Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1884-09-18

tnat Ne was camped over on benton ave
nue., on the West Side of the city, ant
hoped every Old Timer now in the cit,
would honor him by attending, and brins
their wives, daughters and sweet hearts.
The committee on Constitution and By
Laws here reported the following, which
was adopted:
l. This society shall be known as tn,
Society of Montana Pioneers.
2. All persons who were residents within
the Territory on or before May 26th, 1864
or who had then started from their former
homes therefor, shall be entitled to become
members of the society, upon prefering 6
written request therefor, and signing the
Constitution and Bylaws of the Society.
3. The officers of the society shall con-
sist of president, one vice-president in
each county of the Territory, a correspond
ing secretary, a recording secretary. and a
| treasurer.
4. The president, treasurer, and cores
pOnding secretary shall be the executive
committee, whose duty it shall be to have
charge of the society, to prepare for publ
cation such material as in their judgment
is useful, and to make arrangement for the
annual meeting of the society.
5. The annual meeting of the society
shall be held at such time and place as in
the judgment of the executive committee
will secure the largest attendance and best
accommodate the greater number of the
members, two weeks published notice
thereof being given.
g. The officers of the society shall usu-
oil ho Init onnQrfaln
ing to their respective offices. Each presi-
dent and ice-president, In addition thereto,
shall at the close of his term OF service,
present a paper appertaining to the early
history of the settlements of Montana, and
each member of the society shall furnish
the recording secretary with his name and
age, residence, date and place Of birth, the
date of his arrival in the Territory, from
what place he came to the Territory, and
when he started therefore.
7. The Executive Committee, whenever
in their judgment it is desired, may notify
the members of any amount of money
which may be required, and receive cOntri-
buttons therefor, to be paid to the Treas
urer
s. This constitution may be amended at
any annual meeting of the Society, upon
one days notice, by vote of majority of
the members thereofpresent
The following officers were then elected:
President-James Fergus.
The following are the Vice Presidents: :
w W. DeLacy for Lewis and Clarke
county.
Granville Stuart, Meagher county.
JOS A. Browne, Beaverhead.
Jas. NJ. Arneaux, ChOteau.
Thos. H. Irvine, Custer.
John Potter, Gallatin.
H. H. Mood Madison.
Conrad Kohrs, Deer Lodge.
Perry w. Meadow, Yellowstone.
Enoch H. Wilson, Jefferson.
Caleb E. Irvine, Silver Bow.
C. p Higgins, Missoula.
Corresponding Secretary-W. f. Sanders.
Recording Secretary-Geo. w. Irwin, III.
Treasurer-Samuel T. Hauser.
A resolution was passed requesting w.
F. Sanders and w. Y. Pemberton to pre-
pare and deliver addresses before the asso-
ciatiation at its next annual meeting.
President Fergus took the floor and said:
Gentlemen Those of you who were in
Bannack during the winter of 1869 and
1868, and in Alder Gulch during its early
days, will remember what complete con-
troll Plummer and his thoroughly organ
lied band of robbers had over the camps Of
the Territory. They controlled all our
elections, electing their own candidates
They controlled all our roads. Gold dust
could not be carried out of the Territory
only under a strong guard or by unfre-
quented trails. Human life did not stand
in the way of robbery. At Bannack men
had to 20 armed to their work, their loaded
guns laying along side Of them all day.
We were strangers-did not know each
other, and at best only wanted to dig out
the precious metal in peace. Finally, in
the spring of 1863, matters became SO des-
perate that few of us who had confidence
in each other, formed vigilance commit
tee at Bannack for mutual protection The
discovery Of Alder Gulch scattered its
members and nothing came of it; so things
went on, and robberies and murders con-
tinued. 1t is an old saying, What is
everybody's business, is nobody's business
all were aware of the situation of things,
but all were only bent on getting gold, and
all hoping to save it.
We were not lacking in braye men, but
we had no organization, and above all no
leader-no central figure around which we
could rally. All will recOllect how the
camp was thrilled at the voice of George
Ives, when they learned that one had
been found who, by his eloquance and
bravery had covered the lion in his den,
had faced the desperadoes, with their fin
gers on their triggers, where they had
never been placed before without shooting. |
He was the first target they aimed at that
did not quail. Gentlemen, you all know |
that the trial and execution of George |
Ives, under the leadership of w. F. Sand |
ers, was the Inauguration of order in Mon |
tana. We owe him, and those connected |
with him, a debt of gratitude; and move
that committee of three be appointed by |
the Chairman to draw up and present to
this meeting proper resolutions, expressive |
of long deferred duty, to be placed on the |
records of this meeting.
The motion was seconded and adopted,
and committee appointed to prepare the
proper resolutions.
Beorge B. Foote stated that it was under
stood that the grave of VIM. Fairweather,
)ne of the discoveries of Alder Gulch, was
IN neglected condition and deserving of
The attention of the Pioneers, and it was
.hereupon decided that the Vice President
or Madison county be instructed to inves-
igate the matter and report to the society.
At 11:3O the Association adjourned to
meet at the same place at 10 o'clock to-
morrow morning. A full attendance is
equested. After the business is over
will be taken of the Associa-
ion in group