alberta, n. w. T."
The officers are President, A. B.
Hamilton; vice president, Martin Ma
ginnis; secretary, Thomas f. Healy !;
treasurer, Andrew O'Connell superin-
ltendent, jeff Talbert; assayer, Paul f.
Travers. The company own 5000 feet
on the celebrated Joe Healy lode. They
have well defined vein of copper and
silver ore, and are rapidly developing
their nine. They expect to have ore
ready for shipment in August.
The Alberta company, the principal
owners Of which are John J. and JOS.
Healy and the Dennisses of Winnipeg
and Ottawa, have commenced sinking a
shaft upon their ground on the Joe Healy
lode, and they have struck a rich vein
of copper and silver-bearing ore. They
also expect to ship ore to Swansea,
England, within a short time.-Calgary
Herald
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-08-13
------AxU - <Nn1 y ~ A4sz.---------
Material Improvement in Fort Benton.

To any one who has not visited Fort
Benton during the past five years, it
must be revelation to see the strides
thls town has taken in the way Of inn
provement. Many of the old land
marks of five years ago have given
place to substantial buildings. Our
merchants, with true business foresight,
saw the necessity Of increasing their
s'oFe rooms, and with an eye to perma-
nency erected the stores now occupied
Oy them. The Importance of Fort Ben
'Onand its advantageous location will
make 1t one of the first towns Of the ter
hlory ia a few years. Even with de-
preston i'll all branches of business the
buildings now being erected would do
credit to any town with thrice the pop
alatlon. There is no reason to fear any
luFther shrinkage in values Of real es-
a'e 1t has reached the minimum, and
Ma a.. lew months a season of greater ac-
nnnty will certainly set in, and Fort
Denton will flourish as of DID, Not
outstanding the changes which have
@hen "a place in business and the manner
mcohaucting the same, steady improve
tnelit has gone on, and will continue SO
~ do.e Five years ago the number Of
silck buildings in town did not exceed
i've, while at present there are nearly
1'A1y' This does not seem as if our
people We're discouraged with the pre-
y selt outlook. Those who have pinned
TO rielf lalth to the ultimate prosperity Of
'ort Benton will not be disappointed.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-08-13
School N otes.

The fall term of the Fort Benton
school will commence on the first Mon
day in September.
The Highwood school will close next
month.
The Belt creek school commenced last
Monday.
The teachers institute will be held in
this city some time next month. Terri
torial Superintendent of Public Instruc-
ton, Hon. Cornelius Hedges, will be
present.
Dr. Wheelock will visit the school at
Choteau some time in September.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-08-13
His Pa Painted.

"Ma," said the small boy as they
were taking the train out OF town the
other day, you'll see something funny
when we get back
''What will it be?' inquired his mo-
therg
why, all the buildings will be differ
ent color.n
Nonsense, child, what gave you that
idea ?n
"Well, pa told Mr.. Smith last night
that when you and me went away he
was goin' to paint the town red, and
then he wondered why his mother
wouldn't let him stand up on the seat or
buy him candy.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-08-13
me steamboat arrivals for the season
II 1854, as registered at the Grand
Union, are as follows:
City Council.

cit, lie regular monthly meeting of the
lasgt council was held in the city hall
and eVenlng-present, Mayor Roosevelt,
Nh. Ma Aldermen Conrad, Genzberger,
and def, O., Rector, Cummings, Browne,
n Th sullivan, and City Clerk Buck.
cOm,e ne pills reported by the auditing
nun oaiiillttee were ordered paid, as fol-
hall I. A. Cummings, rent of city
ma ! ;sIo; George Honk, city marshal
|jsni,na ,nignt watchman, $50; Fayette Hall,
read report of the city marshal was
~ q. and accepted.
|sDnasvige Houk's bill for services as road
reivisor was not allowed. James
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-08-13
Shonkin Shots.

uarvesting has commenced in fine
.hone, and nearly every one who has
lain to cut is now busy at work. Those
shn have ranches in the mountains
aIaim to have the largest crops ever
.aiapd on their places, while those lower
Down in the valley report good crops !:
so if j. quite probable that the yield OF
3bis section will be equal to or greater
,han that Of last year. Bnt for all these
nrosnects producers are not very cheer
tul on account Of the low price which
njI ,riI undoubtedly be paid for oats.
What an opportunity the present out
look offers to some enterprising individ-
nal in the way of u grist mill
A few days ago party OF women and
children came out from town to gather
berries. The day was drawing to a
closp, and each one was toiling along
under the weight OF a Well-tilled bas-
tpt when one of the tender sex startled
the rest by a long-draWn scream of ter
ror IA bear. bear!" she cried, and
then there was such stampede Of all
thn women and children as would have
frightened bear to death. They had
very high, steep bank to climb, and by
thp time the top was reached nearly the
whole days gathering was strewed upon
The ground They made haste to a
neighboring house, where they related
how they heard a noise, saw the bushes
move, and one of the party said that
che saw the bears track in the sand
and that caused her to give the alarm.
party soon afterwards went to find
the bear but all that was discovered
was COW browsing among the bushes,
and beaver track in the sand. Near it
was the print of a lady's No. shoe, and
BY actual measurement the next step
was found to be 5 feet and inches dis
tant. We venture to say that neither
hear nor beaver will venture into that
locality again very soon. --"-~----a-'---.
= Johnny Mcclellan has had bad luck
with his poultry of late, having lost
about thirty chickens within week by
mnks, but from the pile of that sort of
"varmints" lying dead near his house
venge; and now he vows that he will
range and herd them with his sheep,
before he will allow them to be food for
wild animals. gsgsa@aaaas-e.sasz.=s..
fife late storm was the most severe
zone of the season. The driving rain fell
fOrnearly twenty-four hours, swelling
the Shonkin and its tributaries to tor
rents; but like lIsuch sudden rises,
the floods recedea as rapidly---.4aas...-s.4-.-.s.
{ The school in district No. closed on 4
the Sth Of August, after a successful |
term OF three months. DR.. j. w. /
Wheelock, county superintendent Of
schools, made his visit to the school on 1
that i;ay, and at the same time modified |
the boundaries OF the new district re- |
Gently set off, SO as to be satisfactory tod
allconcerned. ....--~--~--.-----.s y ---,te
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-08-13
Quartermaster's Sergeants.

In accordance with an act of congress
authorizing the appointment of eighty
post qnartermasters sergeants to per-
form the duties of xprekeepers and
clerks in the place OF citizen employees,
general order has been issued by the
war department providing that said ser
geants shall be selected by examination
from the most competent men in the
army who have served at least four
years, and whose characters and educa-
ton fit them to take charge Of public
nrnnartv
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-08-13
Fatal Accident to Linn Mcfarland.

w. G. Child received last evening a
dispatch from Billings telling him OF
the accidental killing of Mr.. Linn Nc
Farland. Mr.. Mcfarland was on his
way to Billings to meet Mr.. Child, and
was killed Wednesday night by the fall
ing in of q dirt roof Of cabin where
he had stopped over for the nights rest.
This was on Half-breed creek, thirty
five miles north of Billings.
The deceased is q son of Mrs. e. T.
Mcfarland, Of Helena, and q brother Of
Mrs. w. G. Child. He was widely
known, not only in Helena, but through
out the territory, and had hosts of
friends, who will join the afflicted fam
lily in mourning his loss. independent.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-08-13
Tub Race.

There will be tub race on Sunday
next near the lower ferry landing on the
|other side of the river. The entrance
fee will be ST.. The fare. across the ferry
has been fixed at 25 cents for the round
trip; the winner Of the race to take all
the entrance fees and one-half of the
ferry receipts. Several entries have al
ready been made, and lots of fun may
be expected.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-08-13
$40 Reward.

Two horses were stolen from the un-
dersigned, in the Judith Basin, about
the 1st OF June-one sorrel branded q
on the left thigh, and the other bay,
branded L on the left shoulder Twenty
dollars reward will be paid for informa-
ton that will lead to their recovery.
Address Samuel Bithell Fort Magin-
mis-, or H. A. Willard, Fort Benton,
M. Il.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-08-13

One OF the curiosities Of st. Louis is q
successful newspaper woman. This is
Miss Fanny Bagby, the managing editor
Of the Chronicle. Mr. Waterloo says she
excels in quick, sharp, decisive action,
and can get piece OF news in type and
selling on the streets sooner than any
man he ever knew. Her sex is some
thing few people would think Of in deal
ing with her She is all business.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-08-13
Estrayed.

One gray mare, brandrd IF on left
shoulder also j II 3 and circle bar on
left hip; weight about 700 Or 800 pounds.
A liberal reward will be paid to
any one giving information as to her
whereabouts. Address Silas Butcher,
care of McCuaig & Gehring, Dupuyer
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-08-13
70 Whom it May Concern.

The books and accounts of Charles
Crawford & Co. have been transferred to
f. c. Roosevelt and Paris Gibson. All of
these accounts must be settled before the
18th of August or they will be put in
the hands of an attorney and collection
forced. Settlement must be made with
nae. f. G.. ROOSEVELT.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-08-13
Strayed or Stolen.

From the ranch of the undersigned
sorrel mare branded WY on left thigh,
having sucking colt with her. Also a
bay mare colt, one year old, with the
same brand A liberal reward will be
paid for information that will lead to
their recovery w. O. YARD,
Fort Benton.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-08-13
Wanted Sheep on Shares

1000 Or $500 sheep wanted on shares.
Have excellent range, good sheds, cor
rails, etc., and will have 100 tons of good
hay. For further information address
the RIVER PRESS office.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-08-13
A Bard OF Horses for Sale.

A band of about 100 stock horses for
sale AT A BARGAIN. For further infor-
nation address J. K. care of the RIVER
PRESS, Fort Benton.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-08-13
Sheep for Sale.

Il 1900 head of first class stock sheep for
sale. For particulars inquire of Hirsh-
berg & Nathan, Fort Benton, Mont
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-08-13
Sheep for Sale.

Ewes, wethers or rams. Address
Henry Macdonald, Box 81, Fort Ben
ton, M. r.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-08-13
Sheep for Sale.

One band of $500 ewes and lambs,
also band of 1000 wethers. These
sheep are acclirnated and entirely free
from scab and ticks. Address-Sage
Creek Sheep Co., Utica, Montana.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-08-13
Letter List.

4 The following is a list of letters re-
naming in the Fort Benton post office
for the week ending August 9. 1884.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-08-13
Grow Cussedness.

A letter received by Sheriff McDevitt
bearing date of August ID from John S.
Galbraith, states that he has recovered
thirty-tWo head of the horses stolen, and
has heard Of thirteen head more now on
the Little Horn. He will go down the
Yellowstone and then after the thirteen
head. He has the names Of the Indians
who did the stealing and wants to have
it explained why they cannot be arrest
ed. He may be expected home iii about
three weeks.
another letter of later date, received
by the sheriff from Mr.. Galbralth since
the foregoing information was secured
by our reporter, reads as follows:
SALTWATER, August 6, 1884.
Mr.. Jas. McDeuitt:
DEAR SIR About sixty Grow In
dians crossed the Yellowstone river at
this place this morning and are bound
for the north. They talked with some
white men here and said that portion
OF them Were going across the Missouri
river to steal horses from the Piegans
and that the remainder Of the band
would stop at the Judith gap d few days
and kill every Piegan that may pass. 60
ing either way. They claim to have
killed four Piegans near this place last
week, one Grow being killed III the
fight. They will steal any horses they
can get away with. Their medicine is
bad. They were not pleased to give up
my horses. They talk some Of taking
them back, and may do SO yet.
Now is the time for Uncle Sam to
show his colors. It is All evident fact
that these Indians are Oh the steal from
the whites. It is certain they stole my
horses. There are some eighteen or
twenty head at the Grow camp that
were stolen at Old Agency last fall-be-
longing to Al. Hamilton and Others
Respectfully,
j. S. GALBRAITH F
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-08-13

Book and Job Printing specially at
the RIVER Press office.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-08-13
The Sisters Hospital Fund.

The following are the collections for
the Sisters hospital fund since the last
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-08-13

for the week ending August 3, 1884:
A1drich Frank Keefe w E
Allen VIM McGraw w G
Basye JOS 5 Mack Ransom
Bender James Mead Miss Lottie
Carpenter S G Miller A E
Cantrelle j M Moore J M
Clark Barney Ottawa Geo
Cochran M II Page Arthur Z
Davis Chas 3 Rafferty, NJ
Delaney M Rhodes JOS
Eaton Geo Il Richard Jno
Gardner Chas T Samples VIM
Hasker M z Shindler Il W.
Holland Chas d Stone James
johnson Mrs Lisette
Persons calling for any of the above
letters will please say !" "Advertised.u
Ne. A. FLANAGAN, p. M.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-08-13

COLLECTED BY H. r. BROOKS
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-08-13

Another letter Of later date, received
by the sheriff from Mr.. Galbra1th since
the foregoing information was secured
by our reporter, reads as follows: