The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1886-12-29
A BIT OF HISTORY.


"All old-tinIers well remember the ex
| element consequent to the vote which
was taken after legislative action decid
ing that the capital of Montana should
be removed from Virginia City to Hell
ems" said gentleman the other even
ing. The matter was left to a vote o
the people, and for some yet unknown
agency, the Choteau returns, which gave
Helena 400votes and Virginia City seven
were transposed, and accordingly the re-
turning board, consisting of Gov. Potts,
Secretary Galloway and U. S. Marshal
Wheeler-the latter gentleman ;ndig-
nantly refusing to take part in the count
when he saw how the matter stood
declared, according to the figures, that
Virginia City should still remain the
capital city. Such a howl never went
up from an indignant public, as was
heard in Helena, and for some weeks it
was dangerous for Virginia City man to
visit the present capital. Virginia City
rejoiced in quiet way, and was happy,
until word reached it by the slow stages
of that day, of the tremendous feeling
that had been aroused in Helena. Then
followed warnings from friends, to be on
their guard in Virginia; that the citizens
of Helena were aroused to fury and
would obtain by any means what they
considered their lawful rights. This
alarmed the fears of the citizens of Vir-
ginia, which were not allayed by any
news which reached them from other
sources, for the whole territory was up
in arms, SO to speak. During this season
of fear and unrest, what was deemed to
be authentic information, reached Vir-
GINA City, to the effect that a party of
avengers had organized themselves in
Helena, fol- the purpose of going stealth
lily to Virginia and hanging several of its
principal citizens, who were hastily ac-
cused of having been implicated in the
fraud of changing the figures. This
news threw Virginia Cty's leading citi-
zens into the widest CONSERVATION, and |
a safety committee was secretly formed |
at once. Eight men were tolled off every |
night to do picket duty, and at the first
sign of danger were ordered to ring the
EPISCOPAL church bell. Now, at this
time, Virginia City was infested by
small band of mischievous boys, who
put in the hours of the night in
playing pranks upon innocent China.
men-always the legitimate prey of
small boys-carrying off gates, changing
signs, taking nuts from wagon wheels,
and other innocent amusements, which,
by the way, didn't remain SO innocent
very long, as two of the boys were
placed in Jail for their misdoings.
"Well, to continue my story. About
,he time the excitement over the raid
was at its height, the boys, without
anything about the signal
agreed upon by their elders, conceived
he idea of taking the clapper from the
Episcopal church bell, and after hard
work, one dark night, succeeded in so
Icing. The next evening the worthy
ector, as was his custom, proceeded to
ing the bell for choir practice. when, to
lis horror, the bell refused to respond to
lis repeated pulls, and remained as mum
8 an oyster He climbed to the belfry,
nd was paralvzed with terror to find
hat the clapper had been removed.
lie lost no time in giving the alarm.
he whole town was aroused. The
aid is to be made to, night I said every
ne. The arsenal was drawn upon for
very fre-arm in its possession, and
II night long every able-bOdied citizen ;
f the town marched to and fro, armed
D the teeth. The boys, III the mean
me, had become cognizant of the need ,
sss alarm they had mischieyously Gre
ted, but, rather than meet the storm of !.
litter condemnation, if not condign
maintained discreet si- :
,nce, and up to this day it is not gener-
lily known who caused the sleepless
lights and fearful excitement which fol-
,wed 1t is a well-knoWn, written his
Dry, that the courts soon took the cap
al matter in hand and awarded the
ote to Helena, to whom it rightfully
elonged." .