Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1886-12-03
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BISHOP TUTTLE'S GRIT.
a STIRRING STORY OF TIE MON
TANA OF TWENTY WEARS AGO.

About a score of years ago, before the rail-
road had crossed the Rocky mountains. Bish-
op Tuttic was sent as q missionary TO the
northwestern territories. The good bishop
might wen have been appalled, at the first
view of his diocese. 1t was an empire in ex-
tent bat it barely afforded him single con-
greGation Afterward, when he had planted
the church in a few Of the chief ccnters Of
population, he had congregations 1000
miles apart, requiring weeks of painful and
dangerous travel to reach them, for the hos
tile savagcs held sway on the plains while
bandits more daring than the savages and no
less blOodthirsty infested every mOunU.in pass
through which the lines Of travel led.
But never was a man better fitted by ma
ture ald grace for his high mission. OF heroic
stature. in every physical sense a man among
men, be had a heart for every fate and
courage and resolution equal to any demand.
His hand, strong as q giants, WAS soft and
white as a woman's and more than once he
had made some insolent and sacrilcgous brute
feel its might, but far oftener it has wrought
sweet charity and tenderly nursed the sick
and brought comfort to the dying, to rough
men in lonely cabins in the wild mountain
georges. bcrcft of woman's care. lie entered
into the lives Of the people and made, at
least, their troubles his own, and when the
rude mountainecrS, rs they presently did,
came to know this strong, brave and gentle
man, his fame went through the mountains
ond he became the beloved bishop.
The city of Helena, if it could be called a
city, with its rahbie of houses, huts, novels
and tents crowdilg q gulch between two high
shoulders % . giant peak and climhiugup the
steep s,9pas to perch on rocky lodges and
& =. -.4f
mountains. One winter morning, soon after
midnight, fire broke out among some shontias
IL the upper end Of the guI-h. Tho noun
tains were white with snow; small riyulct
which mca-dcgcd amoDgtl the rocks was locked
in lee, while a biting blast blew down from
the Mountains, and, sweeping through the
gorge, soon famed tic fire into Il conllagYa-
ton. Llgn rushed TO the scene Wilh buckets
and blankets There was TO fire brigade and
no other apparatus for fighting the flames.
Everything WIS confusion, and the raying OF
the gale, tie roar Of the fire ard the shout
ings Of men supplemented the frantic eXer-
tions Of the people TO save tLoi" property,
and, in many cases, 10 escape with their
lives from the fiery furnaces into which the
narrow canyon that held the fated town had
been converted.
Finally, when many residences, hotels and
shops Of all sorts had been swept away, and
the fire had invaded that quarter whore were
situated the large warehouses in which were
stored the chief stocks Of provisions and necCs-
sarics, the bulk indeed, Of the supply for the
entire territory, the situation seemed dcs-
perate enough. The people realized that here
was the last hope, and here the last rally for
deliycrance was to be made. \ thousand
miles of plain and mountain, buried deep IN
snow, lay between the people of that burning
town and any other source whence the receS-
saries of life could be drawn. In one moment
these people were confronted with the present
horrors OF conlagration, to be inevitably sue
ceeded by starvation, amid the rigOrs Of a
northern winter.
Wien it had been realized that to save the
town was impossible, every energy was bent
20 the wori; of saving the magazines OF pro
visions, and IA few leading spirits had organ
lied = defense and had gathered the populace
for the last struggle The plan Of operations
was simple enough 1t was to cover the
precious houses with blankets and keep them
wet. 4 few daring men were to maintain
themselves on the hOuSetOps, while the others
were to pass up increasingly water III buckets,
masses of ice cut from the streams, and hugo
balls of snow. The men on the roof must
brave fire, smoke and the freezing wind. TO
falter was defeat; to retreat WAS ruin. There
was 10 faltering in that desperate struggle,
and finally the battle was won.
Morning had come, and with It the SHY,
which, as it rose over a shoulder Of thc
mountain. GilIed tho forms of three men
who stood high on the parapet of the build |
inc where The fire had been stopped. They
were the chiefs, scli-chosan, to lead in the
conflict, but Acknowledged and obeyed by the |
populace, who instinctiyo!y recognized their |
supremacy These three men, with their |
visaGes grimed and black with smoke, their |
hair and boards snged, their hands torn and !
bloody, their hats blown away by the wind, |
and their clothing RAGGED and awry, and |
with the fire Of battle III their eyes, and grim |
and stern lines OF resolution on their faces |
were terrible almost ferocious They looked !
abroad at the smoking ruins, then at the !
houseless people below; then thy turned and
saluted each other the two at the extremes !
regarding thcir companion in the cena,r as
if in some sort he was their superior. 1t
was at this moment that the rising sun
shone upon the trio, gliding and clarifying
them, while the Inuittuie below gave
great shout, recognizing, as It were, their de-
livcrerS.
Who were these mcn2 They were well
known in the mountains if not immediately
recognized in the Disagreement OF battle
The one on the right was Bitter Root Bill"
otherwise l. iiiln Buu,l5r,v, 4 noted deS-
perado. who rot his cornomon from q daring !
adventure NiJhthe Indians in the Bitter Root !
mountains The man on tie left was Gentle |
man doc" Il leading gambler. His real name
was Joseph Flowerec, sad to he from an
aristocraclc Virginia family. lie was hand |
some fellow Of 80. well educated and 50 well
known forfi's courteous dc0ortinont that the 7
public appreciation had crys:&lizcl into 4
tide The figure in the center. taller. more !
erect and n role looking than the Others, who |
had greeted hiu rs their chief, WAS no less |
than Bishop Tut.lo. In the desperate turmoil !
these tire, mem had gIayitatgi 10 each other /
and had risen to leadership.
The good bishop was soon - The height Of /
ponularity Tho mountaiucers had tested /
his manhood and they were ready 10 love |
and tri,.J him ior the friend and counselor lie |
proved Il 10. and the popular yJrll2t vas |
solennly announced hy Nr. William Bun |
kerry when he declared:
Hes full jc,yele,l and eighteen Earats fino. |
He's = better gentleman than Joe iloweGoe; !
rs The biggest and ge-s bishop J.il, ever /
wore, 4 ble.,, gown and hos taa N,.l-e5t man |
in these mountains lie a IRE ,.,--sr nom t
way back. and whenever he chooses 10 % on |
4 birthstone raid among the sinners II this !
grIel l.. can 10 IL ;i,sd Il back han VI, h my
pile lie i, the bOSS bishop, and You Ee>.r me .
howl Coz. G!o5e-DemocrGt
Ben: Perley Toose, the veteran washing.
tea ,goaiert, can weigh down SO F1c,-D,:5
AM dance a lliuu-o Without feeling l2ti.5,sed.